Purified Tomorrow: The Mad Awakening - Episode 7

 

 Carl walked with the others, dazed. He felt like ramming Sonia into the wall when he saw her. She was the reason they were there. Nothing could convince him otherwise. It was one thing to be obsessed with someone but orchestrating or influencing the person's kidnapping was terribly bad. She had just stolen him from his mother and he would fight that with all his might.
After Diana had introduced her to the recruits, she came to his side, looking stern. 
'You will press this button', she said as she pressed a green button on the table. Her hand was shaking, but she took a great effort to keep it still.
'I should have known', Fred shouted from his seat . 'You're a filthy betraying, incorrigible, demented idiot', Fred railed from his seat. His handler leered at Sonia. Normally, Carl would have detested that, but then, the enemy of his enemy was his friend. He could sense the enmity between those two, and it felt good to be on the other side. Making Sonia his arch-enemy couldn't be scraped from his top priority, making an escape from the filthy place would go down a second-place on his to-do list.
'I'll kill you', Fred shouted as he began to move out of his seat.
 His handler placed a firm grip on his shoulders and whispered something in his ears. Fred sat straight and smiled mischievously as he continually gave her a cold glare.
 Carl threw her a quick glance

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

. Her eyes seemed like that of a person without a soul, as if she didn't care what might happen to him. She looked at Carl. He heaved, shook and faced the table as the others were doing. The tables were empty and nothing indicated what he was to do next, but there was no way he would even give her audience. There was a black button sticking from the table as if it was peeping but was failing at doing that. He wondered what pressing it would do, but it would be irrational to press it. What if it led to the underground? He looked about and tried to spy on the way the others were doing, but he got nothing. That was what he meant when he said he wasn't supposed to be there. He was good at virtually nothing. The only thing he had won was while playing a game of chess, and that, according to his mother, was the reason he had the ability to hold his emotion in check until it was time to carry out the real act. So, even if it was his last day in that crazy world, he would ensure that he had his revenge. But it couldn't be in that dining room or in front of the whole lot of their army or the Peacelearners. It had to be something no one would ever expect.
 'Press the button', Sonia said and placed her hand on his shoulder.
 At that time, it looked as if the time had slowed down on its use. He slowly looked up at her, and said with clenched teeth. 'Don't you dare touch me.'
She withdrew her hand and pointed at the button. Iris threw him a quick glance. Her huge handler pulled her head towards her table. 
'What?' Carl said.
'Face your button', Sonia said. 'And press it for crying out loud'.
Carl pressed the button and a large screen appeared on the table. 
'Now make your choice of food. And try to pick all the food you might need. The order can only be made once. And you can't make a new one till the next time you are here to eat'.
 Carl blinked repeatedly at the layers of food that laid before him. The table listed out a lot of food, one he couldn't imagine would be at his reach. In case they stayed for a longer time, he would ensure he chose one of each before he made his way out of the place. Since he was from Nigeria, they made sure his varieties were there. The food laid bare in front of him, and he felt gluttonous and didn't see anything bad in doing so. At least, if one was to die in a short while, one ought to do so with grace. He started by selecting the deserts, then proceeded to the drinks that comprised of palm wine, fermented millet drink and so much more. Although picking Palm wine was tempting, he didn't see a reason to pick it when he wasn't sure they preserved the freshness that characterized his type of Palm wine.
'Now press "enter"'.
'I can read', he said as he pressed 'enter'.
'I wasn't in charge of picking you', she said, bending to speak to him.
'How does that concern me? You knew', he whispered as he tried to control his anger.
'I didn't', she said, stood straight and shrugged. 'But I wouldn't be surprised'.
'Of course, when you could whisper names'.
'What are you insinuating?'
'It is very convenient to see two of us here- Freddy and me. Very convenient'.
'Even if you know nothing about me, you know I wouldn't have allowed that mule here'.
'That name can only be used by his friends, not some trickster'. 
 'Handlers', Diana called from the top. 'Now that you have done your job, you can move back till they are done eating'.
The handlers shifted and were on a straight line. Carl was dazzled by the way they did it without any plan. That means they are being trained to be a sort of soldier. Since they were kidnapped by those camouflaging soldiers, he was finding it hard to stop imagining the death of the man that gave him the micro card. The micro card? He hurriedly looked at his feet and saw that they were putting on leather shoe. That means, they had stripped them of all their possession. He did give Joyce before he left home. No, he dropped it on her table. Now, they were being provided for by this people. He would find his way out of the place to find his way home. Whatever that man wanted him to give Joyce was very important, and he was very stupid not to have hidden somewhere else.
'If you look at your table', Diana said.
 Carl looked at his table and saw a time reading.
'You would see a time reading', Diana continued. 'It signifies the number of time remaining for you to finish eating'.
Carl eyes almost popped out of its socket. The countdown showed they had 75 seconds to finish eating.
'Are you for real?' Iris shouted and bent over her food.
 Carl shook his head to ward off his thoughts about Sonia, Joyce and the old man as he rushed his food. He hated the excitement he saw on Fred's face. Fred was a fan of rushing food, and had won many competitions as regarding that. Most times, Carl would tease him about growing to the size of a hippopotamus but he wouldn't budge about food. According to him, he needed to eat a lot because he read a lot.
Immediately the countdown got to 00:00, the table slid open, and a round magnetic plate dragged their plates off the table-top into the opening. People around exclaimed.
'Are you for real?' Iris shouted.
Carl watched with surprise until he heard a noise. Someone had tried to hold onto the plate, but the machine was too fast that it pulled his hand with it. The person's handler hurriedly ran forward and hit a red button. The person removed his hands pushed back into his seat, sending it screeching as he tended to his hands.
'That's called a panic button', Diana said into the P.A System. 'It will only open if it senses that human's body is stuck in its teeth. So don't expect it to open for any other reason'.
Carl looked down and saw that the panic button was there also, but it was fading like the green one they used to summon the food screen. He stared at Fred, who shrugged. Regina waved at him and gestured at her head. He smiled. She had done something mischievous again. They really needed her to be close to them whenever they planned to escape. However, from what she had been saying, she found it exciting there. All he needed was to make her help him whether she loved to or not.
'Follow your handlers, they will direct you to your rooms', Diana said.
Carl expected them to move through the dining hall to their room, to sleep and prepare for the next day to know what would happen to them. But, they came out of the building and moved in an opposite direction. Carl looked about as he saw that the dining hall covered every other building that was behind it, making it look as if they were purposefully walled in. There were some fanciful buildings on the side of the dining hall. They were huge and were all made of glass, and had light reflecting from around it. Despite being made of glass; they still couldn't see the interior.
They marched on from the colored lights to the plain white light. The place was eerie because not even a single a cricket made any noise right there. The place they were headed had little or no light around it. He guessed that must be one of the training they were meant to have - to never take anything at face level.
'This road is bugged with crazy stuffs. They are not yet activated', Sonia said flippantly. 'By the time you will be coming out tomorrow, you have to be careful of them, they can be deceptive'.
 'But why are you not telling me that?' Iris asked her handler from behind him.
'Who should guide who?' Her handler voice rumbled. 'If you don't listen to only what I teach you, you will meet yourself in the trial room. Or you will end up like her. She avoids all the trouble and we face all the trouble that's what we do'.
Carl wondered what the difference between Trial room and Punishment room was.
'So...' Iris said and her voice faded off.
Carl wished to see their faces. It would be a good thing to take his mind off his anger towards Sonia. The ground was unimpressive maybe because everywhere was dark or they kept moving as if they were climbing down from the top of a hill.
'So what?'
'Nothing'.
'Iris Cole, do you see me as a fool? If you are not careful, I will recommend you for the punishment room'.
Carl glanced at Sonia as she snickered. 
'Why are you making sound, you Peacelearner?' Iris' handler said and pushed Carl.
 Carl was perplexed and took a quick swipe of the hand at whoever she might be. One thing he had never learned to keep his cool around was bullying. He detested bullying and had never cared about its consequences. No one dared harass him because he was new. But Sonia was very fast, she caught his arm.
'You don't want to do that', she said.
'Leave my hand', Carl shouted at Sonia, who hurriedly released his hand. He brushed off the side she held. Others looked at them. One of the handlers said something to another handler up ahead and they sniggered.  They continued walking as Iris' handler kept making bad comments about them, the Peacelearners and the old ones.
'And you...What were you about to say?'
Iris's voice pitched higher. 'I wanted to say. So, you want me to be like you?'
'That would be wise. If you really want to go far, you have to take the steps of those ahead'.
'Then, that's impossible. You are an imbecile'.
 People around made funny sounds. Sonia inhaled delightedly and shook her tongue.
 Iris' handler shouted, 'Shut up! Every one of you. Shut up!'
Carl kept walking towards what was ahead of them, knowing they were in deep trouble from Iris' handler because she seemed to hate Iris and Sonia and him, indirectly.
 The house ahead was very tall, but unlike others, it was deep in the woods. There were tall trees around it. Even in the darkness, he could see how horrible the place was, and that really surprised him. How would they use such a place for them when other buildings around were very beautiful? Sonia glanced at him and said, 'out of the ashes'. 
Whatever that meant, he didn't want to find out the meaning. Even if he would, it was surely not from her. Everyone in front stopped. Carl also stopped beside Sonia, who had turned towards him as if she was staring at her most priced creation.
'To survive, you have to do what others don't want', Sonia whispered to him. 'Go to the top of the building to get the basic amenities others don't have. We are meant to leave you at this point. Remember, Greater purpose. Me and You. Be prepared'.
 She turned towards the dining room and soon disappeared into the multicolored crowd of handlers.
Iris came near while some of the other walked off towards the house. There was something off about the house that made Carl feel there was something else to it. It was like gold, which could only be discovered when it had been made to go through rigorous drills. He would drill the place for things to make them enjoy their temporary stay and also for things that would be essential for escaping from that place.
Up ahead, there was a green light that looked like a laser. Many people were afraid of going into until someone stumbled into and nothing happened to him. Then, the others tool the initiative to cross the light.
Immediately they crossed the line, a mechanical voice congratulated and welcomed them to the home of the Peacelearners, where only the obedient and the wise enjoyed life. Afterwards, the computer went into series of history about the building. He would have loved to listen to how it was built, but it went on ranting about how many people stayed there for a single year and how many people made it out. If it had told him only about last year's result, Carl would rein his anger and hatred but when the computer started calling from 4000, he knew he was in a big problem.
'What do you think?' Iris said as she peered at the place from the top to the bottom of the building.  It was so big that Carl had to strain his neck before he saw the top. That reminded him of what Sonia said. Even if he wanted to believe her, there was no way he would make it there that night. Yet, he didn't want to cuddle her idea especially now that he had seen her for the snake she was. 
'Your handler didn't tell you anything', Carl asked.
'The girl behind me wants to be like you'.
'Why?'
'I don't know. I heard her say so. I guess it's because of your handler'.
'Then, I'll always trade places with her'.
'You don't want to, especially if you think of the dinosaur I have as a handler. I think she is really good'.
Carl stared up again, Iris tried to do the same, and groaned doing so. 'Sonia, my handler, told me to go to the top. But let me wait for'
Just at that time, Fred and Regina came towards them. Other Peacelearners were filing into the building acting all weird.
'Did your handler tell you anything?' Carl asked after he had introduced them - one to another.
'She only said I should find joy in any place I find myself, and I must agree with her', Regina said as she took Carl's hand and dropped a wrap of sweet into it.
'From your game box?' Carl asked as he unwrapped it absentmindedly.
'From the dining room. They didn't say we can't take away anything from the room. They only want us to figure it out but not let others know'.
Carl nodded, distracted as he calculated the distance from the bottom to the top. Even if he didn't get the exact time they would get to the top, he was sure that they would be extremely tired when they got to the top. 
'You say it as if you are sure', Iris said as she rolled her neck.
'Guys, we can't stay here', Fred said.
'Where do we pick?' Iris ask.
'I'll pick the ground floor to easily get to anywhere I want', Regina said.
'As much as I hate what Sonia did, I still agree with her. The top floor is the best place'.
'Well, she didn't become the youngest handler by just staring at the building', Iris said. She blinked for a while. 'I'm tired, and I don't know why. I really want to rest. But I'll follow you guys. I don't know anyone else here'.
'I'm not sure I'll make it', Fred said, 'but I'll give it a try. My handler said I should copy your strategies. That he hates Sonia because her strategies were always right'.
'I like adventures. We might see things on the way to the top?' Regina said as she took the first step away from them towards the building.
 'Then, let's get going', Carl said.
'Can I change you, guys' mind?' Iris said dejectedly. She wheezed as she looked at the top again. 'I don't think I can make it to the top'
'Then, we will' Carl said but was interrupted by Iris.
'Alone. I can't make it up there alone'. 
'What? You wanted to stay down here. Have you seen the look of those guys on the ground floor? We can't survive around them', Regina said as she stared at Iris in utter disbelief, as if she was considering sleeping in a grave.
'Okay. You will lean on me', Carl said.
'Carl, we will...' Regina said and placed her hand on Carl. 
He frowned as he brushed it off. 'We just met today and you've made me touch you at the wrong place and you are about to do something crazy again'.
Regina shrugged. 'Because I know nothing will happen between us. Besides what's the point? Statistically, handsome guys like you rarely ask out geeks like me. So, I'll pretend to be your sister and do what a sister will do to you like this', Regina said and placed her hand on his shoulder. Iris roared with laughter as they entered the house.
                        *** 
Richard glanced at the pad again as his car sped, and he wondered what still held him to the belief that he would get what he wanted. He looked at the clock and wondered what would ever happen if Tina could stop doting over him. He had shown her times without number that he wasn't in the act of sleeping his co-workers or married woman or any woman at all. He was a celibate. It helped him think better. Yet, she kept trying to make him fall for her. Several times, she had undressed in front of him, using it as a bait, but he had always overcome her. Nevertheless, he gave her credit for her persistence. Even a guy would have backed down if he was the one asking for such a thing from a woman.
Then, out of nowhere, a woman ran into the road. Richard slammed on the brake of the car. The woman looked haggard, and her eyes were wide with fear. She was being chased by many of those security drones, which had their red laser light trained on her. She ran to the empty side of the car, opened the door, and jumped into it, filling the car with the stench of what smelt like drainage.
'Drive. Drive... Drive this maggot', she screamed and hit the front board with so much aggression that Richard feared it would split into two.
 From experience, Richard knew he mustn't stay around for her pursuer to have a clue about who he was or where they went. He switched off the front light of the car, and hurriedly wore his night vision glasses which he picked from under his seat.
 'Who are you?' He said as he drove off to the place he reserved for such case as this. He wasn't one of the best in his field because he always followed the rules or always called for backup whenever there was a problem. He was the best because he planned eventualities. With him, there was always a conspiracy and a contingency plan. 
 'They took him away. They've killed her. They will know it was me'; she said, breathing hard. 
'Cool your nerve lady. Cool it. You're not making sense'.
'I know but everything is not making sense to me'.
'What are you talking about? Who are you? Who are they?' He said as he took his time to look at her now. She should be in her early forties, and from the necklace she wore, he was sure she either came from a wealthy home or was involved with someone from a wealthy home. But, if she was from a wealthy home, her hand wouldn't be wrinkled with ages and hard work. She was white. She was a lover of someone important.
'Did anything happen to your lover?'
'Yes... Just get me out of here'. 
He nodded. At that period that people were disappearing, he didn't see a reason to help her, but his guts loved what it saw. And he was following it, irrespective of the consequence. 
They had just turned a corner when two cars joined the numerous, regular cars on the street. The drones were still following them, and he knew he had to make them stop tracking him. He knew who the people in the cars were, and he smiled. Just what he needed at that time - a bit of fun and some shooting. Richard licked his lips and dragged out a box from the bottom of the other seat. Inhaling the coldness that came with them, he closed his eyes for a brief moment. They smelt good and made him smile. He caressed the pistols, speed-dialed number '4' on his phone, and knew it was time to play games.
                    ***
 'Did any of you find anything?’ The authoritative lady said as they gathered.

Read " Don't! Look Closer " by the same author ( Akíntayo Akinjide )

. Joyce had made the suggestion that they searched through the rail for anything that showed they could move down from whatever they were on or in. While they were doing that, the authoritative lady's job was to keep counting numbers until the last one of them returned. 
Amidst the wailing, the stench, and the incessant grumpiness from people, they made their way back. 
'I don't know if it's useful, I saw a sort of rope', someone said.
'Where's it?' Joyce asked.
'I can't...I don't remember where it is'.
'That's very wise of you', the authoritative lady said and groaned. 'I wish I could squeeze you right now'.
'Where's the place?'
'I don't know'.
'He doesn't know', the authoritative lady said. She had an accent from a country Joyce didn't know which. Accents were the major things that differentiated everybody in the world. Despite their prowess, they still always had that factor in their speech. In schools, the teachers always deducted marks for accents during tests and exams.
'Then, let's find it. Because I'm so tired of this darkness. The thought of it is killing', Joyce said. 'And, let's hold hands'.
 Searching for the way out would take them a tiring long time, but she was happy to search for it. Like Carl would say, that meant there was hope.