Gap Year: Oh No...
#21 of Gap Year
Uploading early as I'll be out of contact for the next week. Enjoy!
A bright light shines in my eyes, shaking me from the uneasy sleep I had managed to reach. I see a number of sharply dressed men and women being dragged in on chairs. I have no idea what the fuck is going on, and I doubt that it would behoove me to ask anyone. Everyone around here is a fucking psychopath. Something on one of the people catches my eye. Just a small pin on the lapel of one of the men's suit, I recognize it to be St. Andrew's Cross, the Scottish Flag. Suddenly I know who these men are. The realization is a terrifying one.
These people are the heads of states of various European countries.
And they're all in Laney's clutches.
"Jake, wake up," I say, right in his ear.
He stirs and opens his eyes, he looks at me and then around, taking note of all the people who are in the room at the moment. His brow furrows in confusion and I start to take count of the people I see. It seems that there are at least twenty different people here, all of whom are tied into chairs in a line with us.
"What's going on?" Jake asks me. "Who are these people, Brent?"
"They're prime ministers and presidents of countries from all around Europe."
"Oh shit..."
"Yeah. 'Oh shit' is right."
"What do you think she's planning?" Jake asks.
"I have no idea..." I answer him. And not knowing makes my stomach clench up.
I hear a familiar pair of heels walking toward us. They're heavy and sound incredibly menacing because who always comes when I hear them. And sure enough, into the light walks Laney, wearing her usual skintight black combat gear, guns and knives strapped to various places all over her. She walks right up to me and grabs my crotch, a coy smile plastered on her face.
"Are you sure I can't change your mind, darling?" she asks me.
I lung my head forward, slamming it against hers. It hurts so much, and I groan loudly, but she backs off, clutching her nose and growls in return.
"So be it. You had your chance! Let's get this thing started! John, start the broadcast."
Powerful studio lights blind me for a little bit. When my eyes come back to focus, the first thing I see is cameras and then walls, and at least a dozen armed men. The irony of the situation is not lost on me, and I can only imagine that on any other day, I might have laughed at this, but I can't help but fear--not for myself-- but for Jake.
I shouldn't have gotten him into this...
As if sensing my fear, he presses his leg up to mine in an effort, I suspect, to calm me down. It works a little and I manage to keep my head and breathe in and out, air filling my lungs and blowing out through my mouth.
"Hello, world," I hear Laney say, voice smooth as honey with a layer of menace that I doubt would go unnoticed by even the dimmest of viewers.
"As you can no doubt see, I have the leaders of Europe assembled here. How? Well... That's for me to know and you to wonder. Now, when you see this, what do you see? Ireland! Germany! Scotland!" She pointed to each in turn, fur standing up, making her look bigger than she was. "What do all these fucking countries have in common? They're all run by humans. Humans who have done nothing while their own citizens and countrymen are abuse and mistreated. And why's that? Because, we're not like them. We have the misfortune of being born, in many cases, furs. But why do we do this? Why do we vote for these people who clearly don't care for us?
"Because, my fellow furs, they don't care about anything. Except. Themselves. They want to keep themselves on top and kill us! Some of these countries have started deporting us. I don't know where--we have no home. We don't have a place to call our own. So I'm calling on all my soldiers and all my fellow furs: stand up and take your place by my side. We will claim our own land and kill any who oppose us!
"Now, I know what many of you are thinking. I must be crazy-right? Surely I'm crazy. How could I possibly suggest we claim our own land? How is it even possible?
"Like this."
From her pocket, she takes a syringe and I can feel Jake tense up. He's not afraid of needles. Unless...
"Oh my God..." he whispers.
"What is that?" I whisper back. "I know you know."
"That's Osadolescere."
"Oh, shit..."
"She can kill them with that," Jake says loud enough so only I can hear him.
"How?"
"If you're not prepped for it, it can--"a gun butt hits the back of his head and silences him. He goes limp.
I turn and see Laney grab the dignitary next to me. He screams as Laney jams the needle into his forehead and he screams louder still when she pushes the hammer down. The result is immediate as his head starts to pulse and grow. His screams fill the space and I wonder what's about to happen.
His head bursts open and blood and bits of skull and brain fly, coating me in a fine layer of blood and gray matter. I gag yet I can't stop myself and I spew vomit all over, adding to the disgusting shit that's on me. While everyone is screaming and panicking, all I can think is how sad it is that I threw up on myself.
Laney grabs the back of my chair and drags me towards the camera. I know she's going to use me and I don't care anymore. I know that I won't live through this. But I won't give her the satisfaction of seeing me crack.
"This, you should all know, is Brent Phillips. He's the brave young man that took down a hate group single-handedly. Now, many of you might be thinking, oh, why would he be here, tied to a chair like everyone else?
"Brent's betrayed his species. This," she motions to someone and Jake is dragged over beside me, "is Brent's squeeze. Jake Carter thought he could be one of us, but he still lives with his human parents. He still affiliates with them. He's not really one of us. I should kill him." She raises a gun to his head and Jake looks over at me, a single tear streaming down his face.
"But that's for Brent to decide. I will spare him, if Brent decides to join my group and help me execute these swine. So what will it be, Brent? The humans of the world, or your own kind? Strangers who have hated you from your birth, or your boyfriend?
"You have ten seconds."
My heart is beating and I feel my own cheeks getting damp with tears.
"Ten."
"Don't do it, Brent, I'm not worth it,"
"Nine."
"Shut up, I'll get you out of this,"
"Eight."
"Don't. I had a good run."
"Seven."
"But I can't live without you."
"Six."
"You have to."
"Five."
"I love you, Jake."
"Four."
"I love you too, Brent."
"Three."
My stomach drops and I'm finding it hard to breathe.
"Two."
"I love you so much, Brent. I always will."
"One."
I close my eyes and wait for the shot.