The Untouchables

Chapter Three: Luke

I couldn't stand the stuffiness of the large courtroom. Everyone's body heat and breathing seemed to roll off of the white, marble walls, and back down onto us.

It also didn't help our case that it was also the middle of the summer, which meant that the heat from the summer sun seeped through the walls and got trapped in the room, creating a sauna-like experience for everyone inside.

Large arched windows, lined the walls, and the arches from the ceiling seemed to stretch down, almost in reach, although they were still quite a bit over our heads. The rows and rows of pews were packed with all sorts of people, eager to see the conviction of Rebels.

My Mother, Father, Aunt, and Uncle were all standing on a barred podium in front of the Monarch's Judge, Jury, and viewers.

My family is responsible for gathering information, and sending it to the rest of the rebels. Whether that's information on the Monarch, position on enemy informants, or planning raids, we're the ones mainly responsible for that.

The only reason I'm not up there with them is because I live under a fake alias, making it nearly impossible for my crimes against the Monarch to be traced back to me, and somebody had to sit with my little cousins to keep them quiet.

My family on the podium were yelling and pleading their cases, as the Judge and Jury took notes. I'm sure everyone could already tell what their verdict was going to be, because "anyone under suspicion of being associated with the Rebels, or having rebel influence, will be executed, or punished in whatever manner seemed fit", but for my cousins' sake, I kept myself optimistic on the outcome.

Unfortunately, as little kids do especially, my cousins started to get restless after sitting in the hot and stuffy courtroom, with nearly a hundred people crammed in the pews for hours. My two, twin cousins started to mess with each other, poking each other, trying to make the other one laugh, and fidgeting with their legs. I flicked the both of them to get their attention and to make sure they stayed quiet. Fortunately, they got the message, and stopped without trouble.

As I looked back up at the stage, I could see that every one of my family's faces were bruised from the punishment they endured during arrest and prior to the trial, and were all quite sweaty. Either from the heat radiating off of the walls of the courtroom, or because they've been yelling at the Judge for a few hours straight now. It wasn't only them though, the Monarch's Judge was yelling back at them, and he too looked winded. It couldn't have helped that this man was quite pudgy and overweight. The buttons and the seams on his suits were stretched to their limits and he would probably be just fine with skipping a few desserts at the Monarch's gatherings.

In the middle of my thoughts, a finger poked my leg.

"Psst, Luke, look!" My little cousin, Cora, whispered to get my attention. "Your mother's looking at you."

I quickly pressed my hand over her mouth, and looked around to see if anybody heard her. 'Luke' is the name I was given when I was born, but due to unforeseen circumstances, I couldn't keep the name I was given to not only protect the undercover rebellion, but also myself.

Thankfully, no one seemed to be paying attention to us or her little slip-up. They were all too enthralled with the prosecution of the rebels on the stage in front of them.

I looked back down at her, pressed my finger to my lips, and shook my head, as if to say, Shh, don't say that, especially not here. Her face turned red, and she looked down in embarrassment. I patted her little head to let her know that it was ok, then I looked up to see my Mother staring directly at me from her position on the podium, just as Cora said.