Taking Someone's Sadness Away

Kyle: I guess there is a way you can help us.

Geo: How can I help?

Kyle's eyes travel around the room, looking at all the men in black.

Kyle: We can't talk in here; there are too many eyes. We will talk when Sarah and I come back from the playroom. *whispering*

When Kyle says that Sarah's face makes a scared expression and it looks like she's about to cry, Kyle begins to rub her back to comfort her.

Geo: Oh, okay, I understand. *whispering*

Geo's doubts began to rise again. Why couldn't he and Kyle talk about it in front of the guards? Just what was Kyle planning to ask Geo for?

They all finish their breakfast, and immediately after, Raymond walks through the warp. When Raymond walked out of the warp, it was a dark navy blue.

Raymond: Kyle, Sarah, it is that time of day again.

Sarah and Kyle get up from the table and slowly walk over to Raymond. When they are halfway there, Sarah stops dead in her tracks and starts trembling. Kyle turns around, takes Sarah's hand, whispers something to her, and smiles. Something about Kyle's smile was warm and reassuring enough to get Sarah moving again. If it wasn't the smile, then it was definitely whatever he whispered to her.

When they get in front of the warp, Kyle lets go of Sarah's hand.

Kyle: I will go first.

Sarah nods, and Kyle walks in. Sarah walks in a couple of seconds after Kyle.

Raymond: Geo, wait here and wait till a guard comes to get you.

Geo: I know.

Raymond: Just making sure.

Raymond goes in front of the warp. Before he walks in, he turns around to look at Geo.

Raymond: What were you and Kyle talking about?

Geo: What?

Raymond: You guys were talking about something during breakfast. But you guys were whispering, so I couldn't hear you. So, what were you guys talking about?

Geo knew this was a completely normal question, but for some reason, his heart was racing. This is the first time he has ever felt this way while talking to Raymond.

Geo: How do you know about that?

Raymond: Cameras—I mean, you can't see them, but there are cameras all over the place.

Geo: Oh...

Geo's mind started to race along with his heart. He has never felt the need to hide something from Raymond, but his whole body was telling him not to tell him the truth. He had no idea why, but he wanted to protect Kyle and Sarah from the man he admired most in the world. However, Raymond was too good at reading people. If Geo lied, Raymond would know for sure.

Geo sighs and straightens his face to hide his fear.

Geo: Well, I asked them why they hate you.

Raymond: Yeah, I heard that, but why would they whisper when they tell me why they hate me every day?

Geo: Well, they didn't tell me.

Raymond: Oh. Then what did they tell you?

Geo: Kyle said something like "I wasn't ready yet."

Raymond: Oh, really?

Geo: Yes.

Raymond: This is the truth?

Geo: Yup.

Raymond looks Geo up and down and smiles.

Raymond: Well, it doesn't look like you are lying; what a relief!

Geo: Did you really doubt me?

Raymond: Nope I know I can always trust you, Geo.

When Raymond said this, Geo's heart sank. Raymond had all this trust for Geo, and here he was betraying it. A part of him wanted to just come out and tell him the truth, but he couldn't because if he did, Raymond might lose all trust in him, and if that happened, Geo just wouldn't be able to stand it.

Raymond: Alright, bye, Geo.

Raymond waves goodbye, turns around, and walks through the warp; the warp deactivates as soon as he walks through. Geo has never felt this way in his life.

Geo: [Is this what it is like to lie? It feels absolutely terrible.]

Geo sat at one of the tables.

Geo: [I feel sick.]

The warp activates, and a guard walks out.

Guard: Walk with me back to your cell, Geo.

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Geo was sitting on his bed when he heard the sound of steel sliding against a solid surface. He turned his head to look out of his blue window, but when he did, the window was no longer transparent. The color of the window had darkened and thickened. He could no longer see what was happening outside of his room.

This happened every time Kyle and Sarah came back from the playroom. He always lost the ability to see or hear outside. He wished that he could know what the playroom was like.

His bedroom door opens as his window slowly becomes transparent again. Raymond walks into his room.

Raymond: Hey, we don't have that long until lunch, so let's hurry up.

Geo nods and follows Raymond out of his room and down the hall. He activates the warp, and Geo walks through it.

————————————————————————

Geo finds himself in a classroom with a white desk and a plastic chair in the middle of the room, carpeted floors, a brown teacher's desk in the corner, and a holographic screen in the front of the room.

Raymond: Alright, have a seat.

Geo smiles at Raymond and sits down. He is kicking his feet in excitement while sitting in his chair.

Geo: What are you teaching about today?

Raymond: About a certain device.

Geo: Sounds interesting.

Raymond: I think it is.

Raymond reaches under the teacher's desk and presses a button. The holographic screen then shows a circular white disc with a blue sphere in the middle of it.

Raymond: That is a clocking device.

Geo: Oh? How does it work?

Raymond: Well, it needs to be connected to an energy source, not to mention that one of this size could only fit a normal-sized house. But it creates a field, and anything inside this field will be hidden.

Geo: Really, anything?

Raymond: Well, it only hides certain things, like buildings or people. It wouldn't hide something like dirt or mountains. Anything that is naturally there like trees and grass won't be hidden.

Geo: Oh well, I wish I could see it work in person.

Raymond: Well, I don't know about it working, but—

Raymond reaches under his desk, pulls out a white pad with a blue sphere in the middle, and lays it on his desk.

Raymond: — Just being able to see it in person should work, right?

Geo gets up from his chair and walks up to it.

Geo: Can I touch it?

Raymond: Of course.

Geo picks up the device and begins examining it.

Geo: You said it creates a field that hides everything, right?

Raymond: Yes, that is correct.

Geo: Then what would happen if someone walked through this field? Would that person be able to see everything that was hidden?

Raymond: Ah, that is a great question. Well, they wouldn't be able to pass the field unless they were authorized.

Geo: What do you mean?

Raymond: Well, when working with a cloaking device, usually only authorized people and vehicles would be able to pass through the field.

Geo: How would someone become authorized?

Raymond: Well, to authorize a person, they would usually carry a card, or the device would just scan and save the person's appearance into its storage. This makes it so the person can walk through the field without needing to show or carry anything. For vehicles, it is a different story. The device scans its license plate, its color, and its model.

Geo: What happens if you aren't authorized to pass?

Raymond: The field wouldn't let you pass. It would be like hitting a wall.

Geo: Isn't the whole point of this device to stay hidden, though? What if someone is out running and runs into the field by complete accident?

Raymond: Well, we are trying to find a way around that.

Geo: We?

Raymond: Yeah. You know Break Point.

Geo: Do they also make technology?

Raymond: Break Point does a lot of stuff. We would probably be here all day if I named everything.

Geo: Oh. Can you tell me a little more about Break Poi—

They both begin to hear a small beeping noise.

Raymond: Sorry, but it looks like we are out of time; it is time for lunch to end now.

Geo: Already?!

Raymond: Yeah. I didn't mean to keep you in here for all of lunch.

Raymond pulls out his card and puts it up to the wall, and a small panel on the wall opens and reveals a sky-blue button. Raymond presses it, and the warp activates.

Raymond: You must be starving.

Geo: Not really.

Raymond: Really?! I am starving. I'll sneak some food into your room if you want me to.

Geo: I really am fine.

Raymond: If you say so.

Geo felt extremely bad. He told Kyle that they would talk after him, and Sarah came out of the playroom. He didn't keep his word, and he felt awful about it.

Raymond: If you want to, we can come back in here for dinner. We can even eat in here.

Raymond smiles at Geo so widely that his eyes squint. Geo had already left Kyle and Sarah for lunch, and now Raymond was making it so he could do it again. Part of him felt like he really needed to talk to Kyle, but he couldn't deny this chance he had. Raymond was offering to teach him two things today. That was something Geo couldn't pass up.

Geo: Yes, how could I ever turn that down?

Geo felt sick.

Raymond: Remember, don't tell anyone about this place. This room is only a secret for me and you.

Geo nods and walks through the warp.

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The next morning

Geo wakes up feeling scared. He left Kyle and Sarah alone not once but twice, and he was almost certain that Kyle would hurt him for it, and remembering Kyle's confrontation with Raymond in the lobby the other day didn't help put him at ease. Geo walks out of his room, expecting Kyle to come at him filled with anger.

Geo sees Kyle walking towards him and braces himself. Kyle bends down and pulls Geo into a hug. Sarah then runs over and joins the two in the hug. Today Sarah was holding a stuffed animal she had with her most of the time. Just by looking at it, everyone could tell that it was old. It had dirt stains all over it that made the naturally yellow color of the toy loom like a gross, darkened orange. It was made of yarn, had big green dots for eyes, and a big nose. She called this toy Rachel.

Geo: Y ... You're not mad?

Kyle and Sarah stop hugging Geo, and Kyle stands on his feet.

Kyle: Of course not.

Sarah: We were worried.

Kyle: Where were you?

Geo: I was—

Geo was about to tell them until he remembered what Raymond said.

Raymond: "Remember, don't tell anyone about this place. This room is only a secret for me and you."

Geo: I am sorry, but I can't say.

Sarah looks up at Kyle. Kyle closes his eyes and puts his hand to his chin.

Kyle: I see what he is doing now.

Geo: Huh?

Sarah: What do you mean?

Kyle: That bastard knows exactly what we are doing. He is trying to limit how much we can talk to Geo.

Sarah: Are you sure?

Sarah begins to hug Rachel.

Kyle: 100%. He is probably running here right now as we speak.

Kyle bends down so he is at eye level with Geo.

Kyle: Listen, Geo. We are going to tell you everything.

Geo: What?

Kyle: Sorry if this is selfish, but we wanted to protect you from the truth so you wouldn't be scared, and I didn't think you would believe us.

Geo: Believe you? What do you mean?

Kyle: It is time you learned the truth about this place.