Under Ground

by Alice Rachel

  "James works for the authorities," Chi explains to me. "He drives the food from Camp 19 to the poor areas. He'll take us into the camp when we're ready to attack."

  “Where is Liam taking those prisoners?” a small girl inquires of Taylor before Chi can tell me anything else. She's petite, with beautiful features, long natural blonde hair, and a black uniform reminiscent of the ones worn by the officers.

  “I’m sorry, Tina, you know that for our own security, I can’t tell you guys everything,” Taylor replies, with a sudden cold look on his face. Then he turns toward an incredibly tall and handsome man, whose midnight brown hair and tanned skin are accentuated by sharp electric blue eyes.

  “How are we doing with the weaponry, Chase?” Taylor asks him.

  “It’s been real hard getting the guns from the military houses without raising suspicion. Craig’s been modifying the records. He's over-supplying the place to our benefit. The warehouse is holding a nice collection now, plus all the guns you've got here already. We should have a weapon for each person that’s going to Camp 19.”

  Chi pulls me closer to him. "Craig works in the military. He used to live in Chase's old neighborhood in New York City."

  I send Chi a quizzical glance. "I thought New York City was completely flooded and off-limit."

  He shakes his head. "That's just a rumor spread among the upper-class. Old Manhattan is uninhabitable, yes, but there's a portion of New York City that's still above water. When the rich fled the city during Hurricane Vega, the poor were left behind. The ones who survived took over what was left. The place is deteriorating, but there's still a bunch of people living there."

  "How do you know all that?" I ask.

  "Chase explained it all to me. I just told you he used to live in those slums."

  "Used to? Where does he live now?"

  Chi doesn't get a chance to reply because he's cut off by Chase's interaction with Taylor.

  "We've got two trucks to carry the prisoners out. We'll just steal more of them when we get there," Chase says. "I've already found a place to hide all the trucks after we hit the camp."

  “Awesome!" Taylor replies before turning to a gorgeous, muscular girl. Her skin is dark, her cheekbones high, and her lips full. Her hair is styled in a beautiful mohawk that's falling loosely over her eyes and down her neck, the sides of her head shaved.

  "Kayla, babe, are the apartments operational?” Taylor asks her.

  Kayla moves forward and wraps her arms around Taylor’s waist. She looks up at him with adoration. Her mouth has spread into a warm smile. “Yes. We won’t have electricity, of course, but the water tanks on top of the buildings will provide cold water. We’ve got candles, batteries, generators, food, and all that. It's been tough getting the resources over there, but Jenna's done a great job getting everything ready.”

  “Great!" Taylor exclaims. "That’ll give us a safe place to crash when things go down." He turns to us. "I want everyone to remain discreet. Keep an ear out for anything suspicious. When the camps are free, our correspondents in the media will let the information loose. We need to make a big splash and wake up this drowsy population. They’ve been asleep for way too long. It's time they found out where their resources come from. It's time they knew where the authorities are keeping their family members. The civilians need to open their eyes and see this system for what it is. Let's expose its flaws once and for all." Everyone around the group cheers at that. "Let's show them how this system has failed us."

  Everyone nods enthusiastically. Some people even hoot while some others clap loudly. When Taylor is done talking, he looks at Chi and me. He beckons for us to follow him to a different room. We exit the living room, walk across the hall, and enter a large study.

  “Chi, you need to be careful. The authorities are really pissed at you, and we can’t afford for them to spot you. Stay put at Oliver’s house until this all blows over. Same thing goes for you, Thia.”

  “Why do they think Chi kidnapped me?” I ask.

  “They just made it up to make him look worse. Don’t worry about it. Just stay put and don't bring attention to yourselves. I’m glad you met some of the gang, Thia. If anything happens, reach me here. Learn this address by heart. I’ll take you guys back to Oliver’s place now.”

  He taps Chi on the shoulder and steps out of the room. Chi pulls me to him, takes my hand in his, and we walk out of the study. On my way out, I notice a girl staring at us. She’s the petite blonde girl who was talking earlier. Tina I think her name is. She looks at Chi and averts her gaze when she notices me observing her.

  "Who's that girl?" I ask Chi.

  "That's Tina. She's an officer working undercover for the Underground."

  Chi doesn't explain further. Tina sends him one last glance, and pain flickers through her eyes swiftly before her cheeks turn crimson red.

  Chapter 24

  This morning, the TV is on in Oliver’s living room. It’s an old machine; the image is full of static jumping up and down. Oliver is sitting on his old couch, watching the news. We all know the media is full of lies; it's a mendacious device that has been used for years to deceive and control the minds of the weak. Oliver, however, thinks it's important to stay informed. He believes the lies tell a certain truth and that it’s up to us to read between the lines.

  Today though, the news is different and I can't remain indifferent. It touches close to home and strikes me right to my core. Chi’s picture is on the screen, and the words coming through the speakers send chills down my spine. It's as if the journalist is looking straight at me as he points at a picture of Chi. It’s silly because, of course, he's not talking to me specifically.

  “This young man is highly dangerous. The authorities are looking for him, and any indications regarding his whereabouts are welcome. Do not approach the suspect under any circumstances! I repeat; he is highly dangerous! Call 911 if you see him or believe you may have spotted him. Any information is vital at this point.”

  I turn around to look at Chi. My heartbeat quickens while he remains calm. He frowns and crosses his arms over his chest, but he doesn’t seem to feel the same kind of fear I’m experiencing. The news that follows is like a stab to my heart, and the world around me starts spinning out of control.

  “Chi Richards, also known as Jordan Wilcox, has been fleeing the authorities for the past two years. He's wanted for the murder of Willow Jenison. The authorities lost track of him two years ago, and they’ve been searching for him ever since. It appears Richards was living with the Wilcox family under the false identity of their son Jordan. The Wilcoxes are also on the loose, and the authorities need them in custody as well. They are wanted for harboring a criminal and concealing the disappearance of their son. Chi Richards is also wanted for the kidnapping of Thia Clay. It is imperative for us to find him before he kills her the way he did his previous girlfriend. Any information is crucial and will be generously rewarded.”

  The words boomerang inside my head: “murder” and “criminal.” Dark spots appear and cloud my vision as shivers take hold of my body. I close my eyes, bend over, and breathe deeply. I will not faint!

  I turn to Chi. His eyes are still pinned on the TV. They are wide open with fear and anger. He senses my gaze upon him and sends me a look. When his eyes meet mine, they plead with me to understand. He tries to tell me something, but I don't listen. I’m not sure I truly care at this point. I’ve been misled again. But this time, it’s the one person I trusted the most who has lied to me. My heart suddenly cracks at the edges, slowly breaking apart. The fissure widens as seconds pass me by. How could I be so stupid? I know nothing about Chi, nothing concrete really.

  I'm so disappointed I’m suffocating. I need air. I walk past him so fast I could be running. He tries to grab my arm, but I push him away. I’m surprised by my own strength as he stumbles backward. The small of his back hits a table, and he clenches his teeth upon impact, his eyes darkening instantly.

  “Thia!” he calls me as I r
un for the door.

  “Thia!” His voice is louder now, more insistent, but I don’t pay heed.

  I’ve had it with the lies. I don’t want to hear his voice right now. I’m not sure I want to hear his voice ever again. If Chi didn’t tell me about this, it means that the news could be true.

  Something inside my heart tells me that it can’t be real. But I’m not sure I can trust my instincts anymore. My instincts led me here, to follow Chi. What if they tricked me into believing something I shouldn’t have? I wanted Chi to be the perfect person he appeared to be. How foolish of me! Of course, no one is perfect! But this is a bigger skeleton in the closet than I expected. And then, it hits me: Chi told me he had never been with a girl before. His lies feel like small daggers plunged into my heart. It hurts to think of him with someone else and to know that he lied about it, too.

  Chi comes out of the house. He walks to me quickly, just a few strides needed for him to reach me. His eyes are filled with pain, beseeching still, but I ignore him. He's right in front of me and I start running away, but he’s too fast. He grabs my arm and holds it tightly. His strength no longer comforts me the way it used to. Now, it just terrifies me.

  He pulls me to him and turns me around so I have to face him. He grabs my shoulders and holds on so hard I can’t move. I try to fight him, but he’s too strong. I press my hands against his chest to push him back. He grabs my arms and holds them together in front of him in a lock I can't loosen. Fear is telling me to run, but Chi is holding me still and I can’t move. He looks me deep in the eyes, but I turn my face away.

  “Thia, it's all a bunch of lies. It’s complete bullshit." He pauses. "Thia! Look at me!” His voice grows louder now, his tone more assertive. “Thia, look at me!”

  But I’m not taking orders from him. I will not let him or anyone control the way I think or what I do ever again! I want to tell him that. I want to yell at him. I want to slash his face. I'm so emotional, almost hysterical, that I start crying in anger. I hate myself for it. I don’t want him to see me cry. I don’t want him to know that he hurt me or think he can comfort me. I don't want him to mistake my reaction for sorrow when all I'm feeling is rage.

  “Thia, I did not kill that girl,” he hisses.

  That’s too much and I shriek, spitting the words in his face with vitriol. “‘That girl?' Who was ‘that girl?' Did you know her? I saw the look on your face when her picture came up on the screen, Chi.”

  I’m so mad I stutter and can’t keep my thoughts straight. I can’t think at all. I just want to hurt him the exact same way he hurt me. I can’t touch him physically, so I use my words like venom. “You lied to me, Chi, and you hid things from me. You said you’d never been with a girl before. You said you'd never looked at girls until you saw me. And now, the news tells me about her. I have to hear from the guy on TV that you killed her!”

  “It’s a lie!” Chi is yelling too now, with rage rising to the surface. “I did not kill her!”

  “And I guess I’m supposed to believe that! After all your lies, I’m supposed to trust you and believe you!”

  I’m still shouting, and my head hurts from the anger boiling inside. Chi blinks a few times as though I've just slapped him in the face. The hurt is back in his eyes, but I don’t care. He won’t catch me feeling pity for him again.

  “You truly believe I could have done that? You really think I could have killed a girl?” His voice is soft now, shaking. His eyes well up and dry just as quickly.

  “Why not?” I reply with fury, though I’m not sure what to believe anymore. The news on TV doesn’t make any sense.

  “Thia, you know me! Look inside you and tell me you honestly believe I could have hurt a girl. They also claim I kidnapped you, and you know that’s not true. It’s all lies. They're looking for reasons to have me arrested.”

  The truth is I still don't know Chi that well, but I can’t believe the media. I don’t want to believe that he could have done something so horrible.

  “If you truly believe that I could have hurt a girl—if you don’t trust me—I don’t see why you should be with me at all. I can’t believe you would even think that,” he says in a low, soothing voice, but I can tell he’s still livid. It's like the calm before a storm. The anguish is still present in his eyes. He shakes his head with disappointment. He’s about to let me go, but he seems to think better of it.

  “That girl was my girlfriend, yes. But I hardly even knew her. She was an Unwanted, like me. I don’t know why my parents even bothered finding someone for me. My mom said I needed someone to rely on because they wouldn’t be there forever. She said no one wants to end up alone. Willow was my best option—my only option. She was the daughter of my parents' friends. My mom thought I might grow fond of her in time. She said we didn’t have to go through with a relationship if I didn’t want to, but that I should let time tell what was best. Willow was shy, like you, and extremely fragile. After a while, I took it upon myself to protect her. I thought maybe I could do that. But I never looked at her that other way. I didn’t like her like that. She was a friend and that’s all.”

  He sighs. “Then my parents were taken away and I had to run. A few months later, I heard on the news that Willow and her family were found dead at their house. It looked like the authorities had gotten rid of them to use as an excuse to frame me and execute me on sight. Then one day, the search stopped. I didn’t kill her, Thia. I don’t know who did.”

  “Why didn’t you try to find out?” I ask.

  “I can’t do everything at the same time! I’ve been busy trying to locate my parents. I can’t do it all! And what’s the point? No one would believe me anyway.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “And what was I supposed to say? ‘Hi, I'm Chi. Oh, by the way, I’m wanted for the murder of my girlfriend.’ Great intro, isn’t it?" He shakes his head in exasperation. "I didn’t know how to tell you. I’ve been scared of losing you. I had no status or future to offer you. I couldn’t add the criminal charges to the mix.”

  “Your parents don’t believe in the system. Why would your mom look for a girl for you? That doesn’t make any sense!” I exclaim.

  “She didn’t force Willow on me. She just hoped that magic would do its trick. I didn’t have to date Willow. In the end, it was my choice.”

  He leans his forehead against mine and lets go of my arms to cup my face with his hands. "Thia, I would never hurt someone like Willow. She was sweet, and kind, and innocent. Please, you have to believe me."

  He holds me tightly against him, his face buried against my neck, and I let him. I want to believe him. I slouch into him, my thoughts in turmoil, and we remain like this for a few minutes, with my chest pressed against his and my treacherous heart pleading for my brain to please give him another chance.

  But when the sounds of sirens echo in the distance, our reconciliation ends abruptly. We both freeze. Fear flickers through Chi’s eyes, a mirror to the primitive terror filling my own heart.

  “Run! Now!”

  He grabs my hand and we race toward the door, but it’s too late. The police cars are here; they're flashing their front lights at us, the sirens loud and deafening.

  “Chi Richards, you’re under arrest," the officer's voice comes out of a speakerphone. "Put your hands in the air now. Do not try to run or we will shoot.”

  Chi raises his hands in the air slowly. I stop. I want us to run as fast as we can, far from here, but it’s too late and there is no escape. There are four police cars here now, and we're surrounded. Chi looks calm, but I know he’s frantic underneath the surface. His eyes shift around as if he’s looking for a way out. Holding a rifle, an officer walks slowly toward Chi, as if he were as dangerous as they claimed on the news. It would be comical were the situation not so dire. The officer approaches him and forces handcuffs on his wrists. Then he shoves him forward brutishly and Chi stumbles. I gasp. The officer pushes him toward the car, with the tip of his barrel pressed against Chi's
back.

  Chi turns his head and peers at me. He's serious, without a smile poking through. He appears serene, but I know better. He sits in the car, and as the officer closes the door behind him, Chi just keeps staring at me. An urge almost pushes me forward—a need to scream his name, run to the car, and free him. But they'll shoot me on the spot if I move.

  An officer comes to me. “Thia Clay, you are to follow us as well.”

  My heart is hammering hard inside my ribcage. I have trouble breathing. My legs are shaking so badly I might fall, but my limbs somehow carry me as I walk to the police car. I keep my eyes on Chi the entire time, but the vehicle he’s in starts up and drives away. Soon, I lose sight of him completely. The officer opens the back door to the vehicle and lets me sit inside. As the car pulls away, I catch a glimpse of three more officers breaking into Oliver’s house. They will arrest him too, unless he's heard everything and escaped already. This is bad, really bad! Without Oliver as a liaison, the Underground will be weakened.

  I hope the officers don't know about the Underground and that Oliver is simply wanted for hosting us, a terrible offense in and of itself.

  I can't believe I was so dumb as to believe Chi killed his girlfriend. Of course the media lied. They do it all the time. I'm furious at myself for triggering a fight between us. And now, it's too late to apologize.

  We drive for a long time. I expect them to take me to jail, but then I recognize the road we’re taking. I’m not sure if this is better or worse than going to the police station, but the officers are taking me home.

  Dread fills my heart. I'm about to face my family. And even worse, I will have to deal with Mother. This reunion won't be pretty. I’ll end up homeless. William will reject me after what happened, and my parents will never forgive me. What am I to become? What am I going to do?

  Then I think about Chi, and my despair worsens. I actually don’t care what happens to me. I just want Chi to be okay. I wish we had never met. Not because I don’t want to be with him. Not because of how this is sure to ruin me. But because I refuse for our relationship to cost him his life.