4 Chapter 3: The Case of the Vanishing Teenagers

I narrowed my eyes. "And why should I do whatever you say to me?"

Earlstone looked stumped. He twisted his mouth and replied, "Because we know what the future has in store for you, Margot. Trust me."

It was a tempting request. But I nodded curtly, and flashed a grin. Earlstone matched my grin and continued, "Very well, then. I'm sure you know about the 'vanishing teenagers', don't you?"

I perked up upon hearing this. I nodded vigorously. "Well, they're not vanishing at all. Every time a teenager turns fifteen, we will take them from their homes and train them according to Governor Red's plan."

"We train teenagers because we believe that they will be the weapon against the blossoming problems in our country," Melissa added. "The trainings include simulations, which portrays virtual realities; combat, which makes teens familiarize themselves with the different types of weapons and fighting; and survival, where different environments are generated for teens to adjust in."

"However, there's a catch," Earlstone said. "Not all teenagers finish the training and actually become part of the plan. We eliminate them one by one, until we find out who have the most potential by looking back at the tests and experiments we make about them."

"Why don't you just take all of them?" I asked, my arms folded. Earlstone and Melissa gave each other wary looks.

"It's because we need strong and intelligent people to face the world's problems, Margot," Melissa replied, her voice edgy. "We don't go around picking out teenagers who don't even know how to hold a gun. It's only been forty five years after the last time a scientist predicted the fate of the world, and it wasn't as good as what is happening right now. The stakes are high, and we need an action. Who knows, we might not even survive to meet the next century."

She was staring at me sternly, but as I stared back into her I knew she was looking at me with crazed eyes. As if she knew something nobody else knew. "Uh, okay," I replied, breaking eye contact. "It was just a question. I strongly believe in the saying 'strength in numbers'."

Earlstone cleared his throat. "That is unnecessary."

"Why are you even telling me all of this when I'm only going to be fifteen in four years?" I interrupted. "The idea's kind of cheeky, don't you think?"

"Well, I think it is important for an eleven year old like you to already know what is happening in the world she lives in, and what she needs to do," Earlstone replied. "Margot, there have been thousands of teens before you who have asked the same question when we told them about this. The plan's not a joke, you know."

"I didn't say I don't take it seriously," I protested.

The both of them didn't seem to be listening. "I'm pretty sure you understand what we wish to say with you," Melissa said. "We will come back to you four years later to take you with us. And remember: don't tell anyone."

As they started to leave, I suddenly remembered Quinn. That was why he wasn't telling me about his motives – he was part of the governmental plan too, just like the other teenagers. "Do you know my friend Quinn Owens?" I asked, standing up. "He's sixteen years old."

Melissa looked at me curiously. She took out a device from her satchel and turned it on. It displayed the various names of teenagers who were currently part of the government's plan. She narrowed her eyes as the device scrolled down through the various names, listed alphabetically. "Owens, Owens..." she muttered. Then her eyes lit up. "Oh, you mean Kyber?" she said, peering at me. "Of course we do. He's struggling with the simulations, too bad for him." Melissa shook her head like a disappointed mother.

"What do you mean, too bad for him?" I said. "And why do you call him Kyber?"

"We call our Variables using code names, Margot. That's something you'll have once you turn fifteen," Earlstone replied. "And as for his progress, you don't need to know about that."