The Paladin Prophecy

#98: DON’T WATCH YOUR LIFE LIKE IT’S A MOVIE THAT’S HAPPENING TO SOMEONE ELSE. IT’S HAPPENING TO

YOU

. IT’S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

“Fighting among ourselves is exactly what they want,” said Will. “What’s the worst they can do if we stick together and stand up to them? Throw us out of here?”

“Isn’t that bad enough?” asked Brooke.

“You tell me,” said Will. “The day before I got here, back home, a group of men in black sedans tried to kidnap me three times.” He paused to let that sink in. “And I’m starting to wonder if Lyle and Todd are mixed up in it somehow.”

They all stared at him, stunned. “You can’t be serious,” said Ajay.

“What’s your evidence for that?” asked Brooke, her eyes wide.

“Let him talk,” said Elise intensely to the others, and then to Will, an order, not a request: “Talk.”

“I can’t prove they’re part of this yet,” said Will. “But I saw something today that strongly suggests the kidnappers have people here who are working with them, or for them. I have an idea about where to look to confirm this, and if I’m right, if Lyle and Todd are involved … then we’re all in danger.”

Will looked around: Now he had their attention.

“You have to tell the school,” said Brooke.

“I told them some of this already,” said Will. “But I can’t tell them about Lyle because I don’t know who to trust. Here or anywhere. Aside from the four of you.”

“Dude,” said Nick sympathetically. “So what can we do?”

“What does that have to do with this?” asked Brooke, looking nervous.

“You heard him,” said Will. “Lyle just declared war on us and he has the Code on his side. If the system’s rigged against us, we have to fight back any way we can.”

The others kids shared cautious looks around the table. Will had struck a chord in everyone but Brooke, who sat upright and rigid, alarmed.

“You mean we have to break the rules,” said Brooke.

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