idiot_Soso
|• the eggtastic frieggs at egg-versity •|

"You are all dismissed, thank you for joining me in this meeting. To the future." Lyra placed a palm on her chest as she watched candidates file out of the door.

"You are a great leader, you know." Anier stacked all the project files as she spoke. "You make everyone feel like they are doing the right thing, not fear that they might have to live a year in a Program made by a... a child if I'm being honest. You make me feel proud like I am the future."

Lyra placed a hand on Anier's shoulder. "You are the future, you are a warrior at the round table."

Anier gasped. "I am?"

Lyra took out a slip of paper from her pocket. "There's a reason for everyone who's on this list."

Anier glanced over it, admiring Lyra's intricate handwriting. She read on. "Lincoln Solo, Juniper Thomas, Justin Thomas, River Mancroft, Adam Hugh, Wes David, Elizabeth Mancrore, Hamza Abir, Anier Zaka." She paused and squeezed Lyra's hand gratefully. "Kay Morson, Dianne Wells, Lyra Zwane." Anier looked up at Lyra and saw her frown. "What's wrong, Lyra?"

"I need something to help Lyra, as in me in the simulation, a way out. It's in the eighth cave and there are thirty caves, but how will I know that?" Lyra rubbed her hand against her head. "How will I know to go to the gate and find the map? We can't cheat and tell her, that'll destroy the purpose of this program."

"How about a stimulator? Like you did for the door, the bracelet, it's a stimulator, right?" Anier walked past her and fixed the table. "Like something to help you remember, what reminds you of eight out of thirty?"

"You," Lyra whispered. "I remember it was your birthday the day I was designing the outskirts of Prime, that's why it's the eighth."
She paced towards her desk. "I think I know exactly what we should do, I should record myself and leave a message, one that needs to be slightly deciphered." She turned in the camera. "Help me, Anier."

Anier moved towards the desk, allowing Lyra to stand in front of the lens. "Ready? Go."

"Lyra, you are watching this now because you've advanced to stage two and on the brink of three. To solve this, and find your way out, think carefully. Just remember, around the chest of gold, there were thirty soldiers, the strongest being Anier." Lyra nodded as Anier closed the camera.

"You think it'll work?" Anier asked.

Lyra sighed. "I believe it will. I know for a fact, those words will remind me of the caves. I believe that things happen for a reason, this recording will have a reason."

"That's what makes you different from Candace, you believe, she doesn't." Anier came around the table and hugged her. "I'm proud to be your best friend."

"Can I tell you a secret?" Lyra spoke into her hair.

Aniers nodded.

"Candace thinks the Elite Program can save Duncan. Since he's brain dead, the electric impulses from us, when we are in it can bring him back, and instead of using high voltage, we'll give it a variation of high and low, depending on how we move and work." Lyra pushed herself away from Anier. "You think it'll work?"

"We need to believe, or else it won't, have faith, Ly." Anier smiled. "Was that it? I have a feeling there's more you want to say."

Lyra hesitated before she carried on. "You know Dianne Wells?"

"Yeah..." Anier prodded.

Breathing in, Lyra carried on. "Well, she might only be seventeen, but she has a sixth-month-old baby." She let the fact sink into herself. "She just signed her child to Cortex today. It's a baby girl, named Tanisha, more importantly, she gave me a letter to give to her when Tanisha becomes fifteen. What if something happens to me? Who will give her the letter?"

Anier raised her brows. "Wow, I... don't know what to say." She blew air out of her mouth before responding. "Maybe, you can send it to her with a time schedule of fifteen years, Cortex has the system, you can just add it to it, fifteen years is a long time, but I'm sure it'll be sent through."

Lyra clapped her hands. "That's brilliant. And one more thing." She slightly blushed. "I think I like Jude." She bit her lip and closed an eye.

"Like? You love him! Juniper and I have been watching you for some time now, we had a feeling you both like each other." Anier gushed.

"Really?" Lyra squealed. Anier nodded.

Lyra felt the weight on her shoulders lifted and her heart lighten. She did love Jude, she just couldn't tell him. What bit at her heart more was the baby, Tanisha. Lyra saw the glint in her baby eyes, she could see the child growing up to be a beautiful girl, an intelligent child. She named her Tan. Lyra would go and play with Tan when she had nothing to do. It itched her fingers to know what was in the letter, but she hoped Tan would grow up and read it to her one day. For a sixth-month-old baby, Tan was smart, she could already speak; she called Lyra 'Lee'. Lyra liked it, especially how her tongue rolled when she said 'Lee'.

Tanisha played with Candace's interest, she had her eyes on the child, something about Tanisha made her skeptical, like the baby knew something no one did, Candace didn't like Tanisha.

"Lyra..." Anier called.

"Yes?"

"Can I tell you something?" Lyra nodded at her. Anier opened her mouth to speak but the words were stuck. "Nothing." She ended up saying.

"Tell me when you're ready." Lyra didn't like pushing Anier, she knew if it was important, Anier would tell her. She knew if it affected her, Anier would say so. It still picked on her interest, but Lyra let it slide, it's not important, she said to herself.

But it was, it was about you, Lyra, you and the secret they all keep from you.

—

Every detail is important! It all comes back, so remember!

What do you think of baby Tan, I personally LOVE her!

Thoughts?

I want to see baby Tanisha grow! Do you?