by Olivia Arndt
“Wow thanks, that really made me feel better.” I smacked his hand away, smirking.
“No tests, no stress.” And with that, he ran off into the Outsider town.
I sighed, shaking my head, and went to my secure waiting location. It was smaller than I remembered but no less charming. The wall room seemed so much nicer during the day when we weren’t hiding from Assassins.
After an hour or so of waiting, I began to grow impatient. What was taking so long? He said it would be quick. Had they brutally killed him and were looking for me? No, Griffin couldn’t die. Not to something as simple as that.
As another hour went by, I had had enough. And using all of my willpower, I began the task of trying to get the door open. Griffin had told me that once the door closed, there was no getting it open without undoing a special lock. Whatever. I did the next best thing and began ramming my shoulder into the door. It hurt sure…like a lot, but I was certain that I could get it open eventually.
“Come on!” I yelled angrily at the door after my fifteenth attempt. Right as I was about to try again, I noticed a strange-looking piece of metal lying near the fireplace. I kneeled and picked it up. It was quite possibly the weirdest shape I had ever seen and coated in rust. I almost cut myself on it and had a mini heart attack. That was a close one.
I had never picked a lock, but it was worth a try. Jamming the metal into the lock, I made sure that I wasn’t holding it in such a way that I could cut myself. The metal was slippery because of the rust, but after a few attempts, I managed to break the lock. I decided to take the piece of metal with me, just in case.
Quickly pushing open the door, I sprinted out into the streets. No one was there. That’s strange.... Everything was quiet as if nothing was happening at all. I walked farther into the town, searching for any signs of life.
“Hello?” I called down the cobbled streets. Where was he? “Asher?” I decided it would be safer to use his fake name. No reply. I continued strolling down the streets, farther and farther into the Outsider town. “Hello?” I called a little louder, feeling frustrated.
“H–hello…?” A small voice responded from somewhere behind me.
I quickly turned, wielding my rusty piece of metal. A little girl stood there wincing, covering her face. I blinked, slowly lowering it. She looked far too young to be out on her own.
“Hey,” I held out my free hand. “It’s ok.” She spread her fingers apart to reveal blue eyes staring timidly back at me. She was shaking, but after a little bit took my hand. She couldn’t have been much older than eleven years old.
“My name’s Tethys,” I gave her a warm smile. “What’s your name?”
She didn’t reply, she simply remained silent, staring at me uncertainly. I took in her appearance sadly; she wore a torn light blue dress covered in soot and dirt. Her white-blond hair was tangled, and she was bleeding from small cuts on her arms and legs. Her cloud was a light blue leaning towards purple, which I had never seen before.
“I promise that I won’t hurt you.” I smiled, crouching down beside her. “I’m looking for someone.”
Her face lit up, “Me too!”
“Maybe I can help you find whoever you’re looking for,” I suggested, kneeling. She looked familiar, but I wasn’t sure why. Maybe it was the hopeful look in her eyes or her facial structure, but I knew I had seen it before. “Who are you looking for?”
She looked down, sniffling. “Bam Bam.”
I blinked, slightly taken aback. “Um…ok. Well, I’ll help you find ‘Bam Bam’ if you help me find my friend, ok?”
“Ok.” She smiled, looking relieved.
“Do I get to know your name now?” I took her hand, and we began strolling down the streets.
“Sugar.” She piped up as she began skipping.
“What a nice name.” I couldn’t help but smile as she skipped happily beside me.
“How’d you lose your friend?” She asked innocently.
“He ran on ahead, even though I told him to wait.” I smiled, patting her head. “How’d you lose ‘Bam Bam’?”
“I…” she blinked. “I don’t remember.”
I decided not to push her and changed the topic. “So, have you seen anyone else walking along these streets? They aren’t usually this empty.”
“No,” she walked on ahead. “They were much fuller yesterday, maybe it has something to do with what happened last night.”
“What…what happened last night?” I gulped, fear surging through me.
“They came.” She looked at me way too seriously for a little girl. “They were looking for something, I don’t know what. They kept asking people questions, lots, and lots of questions.” She shuddered, “then the shots came. They were loud. I didn’t like them.”
“I wouldn’t either,” I mumbled, feeling horrible for her having to go through that. What had our society come to?
Finally, we came across a full town square of people. They were all turned towards someone in the middle, and I let out a breath of relief. They weren’t rioting; in fact, they looked hopeful. Sugar looked confused and began tugging on the bottom of my shirt.
“What’s going on?” She asked, searching for a way to see over the crowd.
“I don’t know yet, why don’t we see if we can get a closer view?” I led her through the crowd, trying to get closer to the center. As we pushed past a few more people, I saw his little black curls peeking out above the person in front of me. “Maybe ‘Bam Bam’ is somewhere in this crowd,” I suggested. “Do you want to look?”
She wasn’t paying attention to me anymore, instead, she was distracted trying to see over the people in front. “What’s going on?”
“Here, I’ll try to get us closer.” I led Sugar up to a gap in the front and felt immediately relieved as I saw him fully, but Sugar had other plans.
“Bam Bam!” She cheered, sprinting towards Griffin excitedly. I blinked in shock, as he turned toward the name. Many expressions played across his face as he found the source of the noise.
“Sugar?” He looked more surprised than I had ever seen him, and quickly pulled her into a tight hug. I didn’t fully understand how she knew him, then it hit me. He had had a younger sister who he had only seen once. The crowd around began cheering, as Griffin fell to his knees, hugging her even tighter. “You’re ok!” He cried, pure joy echoing in his tone. My heart melted at the sight of him, forgetting any anger I had held onto. I felt that feeling so plainly in my heart, waiting to be let out.
I cheered along with the crowd; this was what a true society should be like, not separated by wealth, but like one big family. One nation that worked together. The clouds above their heads were all bright yellow. Everyone here, despite how little they had, was happy. I looked over to Griffin’s cloud hopefully and smiled seeing it a deep shape of red. Brighter than the morning sky. Not quite yellow, but not remotely close to black.
It seemed as if I was watching an entire nation of people who had next to nothing their entire lives gain more than anything the Opulents ever had.
Chapter Seventeen
One part of our plan was done, and now it was time for the Standards. The very part that I was dreading more than actually invading the Opulent city. This was going to be difficult, but it was my home. I knew that it would be much harder to sway the Standards, or even get them thinking about rebellion. I had been there before, and if I hadn’t met Griffin I would still be there. Why would anyone want freedom when they think that they already possess the fullest version of it? As we approached the entrance to the neighborhoods. My heart began to race in my chest. Not only were we doing something highly illegal, but we were doing it as one of the most wanted Fugitives ever to live, and a war criminal. But even with that thought in mind, I knew exactly where we needed to go first.
As I walked down the familiar streets, I felt as if it wasn’t home anymore. I didn’t like the feelings this whole experience was giving me. Why did the streets I had walked my entire life se
em so stranger?
If you had told me a year ago that I would ever step foot in this house again, I probably would have run. But here I was, preparing to face them for the first time in eight years.
Griffin knocked on the door, and after a few minutes with no answer, knocked again. The door opened a centimeter, and when she saw that it wasn’t a Sentinel, she opened it fully.
“Hi Mrs. Johnson,” I waved, reassuringly. “Can we come in?”
Her eyes were locked on Griffin, and I scolded myself. His face had been broadcasted on live TV. She was probably terrified.
Without taking her eyes off of Griffin, she gave a shaky nod. We walked past her, and as she closed the door behind us, she opened her mouth to speak before quickly shutting it again.
“Have you heard anything about…you know?” I asked, cautiously.
She didn’t look sad or like she even fully heard me as she shook her head.
“You survived.” She whispered in awe, her gaze locked on Griffin. “Did you know a little boy named Drew?”
He looked very uncomfortable, which I didn’t quite get. “I– how young was he?”
“Around eleven.” She said eagerly. “Dirty blonde hair, freckles, dark brown eyes.” She looked so hopeful at this point. I couldn’t help but smile as her cloud turned a bright hopeful shade of orange.
Griffin’s next expression was stony and guarded. “He fought on the front lines beside me...he...he didn’t even last a week.”
Her expression fell, and she managed to give us a grim nod. “Thank you.”
“I’m sorry…” He mumbled awkwardly.
A hard silence fell; I wasn’t sure how to open the conversation we came here for without seeming rude.
Griffin cleared his throat, trying to get through this quickly. “Mrs. Johnson, we’re not here to hurt you or force you into anything, but we do have an offer to make.”
She gulped but nodded for him to continue. I didn’t blame her for being uneasy, Griffin wasn’t the most comforting sight in the world.
“I understand that you lost your son to the Opulents,” he continued softening his tone. “So we thought you might want to hear this.”
I gave him a reassuring nod, “We’re done listening to the unfair laws of the Opulents, Mrs. Johnson. We’re rising up, and we want you to join us.”
“How will you ever win?” She asked, not seeming exactly opposed, just concerned.
“We already have the Outsiders, who outnumber them ten to one,” Griffin interjected rather proudly. “And also, we know how to fight, and what it means to struggle.”
I nudged him, silently trying to send him the message that, “the standards don’t know how to fight either.” He raised an eyebrow at me, then continued.
“You can join us, or remain living in fear.” He said finally. I smacked his arm underneath the table for putting it so harshly. She was a more sensitive case. In response, he grabbed my wrist, preventing me from hitting him again.
“Say no more,” she said, looking hopeful. “I’m in.”
Griffin gave me a triumphant look and snuck a kiss on my hand. Then turning back towards her said, “Congratulations, you’ve joined the revolution. Meet us at the entrance to the Opulent town early on Friday morning.”
Chapter Eighteen
We made sure to leave her house at differing times, as not to raise suspicion. Then we met up again in a side alley, besides our next house.
“What was all that for?” He asked, jogging up to me.
“The subtle under the table fight?” I asked, rolling my eyes.
“Yeah, what the heck? I was doing great.” He pouted.
“We agreed that we would make this as much of a light choice as possible.” I sighed.
“Look, Tess. This isn’t light.” I didn’t know why he was so defensive about it. “This is the future! Something so many people would kill for!” He groaned. Then in a softer tone, “this is our future.” He took my hand, with a pleading look in his eyes.
I looked away; he was unbelievable sometimes. Did he honestly believe that after everything, all of the lies? I’d just take him back? Did he think there was still a chance for us to be an us? Did I still think there was?
I felt his chilly fingers let go of mine and cup my chin, asking —not forcing me— to look up at him.
“Hey,” he smiled. “I’m sorry, I’m just not the best at this.” I looked into his bright green eyes, letting out an exhale. I could tell he meant it, though I didn’t understand why his tone implied something much deeper than just simply messing up our speech.
“Let’s just move on,” I said turning away and heading up the steps of the house. I was excited to see her again, and if the circumstances were any different, I might have just burst in without knocking, but they were. We had business to do. I rapped a few times on the door before my mom quickly pulled it open. She didn’t even seem to register that Griffin was there.
“Oh, Tethys!” She pulled me into a very tight embrace, tears instantly springing to her eyes. “You weren’t answering my calls, and I was so worried– Oh! I’m so glad you’re safe!” She held me if possible, even tighter, making it hard to breathe. I hadn’t realized how tense I had been until I finally felt safe in my mother’s arms once more. I held her back, feeling so many things at once. Relief, safe, home. I finally felt like I was home. These streets didn’t feel so cold anymore.
My mom suddenly pulled away and pushed me behind her with such force I almost tumbled over. “Get away from my daughter, and my house.” She hissed, pulling out her phone.
“No, mom,” I mumbled, realizing Griffin had just been standing there that whole time. “It’s okay, he’s with me.”
Her mouth dropped open, looking from me to him. “You…he…I...what?”
“Long story. Let’s go inside.”
Chapter Nineteen
After a series of very awkward introductions, and a speed round of getting to know you, we were all caught up...well, mostly. I left out the story about the X on my cheek.
“We are taking a stand for what’s right.” I nodded, feeling confident in our point.
“Honey, they are only doing what’s best for you.” She insisted, shaking her head.
“People dying is what’s best then?” Griffin snapped, making me nudge him to stop ‘helping’.
“They are monsters.” My mom scowled.
“Hyperion wasn’t a monster, mom.” I blurted, unable to stop the words from escaping my mouth. I hadn’t said his name in so many years, and the name felt strange. A pang of unexpected sadness caught me off guard. My mother’s expression changed to something bitter, but she remained silent. “He never hurt anyone,” I said, regretting even bringing him up. “He was…he was so kind.” I let my gaze drop as she did the same.
“He was a dangerous accident,” She insisted, not sounding very sure. “The Officials said so.”
“Maybe they aren’t right,” I screamed, losing patience.
She looked taken aback, “Of course they’re right, sweetie. They always are.”
“They paired us together,” I pointed out, getting my temper back in check. “Were they right about that?”
“Paired? I–but that’s impossible…he’s a Fugitive.” She shook her head, looking from Griffin to me.
“The Chanteuses have messed up before,” I sighed.
“Many times,” Griffin added.
“Tethys, I just don’t know.” As she spoke, she kept her gaze locked on him. “What you are suggesting is just ridiculous! I have no choice but to assume that he has somehow gotten into that head of yours, I mean seriously! Take on the Officials? Why? They have done nothing but good for us, for…for everyone!” She stumbled over her words, inching away from Griffin.
“Mom, that’s just what we’ve been told to believe!” I was beginning to feel frustrated, but I quickly composed myself.
“Tethys, you know the rules.” She said, looking suddenly solemn. “You’ve heard rule number thir
teen.” Slowly, she pulled out a smooth gun with such shaky hands, I could barely register what she meant.
“Mom?” I blinked in horror as she aimed it right at my heart. What was happening?
“I’m so sorry,” she whispered, closing her eyes. I looked up at the stark gray cloud above her head, a solemn, foreboding shade. “But it’s for the greater good of the society.”
Before I could even react, Griffin was in front of me holding his own gun protectively over me. “There will be no need for that.” He snapped coldly, covering me from her.
“You have betrayed Lieu,” She said again, but this time firmer, still tightly clutching onto the gun. “My loyalty is to my nation.”
He turned to look at me with regretful eyes and mouthed ‘I’m so sorry’. As I fully processed what he meant, all I could do was nod before the bullet sunk right into her heart.
Chapter Twenty
The world seemed to go silent around me; my screams were drowned out by the sound of the gunshot. My mother’s limp body fell to the floor, dead in seconds. Her once bright cloud vanishing right before my eyes. I couldn’t even fight back as Griffin carried my struggling body out of the house. She was gone. My mother was gone. Griffin had killed her…my mother had been going to kill me…I had told him to do it....
I didn’t know what was true anymore. Everything seemed like a lie, like something just being fed to me to keep me quiet. Who was I? I wasn’t a murderer, this wasn’t supposed to be a murder mission. She was supposed to join…she was supposed to stand with me.
As my world crumbled around me, I realized that I was alone, the one person I had always relied on, was gone. The one constant in my life. The only person who had never hurt me was gone. She had been going to hurt me though…but even then, why did it have to end like this? Would they bury her body? Suddenly all of the struggle left my body, there was nothing left, no one I was still fighting for. Reaching an empty alley, Griffin set me down against the wall. Blood splattered his pale face…my mother’s blood…I desperately tried to break away from him; he was a murderer.