Faith

Prologue

I am conspiracy, we are conspiracy, we created conspiracy, and we will succeed. The clock showed eight and the room was dead silent. Test books were everywhere along with everyone’s answering documents that claimed they could measure our intelligence.

Today was a day of change. We will no longer be what they want us to be, we will take the world by surprise. The clock hit 8:01, there was no turning back.

I heard a soft cough from someone on my left side. Trinity, I thought, it had to be her we were the only two in this class. She was one of us, one of the intelligent young minds that were fed up with our system. Today we would take the third step to breaking down the system. She had sent the first signal.

What appeared to be nothing but a soft cough, or a simple clearing of the throat held so much information. She was telling me that she had test form D and its answers, she was ready to help. I slid down in my chair sending the signal back that I had indeed had test form A. The plan was working.

I quickly remembered the poem I had memorized for the first six multiple choice questions. Abigail’s dog, Buddy went to church after going to bed. A, D, B, C, A, B, could this be any easier?

I quickly flashed back to the beginning, and why we were doing this. My mind wondered aimlessly with no hope of coming back anytime soon.

_-*-_

It was the ten of us, nobody would have guessed. We stood tall and proud as leaders, scholars, and star athletes in our local elementary school.

Trinity and I shared a homeroom and a position of authority, Trinity, Student Council President and me Njhs president. Our vice presidents and our co conspirers were Casey and Samantha. One belonged to Ms. Trinka’s, and the other to Ms. Kelly’s Homeroom. They would help change the nation.

Our plan has been set for years. Worked on and amended until it is what it is today. We were going to change the world, one system at a time.

Step one was probably the easiest, some but not all of us had to become active in the school. We got elected and became leaders, we gained trust and support.

Using this we formed the ten. Nobody would ever know because we made sure of it. Most of the ten at school appeared to be friends, others enemies, and some acquaintances. It was an act that indeed proved the ignorance of our society. Nobody knew, because they saw what we wanted them to see. We were living proof that we could do it.

The ten were strong, both in mind and in body. We consisted of our people, the ones that could change. Our male components such as Mathew, Jake, Corey, Mark, and Alex where ready to fight whether it be with a knife and a warn out set of brass knuckles or for the political standpoint in which we all shared. They had assigned tasks and duties one of which was protecting the woman. Trinity, Casey, Samantha, Angelina, and I were the sincerity of the operation and willing to fight for what we thought was right. Every girl was assigned a male partner, whether it was protection from the forces we would soon face or just a helping hand, we did not know or care. We all knew what had to be done, because we all experienced it first hand.

Mark and Alex were the last of the ten to join. Mark was tall and muscular with a small build but he didn’t fear anybody. He had the respect for people that some, such as me, needed to gain. I envied that about him. He wore his hair short and out of his face just like Alex. Alex wasn’t built too strong but he definitely wasn’t weak. Everyone that joined the ten trained and learned how to fight. Originally brought into the ten for his intelligence, he soon became a great resource physically.

Samantha and Angelina were the ten’s seventh and eighth members to join. Samantha was small, but she didn’t let this get in the way. She fought strong and hard with fists that no person wanted to be the victim of. She learned that from her dad. Angelina was enlisted at first to assist Samantha but like her fellow members she soon proved herself to be one of us. She was not small by any means but she was no where near obese. She lost weight once training began, showing her true build. Samantha and Angelina were critical to the third step. Ms. Kelly’s class needed two in order to successfully overrun our system.

The original four chose Corey and Casey as their fifth and sixth members. They had been long and trustworthy friends, therefore they joined. Casey, a little bigger than Samantha, had been fighting her whole life, consequently she had experience. Corey was about the same size as Samantha, but he was much stronger. He got his experience from classes, not from his home environment like the rest of us.

Which leaves the first four; we had all been put down by life but we did not seek revenge, we looked for a change that was well needed, or at least I thought. Like many we had our ups and our downs but we held strong. We always relied on each other.

Jake, wow he’s kind of hard to describe. He’s been my friend and my ally for a while and his politics are partially what started this. He’s tall with blonde colored hair cut right above his eye. He’s tough and well put together. Being strong is probably what he enjoyed the most. No matter what though, he was always there for me.

The complete opposite of Jake was Mathew; this causes them to argue more than anybody ever seems comfortable with. He seemed maniacal and racist but really he was the key component to our operation. He was smart and knew how the government ran. Tall and strong built like Jake only skinnier. Mathew gained his experience from his pure hatred. We all hated the world; he just had a problem speaking without his fist. He had long jet black hair cut round and formed around his face.

Trinity was my friend, my partner, and I could always rely on her. She was slightly shorter then me with brunette hair cut with bangs. She was hilarious and was quite good at acting however we suggested at school. She was her own person and nobody could change her. She was my ally, and I depended on her.

I then pictured myself. I’m Faith Amor and I am one of the ten, I am one of the founding four, and this is my story. I’m thirteen, tall, with blonde hair. I never thought anything was right about me because I was very intelligent for my age along with tall. I wasn’t a ditz or a slut like most blondes you see today. I am me. I am unique and pledge upon that. I helped bring together the ten that would change the world some day.

_-*-_

I snapped back to reality quickly, entirely too quickly. My head spun rapidly and I thought I was going to faint. The teacher looked up and gave me a worried look. I faked it and made it look like nothing happened. I looked around the classroom to see the plan already in full swing. It was too late for turning back and, even if I had the chance, I never would.

The clock struck ten thirty-seven. I knew what the plan was and why we were doing it. I frantically looked down at my paper realizing I spaced out for two hours. I thanked my intelligence and this mind I was created with. While I was spacing out I still managed to write down all of the correct answers. It was time for our first break of the testing period; I sighed and stood up looking for Trinity.

I did a full three hundred and sixty degree turn before I saw her.

“God damn it Trinity, you scared me.” I said gasping for air. After turning I found her right in my face, which was a little shocking.

“Oops, sorry” she said smiling.

“Ha-ha,” I laughed half heartedly, “yea really funny.”

“Ummm, are you ok? I noticed you kind of spaced out over there.” That’s just like Trinity, friendship before alliance.

“Yea I’m ok, I was just thinking about the beginning.” I tried to show a fake grin but she could see right through it, always has.

“Awe, the simple times,” she softly laughed throwing her arm around me, “don’t we wish we could go back to that.”

I laughed, no matter what Trinity always made things seem easier, and some how funny. I knew it wasn’t funny that I missed the beginning, and I knew it wasn’t funny that if we get caught we’ll all be imprisoned, but some how I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Ok, we’re ready to start testing again,” Said Ms. Jacobs from behind her desk.

“And it continues,” I sighed looking at Trinity.

“Don’t sweat it,” she leaned in closer and whispered really quietly, “you know all the answers.”

We laughed and went back to our seats. Ms. Jacobs went back over the directions again and all I could do for the time being was sit and think, if only that was it. I don’t regret my decision, but I’m not stupid, I know one screw up and we’re all screwed. I know.

I looked down at my paper and wrote down the answers I had memorized for the second portion of testing. Danny’s cat, Betty, barked aimlessly at another cat. I smiled slightly as I thought of a cat actually barking.

My pencil scribbled across the paper as if it had a mind of its own, D, C, B, B, A, A, A, C. I looked up at the board that held a poster. The poster was neon green and quite distracting. I tried to make out the large black print written in the middle but the contrast burned my eyes. I stumbled over the words and reread them over and over again in my head.

“Everything happens for a reason,” that’s all that the poster said. Simple and direct yet it angered me deeply. What had meant to mean you earn your own grades had screamed to me in a different sense. I sat remembering my life, and sadly that day.

_-*-_

Cold and dark I felt my blood run cold. Everything was a daze and hard to understand. Like a piece of wax paper held over my eyes it blurred my vision making it almost incomprehensible. I sat on the side of the road cold from the September night.

“Is she going to be ok?”

“I don’t know she’s so young.”

“I’m,” I hesitated, pain hit me hard. It was hard to breathe I ached everywhere. When I continued it felt as if my lung would collapse, “not young.”

I had been in the car that night with my parents, I knew they were drunk and I still got in the car. I was ten and my babysitter still let me go with them. She warned them they were drunk but they denied it still putting me in the backseat of the vehicle. We began to drive and it was inedible that what happened did. I will never forget the light and the sound of the bending medal as our car got crushed under the semi’s grasp.

I saw what seemed to me like two white, round faces leaning with in a close distance of my face.

“Oh my!”

“She spoke!”

“Get the,” my right lung felt as if somebody was stabbing it constantly in a repetitive motion, “fug out of my face.”

My effort to curse made no improvement in my situation and neither did the piercing pain. It burned and stung, and I slowly faded.

_-*-_

I looked back up and I realized a tear almost fell from my eye. I quickly wiped it away with the sleeve of my jacket.

I needed Trinity, maybe she could help me. I tried to ignore the thoughts of my dead parents and I tried to refocus on the plan.

Trinity tapped the tip of her, now dull, pencil on the table three times. I tapped back only once. What seemed to be a short simple tap held so much indignity. Once my parents died that night in the car accident I promised myself I would be strong, and that one tap showed, that I was no longer that.

Trinity saw that one tear before it fell and she knew I tried to hide it. Her tap was a question, a question asking if I was ok and I answered her no.

The test was soon over and collected the test books and answer documents. It was eleven thirty and I knew I had a long day awaiting me.

The time, and her questioned reminded me of all of my previous homes. After my parents died the government took me under their protection. The guaranteed my well being, since nobody wanted me.

My first foster home wasn’t that bad they were strangers to my but at least they were nice. I had my own room and my own books but like most good things in my life. They’re too good to be true. They committed fraud on their taxes and the government took them from me.

After this nobody wanted me nor did they take care of me. From home to home I traveled, once one family got done with putting up with me, away I went. Being shipped like cargo. It bothered me and I was threatened to behave.

My last house was one that belonged to an old shop guy. He scared me, I was little and there was something about him that seemed off, just not quite right. I went behind the barn one day to see him torturing the animals and another one of the kids. I ran. That’s all I could do. I ran to what I used to know. I ran back to my old school. They were no help to me and called the police.

I continued running when I found myself in front of Trinity’s house. She was an old friend of mine. I was eleven and walked up to the door and rang the doorbell changing me forever. That was two years ago and everything had changed.

My day was full of harsh moments and doubt. It seemed to be an average day. As usual I put on a front not letting anyone inside. The only people that noticed were the other three.

Chapter One

I was sitting in science class while my mind wondered. An assignment sat in front of me begging to drain my knowledge. It was quiet and the others were hard at work. My phone began to talk to me as it vibrated under the table. I pulled my backpack onto my lap and pretended to look for a pencil while I checked my phone. I had received a text from Jake; he wanted me to meet him in the hallway at three thirty.

I quickly scribbled down some answers onto my science assignment. It’s almost time to meet him, and I began to ponder why I was failing elementary school science, if I can build a nuclear weapon.

My hand raised and I waited for the teacher to call on me. She asked me what I needed and then excused me to the bathroom. At a steady pace I walked to the front of the classroom, signed my name, but hesitated to leave. I took a glance at my signature written on the paper. It was strange, seemed to be different; I picked up the pass without taking my eye off of it. Faith Amor, it has to mean something.

I blew off this new curiosity to my name and walked out the door. I took a deep breath and two steps before something grabbed me. Whoever it was had one hand over my mouth and the other around my waist pinning my arms to my sides. I remained calm and actually thought it was kind of funny that this stranger wasted their energy trying to restrain me form screaming.

It got me from behind, but not by surprise. The person leaned back taking all of my weight off of the floor. I kicked him hard and fast on the top of his right knee. I heard a sharp breath and thought this would be easier than anticipated. I quickly contemplated about the advantage I had, my legs were free and his withheld both of our weights in his.

I knew how to take him down. I took one deep breath and went to strike. My heart quickly picked up speed racing a little quicker than usual; oddly, it appeared that time slowed. I was prepared to win the battle, and the war, but I never got the chance.

Before I made any contact, there was a strong push from my right side. Powerful and startling we both fell to the ground hard, my attacker probably as surprised as I was. When I fell, my head hit the ground hard, and I felt a sharp pain, then everything went black.

“God damn it Jake,” Mathew sneered, “you’re such a dumbass.”

I heard the argument and I tried to open my eyes but it was hard and it hurt.

“Look, I said I was sorry,” snapped Jake, “I didn’t know you would tackle me!”

“Will you two shut up for one fucking second!” yelled Trinity.

My eyes blinked open and I managed to mumble, “That would be nice.” They all laughed and turned to me, hopefully I lightened the mood a little bit.

“Thanks you guys what an awesome way to wake up.” I sighed.

I looked around and saw that I was in Jake’s house lying on the couch. Obviously his parents weren’t home, that’s probably why they picked that house. I sat up and they were still laughing when I met their gaze.

“What?” I asked slightly annoyed.

Jake’s grin grew tremendously on his face and he looked at Mathew quickly then back at me. Time was still moving slower than it should have been. He looked entertained, “Well you kind of hit your head.”

“How? All I remember is someone grabbed me and I was about to kill him, then…black”

“No you weren’t,” Jake laughed, “you weren’t even close to killing me.”

“You’re lucky she didn’t,” snapped Mathew. He was clearly not amused.

“You’re lucky you didn’t give her brain damage.” He replied. All previous signs of delight were history upon his face.

“Shut up!” yelled Trinity staring at them. She looked at me and began to speak. “Well,” she paused, “I guess Jake grabbed you in the hallway, for like two seconds, and I guess it looked like you were in trouble, and Mathew didn’t see that it was Jake.” She sighed starting again, “So I’m guessing that Mathew tackled Jake and in the process you hit your head.” She half smiled and then continued, “Then when I came out and saw that you were out cold we ditched the last ten minutes of school and brought you here.”

“Wow, you guys are dumb.” I said knowing that was all I could manage to say. “Except for you” I gestured to Trinity, “it must be a guy thing.”

Trinity smiled widely.

“It was freakin’ funny,” laughed Jake.

Mathew was mad, and you could tell, even if you were recovering from a head injury.

“If you ever touch her again outside of practice, I’ll”

“Relax!” I yelled standing up; cutting him off from any rage that could have resulted in violence. I positioned my body in between them. In result, my head got light again, and it seemed like I was going to faint. Things began to spin and my balance soon faded.

Mathew swooped me up in one try. I was off my feet before I had the opportunity to pass out. Now I remember why he was my partner. He sat me down on the couch and the world slowly began to stop spinning as fast.

“They’ll be here soon,” said Trinity.

“Who?” I questioned.

“Samantha, Alex, and the rest of them.”

All I could reply was, “Ok.”

Slowly, one by one, my family entered the small living space. I was still sitting on the couch and hadn’t moved since I almost fainted. It was a normal meeting and I was not expecting to be so suspicious. Once everyone sat down I noticed Samantha was peering around the room and seemed kind of jumpy.

“Samantha!” I screamed.

Everyone drew their attention to me trying to find out why I was yelling at her. She had a different reaction though. She seemed frightened as if she just got discovered robbing the National Bank down the street.

“Huh? What? I didn’t do it I swear!” she was slightly shaking now and I thought it was stranger than her previous behavior.

“Didn’t do what?” I questioned; my tone now even.

From the corner of my eye I saw a quick motion and looked over to discover what it was. It was no other than Corey, he looked mad and concerned as he shot Samantha a look from across the room. I continued looking at him trying to figure out why he, as well, was acting weird.

“Ummm, Awwwww, nothing,” I now directed my attention back to her.

“Why are you acting so weird?”

“No offence, Faith but you’re the only one acting weird.” said Angelina.

“Yea”

“Yea”

“Yea,” random people agreed almost simultaneously.

I blushed, now slightly embarrassed, maybe I was just seeing things. I was probably just reading into something, that really was nothing. I could have sworn I saw Corey glare at her though. It was strange I thought I knew what I was talking about. But now I just sat looking like an idiot.

“Hey leave her alone,” said Mathew.

“She is blonde,” Jake tried to joke it off for me. They both had my back they knew it was a mistake. They would both do anything for me.

Later, we walked out of the house and turned the corner. I saw a man, seemed to be in his thirties tall with black hair. He was strong and dressed in all black. It seemed odd; I had never seen him before.

“Hey,”

The others responded, “What?”

I turned around and the man in black was gone. Fearing embarrassment I didn’t tell them.

“Nothing”

I would later discover that it was a mistake not telling them. They needed to know, but I played it off as nothing. Since I thought I was strong.

Chapter Two.

They betrayed me, us. Samantha and Corey, they told them. My face aches everywhere and my bones are shattered. I thought I could trust them, but obviously I can’t. It’s a little late now. I discovered their secret, and mine.

My hands were tied above my head and my ankles locked together. They knew me and my weaknesses. I looked around and found seven. Thankfully they were here, the ones I could trust. I hung from my life and my disappointments. I tried to hide them my entire life but now they came back to get me, and my friends.

I trusted the wrong people. I was the reason we were here. I was the reason we got caught.

The seven hung there, like I did, beaten and bruised all over, obviously feeling my pain. I felt so bad; I didn’t deserve to be in their presence, they fought. They tried, I gave up.

They were amazing people and did not deserve this. I realized that my trust was too strong, and to open my eyes to see my surroundings.

Trinity, Casey, Mark, Mathew, Angelina, Jake, and Alex, I listed their names in my head as I tried to forget the pain. I remember their faces, beaten and battered with nope hope.

Hope, what a word we commonly don’t use in today’s society. I wish we had hope, a hope to survive. We lost all of it after they stripped us of our will. In order to have hope, you have to have faith in the people around you or at least in yourself.

“Wait, Faith” I spoke out loud.

_-*-_

I awoke with a toss and a turn. I didn’t remember I was spending the night at Trinity’s and was on the couch. I fell off, hard and hit the floor with a deep thud. I groaned and still felt sore all over.

“It was only a dream,” I said.

“Faith, are you ok?” Trinity stumbled out of her bedroom, and walked towards me. She looked exhausted and didn’t sound very enthused that I woke her up from her deep slumber. “I heard a loud noise, for a second there I thought someone was breaking into the house.”

“Nobody’s breaking in, it was me.”

“Oh.”

“I’m ok, well kind of,” I paused and inhaled deeply.

“What’s wrong?” she asked she was now fully awake and willing to assist in anyway she could.

“Well…I had a dream; it was so vivid it seemed real, like we were all there.”

“Who do you mean by ‘we’?”

“Well we were all there, me, you, Casey, Mark, Mathew, Samantha, Angelina, Jake, Corey, Alex; it was like it was real. Trinity,” I hesitated.

“Yea? Come on Faith you can tell me anything.” She reassured me.

“I think it meant something I think it was a sign.”

“How?”

“Well Samantha and Corey, they deceived us. They told them our plan. We were captured and tortured, it was horrible. I could feel the bruises and the cuts,” I shuttered looking down and checking one last time to make sure I was ok, “and I was listing off the names and something caught my attention.”

“What?”

“Think about my name, Faith”

“Yea…What about it?” She seemed confused and I could tell she wasn’t catching on.

“I don’t know it’s just strange. Don’t you think?”

“I don’t know,” she sighed, “Maybe, I’m tired I’ll go back to bed and we’ll talk about it tomorrow. Ok?”

I knew Trinity; she was practically useless when she was tired. So, I let her sleep. She offered to sleep outside in the living room with me, but I told her no and that it would be ridiculous for neither of us to get sleep.

“Good night,” she almost whispered with her back turned to me and her trudging back to her room.

“Good night.”

A long sleepless night awaited me and I knew it. I thought and thought and let my thoughts take over. It was easy because I was bushed, but yet my body would not let my mind rest.

_-*-_

First, I thought about the ten.

I remembered the second step of our plot. It was simple and very easily executed. Trinity and I broke into the school last Saturday. We crept silently through the halls, nobody knew we were there and we attended to keep it that way. After stalking slowly through the hallways and peering around corners we reached our destination.

His office was unlocked and we opened the door silently. I pushed my way into the room taking a seat at his desk. Trinity stood guard as I punched in the password I stole when he was lecturing the rest of the grade about morals and expectations. We already figured out that the test books were assigned by where you sat in homeroom, thus we knew what book we were most likely to receive.

I sent the printing request to the local library and hit the button that screamed at me to be pushed, Print. Mathew and Jake were there ready to receive the piece of paper that withheld our destiny. I logged off and made sure not to touch anything else. I stood up and slowly glided out of the principal’s office.

The second part was complete, we had the answers. I thought, and continued to daze out of reality.

We didn’t need the answers we were all bright individuals that could easily pass, but it wasn’t passing that we were worried about.

In order for us to succeed and continue we needed to all scored perfectly on the test. We let this thought consume us. We would use their own test against them. Ten students that scored perfect hundreds on the test, they couldn’t help but to be curious of how we accomplish something of this magnitude. I was then found reflecting on the saying, “Curiosity killed the cat.”

I saw it, play out in my mind, one by one, they would call us in. Depending on whether they decided to play good cop or bad cop they would either respond by saying, “Congratulations, How did you do it?” Or they’ll try to guilt us into it by saying something like, “I know you’re smart, but cheating? That’s below you.”

We were prepared. They’re not going to force a false sense of shame onto us hoping that we will say anything. They had no proof, so why stoop down to their level of thinking? We would smile, and deny any criminal action. Since they wouldn’t let it go, it will go to the media, and from there we will use their own government strategy to our advantage, by gaining the trust of the people. It was perfect and seemed to be flawless.

I smiled, slightly maniacal, and then my smile softened into one of great sweetness. He was assigned to me, but he was still my best friend. Today, although he didn’t need to, he tried to save me. It was sweet. My mind pictured the softness and beauty of his eyes.

But no, I will not do this to myself or him. I am strong and I don’t need a guy for anything, protection, or love. He wasn’t mine, he belonged to the group. I would not allow my thoughts to get in the way of what we have created.

I was unsure of my feelings, but they did not matter. He was my family, my friend, and nothing more. I often found myself contradicting my own thoughts.

I shook my head left and right trying to shake off the mixed emotions. I begged my mind to think of something else. As a result, my mind switched gears fast, like that of those who belonged to an automatic sports car.

Samantha and Corey, Why them? Why would my mind subconsciously direct my attention towards them? They couldn’t betray us. Sadly, I knew that they could, and if they had the proper motive, they would. This insecurity struck deep. They were acting kind of weird today.

This frightened me but I wouldn’t let it show. I never will let it show. My emotions are locked behind a steel door and only those who know me best know how to unlock it. I know many like this, and they, don’t blame me.

I have come to realized that emotions are a weakness. If someone gets inside of you they can destroy you. I don’t fear my emotions, but I do fear what people can do with them.

_-*-_

I inhaled and exhaled, it seemed like it took great effort just for me to breathe. I sighed and rolled over to my side making the clock that hung on her wall visible.

It was a simple clock, round with a set of numbers from one to twelve, predictable, much like people’s lives. I tried to read it although the room was dark. The hours hand short, but significant, was below the black four, and the minute hand, long and slender, it barely touched the seven.

“Four thirty-five.” I sighed. I knew it wouldn’t be long before Trinity was awake, and knowing her she would have a nicely prepared speech for me about my lack of sleep. I knew if I slept now I would be in a daze for the remainder of the day. I, myself, would be worthless.

I got up and began to raid her refrigerator. I found some eggs and a little ham stashed towards the back of the shelf. I set the ingredients on the table and walked over to the stove. I turned the burner on and watched the coiled metal turn from black to a fiery shade of red. I placed a pot over the heat and began to cook the eggs. I grilled the ham, after cutting it up, and threw it into the now, scrambled eggs. I tossed on some cheese on top and waited for it to melt. Turning from an orange shade of yellow to one that got brighter by the second.

“Mmmmm,” Trinity said breathing in the intoxicating aroma, “You can stay here anytime.”

We both laughed as she walked over to the small table in the dining room. She looked absolutely exhausted and I hoped it wasn’t because of my incident last night.

“Are you ok? You look like you got ran over by a semi then the street cleaner came and swept you up.” I said smiling.

“Thanks,” She replied sarcastically, “It’s a new look I’m trying I call it,” she paused to put her hands slightly above her eyes and away from her face and moved them if looking at the word was being written right in front of her, “Lack of Sleepery.”

We laughed once again and she looked over at me with her hands still hovering in the air.

“Are you ok? I mean did you ever find out what your dream meant?” She looked me up and down, letting her hands rest on the table, “Because it doesn’t look like you got very much sleep last night either.” She half smiled, waiting for my response.

“Ding, ding, ding,” I emphasized the fact that she guessed right, “After my dream last night I got, not three, not four, but zero hours of sleep last night.”

She laughed at my cheesy attempt at a game show accent.

“Well, since you didn’t sleep did you find out what was up with your dream?”

I had already made our plates, so I set hers down in front of her and sat down across from her with mine, “Nope.”

“Oh well”