Afflicted

"Kaitlyn?" he sounded panicked and I pressed the cellphone more firmly to my ear. "Where are you?"

"We're in town watching a movie - what's going on?" I asked as my heart started to beat faster.

"I-" Dad paused for so long that I pulled my cellphone away from my ear to make sure we were still connected. "Kaitlyn listen to me. You need to get home now and let the Wardens there escort you to the city. We've been selected to take part in the isolation trial and they've bumped up the date to start it tonight-"

"But Dad-"

"This is important Kaitlyn. You need to make sure you come to the city. This trial is going to go down in history and you have to be a part of that. Is your brother with you?"

"Yeah he's here. Why are you being so cagey, has something happened? Are they closing off the city for real? Is it an attack?"

"Talk like that could start a panic Kaitlyn. Don't start spreading rumours, all you need to do is go home and let the Wardens escort you in. I'll be here waiting." He sounded nervous and it didn't pass my attention that he didn't deny anything. There must have been an attack and they must not want everyone knowing about it. I guessed it was so that they could get important people inside The Wall first before the rest of the population followed.

"Okay," I breathed, unable to summon another response.

"Get your brother and go home now okay?" Dad insisted.

"Yeah, I'll get the next bus," I agreed.

"And Kaitlyn?"

"Yeah?"

"Remember not to make a fuss to your friends. Just... hurry home."

"You don't want me to warn-"

"Nobody needs to know... the main thing is you leave. I'll see you soon."

"Okay, I'll see you soon," I agreed.

"I love you." His voice almost cracked and fear knotted in my stomach again. I'd never seen my dad cry; something terrifying was happening.

"I love you," I breathed before the line went dead.

Chapter Sixteen

Kaitlyn

Our friends had made it out of the building and as I looked around the foyer I noticed something strange.

It was empty.

There was no one manning the ticket booth or the popcorn stand. I looked around us twice and frowned at the empty spaces where the staff should be.

"Where is everyone?" Lacey asked as she followed my gaze. "The whole place is abandoned... what did your dad say?" The fear I was feeling was starting to show in her voice too.

I shook my head slowly, unsure of what to say. "He told me I have to go home and that there will be people waiting there to take me to the city. He said I need to go now. I don't think he was allowed to tell me what's going on but I think there must have been an attack."

Lacey grabbed my hand and stared at me, a silent plea in her eyes, begging me to tell her I was joking.

"Are they calling everyone to the city for shelter?" she asked eventually. "Are we going to be evacuated?"

"I don't think so. At least not yet, he said they're still calling it a trial but... I don't think it's a trial."

"We need to get there then," Lacey said decisively, towing me towards the exit.

"Wait," I protested though I didn't try to slow our progress. "He told me not to tell anyone."