The Rebels

Running

"RUN YOU DOLT!"

I was trying. Honestly, I was trying my best to run, but running with a huge gash on my knee isn't exactly easy. I could see Katie Charleston in front of me, sprinting. I winced with every step. My hair clung to me, dripping with sweat. My breath came out in short gasps.

"Come on. Can't let them catch you," I muttered to myself. Remembering my chasers was motivation enough. I sprinted, catching up with Karina.

"You can do this, Julie!" cried Karina.

I didn't reply. I couldn't, even if I tried. My breath was slipping away, and I was ready to drop. But the thought of the teenagers in grey suits and tinted sunglasses carrying laser guns pushed me on.

Katie ran into a shop, determined to lose our chasers, whom we called The Lost Ones. Why? Because they are brainwashed teenagers who are forced to help the government eliminate the Rebels like Karina and me.

The shop was filled with dresses, shirts and trousers, all a drab grey. Everyone wore grey and white now. It matched the mood of the people. The Rebels wore the same. The only way we can distinguish between our kind and the normal people is a small infinity tattoo at the base of our neck.

I saw a woman holding a charcoal scarf. I couldn't help myself.

"Oh, honey." I cried, feeling the fabric. "That is absolutely horrid. The cloth, the color, everything! A red would suit you better. Give me a second." I unzipped my bag and pulled out a red scarf and handed it to her.

"JULIE WINTERS GET YOUR SORRY ASS HERE RIGHT NOW!" I heard Katie yell.

I waved at the woman and ran after Katie, only to be blocked by a Lost One.

"Easy now," I said, laughing nervously.

"Julie Helios Winters, you are under arrest for thievery, vandalism, and general disruption," he said in a robotic voice.

"Not today, thank you." I smiled. There was a shelf of clothes directly on my right. I grabbed one edge and pulled it down, scattering dresses everywhere. I jumped over it and ran to the back of the shop.

"It has been so fun meeting you guys, but I really need to get going," I said cheerily to the other Lost Ones, waving.

I turned and ran out the door, laughing. I was just in time to see Katie enter a building and slam the door shut behind her.

I ran to the door, praying she did not just leave me out to die in the hands of the Lost ones. I pulled at the doorknob, twisting and turning, pulling and pushing. She had locked me out. That sorry little-

"Julie Winters, do not resist, or action will be necessary."

I turned to see three Lost Ones, pointing their guns at me.

"Okay, I'm sure we can come to some sort of agreement," I said, patting the air in front of me.

"Highly doubtful."

"Come on, don't be a pessimist," I said nervously, banging at the door.

"Stand back." said a voice. I raised my eyebrows. Did that actually just happen?

A girl with her brown hair tied in a hard tight bun stepped forward.

"I would like to be the one to kill her," she said.

"Veela?" I whispered.

"Goodbye, Julie." she smiled.

The door opened. Two hands grabbed me and pulled me inside. I kicked, struggled, and screamed at them to let me go.

"Easy, tiger," said a male voice.

"I'd be calmer if you let go of me." I snapped. He obeyed.

I looked at the dimly lit room. Katie and two men stared at me as if I had grown a second arm.

"What?" I snapped.

"Nothing," said one of the men with blonde hair, grinning.

I glared at Katie.

"You left me out there to die, bitch!" I screeched.

"I did not!" she protested.

"Locking me out with a dozen Lost Ones is what I would consider murder," I said, scowling.

"I had to convince these two to not kill us either. We were going to die either way. There was just a lesser chance at this," she said stoutly.

"How come they aren't breaking inside right now?" I asked.

"No way can they break down those doors and windows." laughed the other dude. He had brown wavy hair.

"They'll probably burn down the building then," I said coolly, smoothening my hair.

"Say what now?" he said, his eyes wide.

"We could escape using the trap door," said the blonde.

"Good idea."

"How can we trust you?" I asked.

"You don't have much of a choice."

I shrugged and followed them to the trap door and into a tunnel underground. All this for a better life. Not just for us, but for the future, too. No way was I just going to sit around while the government got even more corrupt by the second, ruining our nation.

Not if the rebels had something to say about it.

XXXXX

Somewhere in the street, a young woman draped a red scarf on her shoulders. She looked at her reflection. The red of the scarf complimented her green eyes. She smiled.

Her children will have a better future. She would make sure of that.

Under the folds of the red scarf, a half-hidden infinity tattoo seemed to glow.