Chapter 31

Lucky charm

I have thought what could have been the purpose of the movement all along. If they were planning this since then, why they didn't stop in the first place of establishing the process? Why does it take them almost a century to stop the High Council? They had reasons and I couldn't just believe why now all of a sudden.

Cha tries to help me to familiarize the building. And I don't its necessary for me be familiar around, I don't find myself staying in this place any longer. However, they are pursuing me to join their movement. I just couldn't waste the opportunity of having a better life after this process. I don't know what to think but seeing all these people who take risks for their lives, they wanted change and somehow, the change they wanted wouldn't start if they didn't make a move. That's why the movement becomes their weapon against the High Council.

I'm just not sure how will be movement occur in this process.

"Where are we heading now, Cha?" I asked her.

"Here," she said as we turn left at the end of the hallway. When we turn our way, there's nothing special on it but just like every other normal hallway. I look at her, raising my brow and I know, she knows my head was gonna explode with curiosity. She laughed a little when she saw my reaction, "there's nothing much of here, just dead end." She said.

I look at the hallway and found nothing but the darkness.

"Did anyone tried to go there?" I asked her.

She shrugged off her shoulder, "I don't know... maybe, but I heard they never came back."

My forehead creased as she tells what's with the dead-end hallway.

"But anyway, you wouldn't dare to come into a dead end, right?" she said, I nodded and smirked on her. "And now, we'll be heading to your room to stay."

"Would that be necessary?" I asked her.

She nodded, "you're one of us now, Dylan. And being part of the movement comes with a great price..."

"And what is that?"

"Life for a better future."

"Isn't what we do was for a better future?" I asked her.

She smirked, "I know where you're getting into, Dy. But trust me, the way the movement act was different from the others... just look how, what you will become someday if you stay on the movement."

"Cha... I don't know."

She patted my shoulder, "we still got a long way, Dy. You still have many days to think about your decision but now you're here, I hope it helps you to stay."

I didn't respond to her after that and we continue walking towards she's saying my room to stay. I couldn't be against what Cha believes into the purpose of the movement because after all, she's in this place because of her sister. She fights for the justice of her sister. And I would do the same thing she does but not like this way.

Too risky and life defiant.

As we come across the hallway, we bound to passed a facility where a transparent glass mirror shows few young people train with combat tactics. I stopped for a moment and watched how they show their fighting skills and strategy. There was also some trainer who guides and teach young people to use their strength and ability to fight.

"Oh, good thing you saw them," Cha said.

"Why are they doing that?" I asked.

"It is for them to be ready for the fight."

"Fight?" I asked her, and she nodded. "This movement would come battling against the High Council?"

"If we had to," she said. "But you know what, I don't think you would go inside the arena cause I have seen you fight and your strategies, Dy. You already got it."

I smirked on what she said, "don't make me proud of myself, Cha."

"Just saying dude," she chuckles. "Anyway, we should get to your room now."

"Yeah, we should."

I took a glance once again before we leave the arena. Maybe this place was made for people who would take a risk and had the courage to sacrifice their lives at all cost for the justice they deserved. I also wanted that, I had the courage and bravery inside of me but I wouldn't risk anything just because I know the future wouldn't be gone good but I still hope for a better one.

Cha and I take the access stairs leading to my room. From the ground floor, we reach the third-floor opening again into another hallway. Cha explained that this floor was allocated for every member of the movements. Some rooms are on higher floors but Cha leads me on the third floor.

As we passed few doors, some of them are watching us on their doorstep and I couldn't hold a look on them cause I do wanna create such trouble and intimidated by their dark aura. When we reach my room, Cha and I hugged each other before she leaves.

"See you tomorrow, Dy."

I nodded, "yeah, same."

As Cha walks away, I faced the metal door of my room. I hold the doorknob and was about to open it when someone caught my attention by hissing on me. I look around and searched where it is coming from and found a guy who's behind his doors. I hesitated at first but I walked toward his door and then he immediately closed the door right into my face.

I scratched my head, did he just shut the door after calling me? What the hell this dude has on?

"Are you calling me?" I asked him, knocking on the metal door. For a few minutes, no one answered. It is like I'm talking into the dead air of silence. I was about to turn around and head back to my room when I heard the clanging metal of his door opened. I look back and see his face, scared and somewhat got me bothered. "You won't hurt me, right?"

My brow raised as he asks those questions, "I'm not here to hurt someone... why did you ask that?"

"No... we shouldn't be supposed to talk..." he mutters and shut the door back and echoed through the hallway.

I sighed after what happened and walked back to my room. When I opened the metal door, the odd odor of the room greeted me. It is not big and not small for an individual. It is actually okay and simple. The wall was well-furnished, there's a single bed on the right corner, small desk, toilet, and a sink. There's also a small-squared window on the center which the light from the outside enters the four-cornered room.

This is how they treat the members of the movement. I just don't know how this would work.

When I sit on the bed, the spring and metal clamor noises around. I lay down on it, but both of my hands on the back on my head, and crossing my leg to the other one. I looked at the grey, dusty-web ceiling of the room and all I could think of was getting out of here and pursuing the life I ever wanted for me and my family.

It also got into my head where they talked about my brother. From the field, knowing that my brother could have some interventions on my process were not something I didn't think of. The shallow thought of knowing that in every way I did, maybe my brother was here to help me. But why? That's the critical question, lurking in my head. I know that's one of the policies in Noble Land.

Do not interfere with Null People.

But maybe, they were all just giving me some hope to get live on. To know that someone is there waiting for me. So when in time I finished my process, they could use my ability on their corrupt system of governing the diverse population of the world.

I didn't notice that I had gotten sleep for I think half an hour or more than that, I immediately get up on the bed cause I do remember what Barry told me earlier. Meet him at his office. I slowly walked into the door, opening it without making a creaking sound and when I did it safely, I look out on both side of hallways to see if someone is there and gladly, it is quiet and just accompanied by darkness. I came out of the room and closed it, tryna doesn't make a sound.

When I reach the access stairs, I tiptoed for it doesn't come in any noises. I already asked Cha where Barry's office located, good thing she never asks why I asked her where's his boss office. She might be wondering if she knows the reason why.

It doesn't take long when I reach his office, I took a deep breath before knocking on his before but before I could do that, someone talked and stopped me to do it.

"Just get inside, Dylan." It was Barry's voice, inside his office and when I look up ahead, there's a CCTV leaning on me.

I looked away from the CCTV and enter his room. When I see what's inside his room, it is far from what our rooms. There's a wooden desk in the center of his room, he's sitting on a swivel chair and a stand-lamp shade beside him.

"Good thing you find your way here," Barry said. "Come and sit." And pointed the chair in front of his desk.

"I'm sorry, what are we talking to again?" I asked him.

He chuckles, "you're here to make up your decision about the movement, right, Dylan? You don't know anything about the movement, about us, the defectors and so I am here for you to be enlightened."

"Yes please..."

"What do you want to know first?" he asked.

"Hmm..." I listed in mind the things he enumerated, "About the movement, Barry... how did it start?"

"Good choice of asking the first question." He smirked, "The movement started twenty years after the first commencement of Rebirth. At first, there were no actions, just continuous planning, and strategies on how to defeat the High Council but just dealing with plans doesn't make them stop. It has to be made with actions but before that year, there are people who were afraid, scared and couldn't take the risk of making their life miserable just by joining the movement and so, few years after, the movement vanished from existence."

I still come in silence, trying to understand all his words.

"On 2087, on the 69th Rebirth were my time to take the process, and also I have heard that the movement was coming back from ashes and will start to make the movement come at its feet again and fight back against the High Council. After almost 50 years, we'll come to make something we were waiting for, to change the course of our lives."

I smirked on what he said, "but you didn't win, right." I said, "you were still fighting against them until now and I don't think the movement will ever surpass that kind of achievement. No one could beat the High Council wherein, they are far more beyond what we are."

"That's when you are wrong, kid."

My brows furrowed as he questioned me, "we were never far beyond what they are, we are more alike of who they are. Remember, kid. They are acquiring people from the Waste Land and taking up every individual strength and intelligence to make them great. That's the problem everyone was looking for. They think High Council, Noble Land has intelligent people but most of their people are coming from where we are. Null People are gaining knowledge and they just used them to manipulate and used them to stop the People from Waste Land interfere with such achievement they are getting. The boundaries they set off were destructible. Once the people know the dark secrets of the High Council... it would never be impossible that their own people would be against to them... just like us, begin to defect."

"And why now to take actions?"

He stood up from his chair, circle his way around to me and patted my shoulder, "cause it is the time you are going to save humanity, Dylan."

I jerked his hands away from me, "I don't want anything from this Barry."

He smirked, "well, that's what in your head but it isn't what I intend to hear from you..." he picks up something from his jeans back pocket and when he handed over it, I almost attacked him because I thought he would, but he just wants me to have something I have never seen for the last few years. "You remember right?" he asked.

I get the necklace medallion from his hands, "where did you get this?"

He chuckles, "there's more to know Dylan... but I just wanted to hear a thing from you, so this time, anything you wanted to know, you'll get it."

I scoff, I don't wanna think of this but when I look at the medallion. It is impossible for them to have it. There's only one person I know who has this. My father gave it to my brother... a somewhat, good luck charm.

I look at him straight, "and if I say yes, what do we do next?"

"A lot, Dy." He said, "so, your answer?"

I nodded to him, "I'll join the movement."

He laughed and comes closer to me as he reaches for a hugged on me, he pats my back and loses his arms on me. "Now, you are one of the defectors, Dylan... and I'm proud to say that."

picksIt's now or never.