Chapter 209 - Day DCIII, Part III

It was so simple and easy to just give up o the temptation. There was an army of fanatics, ready to possibly fulfill my every wish. It would be so easy to just let go. 

- I'm no leader.

- But you could become one. When you came here you were no fighter either, but look at you now. You were destined to become like that, and you can become so much more way faster and easier with us. Just follow your destiny, Peter. Everything will be better. I promise.

It was so strange. I knew that she believed in those words, and she believed hard. So hard that it made me wonder if maybe she is right. It was crazy. They say faith can move mountains. Maybe it's true, maybe it's not. Her faith in me was certainly moving me.

- No. No. I said it already. I'm not a leader. You have many better people for this. Look at Hatta. He is doing great. There is also Will. He has a way with people. He would be a great leader.

- No. They are not chosen. You are. You, Peter.

- How the hell do you know that?

- Humanity always had leaders that showed people the right path. The device chose you for that. Your achievements are a clear sign. It's right there.

Then something clicked in my mind. That was not true. Everything I've got I earned with my own hard work. The device didn't give me anything. I had to go out and earn it all. Others played around or hesitated to take risks. I didn't. That was the only difference, and now she wanted to strip me from that, and give some bullshit about a chosen one instead.

- Everything I have I earned myself. I didn't get anything. If I was destined for something, that's to be a failure. I had to change, and reforge myself in flames fueled by blood, sweat, and tears.

- Think whatever you want about this. Just do the right thing.

- What right thing?

- Lead us. Be the beacon of hope for those people - she pointed at the buildings occupied by Followers of Divine Tree.

- And how the hell would I know it's the right thing? Because you told me? I told you, there are better leaders than me. Speak with Hatta, or Will

I turned around after those words and went, to climb down the ladder.

- You can't escape your destiny! - she shouted. - It will hunt you down! It always does! You are just going to suffer! Why do you want to suffer so badly?!

I  did my best to ignore her words, but some of them got stuck in my head. Upon reaching the ground I looked up, and she was there, watching me from above.

I just started walking and at some point glanced over my shoulder. She was still there, unmoving. There was something about her that scared me. Was it the determination? Faith that all she spoke of was the truth? I was unsure.

I needed to talk with somebody. Nadia would be the best person, but she wasn't around. Will would be my second choice, but he wasn't around. I had no other choice but to visit Hatta.

I went straight to his office. He was discussing something with Amit, but it was not too important since guards allowed me to get in. As I entered the room, both of them stopped talking.

- How did it go? - Hatta asked immediately.

- Terrible. She is crazy.

Amit smiled. 

- It's not funny - I told him as soon as I saw that smug.

- Not for you, but for us it's hilarious.

- Fuck you.

- Okay, okay! Enough - Hatta stepped in. - What did she want?

- Same bullshit about leading them. She thinks I'm some kind of prophet or messiah of that fucking tree. And I tell her I'm not, but she apparently knows better. I don't even know what to do with her. Cant, we get her off, and put somebody else at the top of those lunatics?

- Look, Peter... - Amit started. - We laugh about it because we trust you. She indeed is crazy, but crazy in a way we can use. I can't tell you what to do, but I can tell you what I would do.

- Enlighten me, please - I didn't even try to hide the sarcasm in my words.

Amit didn't seem to be bothered by it at all anyway.

- I would embrace it. I would enjoy it. Ultimately though, I would kick the crazy women out, teach people what really is going on, made them understand, and then I would return to my normal life. This way noting hets out of our control. Simple, and effective.

- Doing that means deceiving people.

- Not doing that means a crazy woman is deceiving people in your place. Ask yourself what's better.

- Fuck...

- There is a lot of truth in Amit's words - said Hatta. - If you don't want to do it, just play back and forth. Maybe we will figure out how to defuse this bomb. I'll talk with Aisha.

- Yeah... Do that, before I will have to.

- We already know, Peter - said Amit, with a wide smile. - I have to say, that I'm kinda jealous.

- Enough. Don't make fun of him, when you wouldn't do any better.

- Ok, ok. I apologize. Just take the smart choice, Peter. 

I sighed and left. They didn't help me at all, at least that's what I thought. I went to my room and decided on the way that I will stay there for the entire day. This way I wouldn't have to worry about meeting Maia again.

I only stepped out to eat, and have a bath before I went to bed.

I spent my time thinking about what to do. Her words kept bugging me, just like Amit's. There really was a simple solution to this mess, but I just didn't want to take it. It was against everything I believed in. Deceiving masses? That wasn't me. I just couldn't swallow that pill.

The day came to an end with 4 054 500 points remaining on my account, and thirty-eight class points.