THE HIDERS
By Kaylee Harris
Edited by Halle Hendry
“Shut the door, idiot!” I yelled, slamming it closed before he could race back. “How could you be so careless?” I asked, as the lights turned back on.
His blue eyes darkened and he bit his lip, “Im new to this, ok!?”
I was about to respond when Sarah appeared beside me.
“Good Job Quincy, and Andrew... next time be more careful, without the door closed and locked you could have given the enemy an extra 30 seconds- why, Quincy could have died considering how close she was to the door.”
Andrew itched his neck, “Sorry Miss Sarah.”
She nodded, and I tapped my foot. “Can we be dismissed now, I’ve been in 4 runs today..”
She smiled, “Sure, you too Andrew.”
Without saying goodbye he turned around and jogged off.
I waved to Miss Sarah, then followed at a slower pace.
After a while I found myself half walking half skipping to the tune of his footsteps echoing down the corridor, Andrew was a Tall and lean guy- with black messy hair and mood eyes. Well, thats what I call them. They seem to change colors depending on how he feels, I’ve only seen his angry eyes lately. Which is black.
As I pass the Lunch area I lose my train of thought. Our lunch server- Ms. Bailey, always makes the best cinnamon rolls, I can smell a new batch. The aroma carries me through the doors and I find myself in front of the Card register.
“Ms.Bailey?” I call.
Suddenly I hear a jump and a clatter, “Oh! Who’s there?”
Smiling at her clumsiness I respond, “Quincy Ayda.”
“Quincy! I suppose your here for my cinnamon buns?”
I stifle a laugh, “Duh.”
A minute later she walks out from the kitchen with a small take out box marked, “Treats” and sets it on the counter.
“The usual?”
I nod and insert my card into the identity machine, then press my finger over the ‘clipper’, and jumping when it bites me.
“Have a good day sweetie.” She says, patting my back as I pick up the box and walk off.
My finger throbs as I open the door and I can’t help envying regular kids. They don’t have to do this, they don’t have to hide. They Exist. Andrew existed once too, he told me. He had a family, and friends. Something no one here really experiences. Yet, when Andrew arrived he had been so excited, he was the only existing Hider who was actual citizen of a country. None of us, none of us other than him, had records.
Except me.
I was special, just like Andrew.
14 years ago Mr.Gales found me on the side of a road in kansas, they didn’t know where I had come from. But, as a Hider their duty was to rescue the people of the world- so why not help me? They took me in- and before anyone knew it I was a 17 different language speaking rank 9 out of 10 fifteen year old.
But it still hurt, to think of my parents. I never really knew them, obviously. So why I feel this way is confusing. Andrew must have it way tougher, I think- as I stand in front of my dorm door.
I swipe my card over the identifier and the door goes, “Click!”
Setting the box on the floor carefully, I then kick the door open using the soles of my shoes.
It swings open and I re-pick up the box.
My room is about the size of a small garage, cozy.. I know.
It has a navy blue bed with a dresser, covered with notes and pictures.
Simple and relaxing- Just how I like it. Sadly, next to my dorm are two of the most annoying people. Derk and Floyd. They NEVER stop talking, EVER! Them being brothers and all- I guess I can understand, But that doesn’t make them any less annoying.
Stepping toward the mirror I undo my ponytail and my long hair spills down my chest. Its a pretty caramel, but uncontrollable, which is why I keep it in a side ponytail.
Its also beneficial when running from the Racers- they can't grab my hair and pull me back if they can't reach it, right? Right. I sigh though, as I look at my face. I am pale. An ugly almost white color- that is a perfect victim to the sun. Oh, and my eyes. They are grey, dull and boring. A perfect match to my personality.
With that boost of confidence, I walk over to my dresser and pull out sweatpants and a old ripped t-shirt. I can barely make out the words on it- but I can see the faint impression of my name and some other thing. Must be last years team shirts. We did a contest where we paired with a group of people from different ranks and fought each other in Tae kwon doe.
I got 1st out of fifty three, 14 yr olds. My group color was green- my favorite color. They called me The silent striker, I'm quiet but fierce. It's the only thing I pride myself on.
Suddenly the door beeps. I kick aside my training clothes and rush to the door, wisps of my hair getting in my face.
I blow them off and open the door a couple inches,” Who is it?” I ask, then recognize the messy black hair.
“Andrew.”
“What do you want?” I question.
He makes a sighing noise and leans his head against the door.
“I need help.”
“Help?” I begin to mock his voice- “From a girl? Why! Girls know nothing!”
He pushes the door open farther and points at my face, “Well you do, and if I’m going to pass my rank test and be able to go on missions.. I suppose I need your help.”
“Fine.” I say, walking back into the room to get my training gear.
When I reappear at the door he's gone, walking down the corridor ahead of me.
“What a gentleman.” I mutter, closing my door and following him.
After a long walk of awkward silence we're at the gym. It's huge, perhaps the biggest part in the underground city. Weapons line the walls, and climbing gear and obstacles take up most of the east part of the gym. Hand to Hand combat arenas are to the west- and if you look up you will see a vast- and complex- air course.
Andrew chooses the arena first, “I know Tae Kwon Doe is your strength, but it's not mine. Care to inform me?”
“Ahem.” I clear my throat, “Call me master.”
“Master?”
“Master Ayda.. Your teacher.”
“No way.” He shakes his head.
I scowl, “I guess I’ll just have to go back to sleep-”
“Sorry Master Ayda.”
I smile and roll my eyes, “Better.”
He smiles a weak smile and steps onto the mat.
“So, what do I do first?”
I ignore his question, and stand directly in front of him- so all he can see is me.
“Uh- Maste-”
I shove his face with the palm of my hand backwards, then kick his foot away from the ground. He falls and I quickly pin him down using my legs.
“Lesson one.” I say, as he gasps for air, “Always expect the unexpected.”
He's gasping, so I get off of him and pretend to wipe dust off my hands.
“Too easy.”
“Not fair!” He whines, “I would have been ready if you had just warned me.”
“Exactly, your enemies arent going to come up to you and say, Oh hi... Im going to attack you now- but if you need to warm up first go ahead.”
“Whatever.” He snorts.
A couple seconds later the door creaks open, “Who's there?” A squeaky voice calls.
Its Emmie.
Andrew answers before I can, “Andrew! Oh, and Quint.”
“Quincy.” I correct.
She walks in shyly, “I just came to practice some combat- but I can do it tommorrow..”
Andrew looks distraught at the thought that she can’t practice because were here.
“NO! I mean uh.. No, come practice with me and Quincy.”
She stands limp, “ I don’t know. I’m not good. I’d hold you back.”
Now its my turn to shake my head.
“Come on, Andrew sucks. I’m sure you’ll be better then him.”
Andrew frowns at me and I pretend not to notice.
Emmie shrugs and walks over, her training suit bagging off her body.
“Well.” Andrew says, clapping his hands together, “Lets dance.”
I raise my eyebrow, “What's that mean?”
His eyes give me the “Duh.” Look and begins to explain, “Its a Up-above term for... Lets move, lets get at it, lets start whatever we're starting, and lets begin.”
I smile and clap my hands, “Then, lets dance.”
Over the next couple of hours I teach them the basics. Andrew learns quickly, but Emmie is slow and unproductive. She can’t stay focused and I begin to wonder if she is really a rank 6.
I look at the clock and whistle, “OKAY! TRAININGS OVER!”
Andrews face turns desperate- “But...”
“Curfew.” I interrupt, “If were caught out here past twelve Miss Sarah and Dean are going to kill us.”
Emmie laughs, “I like life, so I agree with you Quint. Bye Andrew!”
She waves, and I make a growling noise. “Its QUINCY!”
But she's already gone.
Andrew picks up his training bag and begins to walk off.
“Hope you pass.” I call after him.
He mumbles something and walks out the door.
“Rude.”
Once he’s gone I pick up my gear and start toward the hall, but something in my gut stops me.
Something about the gym is off. Someone's behind you. My brain screams for me to run, but I am frozen. No one is behind me, I would hear them. Unless they're a racer- I ponder the thought. But Racers can’t get in here- we have guards.. advanced survelliance systems. We have everything that insures safety.
The air moves by my ear and I shake, “I know you're here- Just let me go. I am.. I am no one.
A eerie voice answers, confirming my suspicions.
“You're Quincy Ayda, right?”
I cant lie, “Yes.”
The voice chuckles, “We’ve heard alot of you, your daddy-”
I choke, “My dad?”
“Why, of course, we're close friends.”
Now I'm angry, “Who is he! Who are you!”
“Shush, kid. I am just here to deliver a message.”
Seething, I respond, “Then deliver.”
“Your father wants you back. He says you are welcome home. Consider the offer Macy Coles.”
“Macy Coles?”
“Your real name, darling.”
I turn to scream at the voice- but I find empty air.
It was all in your head, I think. It was nothing, I'm dreaming. I pinch myself.
I'm not dreaming.
I faint.
I wake up in the emergency room- three blurry figures stand beside me.
Andrew, Dean, and Miss Sarah.
“Look she's awake!” Dean says, leaning down close to my face, “Do you know who I am?”
I squint, “You're Dean, and your breath smells bad. Go away.”
He smiles a toothless grin, making me grimace. “Shes fine.”
Miss Sarah smiles, “Oh good, we were so worried dear.”
Andrew tangles his fingers together awkwardly, “Yeah I heard you bump your head, and when I found you.. you looked so..”
“Pale, sick?” I answer his question.
He bites his lip.
“What happened?”
Don’t tell him. A voice in my head tells me. They'll think you're crazy.
“Nothing, I ran into the door and fell backwards.”
“You were 20 feet from the door.”
Was I?
“Oh, well something like that.”
I guess the glint of uncomfortability in my eyes shuts him up, because he doesn’t ask again.
Miss Sarah speaks this time, “Are you ok to train?”
I nod, “Just one question.”
She smiles, “Anything.”
I have to ask her.
“Who is Mister Coles?”
Her nostrils flare up, and all the nurses in the room quiet down to stare at me. Dean even flinches.
Her face is a hot red, and she looks at her toes, “Anything, but that- and that name. That EVIL name.” She spits on the floor and storms out. Dean shakes his head at me and turns to follow her.
What did I say?
Andrew even seems a little disturbed- “Please- Quincy. Tell me how you know that name.”
I tilt my head, “I just heard it around.”
“That is not a name you just hear around Quince.”
Now I'm angry, “Why don’t you tell me how you know something I DON’T?”
“Well, first of all- little miss think you know it all, I” He pauses, “I've got to go to class.”
I lift my finger to fire back a insult, then start to nod in agreement, “Ok, you got me that time.”
He smiles, “Ha.”
We're quiet for a moment, and as if on cue, Emmie knocks on the hospital room door.
“Andrew? Time for history! Oh, and tell Quint I hope she's better.”
“ITS QUINCY!” I mutter.
“I WILL!” Andrew yells louder than needed, “MEET YOU AT HISTORY!”
She stands on her tiptoes to reach the window on the door, and smiles.
He melts.
“Andrew!” I say, snapping my fingers. “Wake up dream boy!”
He shakes his head, “What?”
“Nothing, forget it.’
He shrugs and continues like nothing happened, “So, since you lack intelligence-”
“I DO NOT LACK INTELLIGENCE!” I scream.
He rolls his eyes, “Come on, history class is REALLY fun.”
He extends his hand to me and I take it.
When I'm up and stable we begin to walk to the door, and then I realize something is terribly wrong.
“I’m wearing a hospital gown.”
“So?” He asks, making a move for the door.
“SO!? What kind of question is that? I’m wearing a hospital GOWN, I can’t go to class or whatever like this.”
“Why not?”
I close my eyes and beg god for patience, “Because I can’t, stupid.”
He looks genuinely hurt at the insult, and I immediatly feel terrible.
Hiders don’t do stuff like that- we're supposed to be kind...patient...noble.
Maybe I get my stubborn side from dad, whoever he is Miss Sarah and the nurses obviously had a reason to think he wasn’t that great of a dude.
A chill crawls down my spine as I remember the voice in the gym yesterday.
“Your father wants you back. He says you are welcome home. Consider the offer, Macy Coles.”
I clench my fists, I imagined that- I had to. I have no parents, none... I am Quincy. I do not exist.
But I do exist.
I exist in a way normal people can’t understand. Typically I am normal, yeah. But mentally.. not really. I'm not psycho. Just.. I guess I kinda live between two walls. One threatening to fall on me, end it all. The other- Trying to do more then that. Trying to push me into doing something really bad. Something I would regret more than death.
Ok, maybe I am Psycho.
After a minute of arguing with Andrew about changing, I won. No surprise there- we went back to my dorm and I changed into my gray shirt, and orange nike pants.
Now, as I lock the door he stands behind me. Tapping his foot impatiently.
“Ok, ok coming.” I mumble, and he starts ahead of me- taking the lead down the hall.
As we walk I finally notice how beautiful the corridor really is. That must sound weird, but it's true.
The walls are covered with paintings from our paint club- and the ceiling is the same. A lot of them are combat scenes, but a few really special ones catch my eye. There's one from the Tae Kwon Doe contest with me on the podium holding a trophy. There's another from when the Hiders first formed.
"I wish I had been there."
Startled, I wisp around and see Andrew standing there, observing the founders painting.
"Were you there?" He asks.
"Uh, I'm not from 1812 Andrew." I smirk, "Thought you were the smart one, taking classes and all." Andrew shrugs, and sets back down the hallway. I roll my eyes and follow him, sighing.
Suddenly a blaring noise sounds, and I cover my ears.
"Dang it, Come on!" Andrews eyes me and does a little jump. I laugh, and slowly proceed down the hallway.
"Ma-QUINCY!" He turns around and darts toward class. Grudgingly, I bound after him. By the time I reach the classroom, he's already inside and seated. I peek through the small window on the door and quickly debate whether I should skip or go in. Andrew notices my dilemma, and clears his throat.
Face palm
"Attention!" he says rather loudly. The teacher glares at him. "Sorry Mrs.Clayton, but we have a new student!" I shrunk down below the door and wait a few seconds. Before I can come in, Andrew flings the door open, hitting me in the face. I scowl at him. He grabs my wrist and pulls me in. "Well, here she is." He remarks. Mrs.Clayton puts her hands on her hips, and grins. "Well, well, well. Looks like Quincy Ayda finally decides to show up." I hear the class murmur among themselves and blush. Andrew directs me to a seat next to him and I sit down cautiously. My face is still throbbing from when he whacked me with the door. Mrs.Clayton taps her desk and all attention goes back to her, thank gosh. I am a Hider, I want to be invisible.
"Okay Class, today we will be learning about Macey Coles- page 78."
Andrew gasps, "Didn't she kill like.. 50,000 people?"
So that's who the Coles are. Is that who I am?
My body goes rigid as I think about it. That is NOT me. It has to be a mistake. But deep inside, I have a feeling it's not. Reluctantly, I turn to page 78. The title bewilders me.
MACEY COLES- THE DARK PRINCESS.
1998-?
15 years ago Macey Coles was born 1998-May 1st. She was born to Cherri Wallis (Now Cherri Coles-deceased). Her father was Ted Coles, leader of the most evil group on earth. The Racers.
Back in 1812 when Andrew Jackson led American soldiers against the British Red Coats he feared that assassins were after him. He hired a group of his supporters to protect him while he was off general duty. Many people did not know of this group, which led to the group name. "The Hiders." To the world, they were non-existent. If you went up to any average citizen and asked them, "Hey, what's a Hider?" No one would have a clue. After Jackson died of natural causes the Hiders continued on to protect the nation. But of course, where good exists- bad will thrive along beside it. A second group who opposed Jacksonian Democracy lived on too. They decided that it was there destiny to overtake the world. Remember Gold, God, and Glory? Now think about this, Power, Money, and death. "The PMD's." As some teachers may refer to it. After many years of this group terrorizing America, and now the world- they decided to become a democracy as well. Ted Coles is the first official leader of "The Racers."
His first and only daughter was Macey Coles. Five minutes after she was born her father gave her a bomb detonator. While playing with it she 'accidentally' set it off. 50,000+ people died due to this sad fact, and Sarah Williams and Dean Moore set out on a mission of vengeance. They supposedly dumped her in the wilderness, leaving her to die. We are not aware of the exact date and location of this but we suppose she died several days after her second birthday.
Macey Coles is to be remembered as a murderer, and an aid to evil.
I feel a tear flow down my cheek and shivers run up my spine.
Andrew watches me from the corner of his eye, then raises his hand- unsurely.
"Mrs.Clayton, excuse me, I don't think Quincy is feeling good. She was in the hospital this morning with a concussion and I think I should take her back to the nurse." he says with confidence. What? I'm fine. I start to object but his eyes change to black, telling me that if I say one word he's going to try to kick the shiz out of me. I would win but he'd do some damage so I close my mouth.
"Very well, you are excused." Mrs.Clayton says reluctantly. Andrew gets up pulling me out the door with him.
"What the crap was that!? I feel fine!" I say confused.
"Just shut up right now, okay?" What's his problem? I try to jerk away but his grip tightens.
"OW!" I screech. Next thing I know, we are at his dorm and he is pulling out his keys. "Andrew. Seriously. What's wrong? Why are we at your dorm?"
He flings the door open and shoves me in, closing the door behind us. "Ok. We don't have much time-"
"Time for what? Andrew. I've never seen you like this." I interrupt. Andrew stares, face blank, at the floor.
"You know why I'm here."
"Not really."
"Macey."
I ball my hands into fists and resist the urge to punch him, hard.
"I! AM! NOT! MACEY!"
"Your dad.." Andrew looks at me with sympathy, "He wants you home. You're a purebred Racer. You don't belong here."
My lip quivers but I stand even taller, "Andrew stop playing with me."
"Do you have any birthmarks Macey?"
"I'm not Mac-"
"You have a knife shaped tan birthmark on your right calf." He says, absent minded.
What? How does Andrew know that.
"Stalker, much?" What does this guy do for a hobby? I need to check for 'bugs' in my room...
"Yeah, actually. I'm quite good at it too. But that's not how I know that Macey. Your dad gave me a description so I could distinguish you."
"So what do I do now Andrew? Do you expect me to just pack up my life and leave? Leave for nothing?"
"You'd be saving someone."
Saving someone... Thats one more person avenged for wha- what I did. 49,999.
"Who, and how exactly?"
"Me. I don't like being a Racer, Macey. Please save me."
"I don't understand."
"I've killed a lot of people, but it never feels right. I never get that rush! That adrenaline! All I get is guilt. I hate it. Your dad offered a sort of switch deal. Two for one."
"Two?" 49,998...
"Yeah, there's this girl. Her names... Oh it doesn't matter. You'll meet her soon enough."
I scratch the back of my head and put my hand out in the air, facing Andrew.
"Deal."
His smile stretches from the ends of the earth and back, "Deal." We shake, and I sit back on his bed.
"So, what now?"
Andrew puts on his sly face, "Follow me."
CHAPTER DOS
"Ok, before we get on the move- Anything you want to bring? Something with sentimental value?"
I look around his dorm and shake my head, "Nothing really. Maybe a flashlight."
"You sure?"
"Yep."
Andrew drags his foot across the floor, "Ok, well I'm going to go say some last words to Emmie."
Emmie knows? Why would Andrew tell her something like that? Damn him.
"Why on earth did you tell Emmie?"
He chuckles to himself, "I didn't. She figured it out when she saw 'Racers' engraved on my watch."
I raise my eyebrows and lift up his arm, his watch has 3 time settings and The band has the word; RACERS' clearly defined on its side.
"You idiot."
Andrew rubs his black hair and nods, "Yeah, you could say that."
I watch him leave, then shrink to the floor. In 15 minutes this guy has changed my life, possibly forever. What the crap!?
Bored, I scan his room. It's simple, like mine. He has a black bed and of course, A checkered flag hanging over it. The Rebel. His mirror is wet also, and In my head I imagine him with a rag- cleaning it over and over. Staring at himself, adoring himself. "Self-Conceited." I say out loud, "Very self-conceited."
In the corner is two beanbags, one is pink, with a 7 printed on it. The other is Red with a 6 printed on it. I'll have to ask him what that means.
Suddenly Andrew bursts through the doorway, "Ok let's go!"
As I raise my head from his room to his face I remember something important.
"Wait! I need to get something!"
"Didn't we just discuss this?"
I ignore him and shoot out the door, "Ring, Backpack, Knife, Flashlight!".
"I GOT THE FLASHLIGHT!" He yells behind me.
I nod while running and fling open my door, "RING, RING, BACKPACK! Oh! And Knife!"
I go through a mental checklist as I grab the things from under my bed, mattress, pillow and closet. Then I remember Andrew saying he had a flashlight. Do I trust him? Nah, "FLASHLIGHT!"
I pull it out from one of my drawers and shove it down the drawstring backpack. I strap it on, then turn to leave. As I close my door I realize I want one last look, just one. So I peek behind me, only to see one thing sitting on my bed. My Zebra, Fruffles. I can't leave her. No. I have to, Andrew will think I'm a sissy. Maybe I am a sissy. But my body is already running towards her, embracing her.
"Let's get going now Fruffles, we're in for quite a ride."
When I rejoin Andrew back in his dorm he immediately motions for me to get on the opposite side of the bed. I walk to the other side and do what he's doing. Andrew pulls the bed away from the wall and to the door. I push the bed towards him until he tells me to stop.
"That's good." He mumbles then looks up at me.
"What's that on your finger? A finger necklace or something?" He gives me a odd look and I laugh.
"You've never seen a ring?"
"All jewelry reports to your father. I never see any of it."
"Well, this is from Sarah. She gave it to me when I was three. It's real gold and silver too, and It has my name- well it used to. She scratched the name out for some reason ."
A sudden realization comes over me, of course she scratched my name out! She couldn't have me thinking I was Macey. That must mean..
"The ring was probably from your father." Andrew reads my thoughts, and I look up at him.
"Yeah I suppose." I say distantly. "It's an infinity sign." I point to the sideways eight that's attached to the top, "I guess that means, what? Macey for eternity?"
"Racer Forever, more like it. It's sort of like a brand. That ring. It ties you to them."
"Great, I've been wearing a sign of betrayal and hatred for my whole life. Oh, happy day."
Andrew chuckles, "Yes, you have. Now move the bed a little more to the left..."
I push it and tilt my head at the sight below me. A small hole stretches from where I just moved the bed, to the spot where the bed originally ended.
"Tada!"
I scratch my chin, "How long has this been here?" My tone holds anger within it.
"Like, forever."
"I've got to tell Mrs.Sarah..."
"Oh lighten up! You're a Racer now, Macey Coles! The Dark Princess! Plus, we don't have time."
I sag my shoulders, admitting defeat, and grab the flashlight from Andrews pocket.
I flip the switch and put it in my mouth. Then, before Andrew can shove me, I jump. Straight down into pitch black nothingness. All I see are the dirty mud walls, probably untouched since Jackson's era. Gross.
I hear Andrew above me, "Macey! Roll into a ball when you fall! It's a sixty foot drop!"
Not the best thing to hear when you may be plummeting to your death.
Like Andrew said, I roll into a tight ball as I hit the musty ground. I immediately shoot up and check for injurys, Head? Bumped up. Legs? Scratched. Arms? Scratched. Feet? Slight limp.
"Macey! Please be alive!"
"Here!" I scream up to him.
"ARE YOU DEAD?" He screams back.
"No. I'm a ghost! Duh I'm alive you idiot!"
I hear a sigh of relief, " Ok, ok. I'm coming."
I wait a few second but hear nothing.
"Andrew, are you coming?"
No response.
"Andrew!"
"Oh, yeah uh- just making my will..."
"GET DOWN HERE!"
Andrew jumps and I watch his figure fall.
He hits the ground harder then I did, probably due to his weight, and shakes himself off.
"Woo! I knew I was going to be fine! Told you Macey."
"Yeah, you sure did. By the way, stop calling me Macey. I'm Quincy."
"Ok. Well let's get going Quint."
"QUINCY! CY CY CY CY!"
"Mhm." I see him start towards a smaller tunnel and follow redundantly.
The tunnel is old and gross, just like the first one we came, or fell, through. Andrew claims he knows where we're going, but I'm not sure if I believe him. It's amazing though, all the tunnels under here we never even knew about. I wonder how many Racers have used this to get in and out. Scary.
Andrew grunts as we come to yet another dead end, "You know what! We're just sleeping here tonight!" He snaps.
I begin to feel the ground for bumps, and choose a place near the end where a warm draft is blowing through.
"Night." I mumble.
Without waiting for a response I watch the world fade to black.
When my eyes flutter open I can't help but growl at the sight before me. Based on how I'm still as tired as when I fell asleep, it's only been about an hour. Andrew- flashlight in hand- is kneeling over my backpack, laughing.
"Hey! What in the name of Jackson are you doing!?" I scream, still a little dazed from sleep.
Andrew ignores me and casually pulls out something all too familiar. Fruffles.
"Oh! This Is cute. Reminds me of Sissyland, full of flowers and rainbows-" Andrew says, sarcastically.
"I AM NOT FROM SISSYLAND."
"Do you have a relative from Sissyland? You must have gotten your sissy genes from them."
"No, now tell that to my fist and we can see who the sissy really is."
"I already know your one though, I mean seriously. You brought a zebra. On like, a mission of life and death." Andrew begins to pull the zebra in opposite directions, I wince.
"I'm not a sissy!"
"So I guess you can endure this?" Fruffles starts to tear from the seam and I cry out in indignation.
"Do you WANT me to punch you? Hard?"
"Bring it" he laughs.
Andrew drops the zebra and begins to rub his palms, then fists together. Before I can hit him in the jaw, he punches me in the gut. I gasp for air and fall backwards. Then I get a idea.
I start to cry, and I mean sob, wail, and bawl my little 'Sissy' eyes out. Andrews pleasure is replaced by shock, "Oops! I'm so sorry! Here let me help!" Andrew begins to get behind me, he grabs my upper arms. Before he can pull up I make a sudden forward movement, sending him over my shoulder.
"Tsk, Tsk. Who's the sissy now? Lesson one, remember? Always expect the unexpected."
Andrew groans. Abruptly, we hear a slipping sound. I pull Andrew up and tiptoe toward the noise. I turn the corner and sidekick the culprit.
"OW!"
I stare in astonishment. "Emmie! Why did you follow us?!"
"I want to come! I don't have many friends here." she says defiantly.
"Well you can't come."
"Actually, Quincy-" Andrew starts.
"No Andrew. I'm sorry Emmie but, Andrew, if she goes, I stay."
"But Quint-" Emmie starts
"QUINCY!!! FOR THE LAST FREAKING TIME! STOP CALLING ME QUINT EMMIE!" A silence hushed through everyone so all you can hear is an echo throughout the tunnels. Quietly, "This is your fault!" I glare at Andrew.
"Quincy, this is not my fault. This is nobody's fault. You need to calm down." Andrew says calmly. "Emmie can't leave until the halfway point. She can't climb up sixty feet."
"Fine. But no further." I say. I need to have a serious talk with him after she goes to sleep. "Emmie, I'm sorry I screamed at you, but you shouldn't have come."
"It's okay Quint...cy. It was a bad idea." she says sounding exhausted.
"Okay let's just... Go back to bed for now." I say. We all lay down and easily fall asleep. I dream about when I was a Racer. I dream about pressing the button. All those people. My father congratulating me with a huge smile stretched across his face. He gives me another button. I was too little to understand what it was. I thought it was a toy! I press it. This time it kills half of the Canadian population. I wake up, startled. This time, I'm the only one awake. I shake Andrew to wake him up. "Pssst!... Andrew wake up you idiot." I whisper
"Wha-" he says drowsily.
"shut up and follow me."
We get up and take a left. Then walk straight then turn right.
"Ok. This IS your fault cause if you wouldn't have told her we were leaving, then she wouldn't have known to come." I make my accusation.
"I'm sorry Quincy! Okay? I didn't think she'd come. That was a big surprise. Let's just... Go take her back and keep going. Deal?"
"Fine" I whip around and head back toward where we came from.
When I get back, Emmie is still sleeping. Andrew wakes her up. "Okay Emmie, we're taking you back. Come on. Get your stuff."
"Quint...cy, I want to help though." Emmie whispers. I smile because she's making an effort to call me Quincy.
"Emmie, you can cover for her. Make an effort to make sure no one gets worried or starts a search party or something. I'll handle it when I get back. Okay?"
"'Kay." she replies. She sure is quiet. Maybe, I can just pretend she isn't here. Andrew stands and helps Emmie up.
"Follow me." He orders.
After we've walked about twenty minutes, i remember yesterday he got us lost five times. Plus, the only light we have is the flashlight.
"You're POSITIVE you know where we're going?"
"I am now."
"How do you know where we're going?"
*silence* "Andrew."
He turns his head to make sure Emmie isn't looking.
"I recognize it from when I came here" he stares at me then itches his ear. He turns around and keeps going. He has something in his ear. I squint to see what it is better. A tiny speaker. Someone from the Racers is telling him where to go. In about an hour I can already see the entrance. Andrew stops, so automatically I stop too. Emmie doesn't even pay attention and walks straight into me. This is only one reason she irritates me. She never pays attention.
"Okay Emmie. Just walks through there and turn around. There will be a glass building and then walk through the doors and go down to the elevator to floor fifty. Got it?"
"Yep. Okay well… bye." she says as she walks toward the entrance. Suddenly, the entrance slides open and closes behind her.
"Wow."
"Yeah okay let's go. We're almost there."
Chapter TRES
We walk for about another half an hour till we see sunlight. As we walk toward it, I notice that we are in a cave.
"So THAT'S how you got in here, who would've known!" I exclaim, amazed at the series of tunnels below HQ we had no idea about.
Andrew grins stiffly, and picks up his backpack. It's a dark blue color, and I wonder why I didn't notice it before.
"Where'd that come from?" I ask.
"I hid it by the edge of the tunnel exit when I first came. It has some food, probably spoiled.."
I sigh, "That's ok, you must have eaten at some place on the way here right?"
"Yeah, ever been to Garbs Porch grill?" Andrew licks his lips and smiles, "It's heaven in a burger, I swear."
I laugh softly and turn to where Andrew said the road should be.
"You're right, let's get going." Andrew softly touches his hand to my back and pushes forward, guiding me.
I jump, then relax at the feel of his touch. We both walk in silence across the dry and dust covered field. As we edge closer and closer to the woods, Andrew speaks up.
"So have you ever REALLY gone out? Outside- I mean."
"Yes, on some missions. Course, we were blindfolded on the way..."
He makes a "Tsk" noise, and interrupts. "Nooope. Doesn't count."
"Well then, no."
"Looks like I know about something Miss High and mighty Quincy Ayda doesn't!"
"Shut up! I do to know stuff about earth."
"Prove it."
"Ask away, Lord Andrew."
He smirks, "Ok, What's that?" He points toward the woods.
"Uh, a Tree." I cross my eyes, "Der."
"Ok, harder...Which states are the most different from each other."
"Texas, and New York City." I answer, smiling.
"Ha! New York CITY is not a state." He takes his hand off my back, and I shiver.
"Oh, ok, you got me." I admit defeat, and look down at his hand. It was so warm, and firm...
"You ok?" He asks, looking at me weird.
"Yeah, are you?"
He shrugs and plays with his fingers, "We're almost to the road."
I don't respond, just stare at my feet, and watch the scenery pass.
Hours, I assume, later he speaks.
"Road."
I watch my feet hit something hard, something black.
Now I say it, as if to confirm. "Road."
"So what do we do now?" I ask, looking up at his brown eyes, and dark brown hair that curls around his ears.
He stares at me a second, then makes a smacking noise, "You probably won't like this, but we have to catch a ride."
I explode.
"A ride!? Are you crazy! We'd have to kill them! I can't have records, no one can ever see me! I'm a HIDER!"
"Well I'm a racer, and pretty soon you will be too. So listen up, lesson one. Ride? Or die."
"We'll have to.."
"Kill them, yes, I'll take care of that."
"You'll murder, for the sake of no one knowing you? Just like that?"
"Look. You've already killed over 50,000 people. What's one more? Plus, I've killed for less."
"You said the other choice was death?"
He nodded grimly.
"Ok, let's catch a ride."
We sit on the edge of the road, cold wind buffeting against our faces- stinging our eyes.
I hug my knees and almost cry as a car comes into view. They don't know their death is waiting.
The car is white, with a Rudolph nose stuck to the front.
Andrew leaps up and begins to shout, "HELP! HELP! WE NEED A RIDE! HELP!"
The car slows, edging to the side of the road.
I watch helplessly as the window rolls down, "Hello there, why are y'all out here?"
I look up to Andrew, his face resembles a lost puppy.
"We got kidnapped, left here. Please, sir. Please help us get to town."
The man rubs his scruffy blonde beard and I hear a 'click'.
"Get on in kiddos."
Andrew looks back at me, "My girlfriends hurt, please help her up- I'm not strong enough."
Wait, did he just refer to me as his girlfriend? Then call me fat?
"Sure."
The man gets out and reaches for my hand, while Andrew gets into position behind him.
"Sorry man, sorry." Andrew says.
The man turns and faces him, "What?"
"For this." Andrew pulls something out of his pocket, I see a glint- then its gone and the man is falling over.
A sob racks my body as he lands beside me and I see what Andrew has done.
A huge gash pierces his side. This man will not live.
"Grab the keys Macey."
"Quincy."
"Look, your going to have to choose who you are now." Andrew says, all emotion gone.
"Quincy."
"Fine, get the keys! We have got to get out of here!"
The man beside me heaves, "I have a son.. Darr-"
"Go! Quincy hurry get them, I hear a car coming- do you want to have to kill someone else?"
I respond in a jump, and grab the keys from his jacket.
"Let's go then." I mumble, jumping into the passenger seat and shoving the keys into ignition.
Andrew runs to the other side and gets in, "Let's Cruise."
The car roars as we speed away from the scene, Andrew breathing heavily.
"Look Quincy I'm sorry, but I couldn't let you die."
"Shut up, I can take care of myself you know."
"Not out here. Trust me."
I almost spit, "Trust is a lie, Andrew, a LIE."
We travel the rest of the way to town in silence, till I see him pass "GARBS PORCH GRILL" and wonder why we're not stopping.
"Andrew we missed dinner."
"No time, we have to dump this car."
I nod, when the police find the body and no car, they'll be on the look out for the license plate. If they found us they'd try to track us down to where we're from. But we don't exist.
"So... What city exactly are we in?" I ask.
"Dallas." he responds with no emotion. We drive for about fifteen more minutes then we pull into a hotel parking lot and step out.
Andrew tosses the keys into a nearby bush, then jogs toward the gate.
I follow at a slower speed and take in the surroundings. The gate is high and black, on each side is a code box. Andrew stares at it for a minute, then takes something out of his pocket. It shines in the sun, and I notice a blot of red at the end. It's a knife, the weapon he used.. Earlier. Andrew is quick, he gets it open and cuts something. The gate immediately jerks backward. Andrew smiles triumphantly, and beckons me with his hand. " C'mon!"
I race towards him and follow him out the gate, as I look back I see something astounding.
A boy, probably 14 is jogging towards the white Camry, looking casual in a red letterman jacket- that is way to big for him - and grey shorts. He has brown fluffy hair and a Average figure, and behind him is a little girl, waving her hand wildly at the car.
Oh no. Oh no no no, what had the man said before he died? I have a son. Darr..Darr?
"Dad! Dad! Guess what! I made the basketball team!" his voice rang out- shaking me back to reality.
"Dad?" The voice turned into a confused mumble as he circled the car, "Uh.. Dad?"
I gulped and shook my head, we have to keep moving. Move move move! The tiny voice in my head yelled at me. I forcefully put one foot in front of the other until I had caught up with Andrew- who was looking at me suspiciously.
"What?" I ask, trying to keep a casual tone.
Andrew shrugs and bites his lip, "You look... Distraught."
"Nice vocabulary." I say, trying to dodge his accusation.
"What's wrong." His voice is almost menacing as he shoots the question back at me.
It is a game now, I think. The bear trying to catch the fox.
"Nothing, let's go!" I plead, maybe he'll give in and we can just leave.
But, of course, to my luck a noise comes from behind me.
" HEY! You! You were the one in my dads car! I knew it wasn't him!" the voice from earlier yells, obviously in a rage.
Andrews eyes widen at me, "He had a son?"
"And a daughter."
"HEY YOU!"
I jump and turn around, astonished to see the boy has even dare come so close.
I quickly remember though that this is not our underground city, this is the world, and this kid seems to think he could take me.
"Where's my dad?" His voice is demanding and loud, filled with determination, and a hint of pride. Like coach dean, I observe.
"I don't know." Andrew sighs, looking at his feet.
"I do!" The phrase shoots out of my mouth before I can stop it- and I quickly grab my lips closed with my hands.
He squints, "Where?"
"I saw Mr. Uh.."
"Darp." The boy helps.
"Yes, Mr.Darps, at Garbs porch grill."
The kid smiles, "That explains that! My dad loves that grill! Mrs. Jordan must have dropped off his car. She's our maid."
I nod, "Mhm, I heard your dad say something about you, Darr."
Darr laughs, "Darr? No way! My name is Darron. What's yours? You must be new here."
Andrew groans.
"I'm Quinc- Chassy."
Darron smiles, making me uncomfortable.
"So Darron Darps- I better be on my way, you know homework and stuff." Andrew takes the chance and grabs my hand pulling me backwards.
"Hey! Stop!" Darron shouts, "You can't just pull her around.
"Yes I can." Andrew begins to run off, with me. "See?" He yells back over his shoulder.
Andrew manages to drag me a few more yards before Darron catches up.
Cursing, Andrews sets me down and pulls the knife from his pocket.
"Leave us alone, little dude. You have no idea who your messing with."
Darron rolls his eyes, "I know exactly who you are."
I freeze.
"You're just another high schooler who thinks he can beat up freshman girls." Darron states matter of-factly.
Andrew and I both sigh in relief, if Darron really did know who we were our lives and many lives of others could be in danger. After all, if you went to police with a crazy story about two underground city's who try to destroy and save the world- who knows if they'd look into it or not- but if they did...
Andrew interrupts my thoughts and responds to Darrons accusation.
"Yes, I am. Sadly this isn't just any freshman Girl, she's my sister."
Oh great, first I'm a girlfriend- now I'm a sister?
Darron raises his eyebrows in suspicion, luckily I get Andrews hint- and confirm what he's said.
"Oh ! Yes I'm his sister. He's bringing me home, nothing to worry about."
Suddenly Darrons little sister races up to his side, "Darron! You know I can't run tat' Fasst."
I chuckle at her little toddler accent and can't help waving, I've always loved kids. When I was younger Sarah said I would visit the L.H Center. The L.H center was where most of the hiders who were below "Trainable" age played. My favorite had been a girl named Noelle, she was only 4 when I first met her, and she idolized me. I had even begun to train her before the time was right- we always had a blast playing Stalker, and Ninja. But that had all ended two years ago when Noelle had acquired a deadly virus. Our Doctors couldn't do much without the lab results, and Noelle died a day before they came. I remember watching her laying in the snow white bed, monitors beeping, and her parents weeping.
Before she passed noelle had waved at me. She was only 8.
I sniffle, and the little girl waves back. Her facial expression turns to concern and she reaches into the bush next to her, then pulls out a leaf
"For you, tall girl.. Gift !"
We all laugh as I accept the gift, "Thank you.."
"Karmen." Darron helps.
"Thank you Karmen."
She nods enthusiastically, "Nooooo prob!"
Andrew pats his leg, "Well, nice meeting you but.."
We're secret people who are trying to save and destroy your planet?
"We've got to get home for dinner."
Andrew pushes me away, more gently this time, and Darron smiles, "Wait! Can I have your number?"
I blush, "I don't have a phone." I say- embarrassed.
He scratches his chin, "Well uh- if you ever need something or want to talk.. Call me on a payphone- 214-799-3852!"
I chant the numbers in my head and nod as we cross the street and Darron gets smaller and smaller till all I can see is the black tip of the fence behind him.
"Ready to eat?" Andrew asks.
"Yeah but, where?" I reply.
"We'll drive again."
"NO WE ARE NOT KILLING ANOTHER PERSON TODAY!!!" I shove him.
"Chill! We're not going to. We'll just steal a car." he says getting defensive.
"Ok... Sounds fun." I say.
"Ok first we should ask someone where the nearest car dealership is..."
I look around and start heading toward the nearest payphone. Andrew follows casually. When I reach the payphone, I figure out why it's called a payphone. You need money. I look at Andrew just in time to see him pick pocketing somebody's wallet as they walk by. I stare at him astonished. They didnt even notice! They just kept walking. He walks toward me, pulls out two quarters and slides them into the slots.
I dial Darron's number and the phone starts to ring.
Darron picks up "Hello?"
"hey Darron it's... Chassey." I respond.
"Oh hey! Whatcha need?" Darron asks. "We're in down town Dallas. Do you know where the nearest car dealership is? My dad's car uh... broke down."
"Um try 5th avenue." he says.
"Alright. Thanks bye!" I hang up before he can say anything else. "5th avenue" I repeat to Andrew.
"I know where that is. Follow me." he says. I follow him with a skip in my step. We an cause destruction and not kill anyone! YAY! We turn the corner keeping our heads down. Sure enough right ahead of us is a at dealership with at least a hundred cars in the front parking lot alone.
"Ok ready?" Andrew asks.
"Yeah it seems like fun!" I say. Andrew smile.
"Now you're starting to sound like Macey." he says.
"...heh..." crap what is WRONG with me!?
We walk toward the cars.
"Ok you talk to the sales man and I'll find the keys to one of the cars. When I yell your name run toward the front entrance, ok?"
I nod. When we open the doors, a salesman is already walking toward us.
"Hello, my name is Jonathan. How may I help you?" he grins.
"Hi" I smile awkwardly "yeah um... I need a car but I don't know where to start..."
"May I use your bathroom?" Andrew says.
"Sure! Down the hall take a left and it will be right there." Jonathan says. He reminds me of a brain washed zombie or something.
"Thanks." Andrew walks away.
"Now, would you like me to help you find a cheap car?" He says smiling. It's really starting to creep me out.
"Actually, can I see your sports cars?" I say getting excited.
"Sure! Follow me." I keep track of where we go. Right. Straight. Right. Left. Straight. "Here we are." I walk in.
I don't see any cars. I turn around and the door slams behind me. Click. The door locks.
"I'm sorry Macey Coles." What the crap?! How does he know my name?! How does he even know about the Racers? "but we can't let you get back to your father. You have already caused too much destruction. You shouldn't even be alive. But... We will fix that little problem soon enough."
I try to open the door. Its locked… obviously. I kick. My kicks can easily break any wood. After all I am the top student in tae Kwon doe. My foot just bounces off. I feel through my pockets as my foot starts to throb. I feel something smooth and pull it out. A knife. How did that get there? Andrew must have slipped it in earlier. I really need to learn how to do that. I look around. Are there any cameras. Second rule in the book. Always disable any cameras to keep from being detected. I don't see any. But rule one- Always expect the unexpected. The room is about the size of a normal living room with tile walls. I walk around feeling the walls everywhere until I feel a tiny bump. I look at the bump and see a tiny reflection of the lights. Ah ha! I flick out my knife a crush the tiny camera. I keep feeling the walls just in case there are more. I find two more, and destroy them before anyone can figure out I have a knife. I walk towards the door. Knife hidden in my pocket. I get to the door and just as I reach for the door I remember something. I pull off my shoes and slip them onto my hands. I start to turn the knob and sure enough I start to feel warmth coming from the soles of my shoes. Still locked.
The knob must be hooked up to electrocute me if I try to escape. Just me and a pocket knife don't help much in this kind of situation. Normally in a run back at campus they would say wait for your partner. This is why you never go out alone. I sit down. Seconds turn into minutes. Half an hour. Hour. Then I hear a yelp and then a thump.
"Quincy! Are you okay?! Please don't be dead!" I sigh with relief.
"Andrew! I'm fine. What happened?"
"Well after I went to the bathroom-"
"Wait you actually went to the bathroom? I thought you were going to find keys to a car!"
"I was but I really had to go- anyways. So after I went to the bathroom I started to walk out. But, that creepy salesman was there. He started to pull out a gun but I knocked it out of his hands before he could even get it completely out. Then, he tried to come at me bare handed- bad idea by the way. Especially when I have a knife. So when I was finished I ran to the main desk and looked at the computers and three of them were static so I figures out it was where you were- I was right" he say triumphantly "and when I got here there was another creepy salesdude and I took care of him. Now here we are!" he says.
"Ok I can't get out I've pretty much tried everything I could think of and I couldnt turn the knob because it's set up to electrocute me. So... You don't happen to be super good with technology do you?"
+silence* "Andrew?"
"No... I suck at anything with technology besides guns... But those aren't really technology."
"You need to call someone."
"who?" Andrew starts suspiciously.
"Call Darron." I suggest.
"No way! We shouldn't have even talked to him in the first place! We were supposed kill him."
"Andrew you're not going to be able to get me out and I'll eventually die from dehydration. Andrew admit it. You need his help." I say smugly.
"Fine. What's his number?" he says regretfully.
"2147993852! Thank you so much Andrew!" I say excitedly.
"Yeah yeah. If I'm not back in 30 minutes I'm probably dead. But- I'll be back. Ok?" he says.
"Ok bye! Have fun!" I say as I hear his footsteps fade away.
This is so boring. I pull out my knife. I wonder what's behind the tiles. I start to knock around. I hear a hollow spot. Bingo. I use my knife to pick at the grout. Dean would probably scold me for using my knife like this- making it dull. But I really want to see whats behind here. I finally make a hole between the tiles. I use my knife as a lever and break the tile off. After I get the first tile off it's easier for me to get the rest off. Hmmm. It looks like a tunnel. I reach into my bag that I brought from earlier and pull out my flashlight. I flip it on and a white beam of light reveals what the tunnel looks like. The tunnel's walls are made of white rock. There are words written everywhere. But they're written in Spanish- Dos irá en un viaje para descubrir su verdadera identidad. Un tercero se unirá a ellos. Tres va a volver, pero todos ellos serán diferentes. Ellos se darán curbed de lo que son, que les gusta, y su verdadero destino.
Translation- Two will go on a journey to find out their true identities. A third will join them. Three will come back but all of them will be different. They will figure out who they are, who they love, and their true destiny.
Another one-nunca se sabe quién es hasta que se ponen a prueba.
Translation-you never know who you are until you are put to the test.
Interesting. I wonder why they are in Spanish. I walk down the tunnel a it slowly starts to turn left. I finally arrive at a staircase. I walk up and there's only a wall. Crap. Ok. I examine it using my flashlight. There's a little crack on the side with bits of light shining through. I pull out my knife and use it as a lever to pry it open. I walk out and guess where I am! The lobby! Haha! That dude was stupider than I thought. I sit into the chair and relax for about five minutes till Andrew and Darron walk in with bags of food.
"Hi guys! What took you so long?" I say smiling.
"How'd you get out?" Andrew asks sounding irritated.
"I found a tunnel behind the wall. Oh and by the way, thanks for the knife." I say pulling at it. I take a good look at it and decide it's too damaged to keep. "Why were you trapped in there anyways?" Darron asks.
I sigh and look at Andrew for help.
"Just tell him. He's already involved." Andrew say reluctantly.
"Darron you have to promise you cannot tell anyone. If you do it could be dangerous for the both of us. Got it?" I say sternly.
"Ok..." he's obviously unsure.
"I'm just going to say this, don't freak out. Well Darron you're technically helping a terrorist. And my real name is Quincy."
"Macey." Andrew argues as he gives me an angry stare, then frantically looks at Darron- who seems to be struggling not to have a seizure.
He slaps his forehead, "Darron, were EX- terrorists."
Darron bites his lip, "Are you going to kill me." he says in a high pitched squeal.
I laugh and shake my head, "No, no."
Andrew grins, "Probably."
Torn, Darron sits on his knees.
"I have to go.."
"NO DARRON! Were not finished...."
So I tell him everything, and afterwards he's slightly less likely to have a stroke. Slightly.
"Ok. I want to go." he says shakily.
"No! You can't!" Andrew bursts. "He's a liability, he can't defend himself and think about what will happen when we get to your father!"
"Andrew we can train him a little bit! He's not a liability! What if there's another technological problem? And as for my father, I'll handle him." I say.
"Emmie couldn't come!" he snaps.
"She was no use to us." I reply.
"But-" he stops.
"He's coming." I turn towards Darron. "You can come but you have to work hard, got it?"
"Yep. Got it." he says immediately
"So what'd you bring?"
"Food" Andrew says sullenly.
"it's McDonalds. It's delicious." Darron smiles as he pulls out a box, some fries and a large drink. The smell is mouth watering. I open the box and there are ten weirdly shaped fried things.
"Chicken Mcnuggets." Darron explains.
I take a bite and my mouth explodes. I smile.
"This is so good!" i say with my mouth full.
"Haha. You shouldn't talk with your mouth full." Darron laughs.
Andrew's eyes turn black and he gets up and walks out of the building.
"What's his problem?" Darron asks.
"Don't know." I say as I swallow. "I guess he's in one of his moods. Wait here." I say getting up and walking out the door. I shuffle past a few people and make my way outside. The sun is in full shine and I quickly avert my gaze from it and try to find Andrew. After examining the crowd twice I finally spot him in his red sweatshirt. Andrews leaning against a light pole next to the Bus. He pretends not to notice me, but I know he has. I approach him and tap his shoulder.
"What was that?" I ask.
"What was what?" Andrew lowers his eyes to the pavement.
"You got all moody." I state.
He groans and turns from me, "No reason."
I remember a quote Dean used to say, "Everything has reason."
Andrew steps away from the pole, "Not everything."
"Oh yeah?" I challenge.
His smug face replaces his nervous one, "Why did you press the button then? You had no reason to." Andrew fires.
Now it's my turn to be quiet. I spin around and head back toward the car dealership.
"Wait, Macey, I'm sorry." he starts. I turn back around an glare at him. His eyes are starting to turn green.
"It's Quincy!" I scream and run through the doors.
"Quincy?" Darron says startled. I lean against the wall and start sobbing into my palms. Darron walks over to me and sits next to me. I wipe the tears from my cheeks.
"I'm fine." I say trying to calm down. Just then Andrew walks in, eyes dark green.
"Quincy I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that." he says full of regret.
"What did you say to her?" Darron says angrily.
"Look, I don't need you in my business and I definitely don't need you telling me what to do." Andrew snaps. His eyes turn black again. Darron stands up quickly challenging Andrew. I get up before anything can happen and stand between them.
"Stop it. Both of you." I look at them. "We're working together so everybody needs to get along." I say quickly. "Let's go." I shove them both toward the doors.
"Where are we going?" Darron asks.
"Good question." I look at Andrew as we try to catch a taxi.
"The Racer's headquarters are in San Francisco. So we have to go through New Mexico, past Arizona and into California." he replies as a taxi pulls up. He grins at me and a wave of suspicion washes over me.
"What?" I say warily.
"Ever gone snowboarding?" he asks.
"No..."
"Good. DFW airport please." Andrew hands him fifty bucks.
"Andrew, we don't have money for tickets..." I add.
"Don't worry. We'll have the tickets."
"How?" Darron speaks up.
"We just will."
"Don't worry about it." I reassure him.
• • •
The ride is pretty boring, I just don't understand why Andrew and Darron can't get along. I'm trying to figure out what I'm supposed to do with Darron when we get to the Racer Headquarters. Maybe he can join the Racers? Technically Andrew still didn't ever exist when he came to the Hiders. So Darron would be the first person ever to join the groups, if he wants to join. I just realized I don't know much about him.
"How old are you?" I ask suddenly. Both Andrew and Darron look up. Andrew realizes I'm talking to Darron and looks back down at his knife.
"I'm about to turn sixteen." he replies.
"Really? I thought you were like fourteen." I share my thoughts.
"Yeah I look young for my age." he says slyly. Abruptly, I think of something. "Andrew," I wait for him to look up, "I think we should get cell phones." I say.
"Why?" he gives me a weird look and scrunches up his nose.
"if we ever need to get ahold of each other it will be easy." I explain.
"Sure. Whatever." he says, distracted.
"Andrew?"
"Yeah?"
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"Andrew."
"What?"
"What's wrong?" He looks up at me with blue eyes and doesn't answer.
"You'll see." he says mysteriously. I glare at him. I hate it when people keep secrets from me, and he knows that. "Chill out." he says light-heartedly.
Just then, we arrive at the airport.
"What terminal?" the cabbie asks.
"Terminal C." Andrew responds immediately. The cabbie pulls up to the curb and stops. Andrew hands him another fifty dollar bill and gets out. Darron gets out next and I follow, thanking the driver. I see Andrew walk past a man and right when he passes by, the man hands him an envelope. They don't even look at each other. We walk over to security and I start to worry. What about our knives? I look at the man who checks the monitor. The man looks at Andrew and then at me. When he sees me, a look of astonishment washes across his face for a fraction of a second. He looks back down and does a slight nod of the head. I put my bag down, and slide it onto the conveyor belt. I put my shoes an jacket into a bucket and walk through the scanner. Everything comes out clear and nothing is taken out of out bags. That man must be working with the Racers. Darron and I follow Andrew to our gate. We make it just in time to board. Andrew sits down in one of the first class seats and motions for me to sit next to him.
"Where do I sit?" asks Darron.
"Across the isle." Andrew says without looking at him. Darron sits down and grins at me. I automatically grin back. "Have you ever sat first class before?" Darron asks still smiling.
"Never been on a plane." I reply.
"Nice." he looks impressed. "You nervous?"
"What's there to be nervous about?" is my only reply. My eyes drift close and I fall asleep.
I wake up to Andrew shaking me telling me it's time to get off. I grab my bag groggily and trudge off the plane. Andrew leads us to the parking lot and stops. Ten seconds later a cab pills up and we get in. "Red River please." Andrew eyes the cabbie daring him to say something.
"That's two hours away!" he complains. Andrew sighs in exasperation and hands the cabbie a thousand bucks.
"All right then." says the cabbie, stuffing the money into his pocket. We sit in silence he entire ride. I take my knife out of my bag and start to clean it with my shirt. When I am satisfied look at my reflection in it. In the reflection, I see three white vans speeding toward us. I turn around to make sure I'm not imagining anything. Sure enough there they are getting closer and closer to our car.
"Step on it!" I say tersely, startling the cabbie.
"Why?" the cabbie asks confused but gets faster. I look behind us. They're close enough to us that I see them pull something out.
"Duck!" I shriek. Darron and Andrew do what I say but the cabbie just looks at me confusedly. Suddenly the glass behind me shatters. The cabbie slumps over and the cab swerves out of place. I throw myself forward and grab the wheel. I step over the glove box and push the dead cabbie out of my way. I step on the gas pedal and the car darts forward. I steady the car and drive it back onto the road. "Any ideas?!" I scream at Andrew.
"Speed up as fast as it goes, and once you get past this hill turn right. Maybe we can lose them." he says tensely.
"Who are those people?!" Darron says sitting up.
"Stay down!" Andrew and I shout in unison and he gets back down.
"The Hiders." I answer his question.
"I thought they were the good guys." He says
Chapter TRES
We walk for about another half an hour till we see sunlight. As we walk toward it, I notice that we are in a cave.
"So THAT'S how you got in here, who would've known!" I exclaim, amazed at the series of tunnels below HQ we had no idea about.
Andrew grins stiffly, and picks up his backpack. It's a dark blue color, and I wonder why I didn't notice it before.
"Where'd that come from?" I ask.
"I hid it by the edge of the tunnel exit when I first came. It has some food, probably spoiled.."
I sigh, "That's ok, you must have eaten at some place on the way here right?"
"Yeah, ever been to Garbs Porch grill?" Andrew licks his lips and smiles, "It's heaven in a burger, I swear."
I laugh softly and turn to where Andrew said the road should be.
"You're right, let's get going." Andrew softly touches his hand to my back and pushes forward, guiding me.
I jump, then relax at the feel of his touch. We both walk in silence across the dry and dust covered field. As we edge closer and closer to the woods, Andrew speaks up.
"So have you ever REALLY gone out? Outside- I mean."
"Yes, on some missions. Course, we were blindfolded on the way..."
He makes a "Tsk" noise, and interrupts. "Nooope. Doesn't count."
"Well then, no."
"Looks like I know about something Miss High and mighty Quincy Ayda doesn't!"
"Shut up! I do to know stuff about earth."
"Prove it."
"Ask away, Lord Andrew."
He smirks, "Ok, What's that?" He points toward the woods.
"Uh, a Tree." I cross my eyes, "Der."
"Ok, harder...Which states are the most different from each other."
"Texas, and New York City." I answer, smiling.
"Ha! New York CITY is not a state." He takes his hand off my back, and I shiver.
"Oh, ok, you got me." I admit defeat, and look down at his hand. It was so warm, and firm...
"You ok?" He asks, looking at me weird.
"Yeah, are you?"
He shrugs and plays with his fingers, "We're almost to the road."
I don't respond, just stare at my feet, and watch the scenery pass.
Hours, I assume, later he speaks.
"Road."
I watch my feet hit something hard, something black.
Now I say it, as if to confirm. "Road."
"So what do we do now?" I ask, looking up at his brown eyes, and dark brown hair that curls around his ears.
He stares at me a second, then makes a smacking noise, "You probably won't like this, but we have to catch a ride."
I explode.
"A ride!? Are you crazy! We'd have to kill them! I can't have records, no one can ever see me! I'm a HIDER!"
"Well I'm a racer, and pretty soon you will be too. So listen up, lesson one. Ride? Or die."
"We'll have to.."
"Kill them, yes, I'll take care of that."
"You'll murder, for the sake of no one knowing you? Just like that?"
"Look. You've already killed over 50,000 people. What's one more? Plus, I've killed for less."
"You said the other choice was death?"
He nodded grimly.
"Ok, let's catch a ride."
We sit on the edge of the road, cold wind buffeting against our faces- stinging our eyes.
I hug my knees and almost cry as a car comes into view. They don't know their death is waiting.
The car is white, with a Rudolph nose stuck to the front.
Andrew leaps up and begins to shout, "HELP! HELP! WE NEED A RIDE! HELP!"
The car slows, edging to the side of the road.
I watch helplessly as the window rolls down, "Hello there, why are y'all out here?"
I look up to Andrew, his face resembles a lost puppy.
"We got kidnapped, left here. Please, sir. Please help us get to town."
The man rubs his scruffy blonde beard and I hear a 'click'.
"Get on in kiddos."
Andrew looks back at me, "My girlfriends hurt, please help her up- I'm not strong enough."
Wait, did he just refer to me as his girlfriend? Then call me fat?
"Sure."
The man gets out and reaches for my hand, while Andrew gets into position behind him.
"Sorry man, sorry." Andrew says.
The man turns and faces him, "What?"
"For this." Andrew pulls something out of his pocket, I see a glint- then its gone and the man is falling over.
A sob racks my body as he lands beside me and I see what Andrew has done.
A huge gash pierces his side. This man will not live.
"Grab the keys Macey."
"Quincy."
"Look, your going to have to choose who you are now." Andrew says, all emotion gone.
"Quincy."
"Fine, get the keys! We have got to get out of here!"
The man beside me heaves, "I have a son.. Darr-"
"Go! Quincy hurry get them, I hear a car coming- do you want to have to kill someone else?"
I respond in a jump, and grab the keys from his jacket.
"Let's go then." I mumble, jumping into the passenger seat and shoving the keys into ignition.
Andrew runs to the other side and gets in, "Let's Cruise."
The car roars as we speed away from the scene, Andrew breathing heavily.
"Look Quincy I'm sorry, but I couldn't let you die."
"Shut up, I can take care of myself you know."
"Not out here. Trust me."
I almost spit, "Trust is a lie, Andrew, a LIE."
We travel the rest of the way to town in silence, till I see him pass "GARBS PORCH GRILL" and wonder why we're not stopping.
"Andrew we missed dinner."
"No time, we have to dump this car."
I nod, when the police find the body and no car, they'll be on the look out for the license plate. If they found us they'd try to track us down to where we're from. But we don't exist.
"So... What city exactly are we in?" I ask.
"Dallas." he responds with no emotion. We drive for about fifteen more minutes then we pull into a hotel parking lot and step out.
Andrew tosses the keys into a nearby bush, then jogs toward the gate.
I follow at a slower speed and take in the surroundings. The gate is high and black, on each side is a code box. Andrew stares at it for a minute, then takes something out of his pocket. It shines in the sun, and I notice a blot of red at the end. It's a knife, the weapon he used.. Earlier. Andrew is quick, he gets it open and cuts something. The gate immediately jerks backward. Andrew smiles triumphantly, and beckons me with his hand. " C'mon!"
I race towards him and follow him out the gate, as I look back I see something astounding.
A boy, probably 14 is jogging towards the white Camry, looking casual in a red letterman jacket- that is way to big for him - and grey shorts. He has brown fluffy hair and a Average figure, and behind him is a little girl, waving her hand wildly at the car.
Oh no. Oh no no no, what had the man said before he died? I have a son. Darr..Darr?
"Dad! Dad! Guess what! I made the basketball team!" his voice rang out- shaking me back to reality.
"Dad?" The voice turned into a confused mumble as he circled the car, "Uh.. Dad?"
I gulped and shook my head, we have to keep moving. Move move move! The tiny voice in my head yelled at me. I forcefully put one foot in front of the other until I had caught up with Andrew- who was looking at me suspiciously.
"What?" I ask, trying to keep a casual tone.
Andrew shrugs and bites his lip, "You look... Distraught."
"Nice vocabulary." I say, trying to dodge his accusation.
"What's wrong." His voice is almost menacing as he shoots the question back at me.
It is a game now, I think. The bear trying to catch the fox.
"Nothing, let's go!" I plead, maybe he'll give in and we can just leave.
But, of course, to my luck a noise comes from behind me.
" HEY! You! You were the one in my dads car! I knew it wasn't him!" the voice from earlier yells, obviously in a rage.
Andrews eyes widen at me, "He had a son?"
"And a daughter."
"HEY YOU!"
I jump and turn around, astonished to see the boy has even dare come so close.
I quickly remember though that this is not our underground city, this is the world, and this kid seems to think he could take me.
"Where's my dad?" His voice is demanding and loud, filled with determination, and a hint of pride. Like coach dean, I observe.
"I don't know." Andrew sighs, looking at his feet.
"I do!" The phrase shoots out of my mouth before I can stop it- and I quickly grab my lips closed with my hands.
He squints, "Where?"
"I saw Mr. Uh.."
"Darp." The boy helps.
"Yes, Mr.Darps, at Garbs porch grill."
The kid smiles, "That explains that! My dad loves that grill! Mrs. Jordan must have dropped off his car. She's our maid."
I nod, "Mhm, I heard your dad say something about you, Darr."
Darr laughs, "Darr? No way! My name is Darron. What's yours? You must be new here."
Andrew groans.
"I'm Quinc- Chassy."
Darron smiles, making me uncomfortable.
"So Darron Darps- I better be on my way, you know homework and stuff." Andrew takes the chance and grabs my hand pulling me backwards.
"Hey! Stop!" Darron shouts, "You can't just pull her around.
"Yes I can." Andrew begins to run off, with me. "See?" He yells back over his shoulder.
Andrew manages to drag me a few more yards before Darron catches up.
Cursing, Andrews sets me down and pulls the knife from his pocket.
"Leave us alone, little dude. You have no idea who your messing with."
Darron rolls his eyes, "I know exactly who you are."
I freeze.
"You're just another high schooler who thinks he can beat up freshman girls." Darron states matter of-factly.
Andrew and I both sigh in relief, if Darron really did know who we were our lives and many lives of others could be in danger. After all, if you went to police with a crazy story about two underground city's who try to destroy and save the world- who knows if they'd look into it or not- but if they did...
Andrew interrupts my thoughts and responds to Darrons accusation.
"Yes, I am. Sadly this isn't just any freshman Girl, she's my sister."
Oh great, first I'm a girlfriend- now I'm a sister?
Darron raises his eyebrows in suspicion, luckily I get Andrews hint- and confirm what he's said.
"Oh ! Yes I'm his sister. He's bringing me home, nothing to worry about."
Suddenly Darrons little sister races up to his side, "Darron! You know I can't run tat' Fasst."
I chuckle at her little toddler accent and can't help waving, I've always loved kids. When I was younger Sarah said I would visit the L.H Center. The L.H center was where most of the hiders who were below "Trainable" age played. My favorite had been a girl named Noelle, she was only 4 when I first met her, and she idolized me. I had even begun to train her before the time was right- we always had a blast playing Stalker, and Ninja. But that had all ended two years ago when Noelle had acquired a deadly virus. Our Doctors couldn't do much without the lab results, and Noelle died a day before they came. I remember watching her laying in the snow white bed, monitors beeping, and her parents weeping.
Before she passed noelle had waved at me. She was only 8.
I sniffle, and the little girl waves back. Her facial expression turns to concern and she reaches into the bush next to her, then pulls out a leaf
"For you, tall girl.. Gift !"
We all laugh as I accept the gift, "Thank you.."
"Karmen." Darron helps.
"Thank you Karmen."
She nods enthusiastically, "Nooooo prob!"
Andrew pats his leg, "Well, nice meeting you but.."
We're secret people who are trying to save and destroy your planet?
"We've got to get home for dinner."
Andrew pushes me away, more gently this time, and Darron smiles, "Wait! Can I have your number?"
I blush, "I don't have a phone." I say- embarrassed.
He scratches his chin, "Well uh- if you ever need something or want to talk.. Call me on a payphone- 214-799-3852!"
I chant the numbers in my head and nod as we cross the street and Darron gets smaller and smaller till all I can see is the black tip of the fence behind him.
"Ready to eat?" Andrew asks.
"Yeah but, where?" I reply.
"We'll drive again."
"NO WE ARE NOT KILLING ANOTHER PERSON TODAY!!!" I shove him.
"Chill! We're not going to. We'll just steal a car." he says getting defensive.
"Ok... Sounds fun." I say.
"Ok first we should ask someone where the nearest car dealership is..."
I look around and start heading toward the nearest payphone. Andrew follows casually. When I reach the payphone, I figure out why it's called a payphone. You need money. I look at Andrew just in time to see him pick pocketing somebody's wallet as they walk by. I stare at him astonished. They didnt even notice! They just kept walking. He walks toward me, pulls out two quarters and slides them into the slots.
I dial Darron's number and the phone starts to ring.
Darron picks up "Hello?"
"hey Darron it's... Chassey." I respond.
"Oh hey! Whatcha need?" Darron asks. "We're in down town Dallas. Do you know where the nearest car dealership is? My dad's car uh... broke down."
"Um try 5th avenue." he says.
"Alright. Thanks bye!" I hang up before he can say anything else. "5th avenue" I repeat to Andrew.
"I know where that is. Follow me." he says. I follow him with a skip in my step. We an cause destruction and not kill anyone! YAY! We turn the corner keeping our heads down. Sure enough right ahead of us is a at dealership with at least a hundred cars in the front parking lot alone.
"Ok ready?" Andrew asks.
"Yeah it seems like fun!" I say. Andrew smile.
"Now you're starting to sound like Macey." he says.
"...heh..." crap what is WRONG with me!?
We walk toward the cars.
"Ok you talk to the sales man and I'll find the keys to one of the cars. When I yell your name run toward the front entrance, ok?"
I nod. When we open the doors, a salesman is already walking toward us.
"Hello, my name is Jonathan. How may I help you?" he grins.
"Hi" I smile awkwardly "yeah um... I need a car but I don't know where to start..."
"May I use your bathroom?" Andrew says.
"Sure! Down the hall take a left and it will be right there." Jonathan says. He reminds me of a brain washed zombie or something.
"Thanks." Andrew walks away.
"Now, would you like me to help you find a cheap car?" He says smiling. It's really starting to creep me out.
"Actually, can I see your sports cars?" I say getting excited.
"Sure! Follow me." I keep track of where we go. Right. Straight. Right. Left. Straight. "Here we are." I walk in.
I don't see any cars. I turn around and the door slams behind me. Click. The door locks.
"I'm sorry Macey Coles." What the crap?! How does he know my name?! How does he even know about the Racers? "but we can't let you get back to your father. You have already caused too much destruction. You shouldn't even be alive. But... We will fix that little problem soon enough."
I try to open the door. Its locked… obviously. I kick. My kicks can easily break any wood. After all I am the top student in tae Kwon doe. My foot just bounces off. I feel through my pockets as my foot starts to throb. I feel something smooth and pull it out. A knife. How did that get there? Andrew must have slipped it in earlier. I really need to learn how to do that. I look around. Are there any cameras. Second rule in the book. Always disable any cameras to keep from being detected. I don't see any. But rule one- Always expect the unexpected. The room is about the size of a normal living room with tile walls. I walk around feeling the walls everywhere until I feel a tiny bump. I look at the bump and see a tiny reflection of the lights. Ah ha! I flick out my knife a crush the tiny camera. I keep feeling the walls just in case there are more. I find two more, and destroy them before anyone can figure out I have a knife. I walk towards the door. Knife hidden in my pocket. I get to the door and just as I reach for the door I remember something. I pull off my shoes and slip them onto my hands. I start to turn the knob and sure enough I start to feel warmth coming from the soles of my shoes. Still locked.
The knob must be hooked up to electrocute me if I try to escape. Just me and a pocket knife don't help much in this kind of situation. Normally in a run back at campus they would say wait for your partner. This is why you never go out alone. I sit down. Seconds turn into minutes. Half an hour. Hour. Then I hear a yelp and then a thump.
"Quincy! Are you okay?! Please don't be dead!" I sigh with relief.
"Andrew! I'm fine. What happened?"
"Well after I went to the bathroom-"
"Wait you actually went to the bathroom? I thought you were going to find keys to a car!"
"I was but I really had to go- anyways. So after I went to the bathroom I started to walk out. But, that creepy salesman was there. He started to pull out a gun but I knocked it out of his hands before he could even get it completely out. Then, he tried to come at me bare handed- bad idea by the way. Especially when I have a knife. So when I was finished I ran to the main desk and looked at the computers and three of them were static so I figures out it was where you were- I was right" he say triumphantly "and when I got here there was another creepy salesdude and I took care of him. Now here we are!" he says.
"Ok I can't get out I've pretty much tried everything I could think of and I couldnt turn the knob because it's set up to electrocute me. So... You don't happen to be super good with technology do you?"
+silence* "Andrew?"
"No... I suck at anything with technology besides guns... But those aren't really technology."
"You need to call someone."
"who?" Andrew starts suspiciously.
"Call Darron." I suggest.
"No way! We shouldn't have even talked to him in the first place! We were supposed kill him."
"Andrew you're not going to be able to get me out and I'll eventually die from dehydration. Andrew admit it. You need his help." I say smugly.
"Fine. What's his number?" he says regretfully.
"2147993852! Thank you so much Andrew!" I say excitedly.
"Yeah yeah. If I'm not back in 30 minutes I'm probably dead. But- I'll be back. Ok?" he says.
"Ok bye! Have fun!" I say as I hear his footsteps fade away.
This is so boring. I pull out my knife. I wonder what's behind the tiles. I start to knock around. I hear a hollow spot. Bingo. I use my knife to pick at the grout. Dean would probably scold me for using my knife like this- making it dull. But I really want to see whats behind here. I finally make a hole between the tiles. I use my knife as a lever and break the tile off. After I get the first tile off it's easier for me to get the rest off. Hmmm. It looks like a tunnel. I reach into my bag that I brought from earlier and pull out my flashlight. I flip it on and a white beam of light reveals what the tunnel looks like. The tunnel's walls are made of white rock. There are words written everywhere. But they're written in Spanish- Dos irá en un viaje para descubrir su verdadera identidad. Un tercero se unirá a ellos. Tres va a volver, pero todos ellos serán diferentes. Ellos se darán curbed de lo que son, que les gusta, y su verdadero destino.
Translation- Two will go on a journey to find out their true identities. A third will join them. Three will come back but all of them will be different. They will figure out who they are, who they love, and their true destiny.
Another one-nunca se sabe quién es hasta que se ponen a prueba.
Translation-you never know who you are until you are put to the test.
Interesting. I wonder why they are in Spanish. I walk down the tunnel a it slowly starts to turn left. I finally arrive at a staircase. I walk up and there's only a wall. Crap. Ok. I examine it using my flashlight. There's a little crack on the side with bits of light shining through. I pull out my knife and use it as a lever to pry it open. I walk out and guess where I am! The lobby! Haha! That dude was stupider than I thought. I sit into the chair and relax for about five minutes till Andrew and Darron walk in with bags of food.
"Hi guys! What took you so long?" I say smiling.
"How'd you get out?" Andrew asks sounding irritated.
"I found a tunnel behind the wall. Oh and by the way, thanks for the knife." I say pulling at it. I take a good look at it and decide it's too damaged to keep. "Why were you trapped in there anyways?" Darron asks.
I sigh and look at Andrew for help.
"Just tell him. He's already involved." Andrew say reluctantly.
"Darron you have to promise you cannot tell anyone. If you do it could be dangerous for the both of us. Got it?" I say sternly.
"Ok..." he's obviously unsure.
"I'm just going to say this, don't freak out. Well Darron you're technically helping a terrorist. And my real name is Quincy."
"Macey." Andrew argues as he gives me an angry stare, then frantically looks at Darron- who seems to be struggling not to have a seizure.
He slaps his forehead, "Darron, were EX- terrorists."
Darron bites his lip, "Are you going to kill me." he says in a high pitched squeal.
I laugh and shake my head, "No, no."
Andrew grins, "Probably."
Torn, Darron sits on his knees.
"I have to go.."
"NO DARRON! Were not finished...."
So I tell him everything, and afterwards he's slightly less likely to have a stroke. Slightly.
"Ok. I want to go." he says shakily.
"No! You can't!" Andrew bursts. "He's a liability, he can't defend himself and think about what will happen when we get to your father!"
"Andrew we can train him a little bit! He's not a liability! What if there's another technological problem? And as for my father, I'll handle him." I say.
"Emmie couldn't come!" he snaps.
"She was no use to us." I reply.
"But-" he stops.
"He's coming." I turn towards Darron. "You can come but you have to work hard, got it?"
"Yep. Got it." he says immediately
"So what'd you bring?"
"Food" Andrew says sullenly.
"it's McDonalds. It's delicious." Darron smiles as he pulls out a box, some fries and a large drink. The smell is mouth watering. I open the box and there are ten weirdly shaped fried things.
"Chicken Mcnuggets." Darron explains.
I take a bite and my mouth explodes. I smile.
"This is so good!" i say with my mouth full.
"Haha. You shouldn't talk with your mouth full." Darron laughs.
Andrew's eyes turn black and he gets up and walks out of the building.
"What's his problem?" Darron asks.
"Don't know." I say as I swallow. "I guess he's in one of his moods. Wait here." I say getting up and walking out the door. I shuffle past a few people and make my way outside. The sun is in full shine and I quickly avert my gaze from it and try to find Andrew. After examining the crowd twice I finally spot him in his red sweatshirt. Andrews leaning against a light pole next to the Bus. He pretends not to notice me, but I know he has. I approach him and tap his shoulder.
"What was that?" I ask.
"What was what?" Andrew lowers his eyes to the pavement.
"You got all moody." I state.
He groans and turns from me, "No reason."
I remember a quote Dean used to say, "Everything has reason."
Andrew steps away from the pole, "Not everything."
"Oh yeah?" I challenge.
His smug face replaces his nervous one, "Why did you press the button then? You had no reason to." Andrew fires.
Now it's my turn to be quiet. I spin around and head back toward the car dealership.
"Wait, Macey, I'm sorry." he starts. I turn back around an glare at him. His eyes are starting to turn green.
"It's Quincy!" I scream and run through the doors.
"Quincy?" Darron says startled. I lean against the wall and start sobbing into my palms. Darron walks over to me and sits next to me. I wipe the tears from my cheeks.
"I'm fine." I say trying to calm down. Just then Andrew walks in, eyes dark green.
"Quincy I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that." he says full of regret.
"What did you say to her?" Darron says angrily.
"Look, I don't need you in my business and I definitely don't need you telling me what to do." Andrew snaps. His eyes turn black again. Darron stands up quickly challenging Andrew. I get up before anything can happen and stand between them.
"Stop it. Both of you." I look at them. "We're working together so everybody needs to get along." I say quickly. "Let's go." I shove them both toward the doors.
"Where are we going?" Darron asks.
"Good question." I look at Andrew as we try to catch a taxi.
"The Racer's headquarters are in San Francisco. So we have to go through New Mexico, past Arizona and into California." he replies as a taxi pulls up. He grins at me and a wave of suspicion washes over me.
"What?" I say warily.
"Ever gone snowboarding?" he asks.
"No..."
"Good. DFW airport please." Andrew hands him fifty bucks.
"Andrew, we don't have money for tickets..." I add.
"Don't worry. We'll have the tickets."
"How?" Darron speaks up.
"We just will."
"Don't worry about it." I reassure him.
• • •
The ride is pretty boring, I just don't understand why Andrew and Darron can't get along. I'm trying to figure out what I'm supposed to do with Darron when we get to the Racer Headquarters. Maybe he can join the Racers? Technically Andrew still didn't ever exist when he came to the Hiders. So Darron would be the first person ever to join the groups, if he wants to join. I just realized I don't know much about him.
"How old are you?" I ask suddenly. Both Andrew and Darron look up. Andrew realizes I'm talking to Darron and looks back down at his knife.
"I'm about to turn sixteen." he replies.
"Really? I thought you were like fourteen." I share my thoughts.
"Yeah I look young for my age." he says slyly. Abruptly, I think of something. "Andrew," I wait for him to look up, "I think we should get cell phones." I say.
"Why?" he gives me a weird look and scrunches up his nose.
"if we ever need to get ahold of each other it will be easy." I explain.
"Sure. Whatever." he says, distracted.
"Andrew?"
"Yeah?"
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"Andrew."
"What?"
"What's wrong?" He looks up at me with blue eyes and doesn't answer.
"You'll see." he says mysteriously. I glare at him. I hate it when people keep secrets from me, and he knows that. "Chill out." he says light-heartedly.
Just then, we arrive at the airport.
"What terminal?" the cabbie asks.
"Terminal C." Andrew responds immediately. The cabbie pulls up to the curb and stops. Andrew hands him another fifty dollar bill and gets out. Darron gets out next and I follow, thanking the driver. I see Andrew walk past a man and right when he passes by, the man hands him an envelope. They don't even look at each other. We walk over to security and I start to worry. What about our knives? I look at the man who checks the monitor. The man looks at Andrew and then at me. When he sees me, a look of astonishment washes across his face for a fraction of a second. He looks back down and does a slight nod of the head. I put my bag down, and slide it onto the conveyor belt. I put my shoes an jacket into a bucket and walk through the scanner. Everything comes out clear and nothing is taken out of out bags. That man must be working with the Racers. Darron and I follow Andrew to our gate. We make it just in time to board. Andrew sits down in one of the first class seats and motions for me to sit next to him.
"Where do I sit?" asks Darron.
"Across the isle." Andrew says without looking at him. Darron sits down and grins at me. I automatically grin back. "Have you ever sat first class before?" Darron asks still smiling.
"Never been on a plane." I reply.
"Nice." he looks impressed. "You nervous?"
"What's there to be nervous about?" is my only reply. My eyes drift close and I fall asleep.
I wake up to Andrew shaking me telling me it's time to get off. I grab my bag groggily and trudge off the plane. Andrew leads us to the parking lot and stops. Ten seconds later a cab pills up and we get in. "Red River please." Andrew eyes the cabbie daring him to say something.
"That's two hours away!" he complains. Andrew sighs in exasperation and hands the cabbie a thousand bucks.
"All right then." says the cabbie, stuffing the money into his pocket. We sit in silence he entire ride. I take my knife out of my bag and start to clean it with my shirt. When I am satisfied look at my reflection in it. In the reflection, I see three white vans speeding toward us. I turn around to make sure I'm not imagining anything. Sure enough there they are getting closer and closer to our car.
"Step on it!" I say tersely, startling the cabbie.
"Why?" the cabbie asks confused but gets faster. I look behind us. They're close enough to us that I see them pull something out.
"Duck!" I shriek. Darron and Andrew do what I say but the cabbie just looks at me confusedly. Suddenly the glass behind me shatters. The cabbie slumps over and the cab swerves out of place. I throw myself forward and grab the wheel. I step over the glove box and push the dead cabbie out of my way. I step on the gas pedal and the car darts forward. I steady the car and drive it back onto the road. "Any ideas?!" I scream at Andrew.
"Speed up as fast as it goes, and once you get past this hill turn right. Maybe we can lose them." he says tensely.
"Who are those people?!" Darron says sitting up.
"Stay down!" Andrew and I shout in unison and he gets back down.
"The Hiders." I answer his question.
"I thought they were the good guys." He says
i hate you
ReplyDeleteI love you, keep doin what you're doin, hot stuff
ReplyDelete