mean for the Multipliers?
“What’s going to happen to us?” Asa asked.
“I think we’re going to get out of here, Asa. Now that the secret is out, there’s no reason for us to be here. The Academy is kept alive by Robert King’s desire to train students to kill people on the verge of discovering that Alfatrex is putting out the Wolf Flu. But now that everyone knows, I don’t see the point of us staying. Who’s going to keep us here?”
Asa didn’t know what he could say. Teddy went on with: “This means that you’re not a wanted man anymore. The Multipliers were helping the Academy because the Academy was lowering the human population with the Wolf Flu, which would lead to the global governments having a smaller chance of stopping them from Multiplying at will. So, they had to adhere to the contract that your dad made, which said that they couldn’t Multiply as long as you or Charlotte were here. Now, that won’t be an issue. You’re just like the rest of us.”
“But what about the Multipliers? What’s going to happen to them?”
“I think they’ll leave.”
Asa considered what he had learned. If Teddy doesn’t think I’m a target for the Multipliers, then he has no reason to kill me. Asa chastised himself for misinterpreting his friend’s actions as threatening.
“Of course,” Teddy went on, his eyes locking on Asa’s. “I could be wrong. There are four other owners of Alfatrex, besides Robert King. Maybe they’ll use this place to protect themselves. Or maybe they’ll start a new business.”
It was quiet for a moment. Asa felt his armband vibrate and looked down to see a message appear in the fabric:
All students are required to report to the Town Center immediately for an assembly.
Yours truly,
Robert King
4
Reporting for Robert King’s Request
“Yours truly, Robert King?” asked Asa, looking at the armband where he had just received the message.
Teddy stood up and unplugged the television from his armband. Without the glow from the screen, the safe room was dim, lit only with two small-flamed candles. Water dripped from the faucet on the far wall.
“Why is it signed Robert King?” Asa asked.
Teddy looked incredibly tired. “Either the news is lying to us, or the Academy is. No matter the case, we need to go.” Before beginning this new semester, the students had been warned that a ‘strict punishment’ would be issued to any students who didn’t react promptly to messages on their armbands. Now that they were no longer living in the dormitory, they would be responsible for getting themselves where they needed to go on time.
“Maybe they’re afraid to tell us he’s dead,” Asa suggested.
“Maybe. Do you think it’s a trap?” Teddy asked. “What if now that Robert King is dead, the Multipliers want to kill you and Charlotte, and take over the Academy. Maybe they’ll want to move it—to hell with what the crows might reveal.”
Asa followed Teddy over to the tunnel. “You don’t think that’s going to happen, do you?”
Teddy picked up the two flickering candles, one in each hand. “No. I don’t think so.” He blew a puff of air and they were in complete darkness. Asa could feel Teddy walk by him, and then heard soft waves as his friend entered the cold water passage.
Asa crawled slowly on his belly, hands out in front of him until his fingertips brushed the water surface. He took a deep breath and then lowered himself until he was completely submerged. He pulled his body forward along the thin passage until he came to the place where the tunnel made a fork and split off into two directions.
Asa stayed where he was for a moment, once more contemplating what Teddy
“What’s going to happen to us?” Asa asked.
“I think we’re going to get out of here, Asa. Now that the secret is out, there’s no reason for us to be here. The Academy is kept alive by Robert King’s desire to train students to kill people on the verge of discovering that Alfatrex is putting out the Wolf Flu. But now that everyone knows, I don’t see the point of us staying. Who’s going to keep us here?”
Asa didn’t know what he could say. Teddy went on with: “This means that you’re not a wanted man anymore. The Multipliers were helping the Academy because the Academy was lowering the human population with the Wolf Flu, which would lead to the global governments having a smaller chance of stopping them from Multiplying at will. So, they had to adhere to the contract that your dad made, which said that they couldn’t Multiply as long as you or Charlotte were here. Now, that won’t be an issue. You’re just like the rest of us.”
“But what about the Multipliers? What’s going to happen to them?”
“I think they’ll leave.”
Asa considered what he had learned. If Teddy doesn’t think I’m a target for the Multipliers, then he has no reason to kill me. Asa chastised himself for misinterpreting his friend’s actions as threatening.
“Of course,” Teddy went on, his eyes locking on Asa’s. “I could be wrong. There are four other owners of Alfatrex, besides Robert King. Maybe they’ll use this place to protect themselves. Or maybe they’ll start a new business.”
It was quiet for a moment. Asa felt his armband vibrate and looked down to see a message appear in the fabric:
All students are required to report to the Town Center immediately for an assembly.
Yours truly,
Robert King
4
Reporting for Robert King’s Request
“Yours truly, Robert King?” asked Asa, looking at the armband where he had just received the message.
Teddy stood up and unplugged the television from his armband. Without the glow from the screen, the safe room was dim, lit only with two small-flamed candles. Water dripped from the faucet on the far wall.
“Why is it signed Robert King?” Asa asked.
Teddy looked incredibly tired. “Either the news is lying to us, or the Academy is. No matter the case, we need to go.” Before beginning this new semester, the students had been warned that a ‘strict punishment’ would be issued to any students who didn’t react promptly to messages on their armbands. Now that they were no longer living in the dormitory, they would be responsible for getting themselves where they needed to go on time.
“Maybe they’re afraid to tell us he’s dead,” Asa suggested.
“Maybe. Do you think it’s a trap?” Teddy asked. “What if now that Robert King is dead, the Multipliers want to kill you and Charlotte, and take over the Academy. Maybe they’ll want to move it—to hell with what the crows might reveal.”
Asa followed Teddy over to the tunnel. “You don’t think that’s going to happen, do you?”
Teddy picked up the two flickering candles, one in each hand. “No. I don’t think so.” He blew a puff of air and they were in complete darkness. Asa could feel Teddy walk by him, and then heard soft waves as his friend entered the cold water passage.
Asa crawled slowly on his belly, hands out in front of him until his fingertips brushed the water surface. He took a deep breath and then lowered himself until he was completely submerged. He pulled his body forward along the thin passage until he came to the place where the tunnel made a fork and split off into two directions.
Asa stayed where he was for a moment, once more contemplating what Teddy
Similar Books
