I expected to find Robert angry at what I just said, instead he looked delighted.

All the other teenagers in the room were looking at me. I stood from my seat.

"Oh Burgess," said Robert, digging into his blazer pocket, "Is there some part of this you disagree with?"

I considered the question. As I did I caught a glimpse of Tiffany, Blain, and Mikayla looking up at me with shocked expressions; none of them had expected this from me. In fact, I was surprised myself.

"All of it," I said, clenching my fists.

I wasn't interested in saying something clever. Nor did I need to know anything more about the program to know I didn't want any part of it. I simply had one question.

"What happens if we refuse?" I said.

Robert retrieved a small blue book from his blazer pocket which he rubbed with his thumb.

"Well," he said, "If you refuse then you'll be sent back to the facility for an indefinite stay. This offer is only valid whilst you're standing inside this building."

"I refuse," I said, "You can take me back to the facility. I'm not interested."

Again, rather than seem angry or even annoyed at my refusal, Robert maintained his enthusiastic smile.

"If that's what you want, Burgess, then so be it," he said.

He gestured with a hand to the door.

"There's the door," he said, "That is, if you really have the guts to turn your back on the opportunity of a lifetime; on the great man you could become."

I looked over my shoulder to the closed door. Rain fell thick and heavy, drumming against the door and the roof of the building.

"Burgess?" said a voice close to me.

It was Tiffany.

My heart sank. Because I knew just by the way she was looking at me the decision she had already made.

"I'm not staying," I said, "Are you coming with me?"

A tear ran down her cheek as she shook her head in a 'no' gesture.

I looked at Blain. His upper lip was pulled back as if he were starting to snarl.

"Don't be stupid, bruv," he said, "Sit down."

Seriously? I thought, Are they seriously going to go along with Robert's program?

I locked eyes with Mikayla beyond Blain and, after a moment, she simply squirmed in her seat and looked away. I became very aware of my eyes moving in their sockets, searching the room for anyone that might decide to leave with me. I spotted Jay and Amar but they simply looked on with little to no emotion evident on their faces.

"Robert?" said Abigail. She had stood up and approached her father's side.

"Yes, dear?" said Robert, his amused look replaced with concern.

"Can we talk with Burgess in private for a moment?" she said.

Robert looked over to me.

"Would you spare a moment, Burgess?" he said.

There wasn't anything else for me to discuss with them, but the look on Abigail's face made me decide to give them what they wanted.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

"Come on, Burgess," said Abigail.

She hugged her waist and walked through the doorway which led to the kitchen. Robert put his hands into his pockets, turned, and followed after Abigail. With a final look to Tiffany, Mikayla, and Blain, I walked around the table and across the room, passing through the same doorway.

Abigail was within arm's reach of me the moment I stepped into the kitchen. Robert stood behind her leaning against the counter-top still holding his little blue book.

"Burgess what the heck are you thinking?" said Abigail, stooping forward like some upset big sister.

"I can't go along with this anymore," I said.

"Burgess, you know what will happen if you go back to the facility," said Abigail, "This is your only chance to get out before they kill all of the mice left down there."

"And you're okay with that?" I said.

"Of course not," said Abigail, "But we can't save everyone. We're giving you a lifeline, Burgess. If you don't take it then there's no second chances. It'll be over for you."

Abigail was trembling a little as she spoke. It seemed strange to me that she cared so much about my decision to leave. Was it all an act, I wondered, or was it genuine? I could never tell with her.

"Think about your family," she said, "You'll never see your mother again. She'll never see you again. At least with us you'll be able to keep her in your life. Don't throw your life away, Burgess."

"I don't trust you," I said, shaking my head, "You just keep making empty promises."

"I know, I know," said Abigail, "I'm sorry. Things keep changing and we're trying to stay ahead of things. If you only knew how many strings we've had to pull to make this program happen, Burgess. Look, my Dad wants everyone who is sat out there to be a part of this program but he wants you the most. He can see there's something special about you. Isn't that right, Dad?"

"That's right," said Robert.

He pocketed his book and walked slowly towards me. He passed Abigail and then placed a hand on my shoulder.

"You don't trust us," he said, speaking in a low, fatherly tone, "And that's good. You should never trust anybody in this life. But I'm asking you to please reconsider, Burgess. From the bottom of my heart I know you'll do great things. I know you're trying to find your way in the world, son."

Robert placed his other hand on my shoulder and said, "Let me be a father to you."

I looked into Robert's eyes and felt the sincerity of his words. It was so strange to think that someone believed in me so fully, especially when I never believed in myself.

Let me be a father to you, Robert had said.

Up until the very moment Robert said those words I had always had a chip on my shoulder when it came to my father, for numerous reasons; disappointment, starting to see the things I didn't like about myself having grown out of the things I had picked up from being around him; feeling as if I hadn't been given the proper fatherly role model to know how to be a man myself.

And yet, with a painfully simple clarity which made me start to cry, I realised I would take my simple, incredible, loving father over a manipulative man like Robert Hoffman any day. I knew at the very least my Dad was a good man, kind, hardly ever had a bad word to say about anybody; never the center of attention but always someone worth knowing, and certainly good company. He wasn't anyone important, not a 'great man' by anyone's standards; but he had been a great Dad. I didn't often think of my Dad and yet, stood eye to eye with Robert Hoffman, I had never appreciated all the things my father was more.

For a brief instant I remembered sitting on the old red couch in the upstairs living room watching TV with my Dad. A simple memory, but one of my happiest.

I stepped backwards out of Robert's reach. For a single moment I saw rage fill Robert's face, which made him look much older, the lines in his face deepening. And then he started to laugh merrily. Abigail didn't seem to share his joy.

"'He will reject the call'," said Robert, and then he said it again, much louder, "'He will reject the call!'"

"Very well, my boy," said Robert.

"Dad-" said Abigail.

"-no, dear," said Robert, raising a hand, "That's enough. We'll respect Burgess's decision."

Robert looked beyond me, "You can take him back, Freeman," he said.

I looked over my shoulder to see two Pied Piper officers, one of them being officer Black Hair, who I now knew to be Officer Freeman, who looked at me with a cold gaze. For a brief second I almost chickened out. I almost went back on everything I had said, ready to beg Robert to let me be a part of the program. But I just couldn't bring myself to do it. I knew right from wrong; my parents had taught me that much.

Without saying a word, officer Freeman took a hold of my shoulder and led me out through a different door than the one I had entered in from. Another officer followed beside me, ready for me to cause trouble should I try and make a break for it.

Outside the rain fell thick and heavy and the night was incredibly dark, with strong gusts of icy wind buffeting us. Officer Freeman led me on through the dark towards the long, narrow steps we had taken to reach where we were.

It was easy acting brave in front of Robert and Abigail, and all the teenagers in the room that were going to go along with the program; but outside, in the cold, black night, I started to doubt myself.