Chapter Ten

An echoey hall. Whatever we say or even just whisper could be heard. A hall just the size of my old classroom back in Warhem. Though that is rectangular, this is a perfect circle. The centre was definitely the place for the sphere. All around the base of the stand is a thin hole, the base sliding down deep into the centre.

'This is it. The blood goes down there' Draven said, pointing to the base. I took out the sphere from the bag. It's glow is very mesmerising. I don't know about the others but I don't want to waste any more time. Looking around and admiring everything can be done later. Let's just get to the point right? I got distracted by the sphere before and that got us captured. There aren't anyone here to get us but let's just don't waste anymore time. I placed the sphere on the stand. There's a small hole like a crater at the top, it fits the sphere perfectly. Michael took out a knife from his side pocket.

'The head family, do the honours first' Michael said, stretching out his hand to Tazanna. Tazanna was a little startled.

'Minimum of five blood needed, I let the others do the honour' Tazanna said.

'The more the better, we lock ourselves to the system' Michael said.

'It's okay, spare me' Tazanna said.

'Come on Tazanna'

'I said spare me!' Tazanna snapped. That shocked everyone. 'Just give to Zac'

I saw Michael was hurt by that. I could tell Tazanna was important to him. If I'm not wrong, I say Michael has a crush on her. Michael passed me the knife. With a deep breath, I slit my palm slowly. Terrible mistake! Oh the pain! I should have just pressed to make a short tiny hole. I almost pull back my hand and that will make matters worse. The pain was instant and shocking. I breathed out immediately, bearing the cut. I quickly held out my hand near the hole. My blood dripped quickly. A sudden loud metallic and engine sound came from below.

'Somebody pass me a tissue or a towel' I said hastily.

'Here' Orion said. He passed me a small towel. It's light grey, I saw it earlier in Malcolm's bag. It must be from there.

'Thanks Orion' I said, wrapping the towel around my hand and applied pressure on the cut. Ow, it hurts! I passed the knife to Michael.

'Who wants to go next?' Michael said.

'Let me' Draven said. He pressed on his palm like how I said I should have done. The same metallic engine sound echoed. Fayre gave a towel to him afterwards.

'How can you fit all those knives and towels in your bag?' Norman said. I looked. Fayre still has a few more inside.

'I go' Orion said, taking the knife from his brother's hand.

'I've done it, you don't have to' Draven said.

'It's an honour. And besides, I want myself in the system, my genes and yours differ a little'

'Fine' Draven said, smiling at Orion. Brother to brother. That was sweet. I thought of Zayne. How I wish he was here. How I wish my whole family was here.

Orion did the same like his brother. The same sound again. Fayre supplied another towel again.

'I'm next' Norman said. And he did the same. No one did like me just now. How stupid of me. A mistake I must remember to never repeat. Why would I cut myself again anyway?

'You want first?' Michael said to Fayre. Fayre shook her head. So Michael went first. And finally Fayre. And each time after one of us dropped their blood inside, the same sound echoed. After that Fayre actually got one more towel in her bag.

'Anyone else?' I said.

'Dane' Fayre said. I turned to Dane. He was busy tracing his hand on the wall back and forth.

'I suggest we skip him, it'll affect him a lot more than us' Draven said. I nodded.

'Then what's next? There seems to be no difference?' Norman said. I observed the stand again. The flooring to the ceiling is brown in colour. So our blood wasn't so visible in the hole but I can see it clearly.

'The sphere of Dustromedian!' Fayre exclaimed suddenly. Nothing happens. 'Well, it was worth a try'

'Maybe the head family should say it' Michael said. We all looked at Tazanna.

'Not me!' Tazanna said.

'Why are you suddenly acting so weird?' Michael said.

'I'm not! Just tired. Let Zac say it, he's next in line anyway'

I was also confused. Michael was right, there's something weird about Tazanna.

'The sphere of Dustromedian!' I exclaimed. Also nothing happens.

'Tazanna you have to say it!' Michael argued.

'Alright, everyone do as Tazanna says now or you'll going down!' Miss Janet suddenly yelled, pointing her gun at us. What is going on here?

'Chill lady. What are you threatening us?' Draven said. 'Try Operation United Nations' Draven said.

'Zac has to say' Tazanna said. Okay this is absolutely weird. I saw each of my friends faces were also confused.

'Operation United Nations' I said loudly with a tone of confusion. Again nothing happens. We think again hard.

'The United Nations!' I exclaimed with full confidence. Immediately after that, the same metallic engine sound came on continuously. That's the password! And then we heard a sound similar to the sound of an active current. It was coming from the sphere which was now glowing intensely. The symmetrical symbol on it was glowing a darker shade. The blue colour was so beautiful. The perfect word for it. Beautiful. I felt the surface vibrates. Technically we're underneath, so definitely we were part of the vibration. I don't know for sure if the others felt the same way but no one was showing attention to the vibration, they were more intrigued by the sphere. It was like a flow of energy in the surface was moving in circular motion towards the sphere repeatedly. Really whoa! The energy was contagious, it was like making me happy. Suddenly a clear female voice spoke. I guess the sound is coming from tiny holes in the ceiling or maybe the hole in the base of the stand. But I can't help the thought of the speaker covered in all our blood.

'Welcome back leaders of The United Nations. Adams, Phillip, Windscale, Prince, Gabriel. If you would like to add the three more lineage, you may do so through the sphere. And if you would like to change anything else, you may do so through the sphere. If you need help locating all other three remaining lineage, you may do so through the sphere. Thank you'

'Three more?' Fayre said.

'Dane, Tazanna, and the one we haven't met in Hayden' Draven said.

'Wait, we're forgetting the Jaxs. They used to be members of The United Nations!' Orion said.

'They still are, our great-grandfathers have never changed the lineage system if I'm not mistaken' Michael said.

'Then it should be four?' I said. The system can't be wrong? 'The system can't be wrong. Probably they removed the Jaxs already'

Bang! The sound of gunshot echoed throughout the hall and tunnel. Then followed by the sound of a body falling onto the floor. Then the sound of Orion making a short exclaim in anger. I can't believe what I just saw. Draven's body was on the ground, lying on his left side, his face was lifeless. A bullet punched into his forehead. Moments later, blood came out of it.

'First the most useful one' Miss Janet said. Her gun pointing up firmly in one hand. I can't believe it! She just shot Draven! It was her!

'Then the useless' she said and without hesitation shot Dane on the head as well.

'Oh my God!' Fayre gasped, closing her mouth with her hand.

'What kind of teacher are you?!' Norman shouted.

'I'm a spy' the devil said. 'And then the leader'

She pointed the gun at me and I know I was seconds from death. Suddenly, another shot. Bang! But it wasn't me. I can still see the tunnel and my friends were still beside me. I'm not dead yet. It was the spy. I don't want to speak her name again. How ruthless! She fell with a bullet in her head. It was Tazanna that shot her. Tazanna's expression was a mix of emotions. She's probably fuming and if I guess it right also guilty.

'Draven!' Orion shouted. Now that it seems safe for us to walk, Orion went to his brother. And I went to Dane. He was also like a brother to me, to all of us. He's just ten, two years older than Zayne. And he was a special kid. Very brave. He even outwitted the zombies.

'I'm sorry guys' Tazanna said. She sounded very guilty.

'It isn't your fault' Michael said.

'No it is. It all is' she said. I turned to look at her. All the weird, fishy, suspicious feelings came back to me. The way Tazanna looked at the spy everytime they exchanged glances like they know something we don't. My anger was rising as I began to suspect. Could it be, Tazanna was part of the plan of the spy to kill us?

'You and the spy were tasked to kill us' I said firmly. Tazanna didn't say anything. She didn't even deny. Now everyone was looking at her.

'You didn't want to sacrifice your blood because you can't. You're not a member. Your whole family isn't' I said. Again she kept quiet and did not deny anything I said.

'Wow, everything was a huge lie' Michael said, he sounded extremely disappointed and betrayed.

'You're not the Taz I know…' Fayre said. 'Or I thought I know'

Orion and Norman didn't say anything. Orion was just speechless and also feeling betrayed. He was just holding his brother in his arms.

'Why lie? Why kill us? What we ever do to you? Don't we have the same enemy?' I said. A lot of questions in my mind.

'The Jaxs aren't your enemy. My family is' Tazanna said.

'Explain everything' Norman said.