The Sway by Ruby Knight Page A

hair.
    â€œWhat is this?” I waved my hand around me. “This is some secret society? Been there, done that. Graduated top of my class,” I said, placing my palms on my thighs and spreading my fingers out.
    â€œIt is so much more than that. Julia, these kids, they…” He stopped and looked up at the ceiling, seeking permission—or begging forgiveness, I’m not sure. “…Have you seen X-Men ?”
    â€œHave I seen X-Men ? Like the new one or the old one?” I stumbled over my words.
    â€œIt doesn’t matter, either or.”
    I nod. Where was he going with that? Next, he’d tell me all the kids here are superheroes in training.
    â€œWell, everyone here is kind of like a version of X-Men .”
    Oh, for God’s sake! Seriously? I mean…
    I looked at Cole, really looked at him. “What?”
    Three loud quick beeps blared over the speakers and the room went silent.
    Cole grabbed my hand.
    â€œCome on. Now! Hurry,” he said while pulling me to my feet.
    â€œWhere are we going? Why are we running?”
    He pulled me through the fancy double doors. The kids were all still in the assembly room.
    Every one sat perfectly at attention; no one moved a muscle.
    I looked out at the crowd and noticed nearly everyone had stopped moving, besides Cole, ten feet from me now. Why weren’t they moving? He quickly closed the distance and came to my side.
    The lights dimmed further and in an incredibly efficient manner, every person in the room made rows and columns, little squares of perfectly organized people. I looked up at Cole and he shook his head once. I didn't move. The screen behind me lit up. Little Miss Too Innocent and Cole turned to face it, so I stood and followed suit. Why was everyone so nervous, frozen? What the hell was going on? They were robots. The Sway turned them into robots, that was it.
    We were looking at the interior of a government bunker. They had men and women who had to be foreign military commanders, because they were dressed in uniforms and definitely all from different countries judging by the insignia on the shoulders. Their faces were plastered on various flat screens throughout the room they were in.
    â€œSo we are in agreement. The World Order will go into effect.”
    I knew that voice. A chill scattered goose bumps over my body. I turned to Cole and his eyes were wide.
    His father was leading whatever group this was.
    A few nods and affirmatives echoed in various languages. None of the men and women on the screen were leaders I recognized. This was a rogue group.
    â€œWe start with the largest targets. We will give anyone who wants to leave two weeks to evacuate their homes, showing them how generous we can be. London, Tokyo, Bangkok, Rome, Paris, New York, Los Angeles, Sydney, Moscow, Berlin, Montreal, Cairo, Chicago, Johannesburg, Mumbai, Austin, Karachi, Rio de Janeiro, Singapore, Hong Kong, Washington DC. We are in agreement, then? In two weeks’ time, we will move to change the world,” Hank Thomas said.
    A screen in the middle of that room switched to a countdown. I looked at Cole and he grabbed my hand. The silence was deafening. The clock ticked: three, two, one.
    â€œCitizens of the world, I come to you today in an offering of peace.” The screen zeroed in on the man speaking English, one I knew. “My name is Hank Thomas and these are my commanders.”
    The screen flashed, showing people from varying ethnicities, the same ones we’d seen in the video prior.
    â€œWhat’s going on? Who’s he talking to? Can he see us?” I asked.
    Cole leaned into my ear and whispered, “This is on every channel.”
    He motioned over his head to a command station in the corner that had multiple screens set up, all showing the same scene.
    â€œThey’ve hijacked every station, I would guess,” he said.
    I nodded once, letting the magnitude of the situation set in.
    Hank continued.