"Stay on subject!" Ryan said annoyed.
"Any other witnesses?" Lionel asked. "Or files."
Joyce nodded. "Miss Jenson!" she yelled.
A young lady in her early twenties appeared. She had a slight smile pasted on her face. "Yes Joyce?"
"Get into Thompson's, Byrne's and Michael's records.
Miss Jenson nodded. "Of course." she hurried back into the other room.
"Who's she?" Lionel asked.
"Teacher, vice principal." Joyce said.
"Who's do you need?" Miss Jenson came back with a stack of papers.
"Byrne." Ryan offered.
Lionel nodded in agreement. That set Melinda off. "You are not the boss Lionel Washington!"
"The-" Lionel stopped.
"Here's Byrne's records for this year." Miss Jenson handed Ryan some paper.
"Ten detentions, four tardy, and eleven Anti-peace warnings." Ryan muttered.
"Wow, you're trouble." snickered Felicia.
"Give me Thompson's." Gabby asked Miss Jenson as Melinda awkwardly left the room.
A few minutes passed and Melinda came back with a smug look on her face. "Commander is coming."
"You called the what?" Lionel stood up.
"Commander. Duh, Lionel." Melinda sat down on the velvet couch.
"Vicki did not murder the principal!" yelled Lionel.
Vicki and Judd exchanged uneasy glances.
A brown headed boy walked in the room with the strange cross/red X t-shirt. "A chopper is here."
"Enemy of the GC!" Joyce screamed. "Joseph Walker!"
Conrad slapped his forehead. "How many anti-GC people are there?"
"A few others, I think." whispered Miss Jenson.
"Let's go." Gabby tugged at Conrad's arms while Melinda almost knocked Lionel to the ground trying to pull him.
Ryan and Felicia just headed out to meet Commander Blancka, wondering what would happen to Judd and Vicki.
Conrad knew Lionel was struggling with his next move. Although Conrad was not planning on becoming religious, he doubted Vicki had killed their teacher.
Melinda, Felicia and Joyce were all smiles, congratulating themselves. Dreaming about their award from Nicolae Carpathia himself.
Judd and Vicki stared as the huge chopper with the GC insignia came into view.
"You three go see the Commander," Lionel told Melinda, Felicia and Gabby.
"They could run." Melinda argued
"I'll stay with you guys, Ryan you go." Gabby pulled her red hair out of her eyes.
"Me and Conrad will stay. And I guess Gabby will too."
Felicia got her gun out. "I'm staying."
"Me, Conrad and Gabby are big kids." Lionel said as if he were talking to toddlers. He held up his gun. "If they run we'll shoot them."
Ryan reluctantly agreed to go with the two major Carpathia fans.
"The Commander is waiting!" said Gabby trying to get rid of them.
Once they left, Lionel put his gun away. "Conrad, Gabby, I'm assuming you're with us."
Gabby nodded, but was quick to add, "But I don't know about this mark and stuff."
Conrad agreed. "We won't turn you in, but I'm not sure about this God stuff."
"We need to get out of here, me and Vick." said Judd. "The question is are you coming?"
"Don't we need someone on the inside?" asked Gabby.
"You are insane. I'm not going to stay here." Conrad stated firmly.
"It's getting dark," Judd told Lionel.
After a moment of dead silence, Vicki offered to go to what was left of the trailer park she lived in.
Since Ryan wasn't there, that made Conrad the technology genius.
"That chopper has everything, heat sensors, night vision, they'll spot you in two seconds." Conrad argued.
An idea came to Judd. "Ryan's place. Under the church. Could they find us under the concrete?"
Conrad scratched his head. "It wouldn't be easy, but eventually."
"What if, we ran?" Vicki wondered. "You can cover for us."
"Okay, but it won't be easy." Conrad said slowly, not wanting to fight.
Lionel left them as soon as they were at brown church.
"One more earthquake and you're both dead." Gabby nervously glancing up at the underground church's ceiling.
"Those two girls will know you've helped us." Judd warned.
"They're damsels in distress." Gabby muttered laughing.
"I agree with you on that one." Conrad teased. He thought about what Judd said and turned around pulling his gun out.
"Conrad, Conrad, no." Judd slowly backed away.
Conrad rolled his eyes. "Come on. Hit me underneath my eye. I'll tell the girls you overpowered me."
"I can't do that," Judd frowned.
"Look, you're saving us both."
Judd bit his lip while taking the gun and carefully hit Conrad.
Conrad frowned. Judd hitting him didn't even make him flinch. "My grandma can hit better than that."
"Whatever, man." Judd threw the gun back at him and smiled when Conrad's eye started to water. "Your grandma, eh?"
Conrad blinked then nodded sarcastically. "Yep."
A gun shot echoed through the church. Another gunshot followed the first deafening one.
"Who's that?" Gabby asked.
"Hopefully Lionel." said Judd.
Conrad gulped. "I hope he knows what he's doing." After thinking it over, he decided he knew what Lionel was up to. He was trying to get the GC to think he was near Judd and Vicki.
Conrad went to see the Commander, only to be caught into a fight.
"Sir, he hit Conrad in the eye." Lionel protested.
"They let them get away!" screeched Melinda.
"We almost got killed! And all you-" Lionel was cut off by the Commander.
"We will get them!" Commander Blancka banged his fist on the table.
"Took his radio too." Lionel said enthusiastically.
"Or you gave it to them." Melinda muttered.
Since the Commander was angry over Judd and Vicki's escape, Conrad whispered to Lionel, "I'll be right back. Cover for me."
Conrad wanted to know more about the invisible mark and the Bible itself.
Conrad's eye started aching again. Before he jumped down to where Judd and Vicki were, he felt a tap on his right shoulder.
Trying not to scream, he slowly turned his head; only to see Gabby smiling. "Hey Conrad. I want to know more too." Seeing his surprised glance, she added, "You got your eye checked? You told Judd to hit you."
Conrad sighed and whispered Judd and Vicki's name.
Phoenix, Ryan Daley's dog must've caught up with the two. He was barking wildly when Conrad entered the room.
"You better keep in quiet." Conrad whispered. "I thought you might want an update."
Judd nodded. "Okay, and an that'd be great."
"The Commander is mad, he wants you two bad. That kid is telling him stuff."
"I told you! That Charlie is-" Judd told Vicki.
"I like him," Vicki smiled, putting her red hair up with some string she found in the desk.
"He's nice," Gabby agreed. "Sort of strange, but."
"You should get back before the suspect you." Judd warned.
"I want-" started Conrad.
"Ahem," Gabby tugged Conrad's sleeve.
"We," Conrad corrected. "Want to know about this stuff. The mark."
"Bible and plagues." Gabby added.
"What do you know?" Judd asked as Vicki grabbed a Bible from Ryan's stash of Bibles.
"I've checked out the Rabbi Ben-Judah's website."
"Do you believe it?" asked Vicki.
"Yes, I do." Conrad whispered. Gabby nodded in agreement.
"Pray with me." Judd instructed. "Lord, forgive me for sinning against You. I believe Your Son Jesus Christ died on the cross for me and rose three days later. Come into my heart today."
After Conrad and Gabby said the prayer, Vicki smiled and moved some of her hair back, revealing her forehead. "See anything?"
Conrad squinted. "It's, a cross."
Before anyone else could speak, Phoenix barked.
"We'll talk later." Conrad stood up taking Gabby with him.
"Tell Lionel we're at the Stahley's house, if we leave." Vicki told Conrad. "He should tell Darrion and Shelly."
"Lionel will know where there that is, right?" asked Gabby.
Vicki nodded. "If he doesn't, Darrion will."
"So no matter what happens we'll see you again."
Gabby and Conrad crawled through the entrance, catching up to Commander Blancka.
"Have you located your radio Graham?" the Commander asked.
"No, Sir." Conrad replied.
"Okay then." the Commander hit a few buttons on his radio. "Blancka. Radio locate."
"We need the radio ID." the radio squeaked.
Conrad felt dizzy, the radio had a homing device. He could tell Lionel regretted handing Judd Conrad's radio.
"Sir," the radio squeaked. "The unit is moving."
"They're running!" Felicia screeched.
"Let's go!" Lionel grabbed his gun trying to act like a loyal GC member.
Conrad and Ryan, who seemed to appear out of nowhere followed them, hoping they wouldn't see Judd and Vicki with their hands up.
Instead, innocent little Phoenix appeared with Conrad's radio on his back, held together with the string in Vicki's hair.
"The dog!" Ryan couldn't help but smile.
"Graham, grab your radio. You and Svenson follow the dog. It might lead you to them."
When the Commander was out of earshot, Ryan asked about Judd and Vicki's status.
While talking to Ryan, Conrad tried to find a house. Anything, to throw the GC off Judd and Vicki's track. They soon found a house, and they strangely had a peace about it, that Judd and Vicki hadn't been there.
"Graham, sir." Conrad said into his radio. "We, saw someone go in the house."
"House where?" the Commander snapped.
After Conrad gave Commander Blancka the address, Ryan led Phoenix in the opposite way Judd and Vicki went.
Melinda and Gabby came followed by Commander Blancka, Lionel, and Felicia.
"Hands up!" Melinda shouted at the couple in the house.
The man, dressed in a blue robe got on his hands and knees. "I'm innocent!"
"Where are they?" Felicia demanded.
"Who?" the women asked softly. "And keep it down, I have a baby sleeping."
"You don't tell us what to do." the Commander said louder then before. A young baby's scream was heard.
"Two teenagers. Male and female." said Felicia.
"Search away, they're not here." the man firmly stated.
The hour-long search proved a failure.
"You know what?" Commander Blancka fumed. "All GCMM are to stay out of this right now. Let the adults handle it. This program is NOT working."
"But sir-" Lionel argued.
"No but's, Washington. I want those two stopped!"
The next day was sunny and bright, unlike their attitudes. Conrad and Lionel received news that Vicki was in custody.
To pass time, Conrad pulled out his Camermic. He had Slipknot blaring in his ears. Gabby laughed. "Slipknot is terrible."
"They're awesome!" Conrad disagreed.
"But what about what we read? Whatever is pure, true, noble?"
Conrad paused the music. "Then who do you suggest?"
"Look it up."
After some searching, Conrad found his new favorite band: RED. Since he was also fond of rap, he found a great rapper named LeCrae.
"What are you listening to?" Ryan asked as the words 'Whatcha gonna do when you breathe your last breath out your chest and you find out there's life after death?' escaped from Conrad's Camermic.
"Life After Death." Conrad told him.
"That's different." Ryan commented. "If Melinda and Felicia come in you're dead."
Gabby laughed. "Rap is just talking. That's what AM is for."
"There is no heaven or hell," Ryan mocked Nicolae Carpathia. "We are god."
"Yeah, Conrad." Gabby teased. "No life-after-death."
Ryan knelt besides Conrad. "I'm serious, did you become one of, ya know, them?"
Conrad sighed, then reluctantly nodded. He knew it was wrong to lie, yet admitting he now was a Christian was like suicide. He knew there were martyrs, and missionaries who were willing to become martyrs but he wasn't ready to do something like that yet.
"Conrad." Lionel walked into the room. "I need you."
"What for?" Conrad asked when he was out of the room.
"We're getting Vicki out."
Lionel went over the plan. He left the room and Conrad went back to their break room.
"What'd he want?" Ryan said, pushing back some of his hair.
When Conrad saw the mark of the true believer, he grinned.
Gabby smiled. "Two brothers in one week!"
"Glad you're with us!" Conrad couldn't stop smiling.
After their mini-ceremony, Conrad checked his watch. "Be right back."
Conrad ran to the lunch room where Lionel had told him to go. Just like Lionel had said, he and Melinda were sitting down drinking ice tea.
"So let me get this straight, me and you are gonna get this Byrne girl to start yapping." Melinda sipped some of her tea.
Lionel nodded. "Then we get tons of praise."
Melinda pondered the idea, then nodded. "Okay, I'm in. For Nicolae."
"For Nicolae." Lionel winked at Conrad.
"Hey, Conrad." Melinda smiled. "Guess yesterday didn't go as good as we hoped."
"He was mad," Conrad agreed.
Melinda looked Lionel in the eye. "Let's hope this works."
"Pray." Conrad told Gabby.
"Will do!" Gabby smiled.
Ryan was slouched on the couch reading PRINCE CASPIAN by C.S. Lewis. "Good luck!"
"Melinda and Lionel are gonna go 'question' Vicki, when Melinda gets drowsy from those sleeping pills Lionel put in her ice tea, Vicki and Melinda change positions." Conrad ran through the plan in his head. "Then I say Commander Blancka needs Melinda. Cake."
Gabby's warm smile and Ryan's encouragement calmed Conrad down. God was with him along with everyone else in the Young Trib Force.
At last, it was time for Conrad to make his move. "Commander Blancka needs you, Melinda!" Conrad bursted into the room. The prison was damp and musty.
Vicki, who had changed into Melinda's GCMM suit ran out of the prison.
"Whoa!" the guard held Conrad back. "She's gotta sign out."
"I will." Lionel said quickly, scribbling Melinda's name.
Conrad, Lionel and Vicki ran until they were deep in the forests.
"You coming with?" Vicki asked.
"We need someone on the inside," Conrad said hoarsely. He knew he had previously said he wanted to leave GC, now he realized how important it would be if he stayed.
"They'll blame you," Lionel protested.
Conrad shrugged. "I know, but I'll wait on the Lord's help and he'll renew my strength."
Vicki smiled. "That's right."
Leaning on the GC doors, Conrad shook his head while staring at the picture of an eagle. Obadiah 1:4, Lord, can you get me out of this?
"You drugged me!" Melinda screamed at Conrad.
"Stop." Commander Blancka ordered. "Graham, tell me about the call."
"A man said you needed Melinda." Conrad said simply.
"You didn't verify it?" Commander Blancka questioned.
"I'm not supposed to question orders," Conrad said slowly.
"You're one of-" Felicia started.
"How do we Lionel didn't set this up with Melinda?" Conrad asked Felicia.
"Lionel drugged her!" Felicia shouted in Conrad's face.
"Graham," Commander Blancka said. "Until I figure this all out, you'll stay locked up with Stein."
Conrad's mouth dropped open. "But sir-"
"Take him away!"
Frustrated, Conrad banged his head against the cell door.
He turned his head to see Mr. Stein in the next cell. The Jewish businessman had lost his daughter in the earthquake and wife in the Rapture. "Vicki," he whispered.
Conrad looked up to see Mr. Stein.
"I just need to know if she is okay,"
Conrad slightly nodded. "If the GC don't find her, she's fine."
"You are one of them?"
Conrad winced. He didn't trust Mr. Stein yet.
"You are. I have so many questions."
Conrad leaned closer to Mr. Stein. "I don't know much, but like what?"
"Why would God forgive me? I mean, I want to beat myself up for the way I treated Chaya!"
Conrad knew Chaya was his daughter. "That's me."
"But I am a Jew who has rejected the Messiah."
Conrad shrugged. "There are stories in the Bible similar to yours. Look at them."
Mr. Stein sighed. "Okay next question. God has caused millions to die or suffer."
"I don't think he is mean, he just wants are attention. And he's fulfilling prophesies. Promises he made a long, long time ago." Conrad explained.
When they heard the jail door open, Conrad moved to the opposite side of Mr. Stein.
The guard went in and took Mr. Stein, leaving another prisoner.
Bending over, Conrad knew it was Darrion Stahley. "Hey," he whispered.
Darrion just stared at him, wondering if he was trustworthy.
Conrad pushed up some of his hair revealing his forehead.
Darrion smiled. "Howdy,"
"Do they know who you are?"
Darrion shook her head. "I said I was Laura Grover."
"Good. They'll probably turn you loose in a few days."
"What happens if they find out who I am?"
"Then I guess I'll have to get us both out." Conrad grinned.
"I shouldn't have tried to help Vicki." Darrion moaned. "It seemed like a good plan."
Mr. Stein was then brought back to his cell. "They still suspect me." Mr. Stein said after the guard locked the door and left.
Conrad thought about Mr. Stein's words. "If the GC suspect you, the Commander might release me, and I could get you two out."
"They figured out who "Laura" is." Mr. Stein warned. "They suspect more anti-GC people are at your house."
Darrion groaned.
"God will prevail." Conrad stated firmly.
"I keep thinking about what Chaya said. Jesus seemed like a good teacher, maybe even a prophet, but GOD?" said Mr. Stein.
"Why would you call a prophet a liar?" questioned Darrion.
Mr. Stein was confused. "What?"
"You said Jesus was a good man. Jesus said He was God. If he was lying, He is nobody you would want to follow!" said Darrion.
Conrad nodded in agreement. "Jesus did tons of great things, worked miracles and raised from the dead."
"During the earthquake, before Chaya died she was telling me about Jesus." tears streamed down from Mr. Steins eyes. "God forgive me!"
Conrad and Darrion led the man in prayer. He wore the mark of the believer right before a guard returned.
The guard unlocked Darrion's cell. "We know who you are!" he said in an evil voice.
"What?" Darrion acted confused.
"Sir," Conrad stood. "Could you tell Commander Blancka his plan worked."
The guard glared at Conrad.
"Tell him I got the information he wanted." Conrad added.
Mr. Stein and Darrion flew open their mouth's.
"But," Darrion whimpered. "I thought you were one of us."
"And you believed me!" said Conrad.
"What is this?" the guard asked.
"Since I was innocent, I figured the Commander wanted me to get some information. It worked."
Mr. Stein grabbed Conrad's shirt and threw him against the cell doors. "You! Don't trust him!"
"Let him go!" the guard barked.
When Mr. Stein did, the guard made it clear he was going to telling the Commander.
"Are you okay?" Mr. Stein whispered to Conrad.
"I'm fine." said Conrad.
"Let's pray the plan works,"
A guard returned the next morning. "Graham."
"He's a liar!" Mr. Stein yelled. "Don't believe anything he tells you!"
Conrad was led into the interview room, where Gabby, Ryan, Melinda, and Felicia sat.
Since the only chair available was the one next to Melinda, he unwillingly sat down. The light blue room had a strange cozy peace to it. That peace was wrecked with the picture of the peace maker himself, Nicolae Carpathia.
"I wanted to tell you so bad why I was in the jail," Conrad said. "But I didn't want to give myself away."
"What do you mean?" Melinda gave Conrad a deadly stare.
"The Commander wanted me to get that Stein guy and Stahley girl to talk." Conrad explained. "It worked!"
"You're one of them," said Gabby. No matter how harsh her words were, her tone was unlike her words.
"I don't believe you." Felicia frowned.
"I was shocked when Lionel turned up dirty."
Gabby rolled her eyes, trying to make herself seem innocent. "Whatever."
Commander Blancka walked into the room with his GC attire on. "Graham!"
Conrad stood up. "Sir, I figured since I was completely innocent, you wanted me to spy on them."
"Well?" the Commander barked. "What'd you find out?"
"Darrion Stahley is definitely one of them." Conrad said. "I can't wait to see her face when I tell you all about it."
Melinda rolled her eyes as she whispered something to Felicia.
When they walked out to Darrion, her eyes made it clear she had been crying. Conrad guessed they were talking about her parents.
"Tell us what you heard." Commander Blancka smiled at Darrion.
"Well, that girl tried to get the guy to be part of the group." said Conrad.
"What group is that?" interrogated the Commander.
"An religious group, with a secret mark!" Conrad said dramatically. Melinda and Felicia giggled in the background.
Commander Blancka also gave a slight chuckle.
"Darrion was trying to get the guy to join their religion."
"Religious party with invisible marks." smirked Gabby, pulling her hair back revealing the cross on her forehead.
Darrion smiled for the first time in the moment Conrad had saw her.
"And I guess the other people went to her house, then that church!" continued Conrad.
"What about Stein?" Commander Blancka asked.
"I don't think he's one of them. Misinformed, but he's innocent."
"And Lionel Washington?" Melinda demanded.
Conrad sighed. "He's one of them too. I should've known. And Melinda, sorry I blamed you for letting that Byrne girl escape, I had to play the part."
Melinda rolled her eyes.
Gabby gave a lopsided smile at Melinda. "Come on grouchy, accept his meaningful apology."
When Commander Bancka left in fury, the five decided to go out to eat, then ask people of they've seen the escapees.
"Besides," Felicia smiled slyly. "It'll gave a chance for Conrad to open up his mouth."
"How 'bout some cake?" offered Ryan. "Conrad's buying."
"No," Gabby said. "You should buy after that stunt Conrad pulled."
"Bring it on!" Felicia smiled. Melinda nudged her, as if reminding that they were enemies.
The chocolate covered cake came, about five minutes later."
"Hey look over there!" Ryan pointed to the left. "It's Carpathia!"
"Where?" Melinda said. With her piece of cake right below her nose, Ryan gently lifted her hand. Soon, laughter filled the air as Melinda's face was covered in chocolate cake.
"You are so...so...immature! And mean!" Melinda wiped the cake off her nose and shoving it on Ryan.
"I'm just trying to have some fun, haven't had a lot of that lately." Ryan explained laughing.
"Shut it." Melinda stood up. "Let's go ask people if they've seen Byrne or Washington."
After drawing straws, Ryan ended up paying for the entire meal.
Melinda pulled wanted posters of both Vicki and Lionel out of her backpack.
Two hours went by with no luck.
"I don't want to go back to the Commander with no luck." Melinda whined.
"It'll look like we really worked hard." Felicia added sarcastically.
Reluctantly, they headed back to the GC HQ.
Once there, Melinda got serious with Conrad when they were in private. "Want to do some spy work?"
"Sure." Conrad nodded. "What's up?"
"Nicolae High. Felicia said that Rachel and Joe are still there. They're probably hiding them."
Conrad agreed. "Or know something that could help us."
Melinda gave a slight nod.
Conrad paused. After all he had to think like a GCMM. "Wait, last time I helped with a Morale Monitors 'plan' it ended up causing a lot of trouble."
Melinda gave him an icy stare. "I am not a religious girl."
"That's what Lionel said."
Melinda put her hands on Conrad's shoulder. "Listen, I'm a GC girl."
"Yeah, okay. Fine. I'm just solicitous about the subject." Conrad tried to seem worried. "Last time we got in some major trouble. Well, I did."
After seeing Melinda frown, Conrad added, "Fine. I'm in."
Before Conrad left to help with whatever crazy idea she had, Conrad slipped Darrion a bottle of water. He had found out the Commander was with holding food from her. His moves had to swift, because Melinda and Felicia were watching him like a hawk. Melinda had ordered Conrad to look up Joe and Rachel's address. She wanted to find out where Vicki and Judd were, and possibly jail Joe and Rachel in the process. After searching twenty Joe's, and thirty Rachel's around the area, Melinda and Conrad were certain they found the right one of each.
Felicia met them by the gate with a GC jeep.
Conrad had pulled up a directions on his Camermic to get to Rachel's house. Within minutes, Melinda was berserkly pounding on Rachel's front door. Nobody was home, unless Rachel had moved after the vanishings. Joe's house was next on the list.
Joe opened the door sleepily. "It's 9, people."
Melinda barged in the room with Felicia and Conrad trailing behind. "Where are they?" she held a gun to Joe's head.
Joe stood flabbergasted. "Who?"
"We know you know where they are!" Felicia shouted.
Conrad too pulled out his gun, brushing some of his hair aside revealing the mark of the true believer. Joe raised his eyebrows.
"I don't know!" Joe screamed unexpectedly.
Melinda blinked. She jumped on Joe, causing the two to roll on the floor. "Where are they?" she yelled in his face.
"I, I don't know." Joe stammered.
"Where are they?" Felicia clicked her gun.
Conrad wanted to grab her gun more than anything in the world. But something held him back.
"I don't know what you are-" Joe started.
"Get it over with." Melinda ordered. Looking slyly at Conrad, she added, "Or maybe Conrad would love to do it."
Conrad realized the girls were trying to trap him. In his mind, he quoted Psalms 121.
"We all know the Commander thinks highly of Joe and Rachel." Conrad started.
Melinda rolled her eyes. "Shoot him."
"If we shoot this guy, Commander Blancka isn't gonna be to found of it. But, if you wanna off him you have my okay. I don't mind a little blood." said Conrad.
Melinda sighed. She put her gun away. "Let's get out of here."
"I can't see how she does it," Commander Blancka muttered.
"Who?" Gabby asked.
"That Stahley girl!" Commander Blancka banged his fist on the table. "Without food or water she should be ravenous!"
"Well, she isn't." Felicia frowned.
"Let us have a go!" Melinda offered.
"Piece of cake!" added Felicia. "We'll get her to talk!"
"Oh yeah," Melinda glared at Ryan. "He shoved a cake in my face."
Ryan's mouth dropped open with a slight chuckle. "Now, now Miss Melinda, you should probably lighten up. Ya know, it was funny. We needed a good laugh."
Gabby nodded in agreement.
"Fine Gabby," Melinda stomped her foot like a toddler. "Then you can get a cake in your face if it's so funny!"
"Stop. Me, Melinda, and Felicia will try to get the Stahley girl to talk." Conrad said.
Darrion stood quiet and Conrad winced when Melinda slapped Darrion across the face then talked garrulously about the fugitives.
Melinda gave Conrad a 'your turn' look. Instead of hitting her, he kicked her chair from under her. "Keep it up," he whispered out of view. "You are doing great."
Since a half hour passed and Darrion still hadn't talk, Melinda, Felicia and Conrad went back to the Commander feeling helpless.
"Guess what?" Gabby said. "Commander Blancka spied in a conversation."
The Commander laughed. "Stein guy thinks he's part of a elite group, of 144,000."
Melinda and Felicia chuckled.
"We'll get that Thompson kid to talk. If not, we'll execute him." Commander Blancka said.
"What will happen if he does talk?" Ryan asked seeing Conrad moan.
The Commander shot a sly smile. "If he would happen to talk, we will execute him anyway."
"Okay then." Gabby glanced at her watch. "Five. Hungry for some cake?" she teased Melinda.
"It looks kinda cute up your nose." joked Ryan.
"You are such a baby Ryan Svenson!" Melinda raged.
After they split up, Conrad began to think of some things. For one, Melinda and Felicia had stopped whispering behind his back. They seemed to start trusting him. Even though Melinda and Felicia lightened up, Conrad had an even harder time slipping Darrion food. With Ryan's help, Conrad copied the GC insignia. On a piece of paper, he scribbled A STARVING GIRL IN A GLOBAL COMMUNITY PRISON WOULD NOT REFLECT WELL ON THE POTENTATE OR HIS FRIENDS. After finding a blank, brown envelope, Conrad wrote "T. Blancka" on the outside. With Melinda, Felicia and Gabby out, Conrad gave Commander Blancka the letter.
"Hold up." Commander Blancka frowned. "Who gave you this?"
"Some guy who headed back toward the aircraft." Conrad shrugged.
"Did you open it?" the Commander was clearly not too thrilled of the letter and it's contents.
"Did you want me to?"
"No, I just wish I know who wrote it. You're sure you didn't recognize the man?"
"Positive, sir."
To Conrad's surprise, Darrion received three meals the next day. At a GC meeting, the Commander was talking about Mr. Stein.
"Tomorrow," the Commander laughed. "One less religious freak we have to deal with."
A phone rang in the distance. On command, Ryan got up.
"Commander, sir. It's Judd Thompson. He wants to speak with you."
Shocked, Commander Blancka charged toward the phone. "Are Lionel Washington and Vicki Byrne with you?"
Conrad, Felicia, and Melinda listened intensely and the Commander and Thompson fought over Darrion and Mr. Stein.
"You're making a deal with me?" the Commander asked.
A pause. "You don't have that authority."
Another pause. "We are going to get you no matter what."
After the next pause, the Commander laughed. "Throw in Washington and Byrne too."
Pause. "I do make the choices, but I get them reviewed." Commander Blancka explained. "I am willing to work with you,"
Pause. "Now Judd," Commander Blancka talked like a toddler. "You have caused the GC a lot of trouble. Byrne has a murder rap and an escape on her head, and you both have to pay for stolen GC property!"
"If you turn all 3 of you in, we will hold off our plans for Stein." Commander Blancka hung up the phone.
"Can we trace the call?" Felicia asked.
"Now with a GC phone." Ryan spoke up which surprised everyone.
"What are we going to do?" Conrad asked.
"They will walk into a trap, and you will all witness it."
Commander Blancka smiled.
The Commander's words brought a chill up Conrad's spine. He needed to warn Judd! There was so much Judd didn't know. Melinda and Felicia talked garrulously about Mr. Stein and Darrion. Their chattering, of course got annoying. But Conrad was going to keep his mouth shut. He didn't want to make them mad after all the trouble he went through to make them believe he was with them. Tomorrow was the day that would change his life. He knew his plan would risk his life.
Gabby and Ryan hung out with Melinda, Felicia and Conrad. Conrad stayed close to Commander Blancka. Melinda and Felicia viewed progress at New Hope Village Church. The snipers were hidden well. Conrad explained to Gabby were all the snipers were, throwing her hints about the plan.
"We found Charlie, the really, really weird kid. He's got that dog." Felicia radioed.
"Get him to a shelter." Commander Blancka ordered. "We sill let them come here, let's act like we are doing what we promised."
Conrad glanced at his Camermic. It was almost five. Blue, black and purple close surrounded them while thunder rolled.
"Fins out what that is!" Commander Blancka barked while holding up binoculars.
"But you said-" a sniper argued.
"Find out!" the Commander ordered.
Conrad unsnapped his holster. As he did, two figures appeared in the distance.
"It's them!" Felicia squealed.
"They look unarmed!" Commander Blancka yelled.
After slowly counting to thirty, he went over to Darrion and Mr. Stein. He gave Mr. Steins key to the handcuffs.
Conrad leaned forward. "Unlock them but keep them on." Mr. Stein briefly nodded.
"When we leaving?" Darrion asked.
"Soon. Run now and they'll be all over you." said Conrad. He could tell they were both scared. "Besides, I got to get you to the Meeting of the Witnesses." he winked at Mr. Stein.
"You'll make it. Alive." Ryan came over smiling.
Conrad shook Ryan's hand. "Thanks,"
"Psalms 121. There's hills over there." Ryan joked.
"When I make my move, you two stay close. Got it?" Conrad told Mr. Stein and Darrion.
Satisfied, Conrad grabbed a set of binoculars and sat down by Gabby.
"Send Mr. Stein and Darrion down, halfway then we will all come down." yelled Judd.
The Commander let curse words escape from his mouth. "I promise you nothing will happen, Judd Thompson. We are doing what we said."
"What are the snipers doing around the church then?" Judd screamed.
"Fire on my command!" Commander Blancka barked.
Conrad put his right hand on his gun. When Motorcycle riders appeared, Conrad counted ten.
"They're not armed." a person said on the radio.
"You said you wouldn't stop us!" Judd yelled. "Why are your troops moving in behind us?"
Commander Blancka was enraged. Instead of keying his microphone, he spoke over the loudspeaker. "I thought I told you to stay in hiding!" he barked. As soon as he heard his voice echo, he cursed. "Pull back!"
"Commander," a sniper said. "We have clear shots on all of them."
Conrad reached for his gun and prayed silently.
"This is probably a good time." Commander Blancka said slowly, unsure.
"No!" Conrad yelled. He pulled out his gun and held if against the Commander.
Stunned, Commander Blancka asked, "Graham! What is this?"
Mr. Stein and Darrion closed in on them.
"I have got a gun on the Commander!" Conrad screamed. Mr. Stein slipped his handcuffs on the surprised Commander.
"Hold your fire!" a sniper ordered. "A GCMM has a gun on Commander Blancka."
Conrad took ahold of the Commander's hand. Darrion held Mr. Stein's hand and the Commanders other hand.
Conrad's Camermic beeped. He groaned and risked answering it. Maybe it was his brother. Instead, a text from Gabby. "What are you doing?"
Conrad quickly spoke into his Camermic. "Snipers won't want to hurt the Commander. Harder to hit moving target!" the words appeared on the screen and Conrad pressed send. He ripped the radio off Commander Blancka's shoulder. The sky was dark, an eerie dark.
"You'll pay for this, Graham!" the Commander barked.
"Keep moving." Conrad ordered.
Darrion screamed abruptly. Melinda held a gun at them. "Traitor!" she yelled at Conrad.
"You will never escape the Global Community!" Commander Blancka yelled.
"Stay away from the building!" the pilot said on a loudspeaker as a missile appeared from the side of the helicopter. Snipers escaped the building. Bombs exploded everywhere as smoke rose.
"What the-" Commander Blancka frowned.
The pilot turned the chopper and smiled at Conrad.
Conrad's mouth dropped open. "Trace!" he screamed. "My brother!"
Trace smiled at his little brother and opened the chopper door. Once in the chopper, Conrad was inches away from the Commander's face.
"You'll never get away!" Commander Blancka threatened.
Conrad opened his gun revealing it wasn't loaded. "Maybe, but you can't say we didn't give it a good try." he threw the gun at the Commander as the chopper lifted. Bullets jumped off the bulletproof glass. When the helicopter landed, Conrad, Darrion and Mr. Stein got out.
Rachel Michaels from Nicolae High was waiting for them.
"Who are you?" Mr. Stein asked.
"Rachel!" Darrion smiled.
"We need to get-" Rachel started. She couldn't stop smiling as Conrad revealed the mark of the believer. "Hey bro!"
Before anyone could speak, something was pelting their skin.
At the sight, Conrad screamed. Meteor like hail rained down from the heavens.
"What is this?" Mr. Stein yelled.
"One of-" Conrad started. Motorcycles stopped him. "God's judgements!"
"Come on!" one biker yelled.
Conrad held his hands in front of his face. He daringly looked back. Stunned GC soldiers were using their guns for protection
Without thinking, he looked up. At that moment, blood rushed over his face. HAIL, BLOOD AND FIRE. he thought. Regardless of the mess, Conrad was in awe. God had kept his promise he made years ago.
Conrad's Camermic vibrated. "Ahhhhhhh!" The text from Gabby read. Conrad wanted to slap himself for pulling his Camermic out. A little bit of hail hit the side. Before it broke, he quickly put it in his pocket.
"Come on!" a biker yelled at him.
Conrad pulled himself onto the bloody Motorcycle. His hands weren't doing anything to shield his face. He realized that a third of the world would burn up. A piece of hail covered in blood scratched his arm. "You okay?" he asked Darrion.
"Yes!" Darrion screamed. "Who," pause. "Would've known," pause. "That this would have," another pause. "Started today?"
"God!" Conrad smiled. The joy was interrupted by fire.
The biker he was with must've also noticed the fire. "You okay son?"
Conrad nodded. His arm hurt but he knew he wasn't dying. "Where we headed?"
The driver smiled. "Gas station!"
A few more minutes passed, and the sun came out. Most of the blood and hail had vanished inside the ground.
Conrad again pulled out his Camermic. Into it, he screamed his reply to Gabby's text. "It's over!" The words appeared and the message was sent.
They arrived at a gas station. The owner had the mark of the true believer.
Trace was there, smiling. "Conny!"
Conrad smiled at the terrible nickname. "Trace! I'm so glad to see you!"
"Same here, dude. What's up?"
"Well," Conrad frowned. "Morale Monitor. GC, and I became a Christian."
Trace frowned at the last sentence.
It was now Conrad's turn to become angry. "How many did you kill trying to get that bird from the GC?"
Trace frowned. "I saved your tail back there! Thank you would be appropriate! A bit of gratitude."
Conrad sighed. "Look, thanks. I'm glad you're safe but listen to me."
"I don't have time for religion right now."
"Stop trying to get revenge."
The two went inside and found Darrion and Shelly watching the news.
The news described it as a "one time occurrence" and an "atmosphere disturbance".
"Yeah!" Darrion said sarcastically. "It had nothing to do with God or his judgements."
"At the time," a lady said. "A GC training exercise was going on at Mount Prospect."
"Training exercise!" Conrad screamed.
"With eight soldiers dead and over a dozen wounded, the leader of the exercise, Commander Terrel Blancka has been reprimanded and given a new assignment."
"Liar!" said Shelly.
"They were mad cause they let us get away." Darrion frowned.
Conrad pulled out his Camermic and updated Gabby, in case she hasn't listened to the news.
Lionel smiled at Conrad. "Well, we're also safe and God has fulfilled another prophesy."
