by Cameron Jace
“Thanks,” She blushes. “Can’t you get any taller?” She messes with him.
“That’s the first time I’ve seen you without a machine gun, Thor,” Bellona says and hugs him, military style. And no, her face does not shine like when hugging Woo. “Nice perfume.” She sniffs him jokingly.
“Nice to see you, Bella,” Leo calls her Bella, which is too nice of him but totally out of place.
“Hey.” Leo nods at Woo without approaching. Woo nods back, his chin a little higher. It’s not like they are enemies, but they aren’t quite friendly with each other, either. The short conversation between them stops here.
Then Leo turns back to me, spreading his hands at his sides without saying a word. It’s like saying: Here I am.
“So you’re in?” I wonder.
“A little show for the Summit won’t hurt. Besides, I couldn’t resist.” He says.
“Couldn’t resist what?” I ask.
“Being back with all my favorite suckers,” He points at us. “It’s like we’re a Scooby Doo gang and we’re all back together.”
“That’s all of us being together in hell,” I mumble, really not knowing what’s wrong with my pessimistic temper. I felt I wanted to hug Leo for a second, maybe even kiss him, but my eyes betrayed me and looked for Woo, who wasn’t even looking at us.
“I know,” He blinks, but his eyes are sincere. “Paradise sucks if you’re alone. Hell is alright, only if you’re with your friends and family.”
“So we got you and Woo in the same place,” Pepper exclaims. “This never happened before. What do they want us to say on the stage in the ceremony? I am curious.”
“I really don’t think we should be doing this,” Bellona says. “It’s a trap. I’m only cooperating because Woo told me to,” She says the last words, looking harshly at me. “So you’re not going to be with us for the ceremony?” She asks me, looking like she wants to pick a fight. Is that because of Woo? Does she like Woo now and think I am the obstacle?
“I can’t,” I lower my head. “I am a Ten. I am not allowed to attend the ceremony.”
“And why is that?” Bellona asks hands at her waist. Everyone else doesn’t say a word for a moment. “I’ll tell you why,” She takes a step toward me and grins. “Because Tens don’t have an audience to talk to. In this ceremony, each one of us will talk to our new factions, which consists of thousands of people. But Decca is a Ten and has no one to talk to because there are no other Tens. Pathetic.”
“What the heck is your problem?” I burst out.
“What does it look like? You!” Bellona pushes me against the wall. I step back and clench my fists. What is wrong with her? “What the he—“ I yell at her.
“Stop trying to be the boss or the hero,” Bellona says. “You’re the reason for all this mess in the first place. First, we fall into the trap of this stupid deal, and now we’re obliged to step on a stage and show our affection to people we don’t like.”
“I really had it with you,” I push her back and scream at her. “What’s wrong with you? We were best friends.”
Bellona pulls out her machine gun and wants to hit me with it. I don’t hesitate and pull out my knife. Since Carnivore, I always walk with a knife on me.
“Boys!” Leo shouts, standing in the middle, separating us. Woo stays afar, not doing anything. “Let’s go get some beer and pick up chicks on our way home,” Leo continues mockingly. Pepper giggles. “Either you stay the cute girls I once knew, or I will punch you both in the face as fellow stupid and drunk boys.”
“I did it!” Vern comes bragging out of the room. “I passed the test. I am a Clairvoyee.” They call each one who passes the Clarine test a Clairvoyee. Now that Vern passed, it’s official that they all are going to attend the ceremony.
Woo and I exchange worried looks. Woo doesn’t like Vern at all.
“Congrats, Roger This.” Leo shakes hands with him. They do what Leo calls a Californian handshake. Some gesture from the time of the Amerikas.
“I can’t believe it. I have Clairvoyee eyes.” Vern says.
“Playing video games makes your eyes stronger,” Leo says. What a lame comment.
Then the door opens and Faustina comes in. She’d tested positive for being a Clairvoyee long ago. I am really suspicious about all of this now. Why is Faustina considered one of us in the ceremony? What kind of trick is Xitler playing on us?
“What are you doing here?” Bellona asks.
Faustina looks worried. “I am the Eight.”
“That’s what I needed. A freakin’ Teen Gene. You’re a robot.” Bellona says.
“I love you, too, power ranger,” Faustina says with that aristocratic smirk on her face. “At least I know how I am going to lure my faction on stage. What are you going to say to your faction? Shoot’m up?”
“So since Leo was talking about us being like a Scooby Doo gang, where does Faustina fit in, exactly?” Pepper wonders.
“It doesn’t matter,” I say. “Let’s just get done with this stupid ceremony tomorrow. Doesn’t anyone really find it strange that they need to broadcast such a ceremony with Clarine in our eyes? I mean, why not just use ClairVos, or better, just broadcast the whole thing live?”
“I don’t really know what you’re talking about, but I snuck out secret info about what they want each of us to say in the ceremony tomorrow,” Faustina says. “It’s pure fun.”
13
I Believe
On the top of Xitler’s Royal Tower, the show has taken on a new meaning. Instead of being trapped in the Playa and begging Fayans to let them live, my friends are on top of the world facing the new rainbow-colored Zeppelins hovering even higher than the Tower itself. The sinking sun behind them adds an element of mystery and magic to the scene, which is already candy to the eyes.
The sunset in Faya is colorful, bright, and legendary. The type of scenery that looks really good on TV’s, especially the XD ones.
I get a different vibe, though. All I can think of is that soon after the sun sinks, Faya will drown in the dark. I can’t seem to wash these thoughts away lately. I can always feel that gloomy cloud behind all those bright colors of Faya, and I wonder why.
“Wow,” Flam says, sipping a pink Milmilk. “That is some festival.” He wipes his lips elegantly after each sip, leaning back on the white couch and watching the festival on TV with me.
“How come this festival was organized so fast?” I can’t sit. I am barely keeping calm, being trapped in this room. I am the Girl with Golden Eyes. I should be up there. The crowd usually hails my name. I know that I shouldn’t think that way but I am feeling slightly jealous because of all the attention the others are getting. Maybe because attention is all I have got left to live for.
What the heck happened to you? The cuckoo in my head reminds me of the birds in clocks on the walls, popping out every now and then to tell the time. My cuckoo pops out to check me back into reality instead.
“You can create an event in seconds with the power of the iAm,” Flam clicks his fingers, not taking his eyes off the screen. I know he is fond of dancing and shiny colors. “I think there is also another reason why the people of Faya arrived in the Zeppelins so fast.”
“Yeah? What’s that?” I watch Leo, Faustina, Vern, Bellona, Pepper, and Woo walk toward the main stage where Eliza Day waits for them. The crowd is hypnotized into silence, wondering what Xitler has in store for them. The idea of having a scapegoat from every faction instead of the Monsters is really confusing.
“The show is a punishment to the people of Faya for cooperating with a Monster,” Flam elaborates. “Each Nine, Eight, Seven, Six, and Five are glad that the one on the stage now isn’t them or one of their families. They don’t want to anger the Summit by not attending the event. I have to give it to Xitler, being one hell of a mind twister.”
“You’re right,” I say. “He fooled us into giving ranks to the survivors of last year’s game and then us
ed them again in his new game. This can’t be a coincidence.”
“If you ask me, I think he and the Summit had planned this long ago.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean it’s impossible that Ariadna’s video just popped out of nowhere a couple of days ago. The Summit had the video long ago but didn’t show it. They tricked you into accepting the deal of the I Am A Ten episodes first and fooled you and the Monsters. Now that the time has come for the 11th Monster Show, which they claimed they have canceled, they uploaded the tape to Zootube and staged this new Redemption Show.”
“How didn’t I think of that?” Flam is right. The Summit has played us, and I was used as part of the game, but it’s too late to go on regretting anything. We’re going to fight for our lives again and we can’t do anything about it.
“The Summit is incredibly smart. They have also fooled their own people,” Flam says. “Look at each person in Faya and how they will do their best to make this show super awesome. They fear that if they don’t, Xitler could substitute one of them with for your friends. It’s a real mind-twist. Milmilk?” Flam stretches out his hands with his drink.
“I don’t want to get drunk, Flam,” I shake my head. “Besides I am not seventeen yet. According to the laws of Faya, I am not supposed to drink.” I joke with him.
“You can kill but you can’t drink?” Flam raises an eyebrow. “Some law.”
“Why are you even drinking?” I ask.
“Relax. It’s milk, and it pink. Strawberry flavor. It just gets you to accept all the bad things going on around you with a smile on your face, and I love to smile.”
“Shhh,” I wave my hand. “You’re talking nonsense. Look. Eliza is going to summon them.” I point out.
“And the moment has arrived, ladies and gentlemen,” Flam sips his Milmilk. “It’s showtime.”
“What’s going to happen now?”
“More mind-bending, I guess.” Flam muses.
Eliza Day announces the 1st Redemption Show to the people of Faya, saying that Xitler will give a speech tomorrow after the sixteen-year-olds of Faya get ranked. For now, the Summit is just introducing the contestants that each faction will vote for in tomorrow’s show. Tickets to the Zeppelins were free today. I wonder what is really behind this show. Is it really just a punishment because of Ariadna’s incident? I grit my teeth when I remember that I am not up there because I am a Ten. There is no faction to vote for me or support me. I wonder if other ranks will still vote for the Girl with Golden Eyes in the show.
How come a Ten is so lonely on the top without friends voting for her?
“Shut up, cuckoo.” I murmur.
“You said something?” Flam wonders casually.
“Nah, was just coughing.” I sneak a look sideways at him on the couch. I don’t want anyone to know about my internal dialogue.
“Oh,” Flam sips Milmilk again. “What an awesome drink, Cuckoo.” He mumbles.
“What did you just say?” I turn my head to him with a knitted forehead.
“What?” He shrugs his shoulders. “Was just coughing.” He tries to keep his lips from curving into a smile, but he just can’t. He’s so much an open book. I smile and turn back to the TV screen. I don’t mind Flam knowing I have a cuckoo in my head.
“Each one of the contestants will step to the microphone right now and tell his faction what he believes in,” Eliza announces.
“So they are ‘contestants’ now? Not Monsters?” I fold my arms.
“The rules of the game baby,” Flam says. “The rules of the new game.”
“Each contestant will say the phrase, ‘I believe in…’ and will follow with a short sentence that should relate to his faction and make them want to vote for them. It’s a hit or miss. Each contestant has to find the words that will make his faction the happiest,” Eliza says to the silent and anticipating crowd who seem to be as confused as I am. “It’s up to you, people of Faya, to decide if you will sympathize and vote for your contestant to win this game.”
“I am really glad I am drinking my Milmilk,” Flam says to me. “This mind-bending is a little bit too much for me.”
“I don’t get it,” I say. “So each of my friends has to say something that the faction believes in so they support him?”
“Exactly,” Flam nods. “Which is not that easy. Each of them has to really hit the right note with one sentence.”
“What would you have said if you were out there?” I ask him, biting my lips.
“I believe in Milmilk!” He raises a toast in the air.
I shake my head back to the TV. As much as I like Flam, I think he can’t take the pressure and uses the Milmilk to feel relaxed.
“What would you have said, Decca?” He asks back. The question almost paralyzes me because I don’t know what I believe in. I am a Ten with no one else like me, and it feels stupid and lonely. How can I even know what I want if there is no one out there to share it with me?
“I thought so,” Flam nods, knowing that I don’t have an answer. “Now you understand how hard it will be for them.”
Flam is right. This reminds me of the school assemblies when each one of us had to sing a song out there on stage, knowing that most probably everyone will laugh at us. I never could even sing in key.
I turn back to the TV and shrug as I see Leo stepping up to the microphone. Even though this is the Leo whom all girls go crazy for, I see beads of sweat on his forehead. He spends a long moment looking silently at the crowd until the sun sets and disappears behind the colorful Zeppelins.
“If this was the Leo he once was,” Flam says, eyeing me sideways. “He would have just shot them all right now. But he is not anymore since he met…”
“Since he met me. I know, Flam. Shut up. Don’t try to make me feels guilty.”
“Aww,” Flam says. “You wouldn’t be that tense if you drank some Milmilk.”
I ignore him, watching Leo unable to say the words. This is getting awkward.
“So, how did it feel kissing Leo?” Flam asks, neglecting Leo’s reluctance on TV. Flam can be too calm sometimes.
“It doesn’t matter,” I say, not taking my eyes off the screen.
“That good?” Flam sips more Milmilk.
There is no room for me to respond. Leo speaks.
“I believe in…” Leo starts hands in his pocket. He’s got his chin up high. He poses with that boyish charm of his and the corner of his mouth lifts up a little in a Leo-like arrogant way. “I believe in me!” Leo finally says.
It takes a moment for the crowd to absorb the sentence before they starting hailing, “Leo. Leo!” It’s one of the few times when those who hail for Leo aren’t only girls but boys as well.
“Brilliant,” Flam says.
“What’s so brilliant about it?” I ask.
“Leo is a Nine. Nines are practically celebrities and everybody looks up to them. Saying that he believes in himself is just the right choice,” Flam is almost in love with Leo. “If your idols don’t believe in themselves why would they be your idols in the first place? Bravo Leo.” Flam claps a palm on the Milmilk.
“But there aren’t many people hailing for him, though,” I remark.
“Who are you kidding, Decca? After Tens, Nines are the loneliest of the crowd. There aren’t many of them. His faction isn’t that big in numbers but they will support him.”
I scratch my head as Faustina steps up toward the microphone after Leo.
“I wonder what she is going to say,” I mumble.
“You’re not coughing, are you?” Flam teases me.
Even though Faustina was downgraded to an Eight to work with me, she is just made for this stage appearance. The way she walks and the way she is dressed is hypnotizing to boys and intimidating to girls. You can’t deny that she’s already got the votes of her faction. I wonder if she was taught how to talk and act so well, or if it just runs in her blood as a Teen-Gene effect.
> Faustina doesn’t hesitate to talk in the microphone. “I believe in… ” She says with a charming smile and hands behind her back. She could as well just announce the winner of the lottery right now. “You!” She says.
Once her words flutter like stars with wings in the air, she bows her head slightly and spreads her welcoming arms out, almost as if saying, ‘Eights of Faya, I am at your service.’
Flam shrugs. “What a fabulous girl,” He doesn’t sip from his Milmilk anymore. “I almost believed her.” He says as her faction, much more that Nines, clap their hands from their Zeppelins. It’s such an elegant scene to watch.
“What do you mean, Flam?”
“Eights work in the media and interact with people all the time. They sell the Summit’s lies to the people and make people buy products they don’t need,” Flam explains. “What Faustina did is what any Eight would have done; convince the world that the government and the rich believe in them while they barely care for us.”
“Wow,” I say. “You have a way for analyzing things, Flam. I wonder why you just settled for being a tango teacher.”
“Because I love it,” Flam says casually, without even thinking. He crawls toward the screen when Vern steps up. “Now this is going to be awkward.” He points at Vern.
“Yeah, I know,” I say. “Vern has stage fright, and I wonder how he will convince his faction.”
“Sevens,” Flam mumbles. “That’s on a hell of a faction in our society. Even though they are good-hearted, it’s not easy to please them.”
“Why is that?” I wonder.
“Because they don’t know what they really want in the first place,” Flam says. “They are regular people who aspire to live nice, regular lives. They don’t ask much and don’t demand much. They believe in the good of the world but seem to be easily fooled because they are rarely able to see the bad of the world.”
“So what? What’s wrong with that?” I raise an eyebrow, remembering that I wanted to be a Seven one day. I still feel like that’s the best rank that suits me.