Page 4 of The Divide that Binds Us

We walk through the busy, open lobby with members passing by, getting to where they need to be, or waiting for missions.Someone kicks one of the vending machines lined up against the wall when a toaster pastry gets stuck in the coils.Another member is arguing with the secretary about getting a replacement badge.Some people disappear down the hallway branching off into the cafeteria and dormitories, while others head to the gym.Someone with shaggy, red hair runs through the lobby and shouts about the monarchs on TV as he continues down the hall.

“Moment of truth,” Evangeline whispers.

“Let’s go to our room; last thing I wanna deal with is people shouting at the TV in the cafeteria like we’re watching sports,” I mutter.

We take the dimmer route with ambient LED lighting stretching a single wall strip down the hall.Amidst the row of doors on the left side, one door leads to the stairwell—down for the basement, and up for the large interior balcony overseeing the lobby.Further down the hall, an open doorway leads into the cafeteria.At the end, one closed door has a gold nameplate that reads, “Elite Commander Rebecca Foster” for her office.Along the right side are several doors either for storage, break rooms, the mailroom, or offices for finance and IT.Between the door to the break room and mailroom, we head to the dormitory hall.

Billie is the first to burst into our room and toss herself onto her top bunk.She swims in her five velvet, multi-colored comforters and wraps herself in a burrito.I grab the TV remote to turn on the thirty-two-inch flatscreen mounted on the wall.

The channel is already set to the Garnet Island News Station; a reporter stands outside in Central Square where King Remington is giving a statement to numerous journalists asking probing questions about the homicides and dragons.Surrounding him is his team of Guards with guns and crossbows.Behind them is a tall, muscular woman with brunette hair towering over everyone.She kinda looks familiar ...

“It is a troublesome time for us all when we lose a fellow Zealan from this land.It’s equally heartbreaking when our sacred friends have lost their lives to evil,” King Remington states.Evangeline slides onto my lower bunk and wraps herself in my purple, fluffy blanket.She scoots over to let me sit next to her while we crane our necks to see the TV.

A photographer squeezes himself in front of the pressing journalists to snap a shot of the King.An Guard tenses their grip on their crossbow.

Remington blinks slowly before continuing, “As dwellers of the island of nature and animal preservation, it is especially stressful and...damning that this foul act on our precious dragons occurred here.I know some people have inquired about the Ultima Organization to assist with this investigation.They are our Protective Dragon Agents—trained for moments like this.”

“Hehe, PDA,” Billie giggles.

I kick my leg up to hit the bunk ceiling above me.“Shut up.”

Remington scans the crowd slowly.“I am here to confirm that Garnet Island will abstain from deploying Ultima.We should not use Spirit Users in any capacity in this matter.All members of Ultima and Elite will conduct their normal daily missions assigned by the people they serve.”

The journalists go wild and start spewing questions at him and shoving their mics as far as their arms allow to get more answers from the King.

“What!”Evangeline shrieks.“They absolutely need Ultima for this!”

Billie’s head appears upside down from her bunk.Her hair flops over and I swear a shower of blond falls to the floor.“Right.Or any of us.We’re the ones with special powers.This is dumb.Change the channel.”

I smirk and aim the remote at her.“Move your big head first.”

When she moves, I change it again: Sapphire Island News Station.King Evan is giving a speech from his office.I’m curious to hear what he’ll say since he oversees the island of technology, transportation, and manufacturing.It’s suspiciously always festering in poverty, too.

“I will NOT call upon Ultima to—”

I change the channel to Emerald Island.King Jonah’s mellow voice comes with a relaxing smile in his handsome, open kitchen.

“At this time, I’d like to further look into the matter with only my dutiful Guards and—”

Click.Next channel.

Queen Sophie of the party island that never sleeps, Topaz, stands outside her golden palace gates with a fierce smile as fireworks are going off in the background.

“I appreciate Ultima, the Protective Dragon Agents, and Elite, our Patrol and Safety Agents, but I do not want to risk their lives in this—”Click!I switch channels again.That leaves Onyx Island—science, medicine, and magic—and the luxurious business island, Amethyst.The channel lands on Queen Oona of Onyx Island, where Billie, Brooke, and I grew up.

“My people, my scholars, my experimenters, my questioners.Zeala is hurting from this devastating loss!I pray to the Superiors that no more blood is shed and if a dragon were to die, may it be a natural death!”Oona states.Above me, Billie unleashes an obnoxious yawn.

“She’s gonna say the same thing, too,” Evangeline murmurs beside me.

Oona brings a soft, warm twinkle.“I will not risk the lives of Spirit Users for—”Click.

“What the hell,” Billie mutters.“Okay, last one.I think we all know what that witch, Allison, is gonna say, right, Eva?”

Evangeline snorts.“Mhm.Thank goodness I don’t live there anymore.”

Allison wears a permanent scowl as she addresses the cameras.“I regret to inform you that I will not be utilizing Ultima’s services with this issue.”

I click the TV off.Billie grabs the bed, flips herself over her bunk railing, and swings onto mine with a heavyplop.

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