Chapter 68: Chapter 68 - The Elders
(IYISHA’S POV)
Before lunch, someone came knocking at their door. They were told to report to the north side of the community. At first, Iyisha thought they were being called to Elmer’s house, but as they walked farther, she realized they were heading somewhere else.
The house stood near the older residential row. It was larger than most, built from thick wood with wide windows and faded curtains. People passing by kept their voices down. The place looked ordinary, but something about it made Iyisha straighten her posture as they approached.
Her hands were cold. She rubbed them together and whispered, "What if they decide to kick me out? Elmer could do that, right?"
Mary glanced at her. "He could try. But he won’t. Even with his temper, he’s not heartless. And the elders wouldn’t let that pass."
They reached the door. A young man waiting outside told them the elders were ready.
Inside, the light from the windows fell across a long wooden table. Five people were seated behind it—three women and two men.
The woman in the middle wore a gray cardigan and wire-rimmed glasses. Her expression was calm but sharp, the kind that could quiet a room without effort. Iyisha recognized her immediately. Doctor Felicity. She still worked at the hospital, though they only crossed paths during breaks.
Beside her sat Nurse Lina, neat in posture, quiet, and precise. She had always been kind to Iyisha, smiling or greeting her in the corridors.
Both women were well respected but rarely seen in public meetings. Iyisha hadn’t known they were among the elders Mary mentioned.
The third woman wore a patterned shawl and looked familiar from the academy grounds. The two men were older. One was thin, his face marked by years of work, maybe a mechanic or engineer. The other was Mario.
Doctor Felicity was the first to speak. "Mary," she said, her tone polite but firm. "I have received well-meaning warnings from you."
Mary nodded. "Yes, ma’am."
Elmer crossed his arms. "Warnings," he repeated. "That’s one word for it." His tone was tight, not friendly. "You went around me."
Iyisha stayed beside Mary, quiet, her eyes moving from one face to another. She knew four of them by sight, yet seeing them together like this made her uneasy.
Doctor Felicity noticed her distracted glance and paused. "Iyisha," she said gently, "you look like you haven’t met everyone properly."
Iyisha straightened. "No, ma’am. Not all of them."
Doctor Felicity nodded toward the table. "This is Nurse Lina," she said. "Mrs. Teresa. Engineer Domingo. And Mario, I believe you already know."
Iyisha gave a small nod. "Hello," she said. Her voice came out soft, almost a whisper.
Elmer adjusted his stance, arms still crossed. "Since everyone’s here, let’s stop pretending," he said. "This is about that newcomer, Clara. Mary thinks I ignored a warning."
Doctor Felicity’s voice was calm. "What kind of warning?"
Elmer looked at Iyisha. "She told me she saw the girl near the wall more than once. Said she heard something thrown outside one night. Nothing more than that."
Iyisha’s throat felt dry. "I said it was strange, not proof," she said quietly. "She’s new. I just thought it was worth checking."
"Like you." Elmer reminded her. "And I said I’d keep an eye on it. But apparently, that wasn’t enough for Mary."
Mary crossed her arms. "Because you didn’t keep an eye on it. You dismissed it. You said there was no time for gossip."
"I said there’s no reason to start a witch hunt over suspicion," Elmer replied. His tone sharpened. "You want me to start kicking people out every time someone feels uneasy? You know how many suspicions I hear in a week?"
Mary stepped forward slightly. "This isn’t gossip. It’s about security. If that girl is sneaking around the wall, we should at least check why. You’re putting the entire compound at risk by ignoring it."
Elmer let out a short breath, close to a laugh. "At risk? You really think one quiet newcomer is going to bring the place down? You’re seeing ghosts."
Mary’s voice rose. "And you’re pretending they don’t exist."
The sound echoed in the room. For a moment, no one spoke.
Doctor Felicity set her hands flat on the table. "That’s enough," she said. Her tone stayed low, but it cut through both of them.
Nurse Lina followed softly. "This isn’t a contest between the two of you. We’re talking about a concern, not an accusation."
Mrs. Teresa leaned forward slightly. "Elmer, no one’s asking you to throw anyone out. Only to take things seriously when your own staff brings you a pattern."
Elmer looked at her, then at Iyisha. His shoulders eased, but his face stayed tight. "Fine. We’ll check. But if nothing turns up, I want this nonsense to stop."
Mary exhaled sharply through her nose but didn’t answer.
Doctor Felicity nodded once. "Good. Then it’s settled. You’ll make an inspection quietly. No warnings, no panic." She looked toward Iyisha. "You’ll keep record of what you saw, in writing. Keep it factual."
"Thank you," Iyisha said.
Mrs. Teresa adjusted her glasses and looked toward Elmer. Her tone was calm but edged with meaning. "Then I trust personal feelings will not interfere with decisions," she said. "Especially with all the talk going around."
The room went still for a moment. Everyone understood what she was referring to.
Elmer’s jaw tightened, but he gave a short nod. "Of course not," he said. "This has nothing to do with that."
Doctor Felicity looked at him for a long second before speaking. "Good. Then we’ll leave it there. This meeting isn’t a call-in for Clara. It’s about how we handle matters that concern everyone’s safety."
Elmer exhaled slowly and gave another nod. "Understood."
"Thank you," Doctor Felicity said. "That will be all for now."
The scrape of chairs broke the silence as they stood. None of them spoke while they walked out of the house. The sunlight outside felt sharper after the stillness of the room.
Mary stepped ahead first, her jaw tight. Elmer followed, his hands shoved into his coat pockets. Iyisha trailed behind them, unsure whether she should say something or stay quiet.
When the door closed behind them, the sound seemed to settle the whole compound back into motion.
The meeting eased, but the air stayed heavy. Iyisha could feel Elmer’s glare on her as they were dismissed. He didn’t have to say it, but she knew what he was thinking.
She was the reason they were here.
