Purified Tomorrow: The Mad Awakening - Episode 16

 

 Carl was still angry at the way Sonia had sent him away along with the others. After Diana sent them all away, Sonia had bossed them away and ranted on how they were supposed to have remained in the place designated for them. She said they were lucky that Diana had to overlook their stupidity. Fred almost fought her, but had to caution himself when she promised to send him to a trial room. According to her, this room would make them wish she had sent them to the punishment room because she would make them go through pain beyond their knowledge.
They settled in the room and discussed their disappointment on how things were done in Etyes .  They took their baths, while they learnt from Regina how to use the voice activation to call for a change of clothes. 
Later, Carl gathered them together, and they began to discuss how to get away from Etyes. There was no way they would endure more of the trouble. The people with him were geeks, and they could notice things he couldn't. They all promised to do things he mapped out, and didn't stop talking until a robotic voice announced over the P.A System: All Peacelearners meet your leaders for orientation within 8 minutes at the training center'.
They all rushed out, and took the elevator. When they got down, they met others rushing and shouting from different parts of the building

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/purified-tomorrow-the-mad-awakening

. Carl also ran with his might, and rushed into Iris. She yelled and fell. Carl also yelled his surprise. 
'Carl, oh I'm so happy to be here', she said and flung her arms around him. He hugged her too, but their time was gradually counting down, so he drew her away.
'Run with me'.
'Not too fast'.
'Fred', she called.
'I'm here', a panting Fred shouted. 
'Good'.
'Hi', Regina said sarcastically.
'Of course, I remember you. Good to see you all again'.
'Yes. I wish I could give you a group hug', Regina said as they all ran on.
'Yea A group hug would have been nice'.
'How did you get back?' Regina asked.
'Joyce saved me'.
'Where is she?' Carl said as he jumped after Iris pointed a trap to him.
'Joyce ran off to meet her handler'.
'Selfish as always'.
'Hey Regina, that's my girlfriend'.
'Then, train her'.
'Guys Run The time', Fred called.
They glanced up at the time and saw it counting down to its 2nd minute and 58th seconds. 
'We'd better hurry before I am tempted to abuse her self-centeredness', Regina shouted.
They ran into the center of the field, and began to readjust to stand in the presence of their handlers. He stood before a stone-faced Sonia. She stared at the top of their heads as if they weren't there, as if she wasn't seeing them. Carl looked around and waited some minutes before he moved nearer to her. 
'Where's Joyce?'
'She is with Diana'.
'Doing what?'
'You don't want to know what I know until you need to know what I know'.
 'I don't want to know what you know', Carl said and stared at her scornfully.
'Will you shut up?'
'I'm not shutting anything up. You backstabbing bastard'.
'Well, it takes one to know one-.'
'What? How do you mean? I've never betrayed anyone'.
The computer relayed a long boring information that made Carl tired. He had never known he could be in such state of hopelessness. Afterwards, it directed them to a place in the hall. The handlers led the way, and Carl grudgingly followed his. Every one of them had a room to themselves.
As soon as they entered the room, Sonia locked the door, and stared at him longingly.
'Oh! How I long to be in your arms, but I can't. Sit on the chair'.
Carl looked around her and everything that was in the little room. It was a simple room painted white and had a little camera in the room, but unlike the others Carl had been seeing in the whole place, no red light blinked from this one. Well, he didn't know anything about cameras.
'Sit down for crying out loud'.
'I'm not...'
'Sit down or I'll be forced to send you to the trial room'.
He sat on the chair and she gave him a pair of dark shade glasses. It had two small pieces. Immediately he wore it, she fixed the earpieces into his ears, pressed the side of the glasses, and a video began to play.
'Welcome to the truth. We live in a world that has its truth altered. This world was not only destroyed by Aliens as you have been told. It was destroyed by human's worship of them. As you can see...'
 The videos showed people bowing down in secluded places. Some of them in a place with a star and a moon. Another bowing down to molded images. Some were in a building that had a medium size cross placed on it. Some of the places the people were had the image of a man on the cross. Many of them counted a thing that looked beads strung into a thread. Some others burnt candles and looked different, weird, and awkward. He couldnt fully fathom what they were doing, but if that was how people lived in the former world, it was definitely scary.
'Each of these people saw different Aliens and called them by different names such as God, Allah, Zeus and so many other names that always ignited a sense of followership among the people of the earth. The leaders of the present earth saw it best to exterminate the aliens, but the adults wouldn't agree. They caused a great war that made some people from the former world rise up to the task of putting this evil away.  And these aliens have been exterminated. But they always have a way of coming back. They arise when the nations begin to have a belief in the existence of these aliens. This is why we are the Peacemakers. We were built to eradicate these things. However, the Peacemakers also can fall into the temptation of falling for this problem like the humans. And for this reason, the Peacemakers have created an order to make everyone not have a wisp of what is happening. That is why everyone is going through a test. After the Peacelearner's test, you'll be trained for the next stage. But for now, you need to go through a mind adaptation test'.
 Sonia made him lie down, she moved closer, pointing a small sweet towards his mouth. He glared at her. She opened her mouth. He opened his mouth, and she dipped the sweet into it, which he licked for a moment and then chewed.
'Close your eyes'.
'Why?'
'You need to go through that test...
'Why?'
'If not, you will be killed.'
'But...Won't I be sent to the punishment room?'
'No. You have to go through the test and pass it so that they will know your mind is ready'.
'I prefer...'
'Carl, they will kill you and your stubbornness'.
'Then, I'll take it'.
Sonia moved closer and whispered as she brought the needle closer to him. 'I love you. This is what will happen. You will be a zombie for a while, their zombie, doing everything they say'.
Carl eyes riveted around. 'Are you kid...For real? Stop this joke'.
'I'm not ...But that was why I gave you that sweet in your mouth. It will neutralize everything'.
'Do it'.
She plugged the needle into his neck. He felt his brain being zapped and he couldn't feel anything except the taste of the sweet on his tongue.
'He is ready', she shouted.
'Troublefinder, withdraw your gun'.
Sonia closed her eyes and turned to the wall. She tapped it repeatedly, and a part of it came out. A gun appeared on what looked like a tray. She grabbed it and pointed it at him.
She mouthed, 'be a zombie. Be a Zombie'.
'Peacelearner, jump', the computer ordered.
Carl stared at her. She shook her lips. Carl jumped.
'Peacelearner, sit'.
Carl sat.

Read " The Thorny Path to Europe " by the same author ( Akíntayo Akinjide )

. She closed her eyes and when it opened, tears lingered in it.
'Peacelearner is ready. Take him to the building for studies'.
'Follow me'.
When they got out, Carl saw many of the others moving about like drones. Immediately they got out, some other people too had the same look as his. That showed that there were others that weren't also affected. Within a few minutes, all the Peacelearners were looking normal and were looking about, wondering what had happened to them.
'What's happened there? Why did my brain suddenly numb or something?'
'That was the drug from the needle I plugged into your skin. The sweet I gave you made you sane again', Sonia said and led the way. 'It takes one to know one. I know Not for now. But be prepared. You were made for a greater purpose. Me and you'.