Page 31 of The Commons

“If God was to appear in front of you and start speaking, would you talk while he was speaking?”

“No, sir.”

“I don’t like sir. It’s Patron Lenon.”

“Yes, Patron Lenon.” Tin’s voice quivers; he is petrified.

Lenon turns to Tin’s girlfriend with a sneer. He flicks lint off her shirt, blocking her view completely. He says so softly, one has to pay attention to realize how cruel his words actually are.

“Blondie, I am going to ignore your horrible taste in men, and ask you to redeem yourself from being associated with this Tin. You have the whole day to break up with him. But first, I want you to tell him everything you hate about him for the rest of our time in this class. Start with the face and work your way down. And then, work your way inside. I expect gruesome details as though you were taking the O Test right now. And if you fail, I can transfer his punishment onto you, or even better, ascribe you a partner for the next few weeks, or even years. The floor is yours.”

I am beginning to hate this guy with intense passion. Dread consumes the room. She gulps, her hands shake. Terrified, she looks at her boyfriend.

She begins to speak slowly. “I hate your hair.” Her voice cracks, but she raises it up against its shaking tone and continues.

Tin stares at her with tears in his eyes, yet numb to emotion.

“It’s so unkept, it’s like little worms are running around everywhere with no decency. I hate your head. It’s disgusting the things you think about. The fact you think about me is repulsive.”

Oh my goodness.

“I like where this is going. Continue,” Patron Lenon interjects, but not with a slimy smile as one would expect. He relaxes against the wall, his hands folded, looking away like he’s bored. These Patrons do get bored easily, don’t they? It’s almost like he’s doing this simply to test their limits and perhaps even our reactions to it.

She exhales, her face turning red, her hands shaking. “Your eyes are like a muddy pool of pollution, and your nose protrudes like a horrible horn. I hate when you ask me if you should cut your hair, like obviously you should cut your hair, like you would look better bald, but then if you were bald, you’d look like an ugly ball of… well an ugly ball, because that’s what yours is.”

“I said go in order. We’ll get there,” Lenon responds like he doesn’t like any human who deviates from order, and yet the entire class chuckles silently, taking it as a joke and he examines them with narrowed eyes as though reading every one of them. Yep. He’s doing this to read us.

And I don’t even give a hoot why he’s doing this. I’m so triggered. Disgusted, hands folded, I clench my teeth together, eyes focused on a single point to avoid showing my growing anger toward Lenon. How is this even humanly acceptable?

She gasps, inhaling, and exhaling a huge breath, then she continues to dehumanize her boyfriend until she reaches his feet. Her boyfriend’s hands quiver in humiliation.

Patron Lenon glances over to see tears fall down Tin’s cheeks. “Good job, Blondie. What’s your name?” He turns to Tin’s girlfriend, somewhat with a frown, somewhat like he doesn’t care. Strange combination. Now I understand what they meant when they said this Patron enjoys destroying people.

“Ciaro,” she stutters, stating her name.

“No, it’s Blondie. That’s what you’re gonna go by from now on, so every day of your time in this school, you will remember to teach any boys who try to date you how to respect a Patron, am I clear?”

“Yes sir. I mean, Patron Lenon!”

“So, what’s your name?”

“Blondie.”

“Good. And you,” he says to Tin, “since you decided to cry, go to Mr. Brink after class and he will restrict your dating privileges and assign you to the dark dungeon detention for crying in class. Get out of my sight, the both of you!”

They return to their seats, and Zavish, along with the rest of the class, me included, look at them with eyes of empathy. We are all petrified.

Patron Lenon begins to speak, and we all turn to him instantly. “Now, for next class, you will all record yourselves speaking on Blondie’s poor choice of mates. Class dismissed. Report to the Oratory Test according to your call times.”

I shiver, shock-striken, still horrified by what we just witnessed. I can’t imagine how Levon would deal with someone so arrogant. Maybe she did something that caused her to lose favor with a Patron of this sort. And what exactly is the dark dungeon detention?

I decide the only way to find out is to be sent there. Since Pesh won’t help me unless I’m completely honest with him, I have to go with another plan—I will disrespect Patron Lenon in the Oratory Test. I really hope this does not backfire and he kills me or something. If I can disrespect him just a little by maybe breathing heavier than others, perhaps he’ll give me the same punishment as he did that guy. I hope. At this point, where else am I going to look for Levon? I mean, what could they have done with her? My brain feels flushed against a sigh that foams out of me. This is getting so dangerous. There’s not much I know right now, but if there is one thing I am convinced of, it’s this: facing Patron Lenon—This will be my greatest nightmare.

CHAPTER 7

Power Moves

I step into the other side of the Oratory testing zone—a room made of computerized mirrors. I notice Lenon watching a student. The student grabs his neck, exhaling, his throat running dry while Lenon drinks a bottle of water, yawning at the student’s struggle to continue speaking. Beside Lenon is Pesh with a notepad. Oh no, he is the other Patron who will administer the test. Urgh, that defeats my entire plan to get in trouble.