Susie walked over to me. “They told me to wait a few minutes. I was lucky it wasn’t too expensive.”
After a while, a message came to Susie’s phone and she went to the counter to pick up the equipment.
On the way back to the alley Susie remained silent while I wondered how I was going to break the bad news to her.
As we approached the shelter, I stopped and turned to Susie. “I need to take a short walk to clear my head and think about the speech.”
Susie seemed concerned. “Okay, but you must be careful out here. We still do not know who is looking for us.”
“I have a new disguise now,” I signed pointing at my new wig we had also purchased on the way back. “I will be back within the hour.”
“If you aren’t back, I will come looking for you,” Susie indicated. “Until then let me figure out how to use the equipment.”
I waved as I left her in the shelter.
I needed some time alone to think about what to do. I knew I should have shared my inability to speak with Susie, but I also realized she couldn’t help me on this. The ability to speak had emerged in me at the most unexpected of times and now it had disappeared without any trace, but I knew the answers were inside of me.
After walking for a while, I spotted a smaller park at the corner of the road and went to sit down at a bench. At this time of the day, it was typically the young office workers who were strolling around the park while messaging on their phones. There were also some people just sitting around on the other benches.
I was attracted to a conversation between two of these people; a younger man and woman and they seemed like visitors to Vinder who were taking a break.
I had heard many visitors from the surrounding towns often arrived into Vinder on a daily basis to take in the sights of this so-called dream city and I could understand why because this city really had many impressive features, which were beyond anyone’s wildest imagination.
“There are rumours that the silence breaker is here in the city,” the young man signed.
“Are you sure?” the young woman motioned. “There was a news report yesterday morning that she had died in some kind of fight with the Magistrate.”
“Those are all lies,” the young man gestured. “At the cafe where we had breakfast earlier I saw some local people intensely having a conversation about it. They mentioned the Council was trying to catch her. I mean no one knows what is really going on, but something is happening. I hope they don’t catch her though.”
“Wouldn’t it be exciting to meet her?” the young woman indicated. “I wonder what kind of person she is. She sounds like a remarkable and courageous person.”
“I don’t know,” the young man indicated. “Let’s start walking to the next location on our list. There is so much more of this amazing city I want to see before we have to leave later tonight.”
It was like an out-of-body experience for me to see people talk about me with excitement and curiosity. Obviously, the Council’s attempt to silence me through their version of my unexpected fake death back in Thomson had failed and the rumours were instead increasing at an even greater pace. I hadn’t expected so much talk about me in this vast city, but I guess being a silence breaker even here was the most exciting news.
Observing the conversation, I still felt upset with myself for losing the ability to speak because I didn’t know what had happened to me. Was my chance to do something for the greater good with my voice gone? It was so unfair of life to take this away from me; it was the only thing that made me different and I wanted it back.
I stood up and walked back in the direction of the shelter and, as I passed a small school, I stopped at a fence overlooking the school yard. At one corner there were three guys surrounding a girl; she couldn’t have been more than thirteen years old and, from the uniforms there were wearing, I realized all of them went to this school. Her back was against a wall and I couldn’t see what the guys were saying to her, but she was obviously scared as her eyes couldn’t hide the fear.
Why was she alone here? Where were her friends? Where was the teacher? I glanced around and saw some other students playing further away, but they either hadn’t noticed the drama about to happen or had chosen not to get involved.
I had lived a fortunate life never to be in such situations like the girl in front of me and it was more likely because I had stayed away from everyone in school, but sometimes I suspected Oliver had something to do with it. I always felt Oliver’s association with me had kept me away from the horrors of school. This could explain why people, such as Susie, felt Oliver and I were close despite neither of us showing it in school.
The taller and stronger guy in the group shoved the girl against the wall and the bag she was carrying fell to the ground and some of her stuff spilled open. I saw the two other guys pointing at her in a cruel way and taunting her. The taller guy kicked her bag further as the other two watched. By now the girl was rubbing her tears away and I could see that she kept asking the guys to leave her alone. Some of the other children had turned around a bit, but then turned back to their own activities.
Why couldn’t the others help her? Why did such things still happen in this day? Hadn’t we as a society evolved? I shook the fence, but my sounds seemed never to reach the group of boys as they continued to stare at the girl. Someone needed to help this girl and in my concern for her I felt something start to rise in my throat and, without thinking, I spoke the words “fall now” at the three guys. I felt the rushing wind swirling in the atmosphere around me and then the three guys immediately fell back onto the ground. The girl didn’t know what had happened, but quickly picked up her stuff and bag and rushed away to safety.
Oh my gosh! I stepped back in delight realizing I had been able to speak again with power to help the young girl. I wanted to leap into the air with my fists in victory, but I controlled myself as this was a public space.
The three guys were slowly getting back to their feet, shaking their heads in confusion and probably wondering what the heck had happened, but I was glad I hadn’t seriously injured them. The three of them glanced around looking for the girl and, realizing she had escaped, walked off briskly into the school building.
I turned to keep walking and noticed in front of me the thirteen-year-old girl coming in my direction. She was calm and composed, although I could see the remnants of her tears across her face.
I stopped in front of her and signed. “I saw what happened. Hope you are okay. You need to be careful with those guys and stay away from them.”
She looked at me, smiled and bowed. “I will try. Thank you for your concern.”
“You are more powerful than any of them,” I said.
Her mouth opened, one hand went to her face, her eyes widened and she stepped back in shock. “Oh my gosh! Are you her?”
I smiled. “Be strong. Things will get better for you.”
Hearing myself talk again was a liberating experience and I finally felt like I knew who I was always meant to be.
Then, I kept walking without looking back at her and after a few minutes turned around, but the girl was gone and I am sure she would have a great story to tell her family and friends, which would help the rumours to multiply across the city.
Once I reached the shelter I noticed the lights were off inside the room, which was unusual as Susie wouldn’t have done that unless she had gone out again, but I didn’t think she had. As I began to search for Susie, I heard someone behind me.
Turning around I faced the two men from the previous day, except for the fact that they were this time wearing dark suits and one of them had a gun pointed at me.
FORTY
The man pointing the gun directed me to go further into the room.
“Don’t make any sudden moves,” the man with the gun signed.
“Where is my friend?” I signed in defiance as I stepped backwards.
“Bring her out,” the first man waved to the second man.
The second man disappeared and then came back holding Susie by the head and in his hand he had another gun.
“I will put a bullet in your friend’s neck if you do anything,” the second man signalled.
I stared at Susie, who seemed nervous, and it had to be because she suspected something was wrong with my abilities.
“You should have stayed dead in Thomson,” the first man gestured. “It would have been easier for all of us, but now you and your friend here will suffer for returning to Vinder.”
I remained silent and softly said “push” with a fierceness and both men were shoved against the wall as Susie jumped away and luckily there were no gunshots.
I walked over to the first man who was still conscious and trying to figure out what was going on. I was glad they were alive and I had managed to control my emotions.
“What just happened? What did you do?” the first man motioned in confusion.
“Who are you working for?” I signed. “Is it the Council or Dr Liverfield?”
“It doesn’t matter anymore,” the first man signalled. “What matters is that there will be many more of us who will come after you. We are only the first few who had been sent to capture you. You won’t be able to stop all of us. We will keep looking for you. You cannot hide anywhere little girl.”
“I am not a little girl,” I declared and kicked him violently in the stomach and the first man collapsed.
Susie came over and high-fived me. “That was awesome, Marinette! You are back. I was quite worried about you for a while.”
I then shared with Susie what had happened to me and the fact I couldn’t speak for a while and how I got over it after walking around.
“I think it was because of what happened at Thomson and with Lara,” Susie highlighted. “Something must have been blocking your ability. I kind of thought something was wrong with you, but I wanted to let you sort it out yourself first.”
I wasn’t surprised by Susie’s observation. “I think so too. I am happy I can speak again. To be honest, for the first time in my life I missed using my voice. It is like I lost a part of myself.”
Then, I told her about the couple at the park and helping the girl at the school.
“Wow Marinette! You were amazing,” Susie motioned. “I am so proud of you! This is what society needs.”
“Are you ready to do the video?” Susie signed. “I know how to use the equipment now.”
“We need to tie both of these guys up first,” I gestured.
We tied up the two unconscious men, dragged them into another room and locked the room.
Two hours later, we had finished recording my video which was a short one, but it had taken several attempts to complete it because neither of us were good at recording videos.
“I am amazed we managed to get it done,” I said.
“You said everything you needed to,” Susie highlighted and hugged me.
“I hope it will be enough,” I stated.
“It will get the attention of everyone and from there on it is really up to society,” Susie indicated. “We cannot do anymore than this. We did our best.”
“Okay,” I agreed. “Let’s get this to Amelia.”
FORTY-ONE
We were back at the same park where we first met Jim and Amelia, but this time only Amelia was standing and waiting for us and she seemed quite nervous.
“Do you think it is safe to approach her?” I signed. “She seems to be alone.”
Ever since the two guys had followed us I was much more on alert since whoever was after me would probably know by now the guys had failed and would be even more aggressive in catching us.
“Let’s give her a minute,” Susie motioned glancing around.
I guessed Susie also felt something was not right here.
Then, I realized what had been bothering me.
“Look to her right,” I gestured. “The guy with the blue shirt.”
There was a man standing several steps behind Amelia on her right, he wasn’t doing anything, not even using his phone and it appeared like he was looking or waiting for someone. From where we were seated it seemed like Amelia hadn’t spotted him yet.
Susie bit her lip. “Now what do we do? There could be more than one of them around here.”
“Message Amelia to walk ahead to the next fountain and wait for us there,” I signed. “She will know something is wrong, but hopefully she won’t panic.”
Susie sent a message, Amelia looked at her phone and started calmly walking in the direction of the next fountain.
The man in the blue shirt looked up in Amelia’s direction, started to follow, before stumbling on his feet and hitting the ground.
“Nicely done, Marinette,” Susie grinned.
Susie was about to stand before I grabbed her hand. “Wait a bit.”
Another man in a white shirt walked right past us and towards the man in the blue shirt to help him up.
“That was too close,” Susie indicated.
As the man in the white shirt reached his associate, he also fell down and hit the ground.
“This is fun,” Susie grinned as the two men continued to be on the ground.
“Now,” I signalled and we both stood up and walked in the direction of the next fountain in the park.
I did get a high from releasing words with the raw power behind them to do things, but I knew I had to always keep it under control as everything was linked to my emotions in some way.
“Those guys we tied up were right,” Susie highlighted. “Whoever is after us keeps sending more and more people. They won’t stop until they get to you.”
“But my speech will expose Dr Liverfield, the process and hopefully slow her and anyone else down,” I countered.
Although I sounded confident, I really hoped it would happen.
As we got nearer to the next fountain, Amelia recognized us and walked over.
“What happened back there?” Amelia motioned.
“There were people watching the area,” Susie indicated. “Here is something for you and take off your coat.”
Susie passed Amelia an extra wig which she quickly placed over her head. Amelia then took off her coat and threw it behind some bushes.
“This should buy us some time,” I motioned.
“You mean they had followed me?” Amelia signalled in disbelief.
“I am not sure, but it could be possible,” I signed. “Can you still do this for us? We would understand if it is too dangerous and you wanted to change your mind.”
Amelia smiled. “I am not going to let these people scare me and stop the truth from coming out. It has been too long already. It is time to shake up society.”
I smiled at Amelia’s determination to help us, but I knew she was taking a great risk.
“Do you need one of us to be there to help you?” Susie gestured.
“It would be too complicated to get you into the studios,” Amelia highlighted. “The security has been increased in recent weeks, which may have to do more with the Resistance’s recent activities than about you.”
“What activities?” I signed.
“Oh you didn’t know?” Amelia motioned. “The Resistance recently raided one of the Council’s bases in the north of the city and stole a lot of military equipment. I heard some people on both sides were killed during the raid. The news did a lot of coverage on the raid and really highlighted the evil behind the Resistance.”
“I see,” I motioned.
This attack must have been the Resistance’s response to the raid on their building. I was happy to be away from the Resistance because I didn’t know why they needed to steal military equipment from the Council. It seemed like their intentions were much more beyond exposing the Council and Dr Liverfield’s process, which I had suspected all along. News of this raid only helped further strengthen my suspicions about them.
“Do you have the video?” Amelia signalled.
Susie passed her the chip with the recording.
“It is only about 1 to 2 minutes.”
“That’s perfect,” Amelia smiled. “Makes my job easier to do.”
“But what happens to you after it is broadcast?” I signed, still worried for Amelia.
“I disappear,” Amelia smiled. “I have planned it all out ever since our first meeting. Anyway, give me an hour or two to get everything ready. I will message you in a while right before the broadcast, but I recommend you find a comfortable space somewhere with access to monitors so you can watch the fireworks.”
Emerging Above the Silence Page 18