Page 136 of The Commons

I contemplate walking up to her, but just as I do Pesh appears and takes my hands, pulling me away from the auditorium just as Doctor Val begins to make a formal announcement.

Upon entrance into Pesh’s office, I look to see live footage of The Seventh Zone on a floating screen.

An Earth Patron is speaking to the students there, revealing the news of their freedom. They stare in shock, a zest of hope trickling in the atmosphere.

Pesh seems to be communicating with other Earth Patrons on his digital device as the Earth Patron from before continues his asseveration, “You all have two options. One, go home. Your parents have all been notified and are eager to see you. They are all waiting at the ports for your arrival, should you choose that. Option two. Return to The Commons and finish school, right where you left off.”

Everyone stays silent, not moving. Then, a student goes to the right, toward the line that leads home. Others join, one after another. They hold onto each other with tears of joy streaming down many faces.

Suddenly, a boy with a name badge that says “Feloy” silently moves over to the left. Everyone turns and stares at him, confusion on their faces. His jaws tighten, his gaze hardening. “What? Who’s joining me? We barely escaped the battle. Who’s gonna stay with me for the war?”

A few others join him. They all bow as they walk past the Earth Patrons to Feloy’s side. They seem to like the Earth Patrons. Maybe because they are not as involved in The Seventh Zone dealings.

“You’re going back?” a student exclaims, running toward Feloy as the ships are loaded.

“Hell yeah.” Feloy flashes a grin. “We’ve already been through the worst. How much worse can it get?”

Feloy’s friend chuckles. “Oh, it can.” He pats him on the shoulders and hugs him, turning to join the ships returning home. “I’ll say hi to your parents.”

“Thanks,” Feloy says, side-bumping him. He watches his friend leave before his eyes shoot to the right to see bands of students sprinting out from The Seventh Zone buildings into ships that are returning home.

Feloy smiles as others exit the buildings, moving like a band of warriors toward The Commons ship.

In another screen, behind a cluster of rocks, a male Patron is privately speaking with a dark-haired female student. Suddenly, they both turn to see an army of Water Patrons surging out from the waters. The Patron’s eyes widen, and he draws away from the student.

“Take me with you,” the student pleads.

“I can’t,” he says, conflicted.

“Please, what’s happening?” Her eyes snap to the waters.

“Join the students.” He races out to join the submarine with the Water Patrons, and they submerge underwater within seconds.

“Why are they running?” I turn to Pesh who drops his device on the table, taking a moment.

“They don’t want to be found culpable in De Londe’s crimes,” Pesh responds.

“What about you? Are they going to come for you,” I ask, concerned.

“I have nothing to hide. But the Aristocrats will try to bribe the authorities to arrest any Patron they can, to try to avert blame from Londe.”

“Do the Water Patrons deserve the blame?”

“Well, I mean, those who refused to obey Londe’s command to be stationed to the Seventh Zone were killed by slow torture so… what do you think?”

God Almighty. “That’s horrible. Do the Aristocrats know this?”

“Yep. So Water Patrons are running before it’s too late.”

“So we won’t have Water Patrons anymore?”

“We will. In time, they’ll resurface. But for now, they must hide. The Commons will never be the same again.”

Our eyes collide in silence. There’s so many things involved in this that I didn’t think of. So many lives at stake. I open my lips to speak, but he takes my hands, and we walk toward Doctor Val’s office. Just as we enter, I suddenly remember.

“We have to check on Swin!” I blurt out.

Intercom: Will Doctor Val please come to the Biology Hallway?