Reading tests are always easy. All you have to do is, well to state the obvious, read.
Today my reading tests took place in the room next to the computer room where Thomas and Teresa always are. Newt and I call it the computer room anyway, because we once heard one of the WICKED members talking about a computer in there shutting down. As I sit in an uncomfortable, cold chair waiting for my tester to come in, I listen to the conversation going on in the room next door. WICKED has very thin walls.
'In two days, Teresa? You're seriously thinking of doing this in two days?'
'Yes, Tom. Two days. What's the big deal with that?'
'The big deal is that I can't believe you're actually going through with this.'
'Tom, we don't have a choice. They trusted us…'
'I don't care, Teresa! I don't care! This is wrong. I know this is wrong. And deep down, I think you know it's wrong too.'
They remain silent for a few seconds.
'Tom…'
'Don't.'
'But…'
'Please.'
I hear Teresa sigh.
'I. Have. To. And you need to help me. WICKED is good, Tom. WICKED is good.'
Then the door to my room swings open, and a woman with long brown hair tied back in a tight ponytail holding a thick black file steps in.
'Are you Emma?'
It takes me a second to answer, I'm still thinking about Thomas and Teresa's conversation.
'Y-yes,' I say so quietly I wonder if she can hear me.
'Good.'
Then the woman opens the file and my reading tests begin.
When my reading tests are over, I walk as fast as I can back to my room. I find Newt lying down on his bed.
'Hey, Emmy,' he says in a sleepy voice.
'Newt, I need to talk to you about something,' I say breathlessly.
Newt sits up abruptly and jumps down from the bed. He grips me by the shoulders.
'Are you alright?' He asks me worriedly.
'Yeah, yeah, I'm fine…'
Newt lets out a sigh of relief and steps back from me. He kisses me on the cheek, making me blush, then sits down on my bed.
'Tell me everything.'
So I tell him everything, barely drawing breath the whole time. When I finish my story, I plop down on the bed and get my breath back.
'Jesus, Emmy! That's huge!' Newt says, his brown eyes wide, 'WICKED is good. We hear that all the time. But I'm sure WICKED is certainly not good.'
'I know!'
Then Newt stands up and walks over to the door.
'Where are you going?' I ask him.
'To the bloody computer room.'
He opens the door.
'Wait, Newt! Do you really think they're going to let you in?'
Newt looks down at his watch, it's compulsory that all 'subjects' wear watches all the time, and steps out of the room.
'It's 12:30. It's their lunch break.'
Then he takes off down the corridor.
'This is a stupid idea,' I mutter.
But then my curiosity gets the better of me so I roll my eyes and follow him.
