“Dad…” Justin began. “If there was a way to change all of this, would you do it?”
“Change what?” Thomas snapped, confused.
“The way things are. The way the higher and lower floors work. If someone wanted to overthrow that whole system, would you support it?” Justin asked.
“Are you talking about the people that took over the big screen in the lobby?” Thomas asked, narrowing his eyes. “It’s all anyone at work can talk about. They’re gunning for them. They’re terrified they might actually bring about some change. Personally, I’m all for it. If I could sign up, I’d do it tomorrow.”
Justin considered his father’s words, his heart racing with the euphoria of having his dilemma resolved. He raced to the door, picking up his shoes and grabbing his discarded jacket as he ran without stopping, grasping the door handle firmly, his hands shaking with adrenaline.
“Where are you going?” his father called after him.
“Out!” he replied, shutting the door behind him and sprinting barefoot towards the lift.
Once inside the empty elevator, he scrambled to dress himself, shoving his feet into his loafers and hopping as he flung his jacket around his arms with haste. For the first time, he was grateful for the lift’s terrifyingly fast speed and was glad to reach the lobby in a matter of seconds, nearly bumping into several waiting passengers as he flung himself forward the moment the doors opened, tearing across the lobby floor as fast as his legs would carry him.
He raced through the bumbling crowds of shoppers, careful to weave his way through without causing too much disturbance, for fear one of the patrolling robot Guards would catch sight of him and stop him from going any further. Once away from the popular hub of shops and cafes, he resumed sprinting, knowing his route by heart from many years of treading the same pathway in reverse. He dodged the bins and cleaning equipment stowed untidily at the back of the lobby, rushing past the convenience stores and clambering inside the rickety lift, typing furiously on the keypad that controlled its movements.
A special code was required to access the maintenance tunnels, which thankfully Justin had memorised. His mother had always resented the fact that his father often had to take him and Finley to work, whilst she performed her duties as a maid on Floor One. If only she had she known how useful the excursions would become, Justin thought to himself as he entered the six digits into the keypad, both relieved and a little bit depressed that nobody had ever bothered to change the code over the years.
The lift creaked into motion, grinding its way down in an unsteady descent. They passed Floor Six and Seven, Justin’s heart stinging with sadness as the door slid open to reveal the old, familiar corridors that led to his former home. With little reason to travel lower than the bottom floors, the lift remained empty, allowing Justin to continue with his plan uninterrupted. After what felt like an agonisingly slow journey, the metal box around him shuddered to a creaky halt, releasing him into the dingy darkness of the tunnels beyond.
As he stepped out, the familiar smell of must and damp filled Justin’s nostrils, his muscle memory guiding his feet in the right direction as the sound of dripping water echoed eerily from afar. Despite having frequented the underbelly of the Mayfly many times growing up, Justin had never been there alone, and something in the atmosphere was very different to his recollections of the place as a child. His breath turned to fog before his eyes as he studied his surroundings, keeping himself on guard for any sign of movement that might indicate the presence of the Society.
He moved across the damp floor, his loafers squelching in the puddles that had formed from the leaking pipes. He wondered how badly neglected the area had become since his father had taken on the role of Governor. As far as he knew, there had only ever been a handful of maintenance men and most of them had been taken in for questioning during the De Havilland Initiative. The abandoned site made an ideal place for the Society of the Enlightened to meet undiscovered, and he was more convinced than ever that he had successfully managed to find their hideout.
After travelling for a few minutes, he was met by the sound of voices drifting from somewhere to his left. Following the noise, he ventured down a series of passageways, until he found himself in a large chamber, dimly lit by the torchlight of several Personal Devices attached to the wrists of the small gathering that had congregated in the centre of the room. The people there were dressed in flowing, red cloaks, their hoods positioned expertly to conceal their faces. They were engrossed in a deep conversation, speaking in hushed tones and leaning close together so as to draw themselves into a tight circle. Justin cleared his throat, wishing to make his presence known so as to prevent any accusations of spying. The cloaked figures started, jerking their bodies around to discern where the source of the noise was coming from. The lights from their Personal Devices shone glaringly into Justin’s face, forcing him to raise his arm protectively in front of his eyes.
“Who goes there!” one of the group demanded.
“He’s moving his arm, he’s got a weapon,” a familiar female voice declared.
“No, no, I don’t,” Justin assured them, raising both his hands to the air in surrender. “I haven’t come to hurt anyone. My name is Justin Campbell, I’m Thomas Campbell’s son. I want to join the Society.”
There was a moment of silence as his words rippled around the group.
“How did you find us?” the figure in the centre demanded, stepping forward imposingly.
“I saw the tunnels in the background of one of your bulletins,” Justin told him. “My dad used to work down here. That’s how I was able to find my way around.”
“Don’t believe a word he says,” a man spat. “We should forget our stupid rules and kill him.”
“There’s no way to know if he’s telling the truth,” a second male voice chimed in. “We can’t risk him exposing us.”
“Aren’t you the brother of that famous boy?” the central figure asked, cocking his hooded head to the side as he attempted to take in Justin’s appearance. “The one who stopped Admiral Allance?”
Justin bowed his head. He despised being recognised for being Finley’s brother and sensed the revelation would not impress the Society of the Enlightened the way it seemed to do with everyone else. His avoidance of the question, however, served as an admission of the truth, sending a wave of muttering up among the Society members.
“Why would the brother of Finley from the Famous Four want to join our ranks?” the figure pressed on. “Surely you have everything you could ever want now? Your family was raised to Floor Two by the Captain only a few weeks ago. Why would you want to turn on him?”
“I haven’t forgotten what it was like before,” Justin replied simply. “Unlike other members of my family who seem to have a very short-term memory. We were treated like slaves by the very same people who were supposed to rub shoulders with now, smiling at them gratefully to let them know how happy we are to be there. They used to shudder at the sight of us, and now they act like we’re all one big, happy family. But I’m not like them. I haven’t forgotten where I come from.”
“I can sense your passion is genuine,” the figure responded. “However, you must understand why we are reluctant to trust you. Our bulletin specifically informs our followers not to actively seek us out. How can we be sure that you aren’t going to betray us? Your brother lives in the Captain’s pocket. Lois Sommers is one of his best friends. Even if it wasn’t intentional, your knowing anything about us could expose us permanently.”
Justin chewed this over for a minute, unsure what assurance he could offer that would prove his loyalty to the society’s cause.
“What do you want from me?” he asked. “Anything you tell me to do, I’ll deliver.”
The figure, who Justin realised must be the Society’s leader, paused for a few seconds, considering the offer carefully.
“The Famous Four represents a symbol of hope to the citizens of the Mayfly,” he began. “They are, by assoc
iation, a positive representation of the Captain and his leadership. The generosity he has shown towards your family inspires admiration amongst the very people he seeks to oppress. If you wish to demonstrate your loyalty, then tell us something about the Four that nobody knows. Something that we could use to crack the perfect image presented on the News Station every day. We need people to question the fairy-tale story they have been fed about the big bad alien, the four heroic children and the wonderful Captain who gave Cinderella’s family the life of luxury they now enjoy.”
“My brother never leaves his room,” Justin answered simply. “He has nightmares almost every night. He has panics every time he goes out. He’s just a boy. The fame and the attention are too much for him. Being the Captain’s puppet has had terrible consequences for him.”
He hesitated, wondering if he should disclose the secret Finley was most ashamed of.
“Go on,” the Society’s leader prompted him.
“A couple of weeks ago, he fainted in the lobby,” Justin continued. “He hallucinated. He thought he saw Admiral Allance following him and ended up in the Medic Ward because of it. He’s no more a hero than I am. He’s just a frightened child.”
The leader looked towards his followers, all of them nodding to indicate their approval. He turned back to Justin and walked forward, standing centimetres from his face and dropping his hood to reveal his identity.
“You?” Justin squinted. “You’re in charge of all this?”
“Yes,” the leader nodded. “That’s right.”
“But…why?”
“Much like you, I have a good long-term memory. I remember how things were on Earth when the corruption and the conflict was at its worst. I have seen many incidences aboard this ship that remind me of those terrible days. I know better than anyone that those who lead us are abusing their power. As long as my high-ranking position remains in-tact, I can bring the pyramid of supremacy down from the inside out,” the leader explained.
“You’ve shown me your face,” Justin said slowly. “That either means you’re going to kill me, or that I’m in the Society. Personally, I’m hoping for the latter.”
The leader chuckled.
“You have proved your dedication and your worth,” he smiled. “Your position so close to the Famous Four will help us greatly. Supposing, of course, that you are willing to fulfil your role. It may mean betraying your brother and his friends.”
Justin considered the notion.
“I’ll do whatever it takes,” he replied. “Things need to change. It can’t go on like this.”
“Excellent,” the man nodded. “Justin Campbell, I welcome you to the Society of the Enlightened. Now, it is time for you to receive your very first mission.”
5.
Return To The Academy
Emily awoke on the morning of September 1st and jumped from her bed, pulling on the school uniform she had kept neatly pressed in her wardrobe with joy. The ten-week long holiday seemed to have gone on forever, and she could hardly contain her excitement over the prospect of returning to the Academy for her second year. She packed her suitcase, envisioning herself walking through the school’s grand entrance, passing under the giant, golden representation of Novum that hung over the enormous, navy front doors. Even the thought of resuming lessons and having to endure lengthy homework assignments provided her with great comfort, and she imagined days spent holed up in the Library with Will, Lois and Finley, writing their essays together as they had done on several occasions the previous year.
More than anything, she hoped her return to the school would bring with it the sense of normality that had been seriously lacking from her friendship group since the end of their final term. Being a part of the “Famous Four” had caused a great strain on the once easy relationships she had with the others, and she resented deeply their inability to spend any time together without incessant scrutiny from the other passengers. Worse than all of the unwanted attention, however, was Will’s developing relationship with Matina, which had grown steadily over the holidays, consuming all of Will’s spare time. On the rare occasion that Emily got to see Will, he insisted on relentlessly discussing his new girlfriend, who seemed to have transformed him into a lovesick puppy almost overnight.
Emily shook all thoughts of the nauseating romance from her mind, focussing instead on the task of folding her clothes and placing them neatly in her suitcase. Once she had emptied the entire contents of her wardrobe into the case, she set about checking the rest of her room, grabbing the array of tablets and I-Books she had collected and positioning them on top of her belongings, along with her clunky Student Planner. Satisfied that she had remembered everything, she made her way out of her bedroom and into the living area of her apartment, where her brother Charlie was waiting for her with folded arms. With their mother and fa-ther both preoccupied at work, Charlie had begrudgingly agreed to travel to the platform with Emily, on the one condition that she disappeared as soon as he located any of his fourth-year friends. She had accepted the terms, resolving that even in his most unpleasant mood, Charlie provided far better company than that of her parents, whom she had struggled to get along with during her time at home.
“Finally!” Charlie exclaimed as soon as Emily entered the room. “I was going grey waiting for you out here.”
“Don’t be dramatic,” Emily sighed. “I was only making sure I had everything packed.”
“How much stuff do you need?” Charlie asked with disbelief, eyeing up her bulging suitcase.
“I have to be prepared,” Emily replied simply.
“Prepared for what? Getting trapped in the Resource Biodome with Riley Fitch for the rest of your life?” Charlie scoffed.
Emily shook her head. “You wouldn’t understand. You wear the same pair of trousers for weeks on end.”
“I’m only thinking of the poor maids at the Academy who have to wash our clothes every day,” Charlie said with fake sincerity. “I’m saving them a huge job by cutting down on what I wear.”
“Well you don’t have to worry about that anymore,” Emily informed him. “I-Tech have installed robots at the school to take over practically every human function. I had to help ship them out as part of my work experience.”
“Don’t tell me Ms. Everly will be out of a job now?” Charlie asked with genuine concern, making his way over to the front door and swinging it open with ease. “She was the best dormitory Warden we ever had. So easy to sneak past.”
His eyes clouded over as he recalled fond memories from his first-year, which Emily was glad she knew nothing about. Welcoming the opportunity to escape from his taunting re-marks, she walked in silence, allowing him to become lost in the past without disturbing him as they made their way from the apartment into the lift.
The ride to Loading Deck E -where the platform was located- was short, and Emily and Charlie soon found themselves lost in the hustle of the crowd that was moving purposefully towards the entrance. Emily struggled to stay alongside her brother as the impatient fleet of Academy students pushed in every direction, ramming suitcase wheels painfully into her ankles as they bypassed her in the rush to board the Shuttle.
By the time they had reached the door and funnelled through the threshold, Emily was deeply disgruntled. The shiny floor of the platform was heaving with bodies, the noise of their chatter deafening as people exchanged lengthy goodbyes with their families or shouted exhilarated greetings to their peers. Emily was certain the number of students attending the school had at least doubled since her first year and began to seek out a clear space that would allow her to take refuge from the suffocating mass of people at every turn. Using her elbows to aid her, she pushed her way into the corner, leaning with relief against a large crate of fuel cells that had been abandoned in the chaos.
With Charlie long since engulfed by the crowd, Emily had no choice but to search for any familiar face she could find, craning her neck as she endeavoured to make sense of all the commotion. Unable to see anyon
e that she recognised, Emily turned to her Personal Device, sending out a message of help to Will, Finley and Lois in the hopes that one of them would be able to find her. As if by magic, Will appeared seconds later, stumbling as he strived to break through the mob and come to Emily’s rescue.
“What’s going on?” he shouted over the uproar when he reached her. “There can’t be this many people going to the Academy. They won’t all fit on the Shuttle!”
“It’s madness!” Emily replied. “Where are the others?”
“I don’t know,” Will answered. “I came down with Lois, but she’s disappeared. Maybe we should stay here and wait for them to find us.”
They both looked with concern at the bustling mass of students in front of them, which only seemed to be growing more frenzied by the minute. Taking a moment to study the scene properly, Emily was troubled by the lack of navy jumpers and black trousers she could see on the platform, noticing instead the large volume of people wearing normal clothing.
“Will…” Emily said after a moment, “have you noticed most of these people aren’t in school uniform?”
“The first-years don’t have to wear uniform until they arrive at the school,” Will reminded her.
“There can’t be this many first-years,” Emily frowned. “Maybe they aren’t all students.”
Will’s face clouded over, a dark realisation entering his mind as he pieced together what was going on around them.
“You don’t think…” he trailed off.
Before Emily had a chance to respond, there was a huge uproar as members of the crowd began to shout at the top of their voices, pointing with excitement in their direction.
“There they are!” someone called out.
“It’s Emily and Will!” another cried.
“Quick! Take my picture with them!” one boy ordered his friend.
Dozens of enthusiastic fans descended upon them, waving their tablets and Personal Devices in Emily and Will’s faces as they clamoured for their attention. The mob surged forward, pressing Emily’s back into the abandoned fuel crate as she battled to get away from the chaos. Just as they were about to be crushed by their admirers, Will grabbed Emily’s hand and pulled, placing his arm in front of his face and running head-down towards the Shuttle, forcing everyone out of his way as he went. Emily clasped onto his hand tightly, her suitcase careering in all directions as she dragged it through the mass of spectators, each of them leaping out of her way as she passed.
The Secret Society Page 5