Chapter 7: Hated Punishment!

At least once a week the Founders have the boys and I demonstrate our progress in training the Chipmunks. On this demonstration the Head of the Illuminati council are here to supervise in person. They stood waiting with Grafton, and the Dean, as we made sure the Chipmunks were fully ready. For some reason, having the Illuminati members here always made me a bit more nervous. It could be the fact that I knew what they really are behind the brownish-red cloaks they wear. I, however, was able to hide my emotions from them.

Six years ago, the Founders had the original kidnapped children build a training field. It lies about four miles towards the south shore. We all stood in front of a model of a high classed business building. In a covered section beside us was a control panel with video screens that showed every room inside the building. We had the Chipmunks dress in black ninja like outfits, which a few of them thought were cool.

Grafton and the Dean turned to look at me and did a nod for me to go-ahead and demonstrate the Chipmunks' skills we taught them so far. With a single clear command, the Chipmunks instantly went into a trance. I again spoke another command in the same alien language and all five of them ran towards the building.

Tom gave out hand signals to his comrades; this acknowledged that he was the leader of the five. Then they all split up. Renee went inside one of the side windows and by using her acrobatic skills; she was able to pass by security cameras and motion detectors to reach the control panels in one of the rooms that would shut them off.

This allowed the rest of the Chipmunks to sneak in without triggering any alarms. They reached the main door to a highly secured lab and their skills were challenged as the older children dressed as security guards jumped them. Tom, Brian, and Renee held off the guards, while Simon and Brenda broke the security locks and opened the door. As the soon as the doors opened, the Chipmunks all ran into the lab. Acting quickly, Simon managed to close and lock the door so the guards couldn't enter. Again Tom, Brian and Renee stood guard as Simon and Brenda went into the computer to extract information from it.

One of the Illuminati members wanted to again test the Chipmunks' fighting skills and ordered more of the 'guards' to attack them. By pressing a few codes on our outside panel, we were able to open the door to the lab. All five Chipmunks acted out of instinct and defended themselves approvingly. As the last guard fell, the Chipmunks made their way out of the building with minor scratches and bruises.

"Very good!" announced the Illuminati High Leader. He walked up to Brenda and Simon and held out his hand to receive the copied disks they extracted from the computer. To his surprise they turned away from him and both walked up to me and handed me the disks.

Quickly I thought of an explanation for this action, "My apologies, the Chipmunks are still following only my commands. They have yet much training before they will acknowledge commands from anyone of the Illuminati counsel. I promise in a few years they would be ready for the ultimate test for the real world." I finished with a bow of respect for the undeserving Founders and Illuminati members.

"Alright, we will forgive this insult and continue with the demonstration!" The cloaked demon-disguised Illuminati member said.

I wondered if anyone ever noticed me holding my breath as I watched Simon and Brian showing off their fighting skills. They were each given a ninja Bo's. After a respective bow to each other, the two Chipmunks began the sparring. It appeared that both of them were evenly matched, as we trained them to be. However, in the end, it seemed that Simon's inventiveness gave him an advantage. He was able to use a sneak attack move of a tuck and roll behind Brian. With a fast swoop of the Bo, Simon was able to bring Brian down hard onto his back. As Brian landed, his head hit hard against the ground, stunning him temporarily. Simon simply got up and stood over him. He looked down upon his fallen and now helpless opponent.

The Dean had been watching the action with great delight. I knew that he was highly impressed by the huge, evil grin on his face. I watched as the Dean walked up to them I suddenly felt my heart skip as he leaned towards Simon and said, "Finish him."

Simon raised his arms and was about to attack with the Bo when he stopped. He looked directly into Brian's eyes and something hit him, a memory from childhood perhaps? Or perhaps Brian had used telepathy to communicate to young Simon? Just a few months prier to this demonstration, I have been teaching the Chipmunks to use a frequency in their brain to communicate to each other. However it happened, Simon broke out of his trance and realized what he was about to do. He suddenly dropped his weapon, and pulled off the masked hood off his head and said "no".

"What was that!" The Dean yelled in fury. "I said finish him!" He continued as he pulled out his gun and was ready to shoot Brian in the head.

"NO!" Simon again yelled back as he kicked up the Bo with his foot, caught it and swung it at the Dean's hand before he could fire the weapon.

I could feel my hand reaching up to my face as I let out a nervous sigh. This was not going to turn out good, and I could sense it.

"How dare you! You will suffer greatly for this disobedience!" The Dean crowed as he over power Simon with a back handed hit across the face. He was about to pick up his gun to finish them both off once and for all when I suddenly felt that I had to get involved. Quickly, I stepped in between the Dean and the Chipmunks.

"Please Dean, these chipmunks are my responsibility. I'm sorry for letting them get out of control like this." I pleaded.

The Dean looked up at his superiors, then, with an evil grin, looked back at me. I felt all tangled inside. "Then you will do your job and punish this one for disobeying." The Dean told me sternly as he pointed at Simon.

"But…" I began to say. "Yes Founder." I said with a sighed, knowing that it would be pointless arguing the issue.

With a firm grip, I grabbed hold of Simon's arm and yanked him off the ground. I took Simon to the Whipping Room. He could tell I was hesitating as I strapped his wrists to the table. When I looked into his eyes, I could see both confidence and fear. But most importantly I could tell that he understood why I had to do what I was about to do. Without any words spoke he told me that he had already forgiven me. I wish that I would forgive myself. This moment hurt me more then he could ever know. It shamed me to do this.

After strapping him down, but not too tight, I pushed back his sleeves, and slowly raised the whip. Before I began my horrible crime, I again looked down into the young chipmunk's eyes. "I'm sorry." I whispered as I felt the tears stung my eyes.

"I know." Simon whispered back. Just before I brought the whip down on his wrist he had shut his eyes to prepare the stinging rush of pain he will receive. He lowered his head as he winced in pain, but did not cry out.

As I continued the punishment, I was purposely trying to hold back. I didn't want to hurt Simon and leave him with the bleeding scars that the Founders usually left us with. I was hoping that the Founders would be satisfied if they at least saw a little bit of the red marks to prove that he had been punished sufficiently.

After I had brought down the whip for the fifth time, the door suddenly swung open hard, making me jump. The Dean swaggered in, slamming the door shut behind him. "Oh, don't mind me." He said breezily, "I've just come by to see just how well the punishment is coming along!"

Simon didn't move; He kept his head down, refusing to look up. I was sure that he knew just as well as I did that now I was under supervision. We both knew I would no longer be able to hold back. Just then, the Dean spoke, confirming my thoughts: "Now, then... I want you to put your best effort into this. Teach this young one the consequences of disobeying our orders."

My blood ran cold. I knew that there was nothing I could do to spare Simon any pain. As the Dean happily watched, I brought the whip down hardly on Simon's wrists again.

Simon was being very brave. Although he kept his head down, he still stubbornly refused to cry out. I could see the expression on the Dean's face, and knew that he was none too pleased with Simon's braveness.

"Reach back farther, and put more strength in it." He growled at me. I had no choice but to comply.

The whipping session went on longer, and harder, and yet Simon still refused to cry out. The Dean finally walked up behind Simon, grabbed him by his long shoulder length hair, and yanked his head back violently. Through out this whole ordeal his once neatly pinned back hair has unravelled itself due to the stress he was undergoing. Simon's eyes were red from being shut so tightly, and although I'm sure he tried not to, tears had rolled down his cheeks.

"You are a strong one, indeed." The Dean harshly whispered into Simon's ear. "I know you will serve us well in the future." The Dean then looked at me and yelled, "Continue!"

As I continued the dreadful punishment, the Dean kept Simon's head up by his hair, nearly yanking it out of his roots. He was content to watch his face twist and tighten in pain. Simon even held back as best as he could on only letting out muffled noises of whimpering in his suffering.

"Open your eyes, boy!" He yelled as he tightened his grip on Simon's head. "Watch what happens to you when you disobey your superiors!" The Dean forced Simon to open his eyes and watch as I gave him the final cruel lashes to his scared and bleeding wrists.

After it was over, the Dean walked up to me and placed his hand on my shoulder. "You have done very well." He said with a grin. "You have made me proud this day. You shall be rewarded."

I felt sick to my stomach as he said that. It took a lot of control on my part not to lash out at this demon. He then turned his attention back onto poor Simon, who was panting and trying to catch his breath after the extended punishment session.

"You preformed exceptionally well today, also. I am very sure that, once you have completely learned your place, you will become one of our best warriors. You will, indeed, make an impact in this world's future."

Suddenly, and with out warning, he reached out and buried his fingernails into the bleeding, tender flesh of Simon's wrists. The sudden attack forced Simon to howl out in pain. The sound to me was more devastatingly painful then any other sound I had heard before. It made the Dean chuckle, as he finished his sentence, "Won't you?"

The Dean removed his grip by dragging his fingernails roughly across the fresh wounds, and finally off his wrists, drawing more blood. Simon let out another howl of agony as he did this. Afterward, the Dean looked down at him with a deeply satisfied grin on his face. He then proudly strolled out the door, leaving us alone again.

OoOoOoOoOoOo

I helped Simon back to his quarters before I left the campus. With great speed, I ran up to the field and into the woods. My mind was blank as I continued past our secret smoking pit and stumbled on a path that I found a few years ago. From a distance I could hear the waterfall. That was a sign I was getting close to my destination. Then I walked into my personal sanctuary, the cave. As soon as got the edge of the mattress I collapsed and started to cry uncontrollably. I don't ever remember crying so hard before. Never was my attention to harm any of those beautiful Chipmunks, especially Simon.

I had suddenly lost control of my emotions. Anytime I tried to stop crying it would seem that I would start up again, crying louder then before. If the Founders saw me now, surely I would receive a beating, or worse, become one of their weekly meals. It was a good thing that this cave had a shield from their 'all seeing eye'. I had never felt this weak before. My face was wet from the tears and I could barely breathe because of my waling. I felt so stupid for crying like this, I'm suppose to be stronger then this. What was I, a warrior against the Founders Cause, or a weak baby?

The more I cried the worse I felt about the beating. I just wanted to forget the whole thing ever happened, and go back to the way I was. It was then that I remembered a certain drug we brought back from the real world. The drug, like the alcohol, takes your problems away for a while. That was what I needed, that was what we all needed. Before I could gather my senses, I reached over to a loose rock on the wall of the cave and pulled out the very black box that hid some of Adam Manor notes and documents. Under the mattress, I grabbed the key to unlock the box. Inside I reached for a small plastic bag that carried exactly nine pill-shaped drugs, called ecstasy.

It might not have been the answer, but I was desperate enough to give them a try.