The Oracus Test (The Oracus Duology Book 1) by Corrie Hathaway

Author:Corrie Hathaway [Hathaway, Corrie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-02-16T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

Thanks in part to courage and in larger part to Em’s taunting version of encouragement, I joined everyone in the living room for the news broadcast. Two of the director’s agents were present—one who remained in the foyer and one who leered, vulture-like, over the crowd in the living room.

Drawn-out static heralded the broadcast. “Ohio becomes the next Nation to declare Seers an enemy to the government. Detention centers erected in Cincinnati already stand at half capacity as fearful Seers turn themselves in to authorities.”

My mouth hung open; silent tears trickled down my face. One stream skirted the edge of my mouth, tainting my senses with salted despair.

Half of the room erupted. Groans of frustration, heads hung, and a few tears shed. It was a world of difference from listening to the broadcast about Kentucky in the apprentice cafeteria. Maybe seeing into the Seer process these past few days helped the others gain sympathy for people like me. They were grieving this injustice.

The agents moved through the room in swift, precise movements, urging certain contestants to stand and exit the room. One by one, they headed for the door, and I realized it was everyone who had reacted to the news about Ohio.

The tenuous feeling of belonging and being understood shuttered itself away, deep inside. No one cared that Seers had been rounded up and jailed. They cared about losing a contest and not reaching Elite status.

One boy paused in front of me on his way out of the room. “I hope you lose,” he spat out, eyes narrowed.

“You don’t deserve to be here,” the boy behind him agreed. “Stuck-up bitch.”

A flash of movement caught my eye, and in the next second, Vance appeared between us.

“Get over it and get out,” he said, taking up my field of vision with his broad upper back and tensed shoulders.

One agent raised an eyebrow at Vance but continued silently herding out the people who had failed.

“Ooh, Vance, hero mode looks good on you,” Em called from across the room where she sat on a couch between Ethyl and Julion. “How could she resist?”

“I’m not saving anyone. I just don’t like sore losers,” Vance grumbled, retreating across the room.

Em cackled, openly enjoying messing with the atmosphere. But beside her, after Vance spoke, Ethyl grimaced and plugged her nose.

There were nine contestants left. Nine people who had predicted via belomancy. My mind rifled through the different assisted divination methods, wondering what would come with the next test. I didn’t dare pick up the discarded pile of sticks to predict it. I had gone the whole night without being kidnapped by a single government entity and hoped to make that a habit. No need to rouse their suspicion just to satisfy my curiosity.

After Vance’s protective maneuver, none of the other contestants took so much as a sideways glance at me. Neither did he. I still couldn’t leave the dormitory due to the careful watch of the agents but at least I was trapped in a less hostile environment.

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