Story Debate

“Umm...” I said. I was still pretty pissed that they had scared the wits out of me, but I saw their kind faces. All 5 of them, they were going through what I was going through. They knew me, I could trust them. I saw the hurt behind their smiles. “Of course I’ll join!” I said. They all broke out clapping again and Theresa gave me that big smile of hers. “Excellent!” she said. “Now, let’s all go down to the cellar, we have something to show you!” Barbie and Ken helped me up to my feet. “I can manage,” I said to them, smiling faintly. “We’re here to help you, Destiny. Let us help you.” They said. “Ummm... OK,” I said. “Let me hold your coffee for you Destiny,” Barbie said. She grasped the coffee and wrenched it from my hand. She stared at me blankly, smiling. I walked ahead to talk to Jade. “Hey, Jade. Is something wrong with Barbie and Ken?” “No, no. They were assigned by Theresa to help you.” She said to me calmly as we descended the stairs. “Help me? What, I can’t hold my coffee by myself?” Jade laughed. “I know you can hold it, but it is a great honour for them.” “A honour?” “You’ll soon see. Your destiny is about to be fulfilled, Destiny.” Barbie and Ken burst out in laughter simultaneously. I turned and shot a dirty look at them and they silenced instantly. What is going on here? I thought to myself. A honour? What are they talking about. Theresa fumbled with a light switch. We all stood in the darkness, quietly waiting. The lights suddenly blazed to life. I squinted my eyes. “Look children, let this serve as a reminder.” Theresa said, gesturing to the wall at the end of the cellar. “Ken, pull down the tarp.” Ken lumbered forth and grabbed the wall and grabbed a highly concealed cloth. I gasped as he ripped the cloth off of the wall. Shackles and torture instruments lay, strapped to the wall. My vision swayed. I swooned and almost collapsed. “Is that a, is that...” “Yes, Destiny. Unfortunately Christine decided to back out of our little organization. Let her tiny brain serve as a reminder of the penalty for treason.” In the middle of the wall a skull was mounted. That’s when I fainted. “Is she going to be ok?” “At least she didn’t vomit; the smell of the dried blood usually gets to the new initiates.” “She’s coming round!” I groaned and shook my head. My head felt like it had been cleaved open by an axe. I looked around. Theresa and Jade, Ken, Barbie, Drago and the unnamed one were gazing down at me transfixed. “I’m sorry that it had to come to that, but I needed to show you the punishment for disobeying.” Theresa extended out her hand. I smacked it away. “You monster!” I shrieked. “This has to be another sick joke, this has to be.” “It isn’t. I’m sorry.” I screamed again. I scrambled to my feet and dashed to the door. Before I even made it two steps Ken grabbed me and threw me back onto the sofa. “Nobody goes anywhere. You have joined the alliance. You can’t back out now.” He said in a deep, gruff voice. “This has to be a mistake!” I shouted. “No mistake,” Theresa said calmly. “Betray us, and Johnny will die.” I gasped and looked to the wall. The picture of Johnny was still there. “Yes, now you realize. We have followed Johnny and your father for weeks now. We know where they are at this moment. Go ahead, leave. I’ll be sure to mail you a finger.” I sobbed with fear. “No!” I shouted! “I’ll do what you want!” Theresa smiled at me. “Yes, I suppose you will. Come, to the strategy room.” Ken grabbed me roughly by the shoulders and dragged me through the house. “Let me go!” I shouted, kicking at him. The behemoth of a guy didn’t feel a thing and kept dragging me like I was a doll. He plopped me down in a chair and stood behind me, watching Theresa as she strode around the room. She went up to the cupboard and grabbed a scroll of paper. She unfurled it and lay it flat on the table. “Now, Destiny. I know your father is harming you and your brother. I know all about you. I also can help you. All you need to do for the Alliance is bring this package, here.” As she spoke she pointed out the location marked on the map. I stared at the map. “What’s in the package?” Theresa laughed. “Well, I can’t tell you that, can I dear? All you need to do is make sure you put the package through the mail slot. We will know if you open the package, so don’t you even try. If you succeed, we will fix your problems with your father.” Despite the horrors that were in the cellar, I felt a ray of hope. I looked into Theresa’s eyes. “You will? How?” “We’ll talk to him. Then we’ll make sure he stops hurting you and your brother.” “Alright,” I said shakily as I got to my feet. “Remember dearest, if you open the package, deviate from the path, or do anything we don’t like...” Theresa trailed off, leaving her threat hanging in the air. “I know,” I said. Theresa smiled at me. I turned and walked out the door, the package in my backpack. What will Destiny do now?