And so we begin part 3, chapter 18. R&R and enjoy!
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Part 3 – Stopping a Madman from Destroying the World for Idiots
18
I woke up in the same cage at the School later that day with a terrible headache splitting my skull. Well, what was I expecting? Something more comfortable? Being comfortable wasn't an issue in my life.
The entire flock was awake, and I saw them all watching me, as if I was some strange creature…oh no. Even though I was just waking up, I had enough strength to pull my hands up to my face. Whew. No Eraser hands.
Angel and Nudge came running at me and I wrapped them up in my arms. They were both crying. "It's okay, it's okay," I whispered into their ears.
"What did Jeb do to you? And where's Ari?" asked Fang, bringing Gazzy and Iggy over to sit with me.
I sighed and let the two girls finish before sitting them down next to me. Then I spent what must have been half an hour relating everything that had happened. No one ever said anything; they were completely intent on listening to what I had to say. There were some confused expressions, and they all (except Fang) gasped when I mentioned that the real Jeb was dead and that Roland had deceived us.
When I was finished, everything went silent in the cage. We were all looking at the floor, trying to process it all. Finally, Fang spoke. "So what now?"
I was surprised. I figured it'd be someone else to ask that. "I'm not sure. We need to get out of here for starters."
"But we're Roland's prisoners, aren't we?" asked Iggy. "Think about it. You said it was a voice box that let him talk in your head, right? And you said the box had six switches?"
"Yeah, there were six buttons on that. And the one that gave me the headaches also had six…" I felt so stupid. I'd never even thought much of the fact that both boxes had six switches. Way to go, Max.
"Great, he can do whatever he wants with us," said Gazzy.
"Unless…" Iggy's confidence grew as he continued, "unless we can short circuit or even destroy the boxes. If someone can get Roland into the cage and get the box, I think I can destroy its wiring."
"Sounds good," I said. "I think before he put me to sleep this morning that he mentioned wanting to speak with me in the morning. That must mean he's coming in. Everyone get ready. If he has Erasers we'll have to fight. And chances are he'll have Erasers."
Well, it sounded like a good plan. That is, until I heard Roland's wretched voice in my head. The Voice.
I see then. So you're smart enough to create a plan? Maybe you're closer to perfect than I thought! The Voice laughed at this and continued on. You forgot about the fact that I won't be coming anywhere near you. Not yet anyway. First you and your "family" will all need to die. I'll let my Erasers take care of that. After that it'll be easy for me.
"Roland, you're insane!" I shouted at no one in particular. I knew he could hear me though; he had been listening to our whole conversation. "Why are you doing all this?"
Does it matter to you what I'm doing? You'll be dead in a matter of hours, and you won't be able to stop me when you're dead, now will you?
"That's…that's not what I meant." Of course it was, but I needed to ask him something else that had been bugging me. "Why did you create us? All of us! All your sick and twisted experiments. What's the point in it?"
Roland laughed in my head. Because I want others to know how it was for me. I too was created, I already told you this. After the experiment performed on me, I became Type 1. And everyone hated me! Roland's voice was starting to become more cynical, and I could tell he was losing his mind. Again. I wasn't grafted with wings like you though. I don't get the luxury of being able to fly. No, I was created as a filthy Eraser like my son!
I sighed and thought of something else. "Roland…who was it? Who created you?"
Silence. There was a dreadful silence filling the cage and my head now. Finally, Roland spoke again. You know very well who it is. My wife created me. She was the insane one. It wasn't me! She grafted the DNA of an Eraser into me as a game!
"I don't get it! Who did this to you, Roland?"
Another long silence filled the room as I waited for him to say "Anne Walker." But he didn't. Her name is Doctor Martinez.