18 The Calm

I clasped a hand over my mouth, what the hell were they talking about, now of all places!

I glanced back from my position, Jane smiling with daggers for eyes. That bitch!

I stared back up at Arid, her short white hair flowing in the wind, Fey's eyes lighting up.

"What do you mean reward him, that pedophile did it for his own interest, nothing more."

I shot a look at Sam, his hands over his ears. He was so innocent, not wanting to hear what they were talking about in private. You win Sam, I salute you brother.

Arid smiled and gestured to her, "Wa-"

"Boo!" I yelled and stood up. She was about to say my name.

Arid wide eyed, fell back and Fey sighed, "Why the hell are you here?!" Fey said with no emotion.

I put my hands up in defense. Arid started laughing, "Jesus what an entrance, wait, are you not sick?"

I scratched the back of my head, "I just wanted to surprise you guys, I'm feeling a lot better."

Fey stood up and pointed at me, "The camera?"

I stopped in my tracks. Oh no, this looks really really bad. What do I do?!

Then, time and space stopped.

-Warren's mind-

Three identical Warrens sat in a room of darkness, a spotlight shining on the three who sat idle at the round stone table.

Warren blinked, "What the hell, what's going on?!"

The Warren next to him scoffed, "This is your mind dumbass, maybe you should know that."

Warren surveyed around the darkness. For some reason it felt real, like he was actually there.

"I'm Alexander, and the other one is King, we are the personalities that make up you."

Warren started laughing, "Three, what do you mean three, there are only two of you?"

Alexander face palmed, " You too smart one..." King sat smug with a smirk littered with confidence, "I am your impulse, desire, confidence, Alexander is your Logic, and hate, and you are Creativity."

"Together we are Warren Alexander King."

They both said in unison.

Warren narrowed his eyes, "So why am I here, well we..."

Alexander stood up from his chair, "Care to explain King."

King licked his lips, "Well you put yourself in a situation were there is next to no clear way out. Fey knows that you look sketchy and you are trailing them, that camera is the indicator. We are about to be at the bottom of the barrel, after all we did to gain their trust."

Alexander nodded, "And in the short time you have been here, I have devised four options."

They all got serious.

B-Make up an excuse using Jane or Sam

C-End your life

D- knock them out

Warren and King glared at Alexander.

"WHAT THE FUCK IS D?!" Warren yelled as he slammed his hand down on the table.

King laughed weakly, "So what about C?"

Alexander circled them, "Fine then, A or B."

They exchanged looks.

"A." They all said in unison.

Warren was sucked out of his mind. Fey stared at him and put a hand on her hip. Arid raised an eyebrow.

Run!

I had to run, I turned and was about to bolt, only a hand was put on my chest.

"Hello Fey, Arid, I'm Jane." Jane smiled as she tipped her yellow sunhat, "His lover."

Fey took a step back, Arid hit by the blow too.

I could see electricity spark for a split moment, then it was gone.

Arid broke the silence, "Well nice to meet you Jane, we are Warren's..."

Arid noticed me slowly shaking my head.

"His friends..."

Fey sighed and headed toward my Father, the man eating an ice cream cone, Veronica laughing at him. Olivia and Amelia looked over a railing, Amelia occasionally snapping pictures.

Fey seemed colder than usual, as if what Jane just said was bad. Arid awkwardly smiled, "Well good to know, care to join us?"

Jane took the lead, "Sure, I planned on coming with you when he mentioned you four were going but Warren insisted we went on our own."

I glared at her, was she trying to dig a hole, just stop while you are ahead. I took my fedora off and dropped it on Sam.

Jane walked next to Arid, the two starting to chat. I crouched down, to look like I was examining the rose.

"Listen Sam, stay hidden, you are our last line of winning, just be prepared for me to give you the camera."

Sam whispered back, "I'm not taking tho-"

"For the election!"

"Talking to flowers?" Autumn leaned over my shoulder. I felt my heart strain for moment.

Autumn crouched next to me, "Hey, can I talk to you."

I looked over at her, "What's wrong?"

Autumn oddly scratched her cheek, "Um, when you asked me for that favor, I knew what erotica was, just kind of didn't know it was right..."

I nodded, "Yeah not really the best part about me."

Autumn shook her head, "I want to read it, I want to help, just like you did for me."

I froze and looked over at her. Her eyes seemed happy, overjoyed even, just for a second. Like when she spiked the volleyball.

"Great, also why weren't you surprised to see me?!" I asked with a confused look.

Autumn shrugged, "Why should I be startled?"

We both stared at the flower, the red petals shifting on the slight wind. Finally, I realized it. I never felt wind at checkpoint one, but here there was a slight breeze. My eyes widen, that man wasn't lying.

Checkpoint three was going to be something else, something great. What could it possibly be? The suspense was killing me, this had to work or the election was a dud.

I exhaled, "Thanks for helping Autumn, it's hard to keep secrets."

Autumn smiled, "Well secrets don't make friends."

Don't say that damnit! I cried internally and kicked the dirt.

Everything went silent.

"Well let's go see our family." Autumn said.

She stood upright and walked away.

I stared at Sam through a gap in the bush, he looked at me, the last words Autumn said lingering in the air.