The Academy: Book 2 by Chad Leito

“ARE WE WARRIORS!?”
    No one knew what to say, and not a sound came from the crowd. A few heads turned, making sure the guns above them weren’t about to fire.
    “Okay, then,” said the man on stage, scratching his chin. “You can laugh, that was a little weird.”
    Nearly everyone laughed, letting out some air and then quieting up. Asa felt a bit better after the laughter, as though some of the tension had been released.
    “One of the things that we will be talking about today is what the Academy is looking for in its graduates. I think that the word ‘warrior’ fits with what they are looking for. So, if when I ask that, I don’t get a resounding ‘Yes we are!’ then I think my men here should have permission to blow your heads off. Otherwise, what are we here for? We’re here to find out which of you are the best of the best. Why keep you if you aren’t even going to try?”
    Jen was snickering beside Asa, as though she was watching a funny skit. Maybe she doesn’t believe him.
    Again, the man on stage jumped up, banged his chest and shouted, “ARE WE WARRIORS !?”
    “YES WE ARE!” said the crowd back. To Asa’s relief, Jen had participated.
    “ARE WE WARRIORS!?” He asked again.
    “YES WE ARE!”
    “ARE WE WARRIORS!?”
    “YES WE ARE!” This last cry was the loudest of all from the crowd. It was quiet for a moment, and Asa found that he was subconsciously gripping his seat; he had had bad experiences with assemblies like these; he didn’t want to see anyone die today, and the gunmen above didn’t look like they were just props.
    The chestnut haired, handsome Multiplier smiled. “Excellent. My name is Chandler Martin, and we are here to talk about...” He snapped his fingers and an explosion came from the back of the stage, big and gold and loud, right behind Chandler Martin. It was only after the fact that Asa realized it had been a firework. Asa was gripping his seat harder than ever; the Multiplier had everyone’s attention; Teddy’s face was a sick shade of yellowy-pale.  “…the Gill Initiative,” Chandler finished, as though no explosion had gone off.
    “You see…” He snapped his fingers again, and a series of fireworks went off above the stage, red and green and blue. He smiled, and shook his head—“I love doing that.
    “But, all jokes aside, this is a very important place. ARE WE READY FOR ANOTHER GREAT SEMESTER!?”
    And without prompt, the crowd responded: “YES WE ARE!”
    “ARE WE WARRIORS!?”
    “YES WE ARE!”
    Chandler snapped his fingers, and a dozen fireworks went off above their heads, many students leaned back to avoid getting shrapnel in their faces: Asa could feel the heat coming off the explosion.
    “ARE WE WARRIORS !?”
    “YES WE ARE!” This scream was even louder than the last, and, more than that, everyone seemed to believe it this time. Even Asa felt himself agreeing with the words. I am a warrior.
    Chandler was quiet for a moment.
    What is the meaning of all this? Asa thought. The way that this assembly was being conducted was extremely unnerving to Asa. He felt as though he was being brainwashed; the repetition and the screaming reminded him of the “Two Minutes Hate” in this book he had had to read in middle school about a society in the future where the government policed people’s thoughts. Teddy was beginning to look like he might vomit, or pass out. His eyes were glossed over.
    “ARE WE WARRIORS !?”
    “YES WE ARE!” Teddy yelled incredibly loud beside Asa.
    Chandler snapped his fingers, and thirty fireworks exploded.
    “ARE WE WARRIORS !?”
    Asa looked at Teddy as he screamed the response along with the rest: “YES WE ARE!” His eyes flashed with a fiery intensity, and the muscles and veins on his neck bulged as he roared the words with all his might. When he was done yelling, Teddy was breathing hard and blood was beginning to run out of his nose.
    Asa felt as though Chandler Martin had completely changed the mood in the