"So let me get this straight. You have known I was a Rarity the entire time and you got me, my friends, and a few other Rarities together to rise up against the entire system of government? Have you lost your mind?! We are teenagers and barely have full control of our powers and you think it's a good idea to start a revolution now?" I say, anger and frustration fueling my tone.
"Well, it wasn't exactly my idea to start a revolution right now but sure." Mr. Andrews says sarcastically.
"Wait. What do you mean it wasn't your idea? You are the one that brought us together, right?" Charlotte asks hesitatingly as if she is unsure of whether or not to continue to trust Mr. Andrews.
"Yes, I did bring all of you here. But you all and I are just a small part of the Syndicate's major operations. I can explain more later, but right now I need to finish getting the rest of the trainees here. I know you all are going to have more questions but if you could wait until we get somewhere safer, that would be great." He says, sounding almost stressed and walking out of the room.
I walk over to the farthest wall of the room and sit on the ground, back against the wall, knees tucked in front of my chest... thinking. I sit like this, alone and in silence with my head between my knees for a few minutes when I feel the presence of someone on the floor beside me. I open my eyes and look to my left to find Hadley sitting next to me in a similar way. There are so many questions flooding my mind to ask her right now but only one continues to push its way to the front of my mind.
"H-How... how long have you known?" I ask feeling as if I need to know to determine how the rest of this conversation will go, which it will.
"Raven, I..." Hadley tries to start but I cut her off, knowing she was about to try to apologize profusely.
"How long?" I ask again, cutting her off.
"Since we got chosen by our elements. Tristan had come to me a while before about how he had a feeling a few people at the compound were Rarities and he had a feeling you were one but wasn't sure until what happened at the matching when the elements acted the way they did. Struggling to choose... because you aren't an Elemental. HE told me not to tell you that I knew and about the Syndicate yet. He said you weren't ready. I am so sorry Raven. Truly. You don't know how bad I wanted to tell you. But-but Tristan wouldn't let me. I am so so sorry." She finishes, a soft, silent tear rolling gracefully down her cheek and looking down in shame. My heart broke at how beat up she was about this. When it wasn't even her fault.
"Hadley, you have absolutely no reason to be sorry. It's my fault, I should have told you sooner in the first place but I didn't and that's on me. You didn't do anything wrong but protect me and yourself. Thank you." I say with a matching soft smile, quiet tears rolling down my cheeks as well.
"B-but I was so awful to you. I just keep replaying that moment over and over in my head of how I acted so angry towards you when I already knew. Raven, I am so sorry. You just needed a friend to confide in when you were worried and I completely screwed that up by treating you the way I did."
"Hadley, listen to me. It's ok, I understand why you did. And I appreciate it. And now, if you think about it, we are both kinda even because we both didn't tell each other." I finish, laughing a little, and Hadley joins in. We look at each other softly and a moment later we are in a hug squeezing the life out of the other.
We pull apart and sit backs back against the wall and I look around at the people pacing and standing across the room's floor. As I look around, I see Caleb looking my way, quickly looking down when our eyes meet for half a second. I never asked him. Is he a Rarity or just an ally? Maybe he felt so strongly about what he was talking about in the training room the other night because he is a Rarity. Maybe he can get us inside info about how to stop the Legion military pursuits. How to stop his parents.
"Why don't you just go talk to him?" Hadley nudges my arms and asks beside me.
"And how do you suggest I do that?" I say, rolling my eyes dramatically.
"You walk up and you say, 'hey, I like you and I was wondering if you are a Rarity too or just along for the ride-'"
"Woah, woah, woah. Whoever said I like him?" I say defensively, trying to deny the sudden warmth in my cheeks thinking of the conversation we had not too long ago.
"Oh come on Raven, the only one that doesn't see it is you! Like seriously, you cannot tell me that you haven't once thought he was attractive or appealing in some way." Hadley says knowingly. How does she always seem to know what is always going through my mind?
"I-I... I mean, I guess I have at some point. But that's not the point. He's the son of the king and queen who are trying to kill me mind you and-"
"And also one of us despite that. Just go talk to him and stop being stubborn please." She finishes, gets up, and walks over to Matthew who is standing in the corner by José. I continue to sit there pondering what Hadley had said. Am I really that stubborn? I walk over to Caleb, who is talking to Charlotte, who I assumed was arrested earlier. Mr. Andrews really just know what he's doing to get her out before she could be arrested. I walk over to Caleb slowly preparing myself for whatever is to come.
"Raven." I look behind me to where the voice had come from. Mr. Andrews calls my name from across the room. He gestures for me to come over to where he is standing. In reluctant disappointment, I make my way over to him, head hung low.
"Yes sir?" I ask shyly, uncertain of the imminent conversation.
"I need to have a word with you. About your powers actually."
"Okay?" I say, confused and a little uneasy.
"You have more power than I think you realize." He starts, his words confusing me.
"Wh-what do you mean 'I have more power than I realize'? I mean yeah I know my powers are different but I'm still trying to figure it out-"
"But it is so much more than you just trying to figure out your powers between Elemental and Rarity magic. There is a rumor. A prophecy if you will, that says that a Rarity will be the one to bring balance back to the city. To make things right. We have reason to believe that that Rarity... is you." Mr. Andrews says, confidently making my heart rate continue to increase. The words he says begins to sink in and it seems like the world around me is starting to spin. Out of the corner of my eye I see Hadley and Matthew talking, Caleb not to far away from them talking to Charlotte and many others scattered around the room slowly turning into blurs.
"Raven, we want you to be the face of the revolution. The young face and role model for people throughout the city see to as a new beginning. The reason we need to change the system. For people like you."
YOU ARE READING
the Rarity
General Fiction"I've chosen my side, now you must choose yours." Raven Hartly's 17th birthday, the most important day of her life... and also quite possibly the most risky. Everyone strives to live in harmony between the four genetically altered ability groups. B...
