soulmate

Riot {Chapter 13}

However ramshackle this place may seem, the food is amazing. And I forget how hungry I really am. Within seconds I have wolfed down a full plate. "Dude slow down, man!" The teen sitting across from me laughs. He reaches a hand over and I quickly wipe my fingers off and accept the shake. "Name's John. This is my wife, Elizabeth." The petite girl next to John smiles. But I am surprised. "Excuse me, how old are you two?" A troubled expression clouds John's face. "Yea, we are both 16. But we have no idea how long we have left." He takes Elizabeth's hand. "If the Gov were to finally find out where all of their trouble was coming from, we would be destroyed immediately." He emphasizes his words with a hand motion. Poof. Now I fully understand the danger we are in, because the Government really would stop at nothing to kill us. Have us begging for mercy at the hands of their armor clad soldiers. John notices my blank expression and waves a hand in front of my face. "Hey wake up! Sienna's talking." I tune in at the sound of her name. ".....Quiet down! HEY YOU! I SAID QUIET. DOWN!" A harsh voice yells out at the crowd. I notice that it belongs to Taylor, the crazy one. His face is bright red from exertion, and I see what El sees. "Thank you, Taylor." Sienna calls wearily from the front. "So now that we have everyone's attention, I would like to make a few announcements!" My hand finds Ella's and I give it a squeeze. "We have not announced this formally, but as many of you already know, we gained some new guests last week. Unfortunately, their arrival was interrupted-" Sienna shoots a glare to her left where I assume Brandon sits. "Anyway, they are here now. Please welcome Felix and Ella! New rebels for us all!!" A huge cheer rallies through the people and our table mates motion for us to stand up. I shake my head vigorously."No. Just- no." Before I can finish, Ella hauls me up after her. I smile nervously and collide back with my chair. "What's wrong babe? Don't like crowds?" Ella teases and pokes me in the side. I nod sheepishly. "Shut it, Michaels." She giggles and we apply our attention back to the front. "Okay, okay. I have some other news as well." Her face grims, and a hush ripples through the group. "A few hours ago, I received word from our neighboring camp in Utah."

"Neighboring? You mean there are more?" I whisper to Ella. She nods. "There were 10 camps in the U.S, but the Gov is slowly picking us out. Now there are 6." Ella gulps. Will they find us here? I worry. "Word is that the Gov has found their camp. And for the first time ever, they have sent a letter." Sienna brings out a crumpled piece of paper from her pocket. "Basically, either they surrender and be publicly executed in front of the Capital, or the Gov will start killing innocents. And by innocents, they mean anyone on the street two weeks from now." Everyone reels back from the information. Killing innocents? Public execution? Apparently, this is not normal Gov protocol, because soon people begin to shout.

"We need to fight! EVERYONE!" I hear a man standing towards the back scream.

Soon, more and more cheers and demands fill the air.

"Power to the 5ths!"

"LET US FIGHT!"

"THE GOV MUST DIE!!"

Blood thirsty screams fill the air, and Ella hunches closer. This is quickly becoming a riot. Chairs scoot back abruptly and the crowd inches closer to where Sienna stands. Quick as a bullet, she dashes away. This only angers them. "5th children prevail! DEATH to the Gov!!" This voice was familiar, and I am surprised to see that the once scared Ella has now joined the shouts. "Kill the Gov!" She screams. I am becoming acutely aware of the growing hatred in this camp, and the fact that I am lying about my own identity. What would they do to me? A 2nd?

People are getting more and more agitated, and I can hear glasses shattering and children crying. I am now scared.

Ella has disappeared. I scan the crowds frantically for a brown head, but find none. Suddenly I am pushing men and women aside to look for her. "Ella!" I shout. But it is not Ella I find.

"Hey you!" I turn around and see Taylor lumbering towards me. He is lanky up close, with blond hair and freckles dotting his red face. "You started this!" He exclaimed. "ME?" I shout over the noise. "Yea! You. You barge in here lying and breaking things. Now everyone's fighting each other. I outta just kill you right here!" Taylor is insane. Absolutely insane. "What are you talking about?" I scream. At this, Taylor rushes up to me. Quick as a knife he produces a shattered bottle from behind his back. I step back. "Woah, man. Chill." I try to calm the storm I started, but Taylor is closing the distance I am creating. "It makes sense! Just kill you right here. Right now. No one would notice. Nope." My eyes meet his crazed ones. He raises the bottle and creeps ever closer. "I see right through you, Felix." He whispers. I flinch as the bottle scrapes the edge of my cheek. A thousand thoughts race through my mind, but I can't think for the sound of rioting rushing through my ears. "In fact, it wouldn't take long at all to, oh, I don't know. I could spare you, take you to the front, and tell this little secret you have here. Then I think everyone might just-"

BANG. BANG.

I freeze at the sound of the gun, and miraculously so does everyone else.

You could hear a pin drop as we all searched for the owner of the weapon. "That's. Enough." Sienna wades through the sweaty patrons carrying a shot gun and a sneer on her pretty little face. "We will get the chance to overrule the Gov. But this is not the answer. When we do fight, we will be prepared. Strong. Capable. Nothing like the quick to act rebellions who are nothing but bones and ashes now." She raises her hand in a fist to rally us. "And we WIll fight! We WIll win! And we will DESTROY the Gov once and for ALL." At this the crowd goes wild. I stay quiet, scared of what Taylor might do. I look at him with a look I am sure can kill. He smirks evilly and motions his hand to where I am surprised to find Ella. Slowly, he brings up a bony hand to his neck in a chopping motion and winks. "Let's fight the Gov!!" He yells and whisks away before I can snap his neck. Anger like none I have ever experienced seethes through me, and I fear for the next time that kid crosses me.

"Felix!!" Delicate hands wrap me from behind. "Ella...." I breathe a sigh of relief and hug her tight. Eventually, everyone begins to calm down and heads back to their houses. "Hey, what's that? Did someone hurt you?" Ella's eyes widen at my cheek. I feel a small trickle of blood drop on my neck. I wipe it away. "Nothing. I guess it was a scab or.. something." Ella's eyes betray her nod. She knows I am lying.

"I forgot, you haven't seen our little house yet." Ella holds my hand and leads me to a small house not far from the fire pit. "We can live here forever. This can be home." She says with a smile. The inside is not much, only a bed and a small living area, but it already seems like a home.

"We made it Fe.." Ella whispers, tears gathering in her eyes. "Ella, what's wrong?" I sit by her on the bed. She sniffs. "I have no idea where my family is. My big brother is probably dead. They could all be dead. They might not even notice I'm gone." I wrap my arm around her slim form and hug her close. "Let's go to sleep. You're tired, I know." Slowly, I help Ella remove her shoes and crawl under the soft covers. I tuck her in and kiss her head before blowing out the light and climbing in next. But I can't fall asleep. "Ella?" I whisper. She rolls over to face me. "We lied to them. What if they find out about me? What will they do?" The words spill from my mouth, and Ella eventually just holds me close. "Shh. It's okay. Nothing is going to happen to you. I promise." Even though I am ashamed for the weakness I am showing to the weakest, my eyes get heavier and heavier.

"Goodnight Felix."