The Solid Hold (The IQ Testing Book 4) Page 8

  Jara screams, covering her eardrums from the breaking glass. Hatch cuddles her, slamming his body into the wall corner.

  The room is exposed to the breaking glass and ringing bells.

  Rincon grabs his eardrums, slamming into the wall corner, also. Nephella covers her eardrums, huddling between Rincon and Jara.

  1:40 pm

  Dandine

  barrier wall opening to Tonkey

  The bells ring from all the buildings inside Dandine for some reason.

  I swing the shovel at the moving me-chee, hitting the left side body part then still.

  The alert me-chees stop moving.

  I view the sky, hearing the lovely sing of ringing bells. Then, the pretty sound grows louder and louder. I grunt then drop the shovel, covering my eardrums, viewing the sky then the grass.

  The other alert me-chees still and stand in place, confusing their hearing circuits inside the computer brain.

  The mayor covers her eardrums. “What is that noise?’

  Duchie giggles. “Ringing bells from the church, the school, the firehouse, the lunch building. Yeah, Rincon!” She tosses her hands, smiling then covers her eardrums. “Rincon has created a resonance sound, using the sweet music from bells.”

  The mayor sneers, wrinkling her facial piercings.

  The loud ringing bells grow more powerful, when the barrier wall holes shimmy then shiver. The ions collide then collapse back into a solid form along the barrier wall.

  I fall onto the grass in the rain, covering my eardrums. The ringing music makes my head spin sideways. The ringing music makes my eyeballs see double. The rain makes me cold and hungry. I lay on my stomach, feeling the rain tap over my hat, my face, and my jumpsuit. I pass out into darkness.

  Chapter 10

  Monday

  10:01 am

  The Cubby Hole

  I blink my eyelashes open, feeling cold, semi-wet, semi-dry, and dirty with grass, tree leaves, and sand. I gasp, viewing the ceiling.

  The ceiling is golden color.

  I upright on my elbows, surveying my clothes. I wear my jumpsuit in golden glowing tones, without my gloves, scarf, hat, and shovel. So, I was carried inside the travel car, coming through Colfax from Dandine, making my jumpsuit absorb the golden electrons. I giggle then study the environment. I gasp. “I’m inside the Cubby Hole auditorium room, again.”

  The auditorium room glows in gold color on the four walls, the ceiling and the floor.

  I struggle to stand, being sore from my fighting exercise with the annoying and non-fighting me-chees.

  Buffo, Rincon, Jara, Hatch, Duchie, Nephella, and Lamis are lying on the cold empty floor, too. Buffo and Lamis wear golden jumpsuits. Rincon, Duchie, and Nephella wear the golden clothes. Jara and Hatch wears blue jeans and a shirt.

  I gasp in shock, dashing to Buffo then violently shake him. “Wake up, Buffo! Get up, Buffo. We’re back inside the Cubby Hole. What’s going on here? Get up, Buffo!”

  He stirs, wiggling side to side along with the other teens from the shouting of Ketona. Buffo yawns then rubs his eye sockets. Buffo blinks his eyelids open then close, focusing on the room. “The Cubby Hole…”

  Rincon stands, yawning and stretching. He surveys the empty room. The only object, inside the room, is one of the stationary me-chee chairs, glowing in gold. He says. “I do believe that we’re in gigantic trouble, ya’ll. We rang an assortment musical bells inside the assortment of buildings, throughout the land, like kings and queens, trying to collapse the barrier wall from Dandine into Tonkey.”

  I help Buffo to stand, saying. “It worked. I saw the wall drop then I dropped into blackness. The ringing bells were ringing my neurons into sleepiness.”

  Hatch helps Jara to stand, guiding her towards the wall. He helps her to sit, squatting. “Stay right here! You’re carrying our child. I will not let anyone harm you. I promise. Stay here and try to relax. Okay!?”

  Jara exhales with panic, rubbing her stomach with nervousness, not speaking. She nods.

  Duchie sits on the floor, hugging her body. Rincon dashes then helps her to stand. She says cuddling into his biceps. “The mayor threatened to put us on trial, like she did Hatch and Jara. I don’t understand, why we all are not inside the map room…”

  “I changed my mind.” The mayor shouts, entering from the girl’s bathroom. She walks inside the room then stands in front of the teens, touching the me-chee chair. “Yes. Ya’ll are in big fat trouble. Yes. Ya’ll created a big mess. Yes. Ya’ll are young. No. I will not punish you. As mayor…”

  “Mama!?” Nephella stands, wiping off the dirt, sneering. “You murdered people. We stopped you. You are evil. We are good…”

  The mayor exhales then shakes her curls, crinkling her facial piercings into her wrinkles. “My own daughter sabotaged my good work. To make a long story, shorten, the ringing bells created dizziness in every citizen of Colfax, including the outer townships. No. No one was harmed or hurt, only sleeping. No. My me-chees were no harmed, either, only sleeping, too. The first citizens, to awaken from the non-ringing bells, were the Coflaxians. They found your unconscious bodies inside the closet of my private mayor office, coming to my rescue, of course…”

  “Mama!?” Nephella says. “We rescued the people that you were murdering. You didn’t tell them…”

  The mayor says. “I told the truth. The Colfaxians have told the order. You are recently graduated from the Cubby Hole…”

  I walk and then hug Lamis, staring at the mayor, saying. “Why’s Lamis here? She wasn’t inside Dandine, during the battle?”

  The mayor frowns. “She covered her lies and fibs for all of you. Other loyal people, from Montag, told a different fairy tale, regarding the night of the cookie thieve. They were four out of towners, not two, who happened to materialize, like ghosts from the barrier wall. It didn’t take me long to figure out the four, comprising Ketona, Buffo, Hatch, and Jara. Interns Rincon and Duchie are here, also, because he and she have assisted ya’ll in too many ways…”

  “Yeah, I’ll do it, again, too.” Rincon cuddles Duchie, nodding and grinning.

  The mayor nods, smiling. “Excellent. I have a consensus of participation. Ya’ll have been expelled from the posh city of Colfax and stinky township of Dandine. Some of the Dandine leaders do not want your allegiance, either. Therefore, you are homeless, with a home or a landscape. So, you will re-enter the Cubby Hole, like a new graduating schooler. You will answer a new academic question for your citizenship. If you answer correctly, you will live in Colfax. I still need five teens for five dreams jobs...”

  Nephella frowns. “There’re eight of us. Last time, I took a math test. Eight minus five leaves three. What happens to the other three, who answer or don’t answer the new academic question, inside the Cubby Hole, Mama?”

  The mayor nods, smirking. “You are correct, Nephella. However, the five dreams jobs are down to four dreams jobs. I have selected Marsilla as the new administrator technician. Therefore, Nephella, you are without both a home and a job, too. Thus, you are re-entering the Cubby Hole, too.”

  I sneer, stomping forward. “She’s your daughter, your flesh and blood, too. I have parents, also. I wanna talk to my parents. My parents will provide for me, also. I wanna call my parents on the cell…”

  The mayor grins. “You do not possess cells, here, like in the original Cubby Hole. Yes. Your parents have expressed those same behavior sucky feelings, too. However, you must answer the new academic question in the Cubby Hole. Now, ya’ll are both dirty and smelly. There are new sets of clothes inside each bathroom, but no cell equipment, contacting your loved ones. Please, bath and change. I will return within the hour then your destiny will be settled.” She back steps then exits the room.

  Lamis bursts into tears. “I don’t wanna be here. I don’t wanna do the Cubby Hole thing, again. I wanna go home. I wanna see my parents, too.”

  I hug Lamis, frowning at Buffo.

  He shakes his skull, saying. “Look! We go
tta do the Cubby Hole thing, again. I don’t care about being homeless, or landless, or whatever. If I fail the stupid academic question, then I’ll live inside the thick patch of green forests behind the e-fields. They’re plenty of land and wildlife for hunting and eating and surviving the mayor, the e-fields and Colfaxians...”

  Rincon nods with Duchie. He says. “I will join you, Buffo. I’m sick and tired to being shoved and pushed side to side, like a puppet. I can live anywhere, with Duchie.” He kisses her lips then pulls back, smiling and nodding.

  Duchie nods and smiles, too.

  Hatch whispers to Jara, wiping her tears.

  Nephella exhales, folding both her fists, slapping her legs. “My mama is still crazy. Look, ya’ll! Once we’ve all passed this silly question, getting out of this room, I am gathering your parents and calling a business meeting. We’re impeaching my mama as mayor. The Colfaxians can elect a new one.”

  “Marsilla will be the next evil mayor.” Duchie frowns.

  I giggle, walking to Buffo. “Marsilla will be nothing, after I whip her butthole. I whipped lots of metal buttholes of me-chees, yesterday. Ya’ll should’ve seen me dance…”

  Buffo laughs, hugging Ketona. He says. “Get dressed and get this done! Then, the real war begins. Look, ya’ll! My parents, grandparents, and blood relatives are sick of this silly nonsense with the posh Colfaxians and the mean mayor. They will fight with us. We’re the new leaders of Colfax.” He kisses Ketona.

  10:10 am

  girl’s bathroom

  I walk to Lamis, hugging her.

  We slowly stroll into the bathroom then stop inside the archway.

  I gasp in shock.

  The room shows a wall of mirrors on the side, which is opposite from the wall of showers and dressing rooms. Along the mirrors, there are sinks with items on top. And, there is a long clothing rack of ankle-length colored dresses in the middle of the room.

  Duchie squeals, running to the dresses. She swings each dress side to side. “Formal gowns. I’ve never owned a formal long elegant gown in my life. I don’t know what color I like. I don’t know what style I like. I don’t know what I like. But, I like them all.”

  Jara stands and stares at the clothes inside the room. “No cat suits, this round, this time. Why not?”

  Lamis stands along the wall, wiping her tears. She smiles and nods, walking towards the wall of mirrors and the sinks. “I am both shocked and surprised,” she touches the items. “There’re makeup products for our faces, too. We have dresses and makeup, making us, look like a princess. Ya know, so, I don’t think we’re in that much trouble, like I thought. Why would they give us a pretty new dress, instead of an ugly cat suit? I like the yellow one with the v-neckline and big yellow bow on the waistline. Yeah, I pick this one. Yeah, I’m ready for the Cubby Hole, again. I’ll do really well, this time. And, this time, I can live inside Colfax, instead of Montag. Yeah, I can do this, again.” She hangs the dress on the dressing rack. She walks into the shower stalls, humming with happiness.

  I frown with puzzlement, two-stepping towards Nephella. She stands along the wall. I whisper. “I’m sorry about your golden circle internship. However, I am more sorry about your mama…”

  She whispers. “Me, too! My mama’s going down. I’m not really worried about me. I can answer any academic question tossed up my butthole. But, I’m very concerned about both Lamis and Buffo.” Nephella views Ketona, whispering. “He didn’t pass out of the orange color tone, when he was presented with the more difficult academic questions, Ketona. And, Lamis didn’t either.”

  I view the floor, whispering. “I know that.” I view her. “What’s really going on here, Nephella?”

  Nephella exhales, whispering. “I don’t know, Ketona. But, stay aware and alert. I don’t trust my mama. She has already committed cold blooded murder, killing innocent men, women and children, sending them into the radiation pits of Tonkey. So, nothing is beyond her, even this exhibition of glamour and prettiness. Let’s get dressed and then converse with Duchie, Hatch, Rincon and Buffo. I don’t think Jara is in the right state of mind, along with Lamis.”

  I nod, whispering. “Yeah!”

  Nephella strolls towards one of the individual shower stalls.

  I exhale, watching the other teens select a dress then enter the shower stall. I forgo the dress until I am clean.

  I enter the individual room, walking towards the shower. I turn the water to warm, letting the shower heat. I strip off my dirty jumpsuit, when my cell necklace catches in the zipper. I gasp, catching the wiggling object. I have my cell phone.

  I could call for help from my parents, or Buffo’s grandparents, or Rincon’s parents. One of the adults can enter the Cubby Hole from the outside of Colfax and then rescue us from the park place setting, like Rincon did, during the last park place as former schoolers.

  I don’t know what will be presented inside the park place either a cave of bears, or a pit of snakes, a garden of flowers, without the bees.

  I strip off my cell, gently laying it on the side table.

  I enter the shower, humming and singing with happiness.

  11:01 am

  auditorium room

  I wear a golden color matronly gown with a high collar and two long sleeves, no makeup. My guts are flip flopping. My hands are shaky with too much excitement and nervousness for decorating the ugly sneer on my distorted face. The gold color and extra gold material hides the design of my necklace cell. The necklace easily matches the ankle-length dress. I nervously paw the cell then drop the necklace along the lines of the fabric. I smile and stroll to Buffo.

  Buffo wears a pair of new blue jeans, a blue colored vest with a white long sleeved shirt. His bowtie is colored in pinks, yellow, blues, and greens. He extends his arms, hugging Ketona. He kisses her hair roots then lips. “You look…”

  I whisper. “Matronly. Yeah, I know. I’m really nervous and upset about everything.”

  Lamis twirls in a yellow plantation dress with a big yellow bow at her waist and a v-neckline. Her face glows in bright pink cheekbones and red lipstick. Her eyelids are covered in pale blue. She giggles, swirling around and around, making her dress hem rise from the floor.

  Duchie wears a white halter dress, hugging her petite body, glittering fake diamonds. She has decorated her face in coral cheekbones and pink lips. She wears gold and silver shiny eye shadow.

  Jara wears a pale blue sleeveless dress, without makeup. Stained crying tears are hard to cover. She walks to Hatch. He wears a blue jeans and a shirt, hugging and whispering into her eardrums.

  Rincon struts to Duchie in a new pair of blue jeans, a red vest with a white long sleeved shirt. He wears a red bowtie, nodding and whispering into her face. Then, he kisses her lips.

  Nephella strolls from the bathroom, wearing a sleeveless black sequin dress, a v-neckline, and a small dress train, trailing behind her butthole. She has removed her facial piercing, also. She stands near the wall, viewing the me-chee chair.

  I pull away from Buffo, walking to Nephella, studying her face. “What are you doing, now, in here? You look different. You are conforming…”

  Nephella views the me-chee chair. “I am pleasing and appeasing my mama. I wanna go, first, into the me-chee chair, before the rest of the teens...”

  “Go, first!?” I frown.

  Nephella nods. “There’s only one chair. We go, one a time, into the new park place for some strange reason. I want to go, first. I wanna have some time to talk then threat my mama into peace and serenity, before I tattle on her evil behavior to the rest our little world of Colfax.”

  I swing around, studying the me-chee chair. I didn’t notice it, being too overwhelmed with everything. I nod. “Okay! Let’s tell everyone else. You go, first, then trap your mama…”

  “The time has arrived.” The mayor enters from the girls’ bathroom. She walks then stands in front of the teens. She smiles and nods, touching the chair. “Ya’ll look like lovely princes and princesses of Co
lfax in your new freshly perfumed gowns and bowties. The new Cubby Hole rules are as follows. You will enter one at a time…”

  “Mama!?” Nephella raises her hand.

  The mayor shakes her curls, ignoring her daughter, says. “You will be entering another auditorium, holding all the Colfaxians…”

  “I wanna talk to my parents, first.” Rincon says.

  The mayor shakes her curls. “Your individual pairs of biological parents are not located inside the particular park place auditorium…”

  The teens gasp.

  The mayor says. “This is one of the new Cubby Hole rules, which was approved by both me and the entire city of Colfaxians. Your parents are at home, watching on the television plasma, impatiently waiting on their son or daughter. The Cubby Hole is being broadcasted to the outer townships, since the entire citizens of Colfax are located, here, within the Cubby Hole. The Colfaxians insisted upon, being present and accounted for, during the newly modified Cubby Hole.” She giggles.

  I gasp. “How’s that possible?”

  The mayor giggles. “Each one of the Cubby Hole park places was nothing more than another geographical location, not within the surrounding landscape territories of Colfax. The new park place is a very large auditorium, holding, only, people, not animals or plants, or props. I hope you’re not too camera shy. This time, you will be asked then answer your single question, before a live audience. The question will be different for each,” she giggles. “What would I call your persons?”

  “We’re teens.” Rincon growls.

  “Each teen receives a different question.” The mayor smiles. “If you correctly answer the academic question, then you become a permanent citizen of Colfax…”

  Nephella exhales. “There are only four dream jobs left, Mama. How can each one of us become a permanent citizen of Colfax, if there isn’t any more paying jobs, living within the posh city limits of Colfax. The other four must live someplace else, Mother…”