Page 57 of Web of Lies

“There’s nothing on God’s green earth that could forcefully stop me from communicating with you.” Her smile beams like the sunshine above us, showcasing that whole beautiful, sparkly, sunshine personality.

“Thanks.” My voice comes out quiet, coming to a fork in the sidewalk.

Piper looks back and forth along the path, gesturing towards another apartment building. “We are watching movies in my building, and you’re more than welcome to join us. We have cake and ice cream.” She nods her head towards her building.

Disgusting toilet water drips from my crisp uniform onto the concrete sidewalk, giving me the perfect excuse to decline. Movies sound wonderful right now. I could get lost in the other worlds someone has created for the big screen. Not tonight. Not with Piper.

“Sorry, I’ve got a lot of homework to do. Thanks for the offer, Piper. I truly appreciate it.” Heading off toward my building, I give Piper one last wave and push myself inside.

The hours have ticked by since I left, but it feels like a lifetime. Questions sit on the tip of my tongue again, but there’s no one to answer them. Carter gave me information, but only teeny, weenie, itty bitty snippets. A sliver of what I need to know about my situation and Magnolia’s. The same incidents that happened to her are repeating themselves with me. But the people behind these are shadows in the corners of everything. If Carter isn’t lying, then the cameras around this school are in their possession. They view everything. They see it all. Hear it all. But why? Why do it?

I plunk myself down into my computer chair after a thorough shower—and I do mean thorough. The wretched scent of piss and shit has permanently woven into my nostrils. The same poor nostrils that had the great privilege of diving headfirst into a putrid toilet. Gross.

My computer’s fans whirl to life, much like a heartbeat inside a human. They have their own life center sparking life into its wires. The screens emerge from the depths of their dark slumber, producing bright lights. I click through the manual tracing route of the mysterious camera and begin stage two of the process. According to Tristan, the last and final step of it all. With any luck, within two hours, I’ll have the answers I need. My bets are on this Apocalypse person, whoever they are. Most likely, the person in charge of this entire operation.

I check back through my mirroring software and grin. If Carter is so dead set on me being a computer genius, does he know what I’ve done to his phone? Not only can I track everything he does or says, but my computer records it too. I can look back and try to dissect every word. It’s times like this, I wish I could get my hands on everyone’s phones.

Alpha:

Is it taken care of?

Carter:

For now, alpha.

Alpha:

And the warning was well-received?

Carter:

Yes, Alpha. The Troll understands.

My eyes widen at the name he’s given this Alpha person. Fuck me. He calls me a troll to everyone! But—but that’s not what I said after he tried to drown me. I told him no; I wasn’t leaving.

Alpha:

Then let the games begin.

Carter:

Yes, Alpha.

Alpha:

Move to Phase 2.

Pantylicker:

Yes, Alpha

Slug-eater:

Yes, Alpha

Carter:

Yes, Alpha