Free Academic Assassins by Clay McLeod Chapman Page B

HO HO HO
oh no oh no help me oh no
HO HO HO HOW ABOUT WE GET YOU A BRAND-NEW FIRE TRUCK
DOES THAT SOUND LIKE A GOOD GIFT TO YOU KID and Grayson’s thumb finally lifted off the button.
    The electricity dissipated from my bones, releasing me from its steely grip. I folded over and landed hard on my knees, flopping like a rag doll.
    â€œGet up,” Grayson said. “I said—
get up
.”
    Babyface leaned over and grabbed my arm, trying to tug me up from the floor. “Just give him a second, alright? Let him catch his breath.”
    Grayson tightened his eyes on Babyface. “Let him get up by himself.”
    â€œCome on, man…Lighten up.”
    Grayson stepped back and shouted—“Hear that, everybody? The rug rat here says I should
lighten up
.”
    This drew a few chuckles from the Men in White.
    â€œWhat do you think, #2643?” Grayson asked. “Should I
lighten up
?”
    â€œNo, sir!” Buttercup shouted back.
    â€œTell you what.” Grayson aimed his eyes at me and shouted, “Emergency pod inspection, courtesy of our two new residents here!”
    Ants moaned as three more Men in White entered the gallery, keys jangling. “Be sure to show #347678 your gratitude whenever you have the chance.”
    Grayson really wasn’t making it easy for me to make new friends.
    We were instructed to stay on the Yellow Brick Road while the Men in White tore through our pods. We had to watch them turn over our rooms, one at a time.
    Before long, a small heap of confiscated goods piled up on the gallery floor.
    See that soda can?
    The bottom was cut out and hinged to make the Men in White believe it hadn’t been opened. Perfect for hiding items nobody wanted found.
    See that comic book?
    Slipped in between its pages were a set of razor blades.
    See that knife made from a shard of Plexiglas?
    One end had been wrapped in duct tape for a handle, while the other had been sanded down to a fine point.
    See that set of nunchucks made from broken chair legs?
    Or that spear made from a scrap of metal from an old bed frame?
    â€œAre we gonna find anything in your pod, #347678?” Grayson asked.
    I shook my head—
nope
. What did he expect? I had only been at Kesey for a couple hours….
    â€œGot something,” one of the Men in White called from my pod.
    Say—
what?!
    The orderly stepped out from my pod holding a toothbrush. Its plastic tip had been filed down to a sharp point. I’d never seen it before in my life.
    â€œWere you planning on poking somebody’s eye out?” Grayson turned to Buttercup. “#2643—why don’t you inform #347678 of our rule on weapons?”
    Buttercup about-faced and recited—“
Any weapons discovered in a resident’s possession will automatically result in a visit to the Solitary Housing Unit
.”
    Grayson stepped up to me. “Ready for a trip to the Black Hole, #347678?”
    I didn’t say anything. I stared ahead.
    Don’t take the bait, Spencer…
    â€œAnswer me.”
    I focused onto a point along the gallery wall, refusing to look away.
    â€œI said—
Answer me
, #347678.”
    I imagined my eyes boring directly through the cinder blocks and finding freedom on the other side.
    Grayson held up his C.R.U., thumb ready. “Last warning,” he said, barely even waiting a breath before pressing the button and I tried bracing myself for the jolt but
too late here
it is it seizes my spine
I WAITED AND WAITED FOR DAD TO PICK ME UP AFTER SCHOOL HE KNEW IT WAS HIS DAY TO PICK ME UP WHERE WERE YOU DAD
and now I am a marionette and Grayson is some evil
puppeteer plucking the strings the strings I can’t control my body
MOM CALLED DAD THE NIGHT BEFORE TO MAKE SURE HE REMEMBERED WHICH ONLY GOT HIM MAD OF COURSE I’LL BE THERE STOP
MICROMANAGING ME and Grayson released the button and I stumbled back, stepping off the Yellow Brick Road.
    â€œOff the line!”