C.L. Taylor - The Treatment

I try more searches:

RRA experience

RRA story

RRA nightmare

RRA scared

RRA brainwashed

Nothing. Nothing. Nothing.

I slump back in my chair and stare at the ceiling. Why am I even doing this? Mason looked fine in the video. Tony’s probably right. The note was his attempt to guilt trip mum into coming to get him. But even if he was, that doesn’t explain the things Dr Cobey said to me. Why all the secrecy and fear about this place? What are they hiding?

I jolt forward in my seat and put my fingers back on the keyboard.

RRA conspiracy

Nothing.

RRA secrecy

Nothing.

RRA truth

Bingo!

On the second page there’s a link to a blog on Tumblr. I click on the mouse button and the site loads. But there’s barely anything written on the page. Just fourteen words.

If you want to know the truth about RRA message me on Snapchat. ZedGreen.

***

I snatch up my phone and click on the Snapchat icon. As I do the landing floorboards creak loudly. Someone’s creeping about outside my bedroom door.

‘Mum?’ I peer outside but it’s Tony’s shadow that disappears into the master bedroom. I hear the deep, bassy rumble of his voice then the door clicks closed. He’s making a call. Mum must be in the kitchen. I can hear plates and dishes clinking and clanking as though they’re being loaded into the dishwasher. I close my bedroom door and return to my desk. I swivel my chair round so I can see the door then I add ZedGreen as a friend on Snapchat. The request is immediately accepted so I tap out a message.

ME

My brother is at RRA and I’m worried about him. Can you help?

I have no idea who ZedGreen is. For all I know he could be someone at the academy, an ex-pupil, or even a teacher.

A message flashes up on the screen:

ZEDGREEN

Send me a photo.

I type back.

ME

Of what?

ZEDGREEN

You, holding a sign with today’s date written on it.

ME

Why?

ZEDGREEN

So I know you are who you say you are.

ME

But I don’t know who you are.

ZEDGREEN

You’re the one who came knocking on my door, not the other way round.

I stare at the screen. I don’t share photos. Not in real life and particularly not online.

I type back:

ME

I can’t do that. Sorry.

ZEDGREEN

Then we can’t talk. Goodbye.

ME

Wait! I need your help.

Thirty seconds pass. ZedGreen doesn’t reply. I tap my feet on the carpet. C’mon. C’mon. I put my phone down and do a search on Reddit using all the terms that led me to ZedGreen’s blog but there’s nothing. He’s the only person in the world who can help me and if I don’t do what he asks is not going to play ball. But if I show him a photo that means LoneVoice isn’t anonymous any more. I won’t be anonymous any more. If ZedGreen screenshotted my photo and put it online I wouldn’t be able to be me. I wouldn’t feel safe.

I snatch up my phone again.

ME

Please,

I tap out.

ME

My brother sent me a message telling me that he’s being brainwashed. I need to know if it’s true or not.

ZedGreen doesn’t reply.

ME

PLEASE!

I feel sick as he continues to ignore me. What if he only gave me one chance to respond and I’ve blown it? I’ll never find out the truth. If Dr Cobey was killed just for trying to help Mason, God knows what kind of danger he’s in. Mum and Tony are convinced that he’s fine. But what if he’s not? I could never forgive myself if something awful happened to him.

‘This had better not be a wind-up, Mase,’ I mutter, as I rip a page out of my journal and write today’s date on it. I hold it under my chin, reach out my arm and snap a scowling selfie.

A couple of seconds later and I’ve sent it to ZedGreen.

ME

There,

I type.

ME

Happy now?

The message is delivered but nothing happens. Zed doesn’t respond.

ME

Hello? Are you still there?

A sick feeling grips my stomach. Some random stranger has got my photo and I’m still no closer to finding out what’s going on with my brother.

Ping! My phone vibrates in my hand. A message from ZedGreen:

ZEDGREEN

If you want to discover the truth about the RRA you need to meet me. Grab a pen. I will send you details in my next message. Do not screengrab it. Do not tell anyone where you’re going. Meet me alone. If you break any of these rules I will vanish. Do we understand each other?

ME

Yes

I type back.

ME

Tell me where and when and I’ll be there.

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