"Hold it away from the others it's gonna go off again." Kate warned.
"What?" Ella screamed.
"Hold it properly!"
"What?"
It started humming and she just screamed and she aimed it up, thought better, and then aimed it at the floor away from the others, white light burst. Only there was no hole.
It hummed again but Ella's hands stayed on the spot.
"Now that's interesting." Mother said. "Now it's your turn." She said and tossed another gun to the others and Zach caught it in both hands, hands up as if it were a grenade, the barrel of the gun were in his hands pointed high.
"Responsible with a little experience too. Good stock. I believe you. And you?You actually waiting your turn? Run away!" Mother demanded of the tall Liam who simply stood there.
"They're good." Griff said with a mouthful of cereal.
Mother cocked her gun, with a coldness, waiting for an answer.
"Say the words." Mother whispered.
Liam gapped quivering.
"No."
Mother's entire demeanor changed a big fat smile forming. She rushed and collected the weapons from their trembling fingers.
"There are very few reasons to be space born. They're either because you're a product of poverty, crime, business, (but I repeat myself) and war. There's inherit violence in it all, we simply call it being bold. We're all profoundly-" Mother stopped, thought a moment and after packing the guns away and closing the fridge before opening it properly. She pulled out tubs of yoghurt. "Big dumb words." She snapped her fingers and held their shoulders, easing them back into their chairs, patting them on the head and shoulders, jostling and shaking them softly and supportively. "Small words, do you know why people target you? Because you're ugly? Because you're weird? No, there are literally millions of people, millions of kids who are just like you. Which means you should have a tribe. But you don't, right?"
They looked at her, without saying anything. Hell, even Kate wouldn't have known what to say.
"Well, that alienation doesn't make you special either really. But then what makes people target you? Because you're weak? You've proven your potential to me, Kate would never have brought you if she hadn't believed in you. So strength isn't the issue. It's not bad luck either. I promise, if you go to another school, if you split up, your private little hell will happen again. You know, there's a government program where they test criminals to see what they can do to improve security and you know what? When asked to eye to soft targets from crowds moving down the street, they all picked the exact same people. You're those people. You're soft and breakable. People can smell it on you. This is not some magical coming of age nonsense where people learn to love each other. I don't love you., I don't even know who you are. But Kate has asked for your help. I'll make you ready for that help. But you'll have to prove it, because again. I have no doubt in my mind that at least one of you will be so pliable that you will try to come back here because you think you're supposed to. No. You'll have to prove it by doing something impossible."
"Like what?" Liam asked.
Mother shrugged and lifted the gun. She placed it on the table and waved them along.
"Start by getting out away from me."
They didn't move before the gun was fired into the ceiling and the children went running out the room. Kate had had her arms around her brother, because the boy was shaking. She had to rub his back.
"What's happening?" Kate asked Griff.
"I just-"
He was unable to say more and she just hugged him harder and their Mother rushed over to the kids and squashed them both with the cool purpose of a compactor.
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Up Next
The chaos is over, but the confusion lingers. Guns, threats, tests—was any of it real? Kate's friends aren't sure what to believe anymore, and neither is she. In the quiet that follows the storm, trust is fragile, and reality feels paper-thin. But Kate knows one thing: her world doesn't come with explanations. Just consequences. And now the choice is theirs—stay close, or walk away. Either way, the game has already started.