Let's All Just Blindfold The Poor, We Must Remind Them What's In Store

The Ending

Everyone was ready. They'd rested well, and planned all morning. Everyone was discussing the best, but were prepared for the worst.
Jack wasn't too caught up in the other side of their plan. He trusted Spot and Roosevelt whole heartedly to pull this off, and Teddy already knew the location of the library.
Still, Jack made sure they went over it all together quite a few times.
On his side of the plan, he had to face Pulitzer again. But Kathrine knew almost everyone who worked there, so her job was to get them to the door. Jack's job was to catch Pulitzer alone and try to get him to use his powers, and then Denton and David's job was to stop him before he could do anything harmful, and to expose him. And, they had to do all of this long enough to keep Pulitzer distracted while the others broke into the library.
It was stressful, but this needed to be done. They needed to finish this.
And everyone was scared, they were all in the same boat. But now, they weren't worried about using their powers around each other. They would give their lives for each other, for this cause, but everyone agreed that there would be no one left behind.
And now, Jack was staring up at the looming doors. He'd never seen the outside of the building before - at least, the front side of it.
It was intimidating. It didn't look dark or broken-down like the refuge, but it certainly didn't look like a happy place. It was a gigantic, I'm-better-than-you type creation, with just a lavish design as it had in the halls. These doors were somehow bigger than the ones that led to Pulitzer's office. It looked like a barricade, though it was hidden behind enough run-down towns and tress, that outer security didn't seem to be their top priority.
There was some sort of haze around this place, as if it was warning sign. It was bright and colorful against the backdrop of the dreary towns, like a poisonous predator calling in helpless prey.
Jack felt a firm hand rest on his shoulder. "You ready?"
Jack nodded, and placed his own hand on top of the other. "Are you?"
David noded. "It's a little more intimidating than I thought it would be."
"We'll be fine boys, it's just my father."
Denton chuckled, "well, your father's no Santa Clause. This'll be tricky, but you're a smart bunch. We can do this." he reassured them, swinging open the door.
The front hall was just as intimidating and boastful as the rest of the building. There was a woman sitting at a long curved desk, and a man standing next to her. They paused their quiet conversation once they heard the door creak.
"Hello Seitz, hello Blossom." Kathrine said, dropping into a small courtsey.
They both nodded at the group as a welcome.
"Whats all this Kathrine?" Seitz asked, walking around to the front side of the desk.
"I'm just visiting. My father said that he wanted to meet my boss didn't he?"
The two looked puzzled, but Seitz shook Denton's hand anyways.
"And who are these two?"
Kathrine paused, "m- my coworkers - well, they're only interning right now, and we thought it might be helpful for them to uh... see someone so influential, like my father."
Seitz was about to protest, but Blossom shook her head. "Go on up dear."
Kathrine nodded and quickly moved down the hallway. The boys followed quickly after, staying close.
Once they made it up the stairs, Jack recognized the new hallway. It sent chills down his spine - Pulitzer's door was close ahead.
And again, they came up to two large doors, but this time the woman and the desk were sitting in front of them, rather than behind. It was the same red-headed woman from last time Jack was here, still typing away on her sleek typewriter.
Kathrine had to clear her throat to be noticed.
"Oh! Kathrine you're home early." she smiled, getting up to walk towards the girl.
"Yes! And I brought some of my coworkers for my father to meet, is he busy?"
The woman shook her head, "no, he doesn't have another meeting for about an hour."
Kathrine paused, "oh, there was something I wanted to show you, could you come with me for a moment?"
The woman hesitated. She was never supposed to leave her post, and Kathrine knew that. And this boy... he looked so familiar.
But she trusted Kathrine, it should be fine.
She nodded, walking towards the hallway as Kathrine instructed the boys to stay put.
And she was gone. It was finally time to face Pulitzer.
Jack shifted, and took a deep breath. He had no idea what was waiting behind that door, he had no idea if they had the upper hand, or if Pulitzer was yet again one step ahead.
He pushed open the doors. They were incredibly heavy, he felt a slight ping of pity for the woman that had to open them everyday.
Pulitzer didn't even bother look up from his work. He was sitting at his large desk, writing out something with a quill.
"Hannah, I though I told you not to bother me."
"Oh yeah, she's a sweet girl ain't she."
That made pulitzer's head snap up. "How did you get out?"
"What, outta that jail? Please, I've broken outta the refuge three times, that was nothin'."
Pulitzer stood from his desk. "Your cuffs are gone. What are you planning boy?"
"Me? I'm not plannin' anythin', I jus came to let you'se know that I'm not gonna be your puppet anymore."
Pulitzer scoffed, "you have no control over that."
"Oh but I do." Jack said, he was trying to get him mad, to get him to use his talent.
And Jack's brain felt the familiar discomfort of the fog again, the clouding of his mind. Pulitzer was right, he did have no control, he kept slipping deeper and deeper into the darkness.
"Now repeat after me, you will go back with the Delancey's and Snyder, and you will drag your friends to the refuge."
Jack held on to what was left of his will power.
"You think that just cause you'se usin' your powers on me that yous gonna win?"
Pulizter scoffed, standing from his desk to move towards the boy. "I don't think that, I know it. I know that the second I get you under my control, I will ruin your life and everyone else's."
Jack dropped to his knees. Everything in his brain was screaming that Pulitzer was right, but somewhere deep inside of him knew that that was just because he was using his talent against him.
And somewhere deep inside, he realized that Denton had the information he now needed.
The door swung open, and Denton anD david stormed in. Kathrine followed soon after with Hannah, she could only keep the woman away from her job for so long.
David immediately went over to Jack, and put his hands on shoulders, trying to keep him conscious, to snap him back into his mind.
Jack could hear his voice, but it was as if Jack was under water and David was in space, a million miles away.
But regardless, he felt that comfort, that warmth and support that David was giving him.
And slowly, his senses became much sharper again. He heard Denton interrogate the man, much harsher than he did with Jack. He saw Kathrine's face, keeping her father in check, he could smell Pulitzer's fear, and he felt the comforting hug of David.
And in Denton's hand, he saw a device. It was what made this plan work. It was a new type of technology, similar to the talent-canceling handcuffs. But this, was much more useful to the Revolution
There was yelling, and shouting and arguing and accusing, until Jack heard Denton say, "are you aware that this is broadcasting out live, to every radio in the country?"
And then the entire room fell silent. Jack wished he could save the look on Pulitzer's face for forever.
"How long has that been on?"
"Since you threatened this child." Denton said, glancing quickly at Jack.
Jack's brain was back, and David helped him off of the floor. Now, leaning on his friend, he spoke for the whole country to hear.
"An' right now, our revolution is out there spreading the knowledge that you've hidden from the world.s
Pulitzer clearly knew what Jack was talking about, Kathrine had never seen her father look so frazzled. It was incredibly amusing.
Only a second after Jack finished his sentence, Seitz bursted into the rom, "sir! The phones are going off of the hook, what happened?"
-
Everyone listened to that broadcast. Everyone. The radio was the only escape some people had, and it was certainly always on in the Jacobs' home. They sat around the table, listening to the entire thing. There were always interesting things on the radio, but usually interviews or songs, never things like this - and when Sarah heard Jack's voice, she couldn't breathe.
It was confusing, and it wasn't perfect, but changes had begun. The other representatives in the government (along with the raging people) managed to get Pulitzer out of office in just a week.
And everyone was mad. Some people were mad that their president was lying about having a talent, and others were mad at the lives they were forced to live. Most were mad about both. And most, were overwhelmingly sad. They were forced to remember the children and family that they had abandoned or lost, they were forced to remember what they said about those with talents and how they treated them - the country wept. And once the news got out, the world wept.
The information was brought to schools and churches and homes, and as people read and read about the events and information in the news, they were able to come to terms with their own powers. They were able to realize and accept them, and many people quickly discovered that they weren't alone.
Jack was glad that they didn't have to use their powers during that fight, though they were prepared to. Now, they can use them for good.
And sure, those 'helpful systems' he dreamed of weren't created yet, and not everyone was so open about this sudden change, but the world quickly became a more accepting place than Jack could have ever imagined.
And the refuge was shut down. Every refuge across the country was - the new president, Teddy Roosevelt, had outlawed them.
But, for most major things, life felt the same. All of the boys were still able to live in their lodges, sadly the Delancey's were back, but so were all of the other kids that Pulitzer recruited. They still visited Medda at least once a week, and most times they were able to see Haley preform.
Spot and Jack met up often, wether Jack and some of the other boys all went to visit Brooklyn, or if Spot and Jack met alone to talk.
Kathrine still worked under Denton, and her career was quite promising. She permanently moved in with her mother and sister, and she made sure to see Jack and Davey everyday.
Jack and Crutchie still spent just as much time together as they did before, if not more. They slept on the roof together, talked for hours and looked at the stars. They got lunch together and met up with Spot so they could both tell him about what Francis was like.
David returned home to tears and apologies. His parents knew that that would never make up for the things they'd done, but they knew that over the years, they would do everything in their power to make it up to him. And, Sarah pulled him aside to talk. They really, truly talked for the firs time since he was 11.
Their nights were sweet and tear-filled as they watched things slowly get better right in front of their eyes.
And everything felt whole, everything seemed perfect. But there was one more thing that Jack longed to address.
It was almost two weeks after the revolution ended, and Jack and David still hadn't had that conversation. They'd seen eachother plenty, but Jack never wanted to ruin those moments with this heavy topic. But he couldn't avoid it anymore, it was keeping him awake at night and it was consuming his brain during the day.
David heard a sharp knock on the window, and he didn't even need to look up from his book to know who it was.
He slid open the light glass window. "Hey Jack, what's up?"
David moved to the side, but Jack didn't climb through the window. "Can we talk? Alone?"
David noded, and joined Jack outside. "Is everything ok?"
"Yeah, I jus' need ta... Get somthin' offa my chest." Jack responded, beginning his climb towards the roof.
The past few times he'd been there, it always seemed to be night. The moon always shone down through the sheets, creating long shadows that stretched all the way off of the roof.
"Jack what's goin on?"
Jack turned to face the taller boy. "I just wanted to apologize again."
David stuttered, "wh- for what?"
Jack shrugged, walking towards one of the wooden chairs that always sat in the centre. "For breakin' your heart I guess."
David froze. He thought Jack forgot about that, he foolishly thought that he'd get off easy. "Yeah well, that wasn't you speaking, so."
"That don't mean that I can't be sorry for what happened," Jack sighed. "An, you don't deserve nothin' like that alright davey? I jus... I need ta tell ya that... that I's like ya too. An' I still do, an I know's you probably don't feel the same anymore, an that's fine I just don't want ya to see me any differently ok? I still wanna... ya know, be around you."
When David didn't respond, he began to second guess himself. "B- but if that makes you uncomfortable or anythin' then jus'... then I understand if you'se don't wanna be around me anymore or..." Jack was so stupid, he should have never said anything, he could have at least held onto their friendship, even if it might feel painful.
But David just couldn't believe his ears. Or his eyes, at how absolutely beautiful this boy looked under the moonlight. And just, in general.
Jack stood up from the chair, and the sudden movement snapped David back into reality. He practically tackled the boy, hugging him so tight Jack though he might choke.
But he didn't mind, even the thought of David's touch drove him crazy, and this hug was definitely a good sign through all of this.
They stood there in silence for a moment, hugging each other as if once they stopped they would die. They spent time taking each other's presence, each other's comfort and love.
And eventually, David laughed, "I like you too ya dork."
Jack couldn't contain his excitement, he spun the boy around, laughing giddily, Jack felt like a child, and David looked just as thrilled. They both finally had what they wanted, each other.
And they kissed. It was a lovely kiss, light and sweet because the two boys couldn't stop smiling.
Their first kiss was nothing like how either of them thought it would be, it was so much better. And every kiss since then had just gotten sweeter and more meaningful, just like their lives.
Just like all of the kid's lives. There were ups, and many many downs, but it was good, and it was filled with comfort and love.