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CONROY

I was confused. The castle was flashing pictures on the screen. The things seemed bad, but why?

I looked at the people around me. They were broken.

An ache tugged at my heart.

I shook my head violently. That was their problem to deal with. Not mine.

I closed my eyes and covered my ears so that I could at least block out the hurt.

At least I didn’t have a deepest regret.

“Conroy Flinston, it is your turn.”

I shot up in my seat. “Why’d you have to say that? Now everyone knows my name!” I groaned.

The voice did not answer. Instead, the numbers popped up on the screen.

10

…

9

…

8

“I don’t have a regret,” I shouted.

7

…

6

…

5

The numbers were beginning to worry me. I didn’t have a deepest regret, right?

4

…

3

…

2

Curiosity perked up inside of me. What did it think my deepest regret was?

1

…

I walked into the familiar room. The wood creaked under my steps. My breath was shaking, but my voice sounded confident. “Flinston with a warning.”

I scoffed. If it thought I regretted turning people in, it was wrong.

HS looked up from his desk. “Flinston, you’re first warning. My congratulations. Who is it?” 

My first-! No. No! Get me out!

“I am reporting Greyn Azor and his family. I am accusing them of being spies for Outside.”

Please, no.

HS looked surprised. “Greyn Azor?”

I swallowed hard. “Yes, sir. I caught him in the act of passing information.”

HS nodded solemnly. “Thank you, Flinston.”

“You’re welcome. I am simply doing my duty.”

“True. Remember that Flinston. This is your duty to us.”

I nodded and left the room.

The scene froze then it began to shift; greys and blacks taking over the picture.

I stood in a graveyard. No, it was the graveyard where the traitors, criminals, and spies were buried.

What was this? I had never been here before.

I stepped forward and tripped over a small marker. Looking down, I saw GA engraved on its front.

“Greyn,” I whimpered.

I was back on my chair. It was over.

I stood on my chair and glared defiantly at the stage. “You’re wrong! I don’t regret it! Greyn was a traitor and deserved to die! I was only doing my job!”

The stage lit up again.

I was hiding under my bed, crying. It was the day I had been taken from the orphanage. 

“I know what you’re doing, and it won’t work,” I shouted at the castle.

The scene continued.

The door to my room opened, and Greyn walked in. He knelt down next to the bed. “Hi there Conroy. I’m Greyn. I brought you your dinner. Do you like chicken?”

A sobbing “yes” met him.

“Great because dinner is all chicken. You’re going to want to eat before it goes cold. I brought my dinner, so you won’t have to eat alone.”

I scooted out from under the bed, my eyes red and puffy. I began to eat, hiccoughing sobs interrupting every now and then. 

Greyn sat next to me in silence. When I was done, he patted me on the back and smiled. “Good man. You’re going to be all right.”

The scene changed again.

I was trudging back to my room, hot, sweaty, and defeated. Training had gone all wrong. I had fallen off the bars, knocked over vases, and ran into walls.

“Conroy, hold on!”

It was Greyn.

“What do you want?” I grumbled.

“I was watching you today.”

“Yay. My best friend got to see my fail.”

“It wasn’t that bad. You just need more practice. Besides, I have some tips for you. If you want, I can help you practice tomorrow morning. TM gave us permission to.”

“No thanks.”

Greyn laughed. “Don’t worry. No one else will be there.”

“Really? Well, in that case, I’ll do it.”

“Great! You’ll be the most feared kid here soon.”

“Yeah right.”

“What, you don’t trust my judgement? Since when have I ever been wrong?”

I snorted.

Greyn poked me in the back. “Seriously, I’m always right.” He grinned.

I laughed. 

“All right, that’s it! Wrestling match is on! Maybe when you’re pinned to the floor, you’ll have more respect for me,” he threatened with mock fierceness.

“No way!” I cried, smiling from ear to ear.

I slid into my seat. “I get your point. You can stop now.”

The scene changed for a final time.

Greyn was sitting on the edge of my bed, reading a book to me. It was only a couple days before I discovered him handing off information.

Greyn set the book down and sighed. 

“Is something wrong,” I asked, concerned. He had been acting less cheery than usual.

“Everything’s fine,” he answered shortly. He looked up at me and smiled. 

“Are you sure?”

“Yes Conroy. I just need to tell you something.”

“What?”

“No matter what I do, remember this. That you’re like my little brother, and I would never do anything to hurt you.”

“I know that!”

Greyn chuckled. He patted me on the shoulder. “Good night, Conroy.”

“Good night.”

I couldn’t help it. I curled up and began to cry. He trusted me. I was his brother. And I had given him away. I was the traitor, not him.