The Gate

by Calvin McKee

  “I guess,” I sighed.

  So off we went into the night. Passing many buildings, they became nicer and bigger with each step. Finally, we stopped at the biggest one.

  “Wait right here” she said, “I’ll go get her.”

  So she went inside and about five minutes later came out with a middle-aged woman.

  “Mom, this is your son.”

  “Is this some kind of trick?”  The lady who was supposedly my mom said in outrage.

  My sister began to speak, “Now my theory is… ”

  She was abruptly cut-off by my so-called mom. “Missy get up to bed and guards arrest this man immediately.”

  Two guards came up behind me and dragged me off into the street where they handcuffed me and took me to jail.

  My first day here and my entire world is pretty much screwed over. And on top of that I’m spending the night in the slammer. Thanks mom.

  Chapter Nine

  I woke in a cold, damp cell to the sound of the door being opened. “You’re free to go,” he said. So I slowly and tiredly got on my feet and walked out. What was I to do? I went to a bench and sat down. Suddenly, someone sat down right next to me. What now, I thought.

  “Are you Ben?” the stranger asked.

  “Yeah, I am” I responded.

  “Well the old man sent me. I’m part of the resistance.” “We need your help.”

  ” For what?” I said feeling hostile.

  “To perform a normal raid,” he said.

  “I guess,” I said.

  So we got up and he led me to the “Headquarters,” which was really just a shabby house in what I would call a poor sector. As we entered, we were greeted by five men, haggard but able-bodied.

  “So” the stranger said, “this is everyone. Matt over there – amazing engineer; Julie – awesome fighter; Jack – our hacker; Tyler – our other fighter; and that’s Caleb – our newest edition.”

  I looked at each of their faces. They had seen a lot. Except for Caleb’s: his poor mug just looked scared.

  Finally I spoke, addressing the stranger, “And what’s your name?”

  “Oh yeah,” he said. “I’m Tim, leader of this crew.”

  Upstairs, Tim had me suited up. With concealed weapons and everything.

  “I almost forgot,” Tim said, “the old man told me to give you this picture.”

  He handed it over, and I nearly had a heart attack. There were two words on it: “your mom.” An arrow pointed to a baby and to my so-called half-sister’s mother.

  Chapter Ten

  What? I was in complete and utter disbelief.  Could this really possibly be my mother?

  “Sorry guys,” I said, “but I have something to take care of.”

  “But what about…”

  I was out the door before he could finish his sentence. It felt so exhilarating finally having a leg up on someone. For the first time, I knew information others didn’t. I ran as fast as I could through the streets, bumping into people. But I didn’t care – I had a mission that I was about to complete. Then I rounded a bend and saw the house coming up on my left. This was it. I went through the gate right past the guards who began chasing after me. I sprinted up the stone pathway, and with surprising power, kicked down the mahogany door. I continued to run, punching the doorman in the face as he tried to stop me. I then pulled out the pistol still concealed in my jacket and fired at the ceiling to let everyone know I was there. Grabbing a flash bang, I quickly threw it into the dining room where I knew everyone would be.  Next I threw 3 grenades behind me along with a motion-sensing grenade. I walked inside the dining room, looked through the door behind me, turned around, gun at the ready.

  “Everyone – hands on your heads!” I yelled.

  I looked around. At the table sat 3 people.  One was the woman (I guess she was technically my mom). Also, there was the girl I had met the other day and a man I had only seen on billboards and ads. It was our leader, Marcuisse Rubin.

  I turned to my mom and said, “You are a liar. I am your son. I have pictures and everything.”

  She then said in a snobby tone, “how dare you call me a liar.”

  “How about you just tell the truth,” I said, ” before I kill her.”

  I pointed my gun right at the girl.

  “You wouldn’t,” she said.

  I proceeded to shoot the gun just to the right of the girl. “Next time I hit her.”

  “Okay fine. You are my son, but I had to give you up so I wouldn’t anger Marcuisse.”

  Then Marcuisse stood up and said, “If it is true that you are my son and you made this much effort to get here, then you will be my replacement.”

  I stood there astonished. There was a splintering of wood and the humming of electricity. And then I was out.

  Chapter Eleven

  I feel a sharp pain in my back as I get to my feet. The world seemed to be swimming around me and I was confused about what I was doing.

  Then out of nowhere came a voice. “You’re up,” it said.

  Man, I thought, “how many times am I going to hear that while I’m here.”

  “So,” it said, ” I should probably get my dad.”

  At that moment, I knew it had to be my so-called sister. And then it came back to me – the breaking in, the explaining, getting tazed.

  My life sucks, I thought.

  At that moment, the door opened and in walked Marcuisse.

  “Hello,” he said, “how are you feeling?”

  “Okay, I guess,” I said

  “That’s good…son.”

  “Your mother feels terrible,” he says.” But most of all I feel terrible. So that is why I have made this decision. You will take over my position effective immediately. Since I barely seem to be able to keep control of my family, let alone the nation, it suits me to step down.”

  “Well then, I made a promise to an old friend. Sorry dad, but the first order of business. Today, I free the world.”