Too Much Information

DUSTIN AND I no longer attended the camp. We remained in the woods, our only focus preparations for the pledge ceremony as well as our new army. Dr. Wacko introduced us to our “recruits.” Like he had planned all along, we had been deemed the commanders. Dustin was already a pro at leading them in the ruthless drills, but I was a total rookie. I blended in with the rest of the group, putting myself through the same drills as I watched him demonstrate.

When I wasn’t absolutely drenched in sweat and mud, I was being prepped for the ceremony. The “doctor” hired people just to teach me how to keep a straight back or how to properly walk down the aisle. Designers came to measure me. They showed me sketches and photos of the latest fashions in wedding gowns, telling me to pick one. I was pinned and pricked during countless fittings for the ceremonial dress. There were decorations, flowers, and so many other things to choose, and it all had to be ready in just four days.

I no longer had a problem sleeping, for I was exhausted. Both my body and my brain hurt. I sometimes saw True leading one of the other groups. I caught her eye for a moment, but she quickly looked away. The cause of her betrayal was still a mystery to me, but it didn’t seem like we would be speaking to each other any time soon.

Anyway, before I could blink, it was the day before the ceremony. At this point, Dustin and I were being forced to practice reciting our pledges. If anyone messed up even the slightest bit, we had to start all over. We stood there for hours, practicing. I felt like jumping off a cliff. By his agitated expression, I could tell Dustin felt the same way.

When we were finally done, I left the building and started running—I just had to get away and be by myself for a while. I was not about to lead an army of recruits in drills today. What was Dr. Wacko going to do? Threaten me? He had already done plenty of that. Dustin soon caught up with me, though, insisting that it was time we talked. Worn out, I simply agreed. He steered me into the woods, assuring me that we would not be missed for a while. His father was off on one of his many trips to prepare for what was to come.

He stopped after we had gone about a hundred paces in, leaning back against a tree. We were surrounded by the natural towers, the bright sun nearly blocked out by the thick leaves. The earth beneath our feet was squishy and soft and covered with grass. The fresh smell of nature caused my shoulders to relax, my breathing to slow. I closed my eyes, just for a moment. The silence felt like a luxury now.

“There are a few things you need to explain, Lily. And you need to do it fast.”

Sighing, I opened my eyes. Dustin was watching me, arms crossed.

“The FBI came to me before you did,” I told him. “They predicted you would come. I was wearing a wire when you picked me up.” I tapped my glasses frames. “These aren’t just new glasses. They’re cameras, and my communication with the FBI. Well, they were. Now they don’t work. Your father made sure of that.”

Dustin let himself slip down the tree trunk, sitting down on the grass. “You didn’t even think of telling me about any of this?”

I moved to take a seat next to him. “First off, I didn’t know if I could trust you. No offense, but you are terrible at keeping promises. Second, I could barely get you alone. You were either off somewhere with Candy or working for your father. So excuse me if I felt like I needed to take matters into my own hands.”

Dustin closed his eyes and held the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger, leaning his head back against the tree trunk. “I know I’ve let you down and I don’t blame you for not trusting me. I haven’t been exactly reliable, but if I had known about your communication with the FBI, I would have made sure the frequency wasn’t interfered with. There is a room in the basement of my father’s mansion that controls all communication within the area. I happen to know where it is and how to get in.”

I jumped to my feet. “Are you serious? How come you didn’t tell me? Is it possible to intercept the interference? My tracking device might be useless now, but I can still use these dumb frames to contact Agent Cooper.”

He almost smiled at my sudden excitement. “Slow down. Do you know how vast these woods are? My father made sure we were moved far away from the campus. How would I be able to get all the way back there and break in without getting caught?”

“I don’t know, but we could find a way.” I knelt down in front of him. “Dustin, there could still be a chance. Your father is ready to release an army of children onto California and then the world. He is going to have Candy and many more innocent people killed. My family is in danger. We have to do something.”

He shook his head sadly. “That’s just the thing. He’s already released them. It’s too late.”

My eyebrows scrunched in confusion. “What are you talking about? We’re still training his army. He put us in command.”

Dustin gazed at me with eyes as bleak as storm clouds. “That’s only a small part. He’s been building up his recruits for years, all over the country. He has created hundreds of drones. Yes, they still need some work, but they are stronger than ever. As we speak, the governor of California is looking the other way as towns are being destroyed. The police are overwhelmed. They’ve never seen anything like it.”

I sat back, refusing to feel completely defeated. “We still need to communicate with the FBI. They have to know what’s going on.”

“It wouldn’t surprise me if they already did.”

I started to pace, thinking. “What about your mom? I thought she died when you were seven.”

He stood up as well. “That’s what I thought until about a week ago. Turns out she’s been in a coma all these years. She’s practically brain dead. The machines are the only thing keeping her alive. My father has been trying to come up with the technology to wake her up. According to him, he’s found it. There’s a catch, though. He’ll only use it if I cooperate. If I show any sign of resistance…she’s dead. Gone forever.” He ran a slow hand through his hair. “I don’t even know where he’s keeping her.”

I was speechless, feeling like I had been punched in the stomach. There was too much going on. Too many variables. His father had us backed into a corner.

“You still haven’t told me what you meant a few days ago when you were accusing my father of something to do with Cameron,” Dustin commented after a while, breaking the long silence.

“I don’t think you want to know,” I muttered.

Dustin’s hands balled into shaking fists at his sides in obvious frustration. “Of course I want to know! It’s about her death, isn’t it? I’ve told you everything. Now it’s your turn. What do you know?”

I glared at him. “Fine. Your father killed Cameron. She was getting better, but he thought she would be too much of a distraction for you, so he killed her. I had recorded it all, but now I have nothing. He’s going to get away with all of this. And if what you said is true, he’s going to get everything he wants. Happy now?” My voice began to quiver. “Can’t you see it? He is doing all of this for you. I’m here because he wanted a suitable partner for you. He is building up this army for you to command with me by your side. He got rid of Cameron because…” I stopped myself from finishing the sentence when I saw the look on his face.

Devastation had hunched his shoulders, instantly aged his features.

“Go on,” he said, voice scarily calm.

I just shook my head. “Dustin—”

“Say it!” he shouted, taking a step toward me. “Cameron’s dead because of me. I practically killed her.”

I held up my hands, trying to calm him down. “Dustin, your father is crazy. You can’t be blamed for what he’s done. I didn’t mean to imply that…I just need you to understand how your father works. He thinks he’s doing something good, but he’s not. We both know that, and you need to help me stop it.”

Dustin barked a laugh. “Don’t you think I know that?

I’ve been living with the man my entire life. In a way he’s like a child. A crazy child.” He took out a black velvet box, staring at it. “I don’t think I can help you, Lily. I only seem to cause more damage. If we try to stop him and fail, my mother is dead. I can’t have someone else’s life in my hands.”

He flipped the box open and I caught my breath. I had seen this ring before, in the box under Dustin’s bed. Still, its beauty amazed me.

“Dad wanted me to do this properly,” he growled.

To my great dismay, he wasn’t done. He began to lower himself down onto one knee. The words rushed out of him before he could think better of it. He didn’t look at me as he asked. He couldn’t. I admit it, I had pictured someone proposing to me once, but it had been a silly daydream and I knew I was way too young. Besides, never had I imagined such a morbid proposal.

I couldn’t say it. I knew it was one simple word, but it wouldn’t go past my lips. Dustin finally looked up at me.

Forcing a less than convincing smile, he slipped the ring onto my finger. I stiffened. Strange. His mother’s ring fit me perfectly. I supposed the size had been altered just for me. The jewelry glistened in the sunlight. Though the ring really was quite breathtaking, I immediately wanted to take it off and throw it as far away as possible. Of course I was too chicken to do this, afraid of what the reaction would be. It wasn’t really mine to get rid of anyway.

“It’s beautiful,” I whispered, watching the colors dance across my fingers.

Dustin’s smile was a little more genuine this time, but it didn’t light up his face. “I know. We should be heading back now.”

Together, we left the safe haven of the woods and stepped back into the real world. As I returned to the sound of marching feet and the shouts of drill orders, I felt more alone than I had ever felt in my entire life.