Protective Measures

by Jessica Arman

“Outside this building, everyone is free. Only kids have to come here, and not even all of them. Rich kids get to run free and work wherever they want.”

  “What are we talking about?” Taryn asked, walking to the center of the crowd.

  “Taryn, you’ve looked better,” Tracker said as she got up.

  “Yeah well, you haven’t,” Taryn responded. Everyone laughed.

  “Shouldn’t you clean your face?” Tracker asked as she put Taryn’s nose between her two index fingers. She pushed it hard to the left and felt it go back into place with a small crack.

  Taryn responded by taking a big breath through her nose. “Maybe later.” She took another big breath. “So, more of your ‘having your own opinions’ crap?”

  “I think we've all heard enough of that,” Laiken said. “We all have opinions and know how to use them, but we have to keep them in check around Alloy.”

  “Except for Taryn, who doesn’t care who hears her opinions,” Ryker said lightly punching her arm.

  “I just died, and you’re punching me,” Taryn said sarcastically, lightly pushing him.

  “Sorry, didn’t know you became a pansy after dying,” Ryker said.

  “Anyway, how are we going to get out?” Taryn asked.

  “Out of what?” Laiken asked, looking confused.

  Taryn realized everyone else also looked confused. “Daycare,” she said. “What did you think I meant, moron?”

  “You just died twice for speaking your opinion, got hit twice with The Stick for disobeying, and now you want to make a plan to escape. What is wrong with you?” Ryker asked.

  “We need to get out of this place before they completely brainwash everyone,” Taryn said. “We can do it.”

  “How do you propose we go about it?” Laiken asked. “If Alloy found out about it, he wouldn’t think twice about killing you. Rules or not.”

  “Then we don’t let him find out,” Taryn said as if talking to a child. Everyone was now staring at her.

  “The first thing we have to do is get as many people as we can on board,” Taryn started. “A few of you will sneak into the other sectors to tell them what's going on and find out how many want out. After that, we'll make our plan. One of you will be selected to go to each sector. You'll have to talk to them after lights out and stay the night with that sector. Then report back to me at lunch tomorrow.”

  “I’ll go to the cooking sector,” Tracker said.

  “I’ll take technology,” a boy called out.

  “Ok, that just leaves the learning sector,” Taryn said.

  “I’ll go,” Laiken said.

  “Okay, that settles it. When we get dismissed for dinner, weed your way into the different sectors, but don’t get caught. Don’t talk to anyone until the lights are out. Just act like you belong there until then.” Taryn said.

  Everyone went back to work. Tracker went to work on her bed frames, Laiken and Ryker went to assemble the cafeteria tables, and Taryn went to finish welding the sector framework. When they were finally dismissed for dinner, Taryn went to the laundry room to find new clothes. She could only find a different shirt, but it was better than the blood-covered one she was wearing.

  Taryn found Ryker waiting in the dinner line leaning with his back against the wall. She walked right up to where he was, ignoring the annoyed yells of the people she was cutting.

  “Laiken make it in?” Taryn asked.

  “Yep,” Ryker said coolly.

  “Ok, what’s your problem?” she asked.

  “Nothing,” he responded.

  “Bull. Now spill it.”

  “Why do you want out?” he asked, turning to face her.

  “What kind of question is that?”

  “What are you going to do when you get out? Where are you going to go? We only have two more years in here anyway,” he responded.

  "And you think Alloy is just going to let me leave?" Taryn asked.

  "He has to," Ryker said.

  "He'll make me leave the school, but he'll put me somewhere else," Taryn said. "We can't let this keep happening to kids forever."

  “Since when do you give a damn about anyone else?” Ryker asked.

  “I want Alloy done, and the only way to do that is with everyone’s help,” she said. “Let’s just eat; we can discuss this more when we get feedback.”

  When their numbers were called they grabbed a tray of slop, picked a table, and ate. After about ten minutes people started filing out, and the announcement for lights out rang over the intercom.

  “See you tomorrow,” Taryn said to Ryker. The boys and girls bunks were on separate floors, so Taryn had to go up one flight of stairs and down the first hallway to her room. The room was empty, which was not normal, but she did not think much of it. She went to her bed, took off her boots, lay down, and instantly fell asleep.

  When she woke up, she had a pounding headache, and her face felt wet. It took her eyes a while to focus, and when they did the first thing she saw was Master Alloy. She looked around and noticed she was in a solid brick room with one door and a camera in every corner.

  “Morning sunshine,” Alloy said.

  Taryn tried to get up but found her arms had been tied to the chair behind her back and her legs to the chair frame.

  “Just couldn’t get enough of me, huh?” Taryn said coolly.

  “No need to get smart,” Alloy said. He went over to a small control box on the wall and punched in a code. All four cameras buzzed and a projection lit up one wall. Taryn was watching herself on the screen.

  “Your fellow schoolmates will be watching and listening while they eat their breakfast this morning, which should be right about now.”

  “So what is the importance of this?” Taryn asked.

  “Well, it seems that you have come up with a plan,” Alloy said.

  “And what would this plan be for?” Taryn asked.

  “Don’t play dumb with me,” Alloy said in a threatening tone.

  THE STUDENTS WERE JUST SETTLING into their breakfast tables when the projections came on. Ryker and Laiken were sitting with Tracker and Remmy at one of the back tables. The instant Taryn’s face came up on the screen, Ryker dropped his spoon.

  “That son of a bitch,” he spat.

  Everyone was now watching the screens and mumbling.

  “I do hope everyone will enjoy the show,” Alloy said. “It will be quick but very effective.”

  “Damn right it'll be quick. Come on Laik, we have to find that room,” Ryker said as he got up from the table. Laiken joined him, and they took a detour to the building sector to grab a couple of shovels. Then they proceeded to the basement where all the holding cells were. Once there they heard it, an ear splintering scream followed by silence.

  “This way,” Laiken said pointing to the left hallway. The two boys ran down the hallway and stopped at the only door there. They waited and listened.

  There was another scream followed by Taryn shouting, “This won’t change anything! We will get out and I will be the one to kill you!”

  Ryker backed up and kicked the door in. Alloy was momentarily shocked; just enough time for Laiken to whack him over the head with his shovel. Ryker ran over to Taryn who was sitting in the chair with her head hanging.

  “Hey, hey!” Ryker yelled lifting her head. She had a little stream of blood coming from the side of her mouth and her eyes were unfocused. He noticed wires coming from her arms leading to a machine.

  “Laik, turn it off!” Ryker yelled. He was already working on untying her arms and legs. Once she was free and the wires were removed, Ryker put one of his arms through her armpit and the other under her legs. He carried her out following Laiken to the building sector break room.

  “Go find water,” Ryker said as he put Taryn down.

  Laiken brought back three water bottles and handed them to Ryker who poured some in Taryn’s mouth and some on her face.

  “Go tell everyone if they want out, meet at the main doors. Make sure the
y take out the guards. Then you go ahead and lead everyone out and find somewhere to go,” Ryker ordered.

  “What about you guys?” Laiken asked.

  “We’ll be there. Don’t forget weapons. We don't have much time before Alloy wakes up."

  Laiken grabbed as many shovels, hammers, and as many other tools as he could carry that could be used as weapons, and ran to the cafeteria.

  “Taking charge, I like it,” Taryn said from the ground.

  “Hey, you good?” Ryker asked.

  “Fantastic. Now shouldn’t we get going? We don’t want Laik to steal the show,” Taryn said, getting up.

  They each grabbed a shovel and wound through the empty halls to the main doors, Taryn stumbling a few times. The doors had already been broken open, and there was no sign of Laiken and the others.

  “Damn it Laik, you could have left us some direction,” Ryker said.

  “Hey look at this. It looks like blood,” Taryn said.

  “I wonder whose.”

  “I don’t know, but there’s a trail. Let’s follow it,” Taryn said.

  They followed the blood trail down the road then through a field next to the school. There was still no sign of the others.

  “Laiken! Laik!” Ryker yelled.

  “Shh. Do you hear that?” Taryn said. They listened to what sounded like chopping.

  “In the trees?”

  They ran to the nearby forest looking for more blood. Taryn ran ahead of Ryker, following a few blood drops. She walked between two trees and SMACK!

  “What the hell!” Taryn yelled holding her face.

  “Sorry, protective measures, Tracker said, lowering the shovel. “What took you so long?”

  “God! Where's everyone else?” Taryn asked, massaging her face.

  “Camp, 'bout a half a mile that way.”