The crowd went absolutely wild. The reporters forgot about Cornelius to swarm me. The flashing lights kind of hurt my eyes. I blinked a few times, hoping they would leave me alone, but they didn’t.
“How’s it feel to get away?” a woman with a camera asked.
“Carsyn, what will you do now that you’re out of the orphanage?” a man, also holding a camera, asked.
“Do you like it inside the wall?”
There were probably about twenty questions thrown at me all at the same time. It was overwhelming.
“Leave the boy alone,” Helly yelled, reaching for my arm. The reporters made it impossible for her to pull me away.
A couple of officers had to rescue me. They shoved the reporters away. Cornelius, still smiling, motioned for me to join him. My lips quivered as I forced them to stay in smiling position. The muscles in my cheeks started to burn.
Cornelius placed a hand on my shoulder, making me feel very uncomfortable. I wanted to smack it off but knew that wouldn’t go over so well.
The people continued cheering. “I love you Cornelius!” I heard a woman scream.
We slowly walked down the long red carpet. Cornelius waved at the people. I hoped he didn’t want me to do the same. Smiling was already too much. We finally reached the double doors to the building, which were held open by two men in red uniforms. Cornelius turned around and waved at the people one last time before we entered the building. Pictures were taken. He looked down at me. “Smile,” he whispered.
I did so quickly.
“Now wave,” he said. Great, just the thing I was hoping not to do. I threw a hand in the air to wave with Cornelius, and the crowd loved it.
We turned around, entered the building where we were instantly greeted by a very attractive blond-headed woman. “He’s just going to ask Carsyn a couple of questions first,” the woman told us. The sound of the crowd behind us faded as the doors were shut. The woman continued. “After that, Cleo and Meeko are going to bring you in, Mr. President.”
I barely caught a word. This was way too fast-paced for me. Cornelius was completely calm, just as if he was sitting alone watching TV. He probably went through this a lot.
“Thank you,” Cornelius told her, still smiling.
The woman led Cornelius, Helly, and me down the hall. She left us in a small room with a dresser, mirror, and chair. I released my smile. Helly looked at us both. “You guys look fine,” she said. She grabbed my chin and moved my head to the right. “Just don’t rub your face.”
After examining us one last time, Helly left the room, leaving me and Cornelius alone. Cornelius took out his phone. The transparent screen came to life. He dialed a number. “Keep the two kids nearby, just in case,” he told them, then hung up.
I glared at him. He was trying to scare me, which was working. I mean, I don’t think I had ever been so nervous in my life. It was worse than the time I thought Edgar was going to kill me in the alley. Now that’s saying something.
“No need to give me that look,” Cornelius said.
“You will pay for this,” I told him.
He chuckled. “I’m sure I will,” he said sarcastically. “I’m sure I will.”
A few more minutes went by in silence. Cornelius stayed on his phone, doing whatever it was he was doing. Probably Grandfather stuff. I couldn’t quit thinking about the interview. How many people were going to be watching? The lady on TV had said all the tickets were sold out. How many people would be right there in front of me watching? That made all the more nervous.
A knock interrupted my thinking. Cornelius put his phone away and opened the door, revealing a younger man with some sort of headset on. “They’re ready,” he told us.
Cornelius stood up immediately. “Let’s go,” he said.
We followed the man through a door where I was immediately hit by a wall of cheering and loud music. My heart was racing. This was it. I wondered if everybody was listening in the dining hall. I hoped they would realize that I was being forced to do this. Surely they would.
Cornelius and I were led behind a wall beside a stage. A man and a woman, both dressed in all green, stood on the stage waving at the large audience. When I say all green, I mean all green. Their clothes, their shoes, their necklace, their eyes, even their hair! It was very unusual.
The man jumped up and down as he waved at the crowd. The woman spun around a few times. Really odd. These people were too happy and a little crazy. But the audience seemed to love it. If I had to guess, I’d say they were in their mid-twenties. But the makeup made it a little difficult to tell.
Two red comfy chairs sat on each side of a clear round table. The two hosts took a seat on one side of the table. I assumed the two empty ones were for Cornelius and I. Great. I had to sit beside him.
The hosts held out their hand and the crowd grew silent immediately. I’m talking about a brick wall of silence just hit. What’s the saying? You could hear a pin drop. Yeah, you probably could’ve.
“What an audience today,” the man said with excitement. “I don’t think we’ve had an audience this excited before, would you agree, Cleo?”
I finally knew who was who. To me, Meeko seemed like a girl’s name, but I didn’t know anything about names within the wall. Maybe they were different.
“Oh, it’s brilliant,” Cleo said, crossing her legs. “And we can’t blame them, because today, we have some very special guests. This has to be the most important interview we’ve done.”
“Very special guests indeed,” Meeko said. “I’ve been looking forward to this all day.”
“I think everybody has been very eager,” Cleo said. “It’s the juicy news.”
I noticed that they both talked with their hands a lot. I mean a lot. I was just waiting for them to accidently slap each other’s arms.
“Juicy, juicy, juicy,” Meeko said. “Folks, welcome to The Meeko and Cleo show. We got a great special segment for you today. It’s what’s everybody’s talking about. Today is the day we finally get those answers we’ve been dying for.”
“Let’s say we give our audience a recap first?” Cleo asks.
“Excellent idea, Cleo,” Meeko said, throwing both hands into the air.
I really hoped I didn’t laugh while I was out there.
“Nearly one week ago,” Cleo started, facing Meeko, “President Cornelius announced that a good friend from his earlier life—”
“Benjamin,” Meeko quickly added.
Cleo nodded her head, not seeming angry that she was interrupted.
“Yes, and Benjamin had a son who he placed in an orphanage after feeling his depression affected the boy.”
Meeko took over. “Everybody has heard the story, and it’s just an absolute tragedy.”
“This tragedy led President Cornelius to search for Carsyn,” Cleo said.
“He discovered that he’d been kidnapped, probably to get back at the president for the new Bill of Border Control.”
“But a few days ago, Carsyn found his way to the President. And he’s here to speak with us today.”
The crowd erupted in excitement. The two hosts laughed, waiting for the audience to quiet down.
The two hosts were perfect for each other. I hated to say it. Yeah, they seemed pretty annoying, and they both looked ridiculous. They were both that way. Maybe that’s why they seemed like a perfect combination.
The audience finally went silent before Cleo said the thing I wasn’t ready to hear. “I say we talk to him now, how ‘about it?”
My heart was still beating like crazy. The dress shirt and tie were a little tight around my neck, so that was getting annoying. I wasn’t ready.
“Absolutely,” Meeko agreed. “Join us in welcoming Carsyn,”
The crowd went wild again.
My body was shaking. I could tell there were a lot of people in the audience. This was it.
“Smile and do it right,” Cornelius said shoving me toward the stage.
The two hosts stood up and looked in my direction, smiling and clapping. I put on a smile and forced myself to step out from behind the wall, entering the stage. The crowd went wild, as if I was some hero. I was prepared to see tons of people, but I was still surprised. There had to be nearly a thousand people. That wasn’t counting the rest of the nation watching their TVs and listening to their radios. I couldn’t help but think how easy it would be to expose Cornelius. If only Ashton and Marley had stayed behind.
My image appeared on three screens in the back of the room. What I saw made me absolutely sick. I hated it. It was me. I looked like one of them, dressed in nice clothing, hair fixed perfectly, face unnaturally smooth.
I approached the two hosts who took turns shaking my hands. I couldn’t keep my eyes off their odd green hair and green clothing. I had never seen teeth so white.
As the noise of the crowd became silent, Cleo waved me over to take a seat. I did so, sinking into the chair. It was so comfortable, just like every seat I’d sat in within the wall. Cornelius stood at the side of the stage, looking nervous. He was probably afraid that I’d accidently say something wrong. I guess I understood since that was my fear too.
My face was burning up. I could feel heat hitting me. When I looked up, I was blinded by what seemed to be hundreds of lights. I took a deep breath.
“Wow,” Meeko said. “Just wow. How extraordinary!”
“How do you feel right now?” Cleo asked.
I turned my attention away from Cornelius and to the crowd who was now silent. A camera hovered in the air. The three big screens displayed a close-up shot of my face. Seeing myself was weird, especially since I appeared extremely lost with a huge frown on my face. I quickly turned it upside down and looked at the hosts. “Good,” I said. “I feel good.”
They laughed, and the crowd joined them. “Well, of course you do,” Meeko said. “You’re within the wall now.”
“And with President Cornelius,” Cleo said. “Now what a pleasure that must be.”
“How would you describe him?” Meeko asked.
I glanced at the crowd again, then to the side of the stage where I saw Cornelius urging me to talk.
“He’s great,” I said, facing Meeko and Cleo again.
“Great?” Meeko asked once I said no more.
“Good gracious, Carsyn,” Cleo said. “There has to be more! I mean, you’re living with the president!”
“Now, now, Cleo,” Meeko said. “Looks like he’s a bit nervous.”
They and the crowd chuckled.
“Go on,” Cleo said. “Tell us more.”
“Yeah,” I said, searching for the right things to say. “He’s taken care of me really well. I’ve . . . I’ve never been more comfortable. ”
“Ah,” Cleo said. “Let’s give President Cornelius a round of applause for taking care of such a handsome boy.”
The crowd erupted in applause once again.
Meeko waited until the crowd was silent again. “Tell me,” he said. “How many girls have you had chasing you?”
Everyone laughed.
I forced myself to chuckle. “None,” I said, slowly.
“None?” Meeko asked. “Surely there was somebody.”
“No,” I said. “I was only around other boys at the orphanage.”
“I see,” Cleo said, her tone growing serious. “Well, I bet if you were surrounded by girls, a handsome boy such as yourself would have a difficult time choosing.”
Meeko laughed along with everybody else.
Was everybody in the nation laughing with them? That was an odd thought. I did nothing but recheck my smile.
“Now,” Meeko said. “Can we talk about when you were kidnapped? Is that okay?”
I looked toward Cornelius again. He motioned for me to turn around and face the hosts.
“Don’t be nervous,” Cleo said. “We’ll bring your savior out in a few minutes.”
I wanted to tell them all that Cornelius was not my savior. Instead, I did as I was told. “It was frightening,” I lied. Don’t mess it up, I kept telling myself. For Ashton and Marley.
“I bet it was,” Meeko said. “Where did they keep you?”
I thought for an answer quickly. I said the first thing that came to my mind. “A cell with bars,” I told them.
“Terrible,” Cleo said, placing a hand over her mouth. “You poor thing.”
“Do you know who kidnapped you, or why they kidnapped you?” Meeko asked.
“I don’t know,” I said. I remembered what Cornelius told me to tell them about the kidnapping. I had to make sure he was satisfied. “I was outside of the orphanage around midnight,” I told them. “They kidnapped me then. They were from a different region and they didn’t like the tr—or the Bill of Border Control.”
Whoa. Calling it the tracking law would’ve ruined the whole thing.
They seemed to not catch it. “Ah,” Cleo said. “It’s not surprising they’re from a different region.”
They were playing perfectly into Cornelius’s plan.
“Not surprising at all,” Meeko said. “Now, we all know about the Bill of Border Control.” He turned his attention to the audience, as if reminding them directly. “I assume you do as well?” He faced me again.
I nodded, taking another look at myself on the screen. I couldn’t get over how similar to them I looked. I hated it. I made a mental note to ignore it. It was all for show.
“Now tell us, if this bill had been passed a year ago, do you think you would’ve been kidnapped?” Meeko asked.
I didn’t want to answer. I thought of Belladonna, Edgar, Mae, and Robert. Everybody under the mountain was probably listening to me. I just really hoped they realized I was lying. “I don’t think so,” I answered.
“I think you’re absolutely right,” Cleo added. “I mean, this bill exists to prevent things exactly like this. Do you agree that the bill will be helpful to us all?”
“Yeah,” I answered quickly, wanting to get it out of the way.
“You also said it happened around midnight, correct?” Meeko asked.
“Yeah,” I answered.
“Do you think the newly proposed law declaring a curfew time would’ve been helpful as well?”
“Yeah,” I answered.
“Could you tell us why you think that?” Cleo asked. “I’m sure we’ve got some individuals in the audience who would disagree with you. It’s quite a controversial topic.”
“Well,” I started. I was silent for a second, gathering my thoughts together. They had totally caught me off guard. I hadn’t thought I’d have to give a complex answer. I liked the one-word answers. “With a curfew, it would be more difficult to commit any crime. And I think most crimes happen late at night.”
I looked at Cornelius who nodded with satisfaction.
“I couldn’t agree more,” Meeko exclaimed. “Perfect. I mean, most crimes do happen during the late hours because there are fewer witnesses. I think you’re absolutely right, Carsyn. And I believe that with the Bill of Border Control and the curfew law, you would’ve never been kidnapped.”
The audience applauded. The hosts quickly waved at the audience. When the audience went silent, they unloaded more questions on me.
“So, while you were imprisoned, were you harmed in any way?” Cleo asked. “If it’s too hard to talk about, you just let me know.”
I thought back to the cells Cornelius had me, Ashton, and Marley in: the cells they were still in.
“I was starved,” I told them.
“That’s terrible!” Cleo yelled.
I thought she was going to start crying right then and there.
“But never hit?” Meeko asked.
I shook my head.
“Well, I know the great President Cornelius will never allow you to starve,” Meeko said.
I wanted to laugh.
“Not a chance,” Cleo said, grasping her hands together. “I must
ask; how many kidnapers were there? And I’m assuming you were the only one imprisoned?”
An idea came to me as soon as she asked. I didn’t have a lot of time to think about it. It was my chance. I wanted to secure Ashton and Marley’s safety. Cornelius wasn’t going to like it, but I didn’t care. For once, I had control.
“There were five kidnappers,” I lied. “And there were two other prisoners with me.” I forced myself to not look in Cornelius’s direction. “Ashton and Marley are their names.” I imagined his eyes glaring at me, his nostrils flared, his eye twitching. For once, I truly smiled.
“Oh really?” Cleo asked in surprise.
“And where are they now?” Meeko asked. “Did they get away as well?”
“They came with me,” I told them. “President Cornelius has been very kind to all three of us. After all, Ashton and Marley have become good friends of mine.”
“I’d say so!” Cleo said. “I mean, you three went through the same thing together. And President Cornelius has been taking care of them as well?”
“He has,” I said, accidently chuckling. There was nothing Cornelius could do.
“That President Cornelius,” Meeko said. “I mean, seriously, how great is he?”
“Oh, he’s great,” I said, hoping I hid the sarcasm. They didn’t pay any attention to it, so I assumed it wasn’t obvious.
“Well, I certainly hope we’ll be meeting your friends soon,” Cleo said.
“And I believe we will be seeing them soon,” Meeko said. “Such a marvelous story of survival.”
“Indeed,” Cleo said. “Now, let’s just hope that the kidnappers are caught.”
“Of course,” Meeko said. “Now, before we bring out President Cornelius, I’d like to ask you a couple of questions about the orphanage. Are you glad to be out?”
“I am,” I said, truthfully.
“I bet it’s much different here,” he said.
They had no idea. “I’ve never seen such amazing sites and technology,” I said, once again, telling the truth. They both laughed with the crowd.
“It is remarkable,” Meeko said.
“I wish people outside of the wall could see how wonderful it is here,” I said.
Everybody was silent. Meeko and Cleo were also silent, looking nervously at one another. Meeko was the one to change the subject. “You mentioned that you were around a bunch of boys, obviously. Tell us, did you get along with them?”
I shook my head. “I didn’t,” I said, honestly.
“No friends?” Cleo asked. “Not even one?”
“No,” I said. Then, I remembered Jim. “There was a boy named Jim who defended me from the bullies when I was younger.”
“Oh, a hero,” Meeko said, glancing at the woman, smiling. “And where is he today?”
I was silent at first. Meeko and Cleo waited patiently, smiling at me. “dead,” I finally replied.
Meeko and Cleo gasped. “May we ask how he died?” Cleo asked.
I thought back to the day I heard how one of the older guys saw Jim dead. I think that was when I first realized I’d probably meet the same fate. “When you’re seventeen, they kick you out on the streets. Most orphans die on the streets. At least that’s how it is outside of the wall. That’s how Jim went. It’s unfair what happens out there.”
I immediately realized that I had said the wrong thing. Meeko’s and Cleo’s eyes grew wide, their green eyebrows raised. I glanced at the audience. The people I could see had similar expressions. I refused to look at Cornelius. He probably looked as if he could strangle and rip me apart. If it wasn’t for me telling Meeko and Cleo about Marley and Ashton, they would’ve been dead within minutes. I just knew that Cornelius wouldn’t have them killed now that everybody in the nation knew about them.
“Let’s move on,” Meeko said, as if nothing had happened.
“You’ve heard a lot about him,” Cleo took over, her voice slowly returning back to normal. Her arms were everywhere again. “You’ve just heard the story of how he’s saved not one but three kids.”
“Folks, let’s welcome President Cornelius,” Meeko exclaimed, standing up with Cleo to applaud Cornelius.
I heard whistling and people yelling stuff like “I love you President Cornelius” over the sound of applause. I assumed I was supposed to stand up with Meeko and Cleo so I did. I turned to finally face Cornelius. He smiled, waving at the audience as if I had said nothing. Of course he couldn’t look angry. That wouldn’t have made for good television. I wondered what he was truly thinking. He approached us. He shook the hosts’ hands, looked at me, and patted me on the back as if I was his own child.
“He’s been amazing to have,” Cornelius said once the crowd grew silent and we were all sitting back down.
“I bet,” Meeko said. “He seems to appreciate very much what you’ve done.”
“I do hope so,” Cornelius said. “We worked hard to find him. Little did we know that he would escape and come to us.”
“Yes,” Cleo said. “Speaking of that, how did you get away, Carsyn?”
I hadn’t thought about being asked that. I tried remembering what was on the note card Cornelius had given me but couldn’t. Thankfully, Cornelius noticed and answered for me.
“He doesn’t like to speak of it much,” Cornelius said. “But he and his two friends were able to pick the lock with just a nail.”
“Impressive!” Cleo shouted. “How extraordinary!”
“It really is,” Cornelius said. “Maybe they’ll show me sometime.”
The audience and the hosts chuckled. “Perhaps they will,” Meeko added.
“So,” Cleo started, moving the conversation.
I wondered if there was a time limit.
“You have now given not just one, but three kids, a home.”
“I have,” Cornelius said. “Unfortunately they couldn’t make it today.”
“Well, I sure do hope we see them soon,” Meeko said.
Cornelius said nothing.
“Do they have homes, or are they also orphans?
“They don’t have homes,” I answered before Cornelius could. He could’ve easily told everybody that Ashton and Marley had a home they would go back to. That would give a reason to take them out of the city. He would, of course, kill them as a punishment for what I had said about Jim earlier. I had to keep their security.
“Amazing,” Cleo said.
Cornelius nodded. “Yes,” he said slowly. “It truly is.”
“Mr. President,” Meeko said, annunciating every syllable.
“Meeko,” Cornelius mocked in the same tone.
The hosts chuckled. “Can you tell us a little more about Carsyn’s parents? You didn’t know anything about them did you, Carsyn?”
“No,” I answered slowly, frowning.
“I can tell this is a serious topic for you, isn’t it?” Cleo asked me.
I felt Cornelius’s eyes beaming at me. I forced a smile, this one obvious. “Yeah,” I said. I looked over at Cornelius and could feel his eyes piercing through me, as if he was trying to make me explode. “The President said he was going to tell me all about them.”
“Ah yes,” he said, moving his eyes back to Meeko and Cleo.
“Can you please tell us more,” Cleo asked, leaning forward in her seat.
“Well,” he started. “Benjamin was a good man. He was just led the wrong way.”
“The alcohol?” Meeko confirmed.
Cornelius confirmed with a nod. “Losing the person you love has to be difficult. It was just too much for him to bear.”
“Which, as you said, is why he placed Carsyn in an orphanage?” Meeko added. “Benjamin felt as if his alcoholism was a danger to Carsyn.”
“Oh yes,” Cornelius said. “And though unfortunate, maybe he was a danger. We’ll never know.”
The hosts nodded.
I listened, wondering if anything Cornelius was saying was true.
It probably wasn’t, but I wanted to know so badly that I held on to that chance that Cornelius actually knew . . . even if he was the bad guy.
“Before, you said you had something to give Carsyn,” Cleo asked.
“Ah yes,” Meeko kindly interrupted. “Something from his father. Have you given it to him yet?”
I had forgotten that Cornelius had said that during the broadcast. He dug into his blazer pocket. Slowly, he pulled out a small black box and handed it to me. I took it with suspicion. Everybody was silent, and when I didn’t open it, Cleo grew impatient, urging me in her jolly tone to see what was inside.
I opened it, finding a shiny golden necklace with a red pendant of a heart. I looked at Cornelius, searching for the truth. All he did was put on his innocent grin. He hid it well. Or perhaps he didn’t hide it.
The gold was cool to the touch as I raised it into the air, letting the pendant dangle below.
The audience was awed, whispering to one another, fawning over the necklace.
“That’s wonderful,” Cleo said, wiping tears from the corner of her eyes. “Spectacular.”
“Indeed it is,” Meeko said slowly, looking as if he was about to start crying as well. “I’d bet anything that belonged to your mother.”
“Jaclyn planned to give it to him as soon as he was born,” Cornelius said slowly, no longer smiling. Was he actually sad? “They were so happy.”
I said nothing, staring at the necklace in wonder.
Could it be true? Edgar would hate me for thinking so. Belladonna . . . well, she’d probably understand. She always understood me. But she wouldn’t agree.
“I think the boy is in shock,” Cleo said, snickering and still wiping her eyes. “You’re with an incredible person,” she told me, then asked the audience, “Wouldn’t you all agree?”
They clapped and cheered.
“I couldn’t be happier,” Cornelius said. “And I’m glad he could bring his friends along.”
Cleo clapped her hands, smiling, tears still flowing down her cheek.
“You certainly have Cleo all worked up,” Meeko said, smiling.
Everybody laughed.
“Miraculous,” was all she said.
“It really is,” Cornelius said.
Meeko stared at me. “Tell us, Carsyn, what do you see in the future? I mean, the possibilities have to be endless for you. What do you want to do . . . achieve? Oh, man! The possibilities!”
It was one of the biggest questions I had. It was the very thing that Belladonna had promised to help me with. I thought for a few seconds.
“Surely there’s something,” Cleo said when I didn’t say anything for a second.
I just nodded my head. “Yeah,” I said. This time, I was actually honest. “I don’t know what I want to do. Before, a possibility to even do anything with my life never existed. Now . . . well, I have people who can help me.”
They thought I was talking about Cornelius. But of course I was talking about Belladonna and Edgar.
“You can now do anything,” Cleo told me.
I nodded. “I know that when I figure out what I want to do . . . when I finally get a goal . . . I will reach it. I will succeed.” I actually meant that. I had thought about it since the day I ended up under the mountain. I didn’t know what I wanted to do, but knowing that I actually had an opportunity to do something other than being homeless, I was going to take advantage of that. And I would succeed.
Apparently what I said had a huge effect. The crowd went wild. They cheered louder than ever. I looked up at the screen to see that little by little, people were standing up, applauding me. Meeko and Cleo, too, were standing up, staring at me in amazement, smiling. Cornelius joined them.
“Such potential,” Meeko said over the cheering. “You’re going to do great things, Carsyn. I feel it!”
They had to do everything to quiet everybody down. They waved their hands at them and couldn’t help but laugh when it didn’t work. The audience quieted down on their own time, which took around two minutes.
“Wow,” Cleo said. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”
“Marvelous,” Meeko said. “Absolutely amazing. You know, it’s moments like this that makes life worth living.”
Suddenly, a flashing light above each of the large screens in the back caught my attention. Meeko noticed this too.
“Not to interrupt this jaw dropping moment,” Meeko said. “But before we go, I must ask you, President.”
“Anything,” Cornelius said.
I looked at the necklace again. So many questions.
“There have been a few reports that some outside the wall have just recently started believing that the infamous group we all know as Grandfather has returned.”
Cornelius began laughing. I looked at him, and he ignored me. “People believe a lot of things,” Cornelius said. “I’ve even heard rumors that I’m their leader.” He laughed again. The hosts followed and the audience joined.
“People are ridiculous,” Cleo said.
“Indeed they are,” Cornelius said.
“And tell me, Carsyn, did you ever hear such things outside . . . around the orphanage?” I could hear Cornelius hold his breath. He was afraid . . . afraid I’d say something else.
“I heard a couple of people,” I said carefully.
“Well,” Meeko said. “People are naïve.”
I wanted to shout at him in anger. They were the naïve ones.
“You never know what to expect outside the wall,” Cleo said. “People are crazy.”
They were just making it worse for me. They didn’t know what it was like outside of the wall. They were talking like everybody outside the wall were ‘nobodies’. Yeah, they didn’t have a future, but that wasn’t their fault. I could feel my face growing red. That’s when I remembered Cornelius couldn’t hurt me or Ashton and Marley anymore. At least not for a while, until I opened up the safe for him.
“Well, folks,” Meeko started, ready to sign off.
I didn’t let him finish. “They think Grandfather is back because of the wall,” I blurted out.
I heard Cornelius’s chair scoot against the floor as he nearly jumped up.
“This is The Meeko and Cleo show,” Cleo said nervously. “We hope to see you tomorrow.”
The crowd applauded as music filled the entire room. “Thank you,” Cornelius told the hosts as they stood. I did so too, putting the necklace back in its box and into my jacket pocket. Meeko didn’t smile. Sweat gave his forehead a shine. His eyes flickered from Cornelius to me. I had made him nervous. Good.
“Let’s go,” Cornelius told me kindly, still pretending. He waved at the people as we left the stage.
We were immediately escorted back from the way we had come. We soon approached the exit. Helly met us there
“We’re going to ride alone,” Cornelius told her.
She was confused but didn’t dare argue. She backed away as we passed her.
Cornelius looked at me. “Smile,” he snarled. “We’re not done yet.”
We exited the building to find another – or perhaps it was the same – crowd waiting for us. Flashes from cameras burned my eyes again. People clapped and shouted their love for Cornelius. He looked at me and gestured for me to join him in waving at the people. I awkwardly threw my hand into the air and waved. People went crazy. I even heard a chant. It took me a while to make it out, but everybody eventually joined in. Car-syn, Car-syn, Car-syn.
I was stunned. I didn’t know what to do. Cornelius looked down at me, confused at first. He then grabbed my hand and pulled it up into the air. The spectators quit chanting my name and cheered loudly.
I was famous. It was amazing, and awkward, and uncomfortable, and scary. I felt more like them than ever.
We walked down the pathway until we reached the same long white vehicle. The driver opened a door for us, and closed it once we were inside.
Cornelius
didn’t wait for us to get comfortable. “You fool!” he bellowed as he raised a hand and slapped me.
I felt his ring dig into my cheek. Water blurred my vision as my right cheek throbbed in pain. I held it with my hand. I wanted to hit him back, but it wasn’t worth it. That would have gotten us nowhere. I hoped somebody saw everything. Of course not. The windows were very tinted . . . very dark.
“You think you’re clever, don’t you?”
I said nothing.
“Just give it a few days,” he said.
I’ll find a way out before then, I wanted to say. “Take them out of their cells,” I said.
Before he could answer, his phone rang. Cornelius dug into his jacket pocket and pulled out his phone. He touched the screen and held it to his ear.
“Mr. Harrison,” he said surprised, his eyes growing wide.
I didn’t know who this Mr. Harrison was, but he must’ve been important, even for Cornelius.
“How are you . . . thank you . . . thank you . . . I’m looking forward to it . . . should be the best fundraiser we have . . . Carsyn?” He frowned heavily. “Of course all three will be there . . . of course . . . I look forward to it too.” He took the phone away from his ear and glared at me again. “You have screwed everything up,” he barked. “I’m attending a fundraiser Mr. Harrison is holding two nights from now. He expects to see you and your little friends there.” He slammed a fist against the window.
I would’ve laughed if the window shattered.
It didn’t.
“It’s the only way I can get his support for anything I want to do.” He sounded like he was talking more to himself than me.
I grinned. He noticed, raised a hand, and went to slap me again. I ducked this time. His hand swished over me. I rose back up to see him taking a deep breath.
“I just have to be patient.” He took his phone back out, brought the transparent screen to life, and dialed another number. “Take them out of their damn cells,” he said and then hung up.
“That’s all I wanted,” I said with satisfaction.
“You’ve got me in a mess. Meeko should have known not to ask you any more questions about the outside.”
I raised my chin in the air. “You didn’t say I wasn’t allowed to mention what happens outside of the wall.”
“I shouldn’t have had to,” he said, looking as if he would throw another swing at me at any moment. “People outside any city wall were probably listening. I can’t have them getting all hopeful. I’ll have to take their damn radios away from them next.”
I laughed.
“You think it’s funny, now,” he said. “Look at yourself.” He pointed at my clothing. I looked down to see what I was wearing. “You’re one of us now. “
“No, I’m not one of you rich people,” I argued.
“But you are,” he said. “I just hope those outside see it too. Maybe they’ll hate you for it.”
“I hope they riot,” I said. “I hope they protest.”
“They’ll be arrested. I’ll leave it to your imagination for what happens to them after that.”
I said nothing, again, thinking of Marley’s dad. I stuck my hand in my pocket, clutching the necklace. He noticed this and jerked my hand out. I gripped the necklace in my fist. He overpowered me, forcing my hand open. He took the necklace and placed it back into his jacket pocket.
“You’ll get it before the fundraiser,” he said. “And you’ll wear it.”
“Is it true?” I asked.
He didn’t respond.
“Is. It. True?”
He shook his head. “I know the truth. Even if I planned on telling you before, that little show you put on messed that up.”
I couldn’t do anything. I watched us pass by the thousands of people and hundreds of different shops. Ashton and Marley would be out of their cells. We could be together again. At least I had something to look forward to.
We’d have to plan an escape. I knew Cornelius probably had people listening to us or recording devices hidden around the room. It would be difficult. Very difficult. We had to find a way. It was only a matter of time before Cornelius figured out a way to get rid of us.
Chapter Twelve