The Leader

Chapter 9

The small girl snuck down the hall, her mother's words ringing in her head, "Don't go down that hall, you don't need to be down there."
The office was massive, the ceiling appearing as tall as the sky, the filing cabinets and desk adding to the eerie feeling of the room. She pressed on, the small red spot on the floor startling her. A part of her wanted to run and cry to her mother, but her curiosity got the best of her.
She stood on the chairs, looking on the many papers on the desk, skimming over their contents.
'I, Abigail Anderson, am the designated leader of the Fireflies, and hear by pledge to protect the Fireflies even if the situation presents my own death.'
'I, F/n L/n, am the designated Secretary of Defense, and hear by pledge to protect the Fireflies even if the situation presents my own death.'
The small girl had a hard time comprehending much of its contents, but nonetheless was in awe to be in the presence of such serious material. This would work perfectly.
She grabbed the empty Manila folder on the desk, shoving the papers inside and tucking them under her shirt, held in place by the band of her pants. Hopping off the chair, she giggled, knowing what she was doing was certainly mischievous, but her friend would love her for this.
Her small sneakers ran across the floor of the darkened hall, rushing to her room, her friends waiting for arrival.

"Claire...I don't think we should play with these." Jess looked at the papers in the folder, crayon still held in hand.
"Yeah we should." The small girl shuffled the papers back into the folder and stood at attention.
With the most intimidating look she could give, she stared down at her friend, "As commander, I demand you do a thousand push ups!" Her small voice only able to scare her friend.
"A thousand!?" Her friend giggled in protest, standing from her spot on the floor.
"Yes! You have to! You promised, remember?" Claire flipped open the folder, pointing to Abby's signature, pretending the document pledged to this ridiculous request.
"That's not my name." Jess crossed her arms, turning her nose up.
Clair groaned, grabbing a crayon from the ground and scribbling on the document.
"There, now it says your name."
"I don't like blue." Jess teased, Claire huffing and stomping her foot.
"It says your name Jess! You have to do a thousand push ups!"
"C'mon babes, we have to go to the cafeteria." Claire's mother stepped into the room, her satchel still at her side.
The small girls let the folder fall to the floor, following the woman into the cafeteria. As the walked down the hall, a tall woman passed. It was the woman from breakfast. This time she seemed less nervous, and more aggravated, not bothering to wave back to Claire as she passed.
Down in the cafeteria, Abby and Y/n gave their speech, Jess and Claire exchanging looks of worry, hearing the consequences if caught with the documents they had.
"Claire I told you!" Jess quietly scolded, Claire's mother shushing them and bringing their attention back to the woman before them.
Back in the room, Jess and Claire bantered, indecisive about handing in the document.
"Just give it back! She won't be mad." Jess argued, shoving the papers in Claire's direction.
"No! My mommy will get in trouble." Claire crossed her arms, refusing to take responsibility.
"She won't get in trouble, you will. You said Abby was your friend, she won't be mad."
"What if they kill me!?" Claire threw herself to the floor and began to cry, Jess rolling her eyes.
"They're not going to kill you Claire, just give it back."
"No! I won't. I want to play with it." She finally snatched the papers from her friend.
"You can't play with them, Abby said so."
"Well you said she's my friend, so if she does see me with them, I'll be okay."
Claire's mother stepped from the bathroom, escorting Jess from their room for the night, assuring her they'd play tomorrow, Claire quickly shoving the papers back under her shirt as her mother approached her.
"Time for bed sweetie." Claire was tucked into bed, kissed on the forehead, and told she was loved.
Unfortunately, she didn't get much sleep, her worries of her possession of these documents keeping her up, tossing and turning in her sheets.

As the soldiers conducted the sweep, Claire began to weep, scared of their sudden entrance and her massive secret. Her mother held her on her hip, caressing her hair and planting small kisses on her foreheads
After the soldiers left, the room a mess and mattresses capsized, Claire's wails calmed. She held her mother's shirt, her eyes still full with tears, her lip quivering.
"Mommy.."
"Yes baby, what's wrong?" Her motherly instinct sensed there was something deeper to this cry.
"I have it."