The Lost Ones

9 - Lela

I didn't know if Adrian knew he was in big trouble or not; I just knew we had to save him. I went to Gemma a few minutes later, the note still dripping black ink on my palm. 

"Gemma. Look." I slammed the note down on to her table. She didn't protest, she just read it silently, frowning.

"Hm. This is bad, very bad." She seemed way too calm about it, it just made me all the more angry.

"Bad?! They're going to kill him! Of course it's bad! We have to get him out of there!" I yelled. Gemma just looked at me, a little sadly.

"We can't just go in there, Lela. Our groups would need training, we would need a plan-" I interrupted her before she could finish.

"Gemma, they have been training for years. They're ready, I have seen them. I'm ready to get my friend back, and I will do whatever it takes to make sure he's safe. I can help think of a plan, there are clever people here, we need to be quick." I plead quickly and desperately.

"Lela, listen to me. People die here everyday. We've lost so many from attacks on the hospital. An attack this big... we have the numbers, but no life is worth losing. I'm not prepared to lose anyone else. When we came here, when I became leader, we had about a thousand kids here. Eventually, half of them died after hospital raids or if the disease killed them. I just can't risk losing people." She shakes her head, and I think I see a tear roll down her cheek. I can't be sure, because her frizzy hair hides her eyes.

"Gemma. I'm sorry, but we can't just hide away here forever. The delivery of the note just proves that they know where we are. It's now or never. Please... just think about it...." I turn away and make for the door.

I don't expect her to reply, but then I hear her voice from behind me. "Alright. Fine. No life is worth losing, right? I'll try as hard as I can to help your friend."

I'm so filled with gratitude for Gemma that I go over and hug her. She gives me a quick pat on the back before pushing me away again. 

"Should I let the training group know?" I ask her; she nods at me. 

"I should probably come with you and let everyone know. This is gonna be a hell of a lot bigger than any other raid that we have ever done before. I should let Riaja and Josephine know in case of any casualties, and for them to make sure everyone's fit enough to go through with this." 

So we tap up the stairs together, me following behind Gemma. I'm nervous about everyone's reaction to our plans; turns out I have nothing to fear. They smile at me, and I feel more comforted than I have felt in a long time. We begin discussing plans almost immediately, gathering in the main hall. I notice for the first time that there are barely enough chairs for everyone, not that anyone really seems to care.

Gemma clears her throat and then there is silence. It's obvious how much respect there is in the room for her. Nobody really says it, but it's quite clear that she's in charge of everything. She's tough, very tough, but she does it with a weird sort of elegance that makes you listen to her.

"Lela just joined us a few days ago, but I think we can all agree she's one of us now," A collective cheer ripples around the room, and I manage a small smile as the crowds quietens. "We are family. And family sticks together. Adrian is Lela's family, so we're gonna bust him out of the hospital, along with any other people they've got trapped in there."

Another happy roar echoes around the room; Gemma shushes them. "We need to be prepared. We need to pull together and use all the skills that we have. This isn't like any other raid we've ever done before, this is really dangerous, and there is a possibility that people could die."

There are some less enthusiastic murmurs about this point. Gemma looks at me, and I take this as my cue to talk to them. I get up and face the hundreds of young faces staring at me. Some look excited, some look doubtful. It could go either way, to be honest.

"I know some of you are scared. Some of you don't believe this is all worth it," I suddenly remember Gemma's words earlier. "But every life is worth saving, and Adrian was the only thing I had for a very long time. I just want my friend back... no, he's more than my friend. He's the only family I have. So please, please, help me. If you don't want to, I will understand completely."

I step down, expecting nothing. The last thing I expected was for Will to slowly clap. And then other people join, and it's like dominoes. The room explodes in clapping and cheering, and for once Gemma doesn't tell them to quiet down. 

And so our plotting begins.