Burnt out

Family Discussion

I close my eyes and when I open them it's morning. The birds are singing and I start to realize the state I'm in.

My hair is black from ash, and my face has ash smears as well. Tear stains streak my cheeks, and my shirt is burnt to a crisp. Unsurprisingly my skin is unburned.

Fuck, I have to get back to my family. The only reason I think they haven't called the police is because of Lee. I pull the burner phone out of my pocket, and there's a message. *Hey if you want to accept my offer text back (1)* I close it with a sharp click. I groan. I don't know what time it is, definitely early though. I stand up.

"Bye Claire Bear" I smile softly, kissing her grave stone. I strip off my shirt as it is burnt to my skin, and it looks better without it. I think a crazy teen with no shirt is gonna be seen as more normal than a teen with a burnt up shirt. I toss my shirt somewhere in the woods and start my descent back home.

What would mom and Harry think about me joining the children's league? I know they have some pretty strong opinions. They would probably hate it. But it would get me away from them so I couldn't hurt them. If I could learn to control it, the power I'd have would be crazy. But that's what I was scared of. Power. It corrupted. But right now there was not much left to corrupt. And Lee could work right beside me.

He might get hurt but it was better than letting people choose his life. Lee had a bad habit of this, I always gave him a push. He let his bullies walk all over him, so I broke three noses and an arm. This would be his choice. For once. Guilt controls me and I throw up into some abandoned houses yard. They were all abandoned now. I know soon ours will be too. I know Mom and Harry are planning to go on the run.

I reach my front door and I'm scared to knock. My hand is levitating in the air, shaking. What if they don't want me anymore? I quickly knock to get it over with. Just when I was going to run away, I look down and see Lee standing in front of me. His eyes are red like he's been crying. He stares at me before giving me a big hug.

"Hey, kid" I smile.

"Is it him?" I hear my mom call hopefully from upstairs. I hear her running down the stairs, followed by murmuring from Harry. She gets to the bottom of the stairs and looks at me before running up to me and hugging me. I don't think she'll ever let go. I don't dare to go inside the entrance incase I'm not welcome. Harry must notice this because he comes up behind my mom.

"Come inside, you look cold." He gulped.

I smile. Like I get cold. I walk inside.

"Don't ever run away again ok?" My mom cries.

"Ok." I attempt to sound positive but my thoughts are still swarming around John's proposition. Would that be running away? I must still be in a certain amount of shock, because I don't know what to say.

Harry fills the silence, "If you ever scare your mother like that again"

"We thought you were dead!" My mom hasn't stopped crying and is speaking in between sobs. "And-and we couldn't call the police because of your brother, we tried to find you, but at a certain point we had to give up. Where were you?"

It shows how badly they know me, that Claire's grave isn't the first place they checked. A lump appears in my throat. I always mess up everyone's lives. They were so worried.

"I'm s-sorry. I'm so sorry." Is all I manage to get out before I sob into my hands.

"Oh Cole." My mom coos, "Let's get you into some clean clothes ok?"

I nod my head, and wipe away my tears. "I'm sorry." I barely murmur.

"I know." My mom smiles.

I have to wear Harry's clothes because all of my clothes are burnt to a crisp. I change into some boring green tank top, and grey shorts. I don't miss everyone's look when they see what I am wearing, it is winter after all.

"We all need to have a discussion." Harry states while gesturing for us to sit down. "There have started to be rumors of PSFs coming to houses and demanding kids."

Like goddamn Natzis.

"Because of this me and your mom have decided we need to go on the run."

I'm not surprised at this information but Lee's face looks shocked. Did he really not see this coming? They were trying not to make him feel bad, but I know that Lee is the only reason we had to go on the run. I am 15 so no one will suspect me, but Lees somehow already in the system.

"I have something else to discuss," I speak quietly like I'm still deciding my words, "last night someone came up to me from the Children's League."

"WHAT?!" Mom and Harry turn to me, while Lee just looks confused. Mom turns to him explaining it in the simplest way possible.

"He asked me if I would be interested in joining."

"And you said no, right?" Harry looks at me, "Right?"

"He gave me this phone," I pull out the phone, "He said if I accept his offer to text 1."

This time my mom steps in, "Cole sweety, last night you burned down your whole room. So excuse us if we aren't so excited about you joining a terrorists group."

"They aren't terrorists! They are trying to free the camps. Come on, we all know that the camps are sucky! I won't just run away knowing that kids like Lee," and like me I think, "are being so mistreated. I'm going, the question is if Lee is too."

They both just stare at me shocked, "Lee is not going anywhere." Harry answers loudly.

"It's his choice." I look over at Lee who's now big eyed, "For once he should have a choice."

"He should at least know what he's getting into."

"You're right he should. Lee, this is going to be scary, no matter what you choose to do." I look at him seriously, "Working with the League will not be risk free, but I do believe that in the end it will help so much. It will be long and hard, and anytime you want to stop and find Harry and Mom you can say so. Ok?"

"Ok." We all stare at him, "I wanna help. I can't just sit here. I wanna join the League."

My mom looked like she was gonna cry.

"My kids are finally growing up." She smiles. "You know all this helping people has given me an idea." She turns to Harry, "What if we keep kids in secret?"

"I like that idea."

Before long me and Lee are packed and leaving to meet the van from the league. My moms hugging Lee. She turns up to me.

"Remember our code names ok? And please be safe." She's crying again.

"We are so proud of you."

"Goodbye" I smile full of hope for what's to come. Harry and mom wave goodbye as we walk down the sidewalk.