“It’s different when the power is taken away from you,” she says gently. “And there are many more people with these tattoos. We see being Flawed as a strength, Celestine. If you make a mistake, you learn from it. If you never make a mistake, you’re never the wiser. These so-called perfect leaders we have now have never made a mistake. How can they have learned what’s right and wrong, how could they have learned anything about themselves? About what they feel comfortable doing, about what they feel is beyond the scope of their character? The more mistakes you have made, the more you have learned.”
I try to let this sink in, but I just can’t wrap my head around it. “Then I must be pretty wise,” I joke.
“The wisest,” she says seriously. “That’s my point. The Flawed court is Flawed in itself, Celestine. This doesn’t just represent that I feel we’re all flawed, it’s a symbol, showing that I support your cause.”
And I know that it has begun. This secret movement that Pia had warned me about, that Lisa Life is writing about. I am face-to-face with someone who is a part of it.
“When you get it right, Celestine North, boy, do you get it right. Your actions on the bus aside”—she waves her hand dismissively as if that was no big deal—“because we all have at least one random act of kindness in us, even the bad guys. But your quotes have been nothing short of perfect. Bang on the money.” She bangs her fist on the table, and I jump.
“Pia Wang’s articles have been distortions of the truth.”
“I’m not talking about Pia Wang. I’m talking about her alter ego, Lisa Life.”
“You know about that?”
“I recognize her signature style. Not too skilled a writer, if I’m honest, but she somehow has a knack for getting the stories, getting people to speak. She writes better as Lisa Life. The name makes me smile,” she says, not smiling. “You obviously struck a chord with her. Tell me, has she been behaving differently, or is she still a pent-up shark in a box? A puppet shark, mind you, for all the freedom Crevan gives her writing. Freedom of speech, my eye,” she snorts. “And as of this morning, that is set to change. Only minutes ago he announced—”
“That writing favorably about the Flawed will be seen as aiding a Flawed.” I stand up and start pacing, the adrenaline surging. It’s happening. Crevan is unraveling just as Pia said. Who knows what he’ll do to me now. I’ll have to think of a way to act, fast.
“Correct,” she says. “So you do read the papers. Usually kids your age need a bomb up their backsides, but it’s good to see you’ve got your wits about you. Frankly, I would have liked to have started this last Monday, but you were insistent on staying in school. Perhaps I should have taken you aside and talked to you in school, but I didn’t think you were ready. In a way, Logan Trilby did me a favor. Though don’t get me wrong, I hope all four of them rot in hell for what they did to you, and thanks to Lisa Life, her article today tells the world just what they did. She doesn’t name names, of course, but she hints just enough for people to be able to guess. People are complaining about your treatment already. The police have a lot of questions to answer for not bringing them to justice. Crevan’s going to want Lisa Life’s blood.”
And mine.
I’m not happy that people know what I experienced Friday night. I don’t want it to give others any ideas, but I’m glad that Logan and the gang have been implicated.
“Before we begin, do you have any questions? Any questions at all.”
The way she’s looking at me I know I have to sit up and listen. I know it has begun. It’s time to take control of myself now.
“Tell me about Enya Sleepwell.”
She smiles for the first time. “Excellent question, kiddo. You’re going to be an A student, I can tell. Tell me what you know about her.”
“She’s a politician. She has a pixie cut. She came to my trial every day. I remember seeing her. She always stood in the back, near the Flawed. She’s a member of the Vital Party. She’s on my side.”
“Two corrections.” She holds her fingers up. “She’s now leader of the Vital Party. She managed to stage a coup against the party leader. He was sweet but stupid. Enya played him, his own fault, really. He should have watched his back as soon as that girl was voted in. She was voted in as leader just last week, and she has you to thank for that.
“Second correction, she’s not necessarily on your side. She’s a politician, a fast riser at that. I believe she cares, and she cares hard, but she leans whichever way the wind is blowing, and she’s noticing that the Flawed problem is a rising concern with people, some people anyway. But there’s enough growth in that area to get behind it, so she can surf the wave to victory.”
As she tells me about her, she flicks through dozens of photos of Enya, many of her caught by cameras standing among the crowds at my trial.
“If you make one mistake, she’ll drop you like a hot potato, but so far she sees you as her poster girl, her shortcut, freeway to leadership. Power. It’s all about that, don’t you forget. People want money or power. Which do you want?”
I frown. “Neither.”
Alpha frowns as she studies me.
“Wait.” I try to think clearly. “But Enya is already leader. What more does she want?”
“She’s leader of her party, sweetheart. She’s gunning for leadership of the country.”