She lifted her eyes slowly, keenly observing everyone's reaction. Most were disgusted but there were others who weren't that much affected. They just looked down at the cup. The one who really caught her attention was a short,lean, brunette with grey eyes. She had seemed to have figured out what they were being fed. She sat at the furthest end of the table.
Devon had figured it out too. The metallic taste brought with it a painful memory. A memory so bitter she never told anyone. Not that she couldn't trust anyone with it,it just burned her with anger everytime she thought about it. It took place when she was seven and she had done something wrong but she now couldn't remember what. She only remembered the punishment. A beating so bad she couldn't move for days. Her dearly beloved father had smacked sense into her so hard,that she bled from the first blow. Her blood had that same metallic taste as that God forsaken crap.
She turned her gaze to another, who triumphantly announced that he was done. But before long,he started throwing up. First,was the black goo they had drank, but as they keep watching,the vomit began coming out with a lighter color. But he couldn't stop. He just keep on going until they saw a long,slimy ,flesh like thing choking him. His intestines fell to the floor and the rest of his body followed suit.
Chaos broke again. When she was sure the man wasn't looking in her general direction, she swapped cups with Maddie and poured some of Annah's drink into her new cup. The two looked at her in shock. She was literally signing her death sentence. Annah looked down at the cup. It was almost empty, just a few sips would finish the job. Her initial cup was still full. She couldn't bare the taste and now Devon had taken her cup of suffering. Literally. Maddie hadn't even touched her cup and now it was half way.
Greg had seen all this with amazed eyes. They had all seen the effects of whatever it was they were being forced to drink and she was willing to take it for her sisters sake. And almost on que she turned to look at Greg.
"Swap cups with Maddie, quickly." She commanded.
He immediately understood what she was asking him to do. They should swap cups knowing that Maddie's was half way, then she would drink most of it, leaving Maddie with less. He stared down at his almost full cup. She had planned this. He concluded as he looked at the chaotic bunch.
He felt touched that he was included in her redemption plan but he couldn't bring himself to add more weight to her shoulder. She watched as he carefully held Maddie's cup but he didn't swap them he filled his own cup. Her eyes widened in shock.
"What are you doing?" She whispered angrily.
"Helping you. We're family. Remember?" He whispered back.
She only gave him a proud smirk. Her insticts were right,he was a good person. She noted their worried looks and just chuckled.
"I'll be fine." She comforted quietly.
She wasn't sure she could but this was better than all of them dying. The man oblivious to what the four were doing walked to another young man who poured his drink on purpose. He paid the price with his head.
Placing the second head on the table everyone clipped their beaks. He gained control of the room with just a simple show of brute violence.
"Drink!!" He shouted again.
The four exchanged glances before holding their cups. They looked as if they were giving their last goodbyes. They gulped down not stopping until they were sure the cup was empty. The three did it for Devon, she had risked losing her head or puking her guts out just to ensure their survival. They weren't backing down from this.
When it was finally over, they waited for the worst. Most of the other kids were already done. The man walked towards Devon as she placed her cup on the table.
"Is this your cup?" The man's voice bummed and a few gasps were heard.
She hadn't seen this coming but she was sure he hadn't seen her helping her sisters.
"Yes." She replied confidently.
The man held the chair and spun her around making her face him. He had seen her gulp down the first time and now a second time. There was something fishy going on and he was sure of it. There were ten heads on the table now, adding one more couldn't hurt.
She had keep her eyes low. Her posture was calm and unbothered. Something that was very peculiar for such a scenario. But her insides were churning in panic and the only thing that could betray her was her eyes. The doorway to ones thoughts , fears to the soul.
"Are you sure you want to lie to me? I ca smell a lie you know." He warned bringing his knife closer.
I can smell a lie. The words rang in her eyes. It seemed to resonate deep into her being. True. A voice in her head confirmed. This intrigued her. How can someone really smell a lie? She slowly raised her head and their eyes locked.
"Really?" She let linger a bit." If so why don't you get it over and done with." She advised pulling the man's hand and bringing the knife closer to her neck.
" Is that really your cup?" He tried again. Her unshakable confidence hand him seconding his thoughts. But if she lied he would know and that's for sure.
" Yes." She replied coldly, pushing his hand away.
He couldn't see any nervousness in her eyes and hee couldn't smell the foul stench of a lie. He withdrew his knife after a small sigh. Maybe I wasn't keen enough. He touched her shoulder accidentally. She looked at the man's hand on her shoulder then back at him with an angry glare. He flinched at the sight of her eyes. He swore he saw a dim glow in them. It shook him to the core. He saw a lethal predator gazing at him.
He quickly withdrew his hand and span the chair again. He smiled to himself. This is a really good bunch. The serum seems to be working just fine. After checking everyone was done,he commanded them to place their heads on the table. No one dared to argue. She recalled how she had told a lie without being caught. Yeah, I did swap cups. But since it was my wanting the new cup is mine. A twisted truth. Thank God I watched all those murder documentaries. She thought gratefully.
She had seen how the military were taught to by pass lie detectors if caught by the enemy. You just had to convince your brain whatever you were saying was the truth. A skill most serial killers used to lie to their victims. Saying the truth but coating it with a lie. She had by passed a human lie detector.
One point for Devon. Zero for the bad guys. I will get out of here. She smiled as she closed her eyes.