Chapter 13 #3
I look behind the trees in the distance to notice a shadow watching us. I don’t know who that is. And honestly, I don’t care. I am too mad at Pesh. Too emotional.
I am left dazed, defeated—and utterly confused.
Walking back to the library to check on my 10 by 10 test results, I return to the welcome desk to see the librarian with my digital scantron. “Did I pass?”
“Um… unfortunately you did not. I’m sorry. Your scores were good. But no one else scored that high, so it was too uncommon a score for you to pass.”
“But you told me I had to get a hundred percent on each of them!”
“Right. But this is The Commons. You have to get a hundred percent and still be average.”
Panting, I sigh in frustration, smacking my palm against my forehead. “Is there nothing you can do?” I lean in on the welcome desk, pleading with her.
“No. I’m sorry. You can try to do the 10 by 10 again. But you’ll have to wait a hundred days to take the test again.”
“And there’s no way around it?”
“There’s no way around it.”
My hands cover my flushed face, and I slam my eyes shut, infuriated. I try to focus and control my darting eyes. I look down instantly, clench my fists, then walk out.
On my way out, I turn to see Ciaro walking in.
“I told you not to take it,” she says.
Oh! I remember I haven’t asked her about the Meaning Test, and I need to before I lose my chance. “Did you happen to see me in any of your tests?” I ask.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” She shoves past me, and I swear I could fight her. I feel like I’m going crazy. What is this place doing to my mind?
I should hold my tongue, but I can’t help it. I surge in front of her, stopping her in her tracks. She glares at me like a tiger, but she hides the roar. And I know she can feel mine.
Fiery anger burns inside of me, but I try to hold it back. With a very succinct whisper, I push for more. “I know you know something you’re not telling me. Tell me.”
She feigns a smile, keeping her eyes on me. Then, like a breeze, her words fly past me. “One word. You need to get out. Also, I’d watch who you hang around with.” She begins to stride off before slowly turning back to me. “At least I’m rude to your face.” She walks out.
My eyes dart up, and I barge into the hallway that houses our lockers, slamming my fists on my locker doors in frustration.
“No! No! No! No!”
Pesh is against me. The Patron De Londe is trying to hurt me. And I just failed the 10 by 10 test. I failed.
After everything—I failed.
My fists crash into the locker repeatedly. And pain explodes through my knuckles—but it is nothing.
It is nothing compared to the panic clawing up my chest, stabbing my intestines until I can barely breathe.
I have to get out of here.
But I cannot leave without Levon.
I press my forehead against the cold metal.
Oh God! Oh God! What am I gonna do?
I stand frozen in time, staring at my closed locker, lost for words.
Exasperated, tears cloud my eyes, and I open my locker to find a small tissue.
That’s when I see it.
A large box covered by a white cloth. Confused, I sniffle and try to focus on what is in front of me. Puzzled, I see a sticky note on the side. I take it and read what it says.
Just know my distance is to protect you. Thought you might need this. It may contain some answers to your questions – In my heart, P.
I take away the white cloth to see it. The Tragedy of The Commons book.
I exhale. Wow. It looks as large as a tome or codex. I instantly grab it and begin to flip through the pages. I sit on the floor of the empty locker room, reading the book like a hungry child desperate for food.
I read, “In The Commons, everyone is average and shares equally.” I think to myself, but that’s not true. How can we all be average, but some are higher in rank. How is that an equally shared resource? I flip to the next page. That’s when I realize, oh my God, it’s not.
I flip through the book for the next hour.
I push it away, frustrated because I am not able to find anything on The Seventh Zone.
I rise up, pacing and panting. I think to myself, how can you be rewarded unless one person is depleted?
I can’t advance unless someone else is depleted.
Oh my goodness. But how are they depleted?
They can’t possibly be killed. Can they?
I don’t know how to answer this. But I hope it is not death. Especially since I overheard Patron Suzandrick say that Patron De Londe told Patron Brik not to kill me. I assume the worst they can do is hurt a person, right? Maybe they hurt Levon, but maybe she’s still alive. I really hope she is.
I continue to read in the book that The Commons will have a hundred percent graduation rate, and that is what will set it apart. Satri DeVeechi said this over fifty years ago.
That’s insane.
How could he know that? Unless, it was pre-planned in their curriculum to send those who don’t pass the test somewhere. Somewhere like The Seventh Zone.
In this moment, I realize… There is no escape from The Commons.
And since that is the case, there is only but one way to move forward in this plan: Get sent to The Seventh Zone.