"What kind of justice? I did not do anything" Mark said, gritting his teeth. "He is right, he didn't do anything" said a boy keeping his hand on Mark's shoulder. While three other boys nodded in agreement.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN? DO I LOOK LIKE I AM LYING" Nik shouted and looked at Rex "You believe me right? I'm not lying" she gulped. Maybe two hours, that's the amount of time have passed since we all woke up and I already want to dig a hole and hide in it or float myself in space. This drama is now killing me. 'Man how will I survive with these people?'
"I believe you" Rex said without looking at now sobbing Nik "This boy needs to be punished" he added looking at Asher.
"We will talk about this in private. You, Nikola, Mark and me" Asher said sternly looking at Mark. "WHAT MAN I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING. YOU ARE GOING TO BELIEVE THIS LYING BITCH" Mark yelled in disbelief. 'Someone kill me already. Because soon these emotions & sharp voices will kill me in a painful way'
"We. Will. Discuss. This. In. Private" Asher said each and every word separately.
"OK you all heard now please finish your meals, or whatever you all were doing." Leo announced.
"Who said you'll get to decide his punishment. This girl should get the right" A girl said stepping out of the crowd. "Damn right" few others added after her.
"She is the victim here so it's her right. We can't really trust some Elites like you to deliver justice plus this is the rule, this is how we deliver justice down there. In those Pit holes I mean. Victim chooses the punishment for culprit" Said another boy, gaining praise from others & Rex's node. Satisfaction & dread filled me of course not my own but of others'
Mark shook his head in disbelief "Guys she is lying why would I do something like that" he looked at Nik, Kit and Rex this time his eyes are filled with not only anger but with want for mercy "I didn't do anything. You guys are interpreting it all wrong. Please try to understand"
"Well the offer is not bad, I mean that is what we do down in those Pit holes" Rex said smirking while Kit nodded "Couldn't agree more"
"Oh boy, this is not good" River said under his breathe. And I heard West's sharp intake of breathe. Everyone was silent for next sixty seconds.
But a hysterical laughter broke that deadly silence, I looked at Olivia, who usually looks cute with those red hairs, green eyes and short height but right now? well right now she is looking dangerous, murderous. Asher gave her a look that said 'Shut the fuck up, this is not the time' but she didn't stop so Leo pulled her holding her elbow which made her shut up. And she looked at the crowd "What kind of idiot y'all are? What does this look like ha? A game? Does this ship looks like those pit holes to you all?" she said through her teeth. 'Man I never thought she was capable of looking murderous'
"Does it really looks like to you that we will trust you enough to deliver justice to us" said a boy
"Wait a damn minute what kind of justice you all are talking about. I didn't do ANYTHING." Mark said now fuming with anger and looked at Nikola "YOU FILTHY LYING BITCH" as soon as those words were out of Mark's mouth, Rex jumped at him, hitting him continually.
Leo and Asher to stop Rex, but few other people stopped them. And the crowd started shouting "JUSTICE, JUSTICE, JUSTICE..... " because of which I had to press my ears and squeeze my eyes shut, I took a step back but lost my balance and fell. I heard West saying something and felt her hands on my elbow. I feel dizziness, I feel as if someone has hung me upside down and so I screamed "STOP" miraculously everyone went silent.
It took me about forty five seconds to open my eyes and look around myself. Mark was on the floor with blood covering his face while Rex and others were just looking at me.
"He is not lying" I said.
"You were not even present there" Kit said pointing his finger to me.
"Neither were you or this boy for that matter" said a guy who was earlier standing by Mark's side.
"Do I look like I am lying?" this time it is Nikola who spoke. "Did I say you are lying" I said through my teeth. I don't have enough energy or patience left to deal with this drama "All I am saying is this could indeed be a misunderstanding."
"The girl is crying-"
"SHUT UP" I glared at the boy who do not feel even an ounce of sympathy for Nikola but he sure hates Mark. Plastering a fake and poisonous smile that I have mastered over years, I folded my arms over my chest "I am sorry but no one is asking for your opinions" I looked at the crowd "or anyone's for that matter. So you can all SHUT THE FUCK UP. Nikola clearly has some problems and right now because of them she is unable to think clearly." I looked at Asher "so what do we do in such cases?"
"We sit and talk" He said authoritatively.
"Exactly to back off, y'all" I said glaring daggers at the crowd of idiots "Look Nikola I don't know you" I looked back at her "I don't know what you have gone through in the past, but my gut feeling says Mark here is innocent you are mistaken. So believe me solution to this problem is having a calm conversation where nobody is breaking anyone's bones. You could stop crying, sit down and talk or you could get Mark killed. The choice is yours, yeah but remember one thing if he dies and he is innocent it's on you. It will never go away" when I stopped I noticed how I have taken few steps in her direction, how her gaze looks glassy, how she is looking at me without blinking in a scary way.
"And who made you both incharge here" asked one of the boy from the crowd breaking tranquil silence that was enveloping us just a few second ago while few others hummed in agreement.
"Who made Asher incharge. Well he has been managing this mission all along. As for Talia well you know she has got brain. Something that y'all desperately need" Leo said rolling his eyes. Whoops, he shouldn't have said that last line. People already don't like any of them. And now thanks to Leo's comment the room is filled with fresh anger, disgust and hatred 'and oh did I mention another wave of unbearable emotions just hit me?' Damn, this is really getting more and more frustrating.
"You see this is what they all truly thinks about us. Bunch of brainless creatures" boy who apparently thinks he the leader here said loudly and looked at Rex "Do you really want to let them decide if Mark should be punished or not?" Oh boy! he really really hates Mark. All eyes turned to Rex, who now feels conflicted although he maintained his clam facade. He looked at Kit who shrugged and now just like Rex he is not so sure about Nikola's claims. Then he looked at Nikola who is.... still staring at me in that scary way. "Nikola" Rex said softly and that snapped her out of her haze. A fresh wave of relief flooded me, this time my own. "Yes" she said softly.
"What do you want? Rex asked.
"I want to sit down and have a calm conversation" she said as if nothing has happened. She looks serene.
Sighing Rex looked back at Asher, but not before sparing me a glance "I will talk to Mark and look into this matter. I don't trust you" he looked at Arthur, Cora, Leo and Olivia "Any of you"
"Fine by me. But no one is killing anyone on my ship. If Mark is guilty bring him to us" Asher said in a defeated tone as if he has had enough for today. Olivia tried to protest but Cora and Leo dragged her with them out of cafeteria in hurry. Arthur and Asher too left, but not before thanking me for interruption. "They wouldn't have listened to us at any cost. But they listened to you, Rex listened to you because they consider you as one of them. I guess perks of having you as my friend. Thank you Talia" Asher said hugging me "Yep thank you for ending this drama" Arthur added patting my back. In response I nodded on normal days I would have stayed the fuck out of such dramas. But today, today it was different today Mark's desperation and helplessness stopped me. And I really hate it, I don't want to get involved in these dramas. When Asher and Leo left, West pulled me by elbow "WHO ARE YOU" she said narrowing her eyes at me.
"What" I asked scratching my forehead. I feel weak, this drama and my new found good for nothing ability or whatever it is, is taking a toll on me, I guess.
"Where the hell is my sister" she said shaking me a little "Talia I know would never bother to stop by to even witness these dramas. Let alone actually stopping one"
I rolled my eyes and for a friction of second saw black spots before my eyes "Ouch I expected you to shower me with blessing grandma"
"Seriously when the heck did you become a sincere good girl. I thought that was my job!"
"Yeah you did pretty good job at calming Nikola. I mean she listened to you, when it was clear that she wasn't going to listen to anyone" River said blowing a whistle.
"Yeah exactly but if anything is more shocking than that it is Talia Isidro acting all mature and stepping up for someone other than ME" she pressed her thumb to her chest "convinced someone to have a COOL AND CALM CONVERSATION. You know that's bizarre!"
"Oh shit" I exclaimed, my eyes widened and I pressed my palm to my mouth.
"What" West and River asked in unison
"I am becoming YOU" I pointed my index finger at West "How tragic for both of us!"
"Shut up" she slapped my head and I felt a bit of dizziness and saw black spots before my eyes again. Okay her slap wasn't that hard!
"Okay I'll catch up with both of you later." I said to both of them, now feeling my head getting heavy.
"Where are you going now?" West asked
"Umm I need to talk about something to Asher" I said, turned around and left Cafeteria.
"I might need to go to med room too" I whispered to myself as I walked across the empty hallway to reach to control room. Because I can bet that's where I might find our 'captain & company' I rubbed my palm on my forehead.
"Talia" I heard someone calling my name from distance. But I didn't stop instead I kept on walking. It feels like my legs are not under my control, my head that felt way too heavy to even bear now feels as light as feather-
"Talia, Hey" someone called me again and this time I turned my head back to see a blurry figure running towards me. I opened and closed my eyes several times to clear my vision but it remained blurry and my head started spinning. So badly that I have to hold it and close my eyes
"You OK?" I heard a distant voice, but before I could response I lost my balance.