“No. But they’re going to.”
A hardness grew in my stomach as I understood what he was suggesting. Marcus shook his head. “That’s risky. If Ava posts that video to her vlog, she’ll be sent to Cellblock 9.”
“He can’t send me to Cellblock 9 for exposing prison brutality,” I hushed. “There’d be a public uproar.”
“We already have a target on our backs,” Kallie said tiredly. “What’s uploading the video going to do, make the Warden want to kill us even more than he already does? We need the public on our side. This could help.”
I took the camera from Ez and placed it on my lap. I rolled to a nearby computer and began the process of uploading the video.
“Ava, please think about what you’re doing,” Opal pleaded. “You can’t take this back once it happens.”
I didn’t respond right away. If I made this video go live, I knew within hours that I’d lose my vlog. All the hard work me and Monica had put into it over the years, all the memories we’d captured, would be gone. The video we’d uploaded would be deleted and taken down.
But by that time, it’d be too late. The video would be saved by my fans and be circulated around the web, in so many places that it would be impossible for the Warden to stop it from being seen.
Monica would want me to do this. She’d have no problem with sacrificing what we’d built in order to make the Warden pay. In fact, she’d be ashamed of me if I didn’t.
I needed Charlie to give me the answer. I couldn’t make this decision on my own. I reached out to him through our bond, and he said, “Do it, pidge. I’ll protect you from whatever happens.”
“There are going to be consequences.”
“Damn the consequences. I don’t care anymore.”
I didn’t really care, either. The Warden had pushed us beyond our limits, and he was going to find out the repercussions of that.
The upload was complete. I pressed theEnterkey.
And the video went live for the entire world to see.
* * *
By the next morning, Union representatives were swarming the property. Access to the Internet had been completely restricted. Inmates no longer had any computers, as the guards had destroyed those during the night, too. But by then, the damage was already done.
My friends and I were in the prison yard, enjoying the rare sunshine before breakfast. The ashes from the night before had been cleaned up. In fact,allevidence of what had happened had miraculously vanished into thin air.
“Gentlemen, this is an outrage! I’m being falsely accused!” The Warden’s brusque voice betrayed impatience— worse than that, rage. My eyes followed him as he tailed a group of three men across the prison yard, who were dressed in suits and carrying clipboards.
“We don’t doubt that you run a fine institution, Doctor, but an investigation was unavoidable after that video circulated through the news,” a Union representative replied. “We must look into this, even as a formality.”
“This is ridiculous. Many members of the Union’s council agree that I am in good standing to be in charge of this school,” the Warden raged.
“Of course you are, Doctor, but it’s clear you’ve lost control of your staff,” another representative responded. “We’ve had angry calls from parents all morning who are close to busting down the Union’s door. This is the last thing the supernatural community needs in a time of war.”
“I’ve told you, I’m extremely qualified to be in charge of the Institute, and have a perfect record for running this school. Those guards were out of line. Disgruntled employees, looking to ruin the Institute’s outstanding reputation,” the Warden stated harshly. “They’ve already been fired, and the school is pursuing legal action. I gave no order for them to commit such heinous acts. They acted outside my authority, and if they had the kind of training thatIreceived, none of this would’ve happened.”
“Be that as it may, this did happen on your campus, Doctor Taurus, and despite beingunawareof the situation, it was your responsibility tobecomeaware and put a stop to it,” the representative responded. “We shall give you an update on the Union’s investigation once we are satisfied we have all the evidence required.”
“How long will that take?” the Warden demanded.
“As long as we determine,” the Union rep said coolly.
The suits strolled away, acting like the Warden was of no importance— and I know hehatedthat. His lip curled as he saw my friends sprawled out in the grass. His eyes narrowed in rage as he once again caught my gaze, but I held it.
The Warden looked away, and his sights landed on my brother. The Warden’s hands became fists that shook at his sides, before he brushed off his jacket and turned back into the school.
“He knows I filmed the video,” Ez said quietly. “He’s not going to let me get away with it.”
“Let him try,” Kallie replied simply. “We’re done.”
