Chapter 22: All Is Not What It Seems
Yassmay, Walter, and Orcilla entered Angelo’s room for dinner. Angelo was standing up facing a television screen. He had his head lowered and his right arm pressed over his chest. He was watching his followers standing in circles holding hands. Julio was standing in the centre of the inner circle. He was consoling them.
There was a guard standing in Julio’s place. He gestured for Yassmay, Walter, and Orcilla to stand on their side of their table in front of the dinner plates, which were covered with cloches.
They waited for around two minutes, and then Angelo turned to face them. He had a tear rolling down his face.
‘Welcome, Your Highness, Orcilla, and Yassmay,’ said Angelo in a sad tone. ‘Please sit down. We’ve much to discuss over dinner.’
‘You can just call me Walter,’ said Walter as he and the others sat down.
‘I’m humbled you treat me as an equal, my dear friend,’ said Angelo as he sat down on his side of the table.
‘I’m so sorry I brought this tragedy upon your followers,’ said Orcilla in a serious tone.
‘No, it was my orders,’ said Angelo. ‘I bear full responsibility for our loss.’
‘It wasn’t my place to insult Cecil,’ mumbled Yassmay.
‘The jokes changed nothing,’ said Angelo firmly. ‘They were going to do what they did anyway.’
‘What can we do to stop them now?’ asked Orcilla. ‘I have no doubt that the Downs residents are being mistreated and abused like slaves.’
‘Holy shit!’ shouted Walter as he dramatically waved his hands. 'Downs residents will never be slaves to the baldies.’
‘You are thinning a little on top, Walter,’ chuckled Yassmay.
‘Argh!’ shouted Walter as he pulled the hood of the onesie he was wearing over his head.
‘Oh, this is not over by a long way,’ said Angelo. ‘My followers are burning to strike back.’
‘Team foodies will bust my brothers and sisters out of that camp if we need to,’ said Walter as he slammed his fists on the table.
‘Oh Walter,’ said Yassmay. ‘You could be hurt.’
‘I’m already hurt,’ shouted Walter as he stood up. ‘That thing killed Hamlet!’
‘I have some news about that thing,’ said Angelo as Yassmay pulled Walter back into his seat. ‘Julio managed to hack into her phone. He found out that she was posing as someone called Julie. Does this name ring any bells?’
‘I knew it!’ said Walter as he bobbed around in his chair. ‘It’s all in the eyes. You can never fake the eyes.’
Yassmay gasped in shock and covered her mouth.
‘We knew we had a spy, but I never suspected Julie,’ sighed Orcilla.
‘That’s because you suck ass, moron!’ shouted Walter at Orcilla.
‘That’s not all,’ said Angelo. ‘There’s at least another like her.’
‘How could I be so blind!’ said Orcilla, shaking her head.
‘The problem isn’t just your eyes,’ said Walter, leaning towards Orcilla. ‘Your whole brain is on the fritz.’
Yassmay began to giggle, and Orcilla frowned at Walter, who was now poking his tongue out.
‘From what I have learnt from today’s events and consultation with the higher power, I know our enemy is in turmoil,’ said Angelo in a serious tone. ‘We can capitalise on this.’
‘I think your most recent guest proves that,’ said Orcilla. ‘These things are clearly running the show in Downs now. Hamish is the designated puppet, and he doesn’t like it. Hence, why he named the most belligerent, unmanageable, unruly, and uncontrollable character he could find to be his heir.’
‘You don’t know the half of it,’ said Walter as he raised his eyebrows and slowly started to lift his left leg.
‘No, Walter!’ said Yassmay and Orcilla together. ‘You’ve made your point.’
Walter lowered his keg and smiled contently.
‘It’s more than that,’ said Angelo. ‘It was clear from my cameras that Flint is on the outside of the power structure. Maybe he’ll finally defy his brother. In regard to his brother, Miro will not support his new Emperor for long. He’s always wanted to rule the world.’
‘We have friends in Downs who won’t just follow either,’ added Yassmay.
‘Do you think a secret resistance group might have formed to capitalise on the potential turmoil?’ asked Angelo.
‘It is likely,’ said Orcilla. ‘Lily will still crave power for herself. L1 despises Hamish and has an extremely rebellious nature. Of course, we can’t forget our friends, Eugene, Daily, Denise, Vulay, and even Yassme.’
‘Excellent, we need to contact them,’ said Angelo excitedly.
‘I want to go back,’ said Yassmay. ‘I’m great at flying now, and I can pose as my sister when I get there.’
‘How about less yapping and more eating?’ said Walter, sounding annoyed.
‘Oh yes,’ said Angelo. ‘Let’s enjoy this meal together.’
Walter chucked the cloche on the floor. ‘Haha, worms!’ chuckled Walter as he grabbed the noodles on his plate with his hands.
The others began to eat with chopsticks.
Meanwhile, at the Sapiod village. Hamlet was feeling much better. She was eating out of a large basket containing a variety of fruit. Octavius was not feeling so good. He was sitting down and leaning against one of the wooden teepees.
‘It’s so quiet without Walter, friends,’ said Alex as he looked around at the others.
‘No shouting or vulgarities,’ replied RJ. ‘I should be relieved, but I’m deeply saddened.’
‘It’s because he’s family and you love him,’ said Octavius as he slowly got up. ‘We’ll do whatever it takes to bring him back.’
‘Well, we still have a job, and that’s to collect food for our hard-working brothers and sisters at the construction site,’ said Alex.
‘That’s true,’ said Octavius. ‘We’ve been resting a little too long.’
Team foodies thanked the Sapiods for their hospitality and continued their journey towards their food collection area.
At the West Camp. Freddy, who was in charge of the Downs Region workers, had been called into the superintendent’s tent. The superintendent, Revals, was a distant cousin of Miro. He had helped Miro build underground barracks off the main underground cities.
Revals was sitting behind a folding table covered in plans and drawings, and Freddy was standing on the other side of the table.
‘I don’t understand,’ said Revals, shaking his head. ‘You’re the brother of the revered Head Enforcer. Yet, you can’t seem to get your workers to meet the required hours.’
‘They’re only used to working sixteen hours a week, friend,’ said Freddy. ‘Forty hours is a jump they can’t make all at once.’
‘According to my spreadsheet, none of them have even reached thirty hours,’ said Revals angrily as he pointed at a sheet of paper on his table. ‘The technicians work at least sixty hours a week. And they do it with a smile.’
‘Most of them have medical conditions, friend,’ pleaded Freddy. ‘I don’t want to…’
‘Make excuses!’ shouted Revals. ‘Go on!’
Freddy paused for a second and was about to speak, but Revals cut him off.
‘Your argument about medical conditions is nonsense,’ said Revals firmly. ‘They’ve all had the powerful seaweed treatment. They’re as healthy as my technicians, and they don’t get sunburnt in five minutes. The truth is… they are lazy and undisciplined.’
‘I’ll talk to them, friend,’ replied Freddy nervously.
‘Yes, you do that,’ said Revals. ‘Just to let you know, Captain Cecil has arrived. I’m sending your laziest workers to meet him.’
‘Oh dear,’ sighed Freddy.
‘Don’t worry, he’ll set them straight,’ chuckled Revals. ‘Just think of it as a little less pressure on you.’
‘Sure, friend,’ said Freddy, scratching his head. ‘Is that all?’
‘Just one thing,’ said Revals as he stood up. ‘Don’t call me “friend”. I’m not your friend. I’m your superior. I mean that in every way imaginable.’
‘Oh, I’m sorry,’ said Freddy nervously as he walked backwards.
‘That’ll be all,’ said Revals as he wiggled his fingers in a strange, condescending wave.
Meanwhile on the construction site, eight Downs workers had been sent to Captain Cecil.
‘I’ve just come back from war,’ said Cecil as he walked over to the Downs workers. ‘I’ve risked my life for the Empire. What have any of you done for the Empire?’
‘My back hurts,’ said a Downs worker named Big Burt. ‘Do you mind if I sit down?’
‘Oh, I’m sorry,’ said Cecil as he walked over to Big Burt. ‘Standing is such a burden.’
‘I’ve had spinal problems my whole life, friend,’ sighed Big Burt. ‘The seaweed stuff got me walking, but the pain has really come back recently.’
‘You should lie down then,’ chuckled Cecil as he kicked Big Burt hard in the leg.
Big Burt wobbled and fell to the ground. The other seven Downs workers gasped in shock.
Cecil put his foot on Big Burt’s throat and looked at the other seven who were panicking. ‘He’s useless and he’s holding us all back,’ said Cecil calmly. ‘It is unfair to us and unfair for him.’
‘Please,’ begged one of the other Downs workers. ‘You’re really hurting him. We’ll do whatever you want.’
‘That’s music to my ears,’ said Cecil as he continued to press down on Big Burt’s throat. ‘Then again, will he do whatever I want?’
‘We’ll help him; we promise,’ begged the other Downs worker.
‘Captain Cecil, sir!’ shouted an enforcer. ‘You have an urgent call from Imperial Advisor Miro.’
Cecil’s grin turned to a frown. He removed his foot from Big Burt’s throat. Big Burt desperately gasped for air. The other Downs workers rushed over to him.
‘I’ll be back later to deal with you idiots!’ shouted Cecil as he turned and left.
Cecil entered a tent. There was a large screen with Miro’s face on it.
‘How may I help you, Imperial Advisor?’ asked Cecil as he dropped to one knee.
‘I saw the photographs and videos of the terrorist bodies you sent us,’ said Miro as he began to frown. ‘I fear you may have forgotten to send an important photograph. This has given our Emperor some distress.’
‘I’m afraid, we don’t have Orcilla’s body,’ sighed Cecil.
‘Faced with a thousand firing weapons and with no vehicles to escape in or take cover in,’ said Miro, frowning. ‘You’re telling me that she somehow managed to escape.’
‘Yes, that appears to be the case,’ replied Cecil.
‘If it weren’t such a great victory, I’d have you banished for this,’ said Miro, shaking his head.
‘What about the bodies of the followers?’ asked Cecil. ‘Should I arrange for them to be returned to the cult?’
‘No, they’re vile terrorists,’ replied Miro curtly. ‘Burn the bodies. Make sure they know about it. The Emperor wants them to strike back in vengeance. Then we will kill every last one of them.’
‘Wise move, Imperial Advisor,’ said Cecil as he grinned. ‘I’ll gladly finish them off for the Empire, and I will capture the bodies of Orcilla and the High Philosopher.’
Meanwhile, underneath the underground temple, Julio was visiting Maskameera Wolf in her extra-thick cell.
‘I hope you’re feeling a little better,’ said Julio as he peered through the reinforced glass window in the door.
‘I think we got off on the wrong foot,’ replied Maskameera, who was sitting in the corner at the back of the cell.
‘It seems it didn’t work out how you envisioned,’ said Julio. ‘That’s such a pity for you.’
‘I honestly want us to work together,’ said Maskameera as she got up and walked towards the door.
‘I think you should experience more of the High Philosopher’s music,’ said Julio, shaking his head. ‘If that doesn’t suit your fancy, you can have a little of this.’
Julio held up a syringe containing the algae and Roo pollen.
‘I know the High Philosopher is in poor health,’ said Maskameera in a slightly panicked tone. ‘I can help.’
‘Now you’re sounding desperate,’ sneered Julio. ‘I expected more from a lower power.’
‘I see the pain in your eyes,’ said Maskameera as she pushed her face against the glass window in the door. ‘I see the blue in your eyes. You’re dying and you won’t be able to fake it much longer.’
Julio stared thoughtfully at Maskameera.
‘I know why you’re keeping Yassmay and Orcilla here,’ continued Maskameera. ‘You want their healing power for the High Philosopher, but more importantly, for yourself. I can tell you they don’t have the answer, but I do.’
‘Really!’ replied Julio.
‘There’s a frozen Sentray egg on a huge houseboat in the Great Lake,’ said Maskameera. ‘I swear!’
Julio rubbed his chin.
‘If I’m lying, torture me and kill me,’ said Maskameera forcefully. ‘If I’m telling the truth, let me show you its power. Let me help you become invincible.’
‘Great conversation,’ said Julio as his eyes shapeshifted to blue.
Maskameera looked at him and smiled.
Sapien Loop: Worlds Collide
Sapien Loop: Worlds Collide is the final book in the Sapien Loop trilogy. It continues directly after the events of the second book. The world above and the world below merge into one world. The conflicts in the underground world are brought to the surface. The new ruling elite attempt to crush any resistance from above and below in an attempt to create a new global empire.
Currently, three books from the series have been published on Amazon; see the links below:
All individual chapters can be found on my 