Reckoning Read Online Free PDF Page B

now. The thoughts evaporate in a grey haze before I feel the tingling in my thumb again. This time, instead of drawing me in, it is pushing me away.
    I stop touching the thinkpad and look up to see everyone else turning to face each other. Some are smiling, others frowning. Some seem confused, others as if they have woken from a long sleep. The only noise is a scraping of chairs, no one daring – or trusting themselves – to speak. I stand and turn towards the exit where lines of Kingsmen are standing close to the door. One by one people begin to file out, ruffling their hair, or touching their faces. I suddenly notice I am doing it too, my fingers scratching the back of my neck, as if rubbing away the memories.
    I can see why no one really has an answer for what the Reckoning is. It is all the things people have told us it is: a conversation, a threat, a dream, a laugh, enjoyable, hateful, challenging, and so much more. Some people clearly have a life-changing experience but I feel the same as I did when I walked in.
    Opie appears at my side but there is something not quite right about his eyelids. They are drooping more than they would usually and his pupils are larger. He smiles at me, asking if I am all right. I want to reply to say that it is him who looks strange but then we hear the commotion ahead.
    The slow line of people leaving has stopped as we bunch forward into a semi-circle around the exit. Two Kingsmen are standing between us and the way out and I know instantly something is wrong. I have never seen a Kingsman with his sword unsheathed, but the two ahead are holding weapons at their sides. People are beginning to step backwards slowly as I see Paul isolated in the centre. He is glancing from one Kingsman to the other, panic on his face.
    There is a moment of silence before he says: ‘You’ve got it all wrong.’ Neither of the guards reply, instead they reach forward at the same time. Paul sidesteps one of them but the other grips him by the throat, backing him towards a wall. Everyone seems to breathe in at the same time and we all know something bad is going to happen. I will Paul to go limp and not fight but instead his legs flail in resistance. They pin him to the floor, the second Kingsman wrenching Paul’s arm free and pressing his thumb onto one of the thinkpads. We all see the red line scanning downwards and then a momentary pause before it emits a crunching noise and flashes white.
    There is no hesitation as the second Kingsman raises his sword and plunges it deep into Paul’s thigh, skewering him like a snared rabbit.

6
    None of us moves. We all know the rules of Reckoning day; don’t miss it and don’t cheat. Or, I suppose, don’t get caught. Paul screams in agony as dark, black-looking blood spews from his leg, pooling on the floor. We have all seen far worse on our screens, where people are punished and killed routinely as a warning for their transgressions. It feels different to witness it in person, the anguish uncomfortably real, Paul’s cries of pain rippling through my ears. I feel like covering them but, within seconds, more Kingsmen pour through the door, lifting Paul and carrying him away as he drips spots of blood behind them.
    Everything has happened in a matter of seconds.
    Behind me, a voice breaks the stunned silence: ‘I guess that’s what happens when you cheat.’
    They are stating the obvious, although their tone makes it sound as if this is something perfectly normal. I have never been friends with Paul, yet it didn’t feel right watching him writhing on the ground.
    Before I can begin to process what has happened, someone steps forward and walks through the door and within moments we are all following. I feel Opie’s hand at the bottom of my back guiding me but only for a second.
    Outside, there is another wave of celebration. From the top of the steps I can’t see anything other than streamers, confetti and