The Vengance-Sequel to The Coalition-

Old Friends

        Jordan Pov

Helena held on tight to my hand as I walked her to school. I could feel her sweaty palms shaking. As I was about to push her into her classroom, she turned around. Her big brown eyes staring at me.

"Promise, you'll return?" she talked funny, since her two buck teeth were missing.

I knelt down and set my hand on her small shoulder,"Promise. Don't worry your mother will return and so will I. I'll be waiting for you right here." I kissed her forehead,"Now,go have a fun, first day in school. Remember those kicks and punches I showed you." she smiled, nodded and walked into her new classroom.

I sighed and stood. I held on tight to my bag, and walked to the gym, Claire's favorite place in Florida.

                              ***

I had changed into my gym clothes and started with the bench press.

I knew that Raveness was out of the hospital, but didn't know when she would come. I didn't want Helena to know about, well any of this madness or want her to be in the middle of all this. Claire didn't want to go serve in the war, but I insisted. Mainly because I didn't want her getting hurt, emotionally.

I grunted as I sat on the bench. My forehead was all sweaty and I was breathing hard. I needed to go and hide from Raveness, but I didn't want to look like a coward in front of Helena. Then i realized, I needed to hide Helena. But where?

"Long time no see Jordan." I knew that voice. I turned to find Lloyd standing there, smiling.

I got up and got ready for a fight,"What do you want?"

"Nothing. just came to warn you that Raveness is coming, that's all." he held his hands up, as if he wanted me to know that he was on my side.

"You think I don't know that?" I growled.

"Yeah but, just thought I'd remind you. Know any good-" I grabbed him by the collar and stared at him.

"Look, I don't know what you want, but if you want to live, I'd suggest you leave and don't return." I stared into his intense blue eyes. he chuckled.

"I don't want to start a fight here, but if you want." he punched my face hard, making me fall back.

I gasped and looked for him. Lloyd was nowhere. He was just too clever. He got me from behind and kicked me hard, making all of the air come out of me.

I turned and ran at him, arm ready, but then an old friend walked in and got in between us.

I was inches away from almost punching her, she stared at me, she held her arms out.

"That's enough! We are all in the same team here, don't go on hitting people! Jordan you need to know some things. Lloyd come." I stared as Ella walked out of the gym.

Everyone had stopped and were staring at us, I just shook it off. I grabbed my bag and put my white shirt on, then followed Ella. Lloyd close behind.

             ***

Ella led us to a small apartment-which I figured must've been hers-and along the way Lloyd brought 2 pals, whose names I learned to be Zoey and Michael.

I stayed close to Ella because, honestly, I didn't trust those kids. Zoey reminded me so much like April, but I knew that April was gone. Also, I knew that Zoey wanted revenge on me and for some reason Michael did to. I'm not saying I'm scared, I just wanted to be protected by a very old, good friend of mine.

I walked into the room and found it to be messy and ruined with weapons all over the floor. I sat on the couch, Lloyd next to me and Zoey and Michael on a chair, staring at me. Ella grabbed something from the fridge before sitting next to me.

She drank her soda, as she took off her gear and military armor. She removed her helmet to reveal long, wavy, brown hair. She removed her weapons and set them on the coffee table, where it was full of stuff.

She stared at us, and broke the tension,"Jordan, I heard you had an 8 year old daughter, what was her name? Jain, Lucy, Becca-"

"Helena." I said staring at her.

Okay, she called us over to just ask me a simple ridiculous question? She was hiding something and I knew it.

"Okay, so where is Raveness?" she turned her attention to Lloyd, who was fiddling with his buff hands.

"Don't know. We opened up the truck to reveal nothing, she was gone this morning." he hung his head, ashamed probably. Then, he left up his head and stared into Ella's dark eyes.

"Okay, so who are these, just random kids, you picked up from the street?" Ella looked at the kids and took a sip of her soda.

"No, we are resisters and we-" then, Michael was cut off.

"Want to find their parents, because The Red Coats killed their family so they want to take revenge on them." Lloyd glared at them and shook his head, lightly.

They were keeping something from me, but I just couldn't put my finger on it. The only question that I was asking myself was,"Red Coats? I thought they were gone already."

Ella stopped sipping and looked as if someone had just shot her through the heart. A gasp escaped from her almost closed mouth. Slowly, she turned her head to me and locked eyes with me.

"Jordan, look. There's something you need to know." she said finally. She set her hand on my shoulder, lightly.

"What?"

The words got stuck in her throat and suddenly, she couldn't speak. I just stared at her,"Ella?"

I was getting worried, there was indeed something she was hiding from me, but she didn't want to say it. Either that or she was just too frightened, but why?

"Answer me." I looked at her and made her tell me,"Just tell me."

"Jordan, the Red Coats still live."

Okay it was official, once you have children and you get married, secrets will be kept from you.