Three Brood Instigators

95. Lives That Matter

Wilkes prepared late than usual,

"Wilkes, is everything ok?" Nanny reacted to his late arrival downstairs, missing the school buses.

"Uhm, sorry I am late, Nanny, I, I went home late so..." Wilkes excused.

"Wilkes," Nanny called. "Is everything ok?"

Wilkes responded with: "Yes... everything is ok, Nanny," he said. "I am gonna be late. I am sorry, may I go."

Nanny then hugged Wilkes. "Be a good boy now, ok?"

"I... I will, Nanny Villa." Wilkes said.

The radio broadcasted an alarming news regarding yesterday's event,

"Yesterday, 10th of December, The criminal group known as the Sixages were reported to be involved with the W-A-R incident along with the notorious Underground," the female radio host said.

"Worse of all, this group had successfully escaped police arrest on a train and killed twenty-five police officers in action," the male radio host said.

"The train that was confirmed to have transported the group, stopped in the middle of nowhere in Aroostook, and thus no trace of them is ever found," the female radio host said.

"Nonetheless, a retired bank robber was said to have returned to his crime career and joined the Sixages, killing his Witness Protection Agent," the male radio host revealed.

"The Tavernier Police has asked local sheriffs and police officers all across Maine State to curfew the streets for any sign of these youth criminals and escaped Colorgas Orphans in advanced search, barricading-" the female radio host said.

Uncle Thomas turned the radio in the bar off.

"Hey, buddy, what's the big idea?" asked a random customer.

"Nothing, pal," Uncle Thomas left. "Nothing at all,"

Meeting Drock at the camp,

"We have just a day left before the boat pal—we have the whole state under curfew just for us!" Uncle Thomas said. "What now?"

Drock breathed in and reassured him: "We have everything we need," he said. "All but an escape plan, cause now we're living in a fucking cave in the hills right in the middle of nowhere," he contemplated. "And likewise... I don't feel like having the shit to make one. I have too much on my head, and I don't feel like getting out."

Drock rested in the rock, lazing in the dark clouds.

"Well, neither will I, dark blood," Uncle Thomas did not hesitate to say the same.

Pastuzo then said, "Don't worry, big guys, you just worry about your sleep—we'll handle it."

Minutes later, Wilkes arrived to the cave, he passed Kevin, whom was writing a paper on the rocks, Kevin saw how Wilkes spied on his activity, so Kevin left the cave,

"There you are, Wilkes," Clayne welcomed. "For a second there, I thought you were gonna ditch us, again, hehe!"

"Well... here I am, I hope there is something I can help...for skipping school," Wilkes said.

"Skipping school, huh, newb, hahaha!" Clayne patted. "Oh, Wilkes, you're a real rookie, you know that? Makes you so soft. No wonder you couldn't say no."

Pastuzo then contemplated to himself. "Do we deserve this?" he asked. "Do I deserve all this?" he asked again. "Hiding in a cave," he mentioned. "Running away from the problems that weren't even my fault!" he mentioned. "I wanted to help them. I did what I can. My support was positive... But did they even care?" he spoke. "Do they even... understand what had changed them?" he asked. "Did he even have a soul when he did his things?" he asked. "Now I understand that he is no human: he has no heart, no sense of growing-up, fiddling us like clowns as if it was his fantasy story," he said. "He is an example... of a disease that worsens every single day, infecting others each time... even me... even us," he said. "And unfortunately..." he shifted the topic. "I don't have the right mind to create an escape plan from the law."