Hour wipes off his tears before entering the Diamond District room. Sapi is seen lifting Vine in the air, she drops her. Hour glares at both of the girls awkwardly, they move on, excited for what news he has to bring.
"Did you see anything?" Sapi queries, excitedly.
"The files exist. We have real names." Hour answers, looking down.
He then gives direct eye contact to Sapi.
"You're Fatima Diaz."
Sapi gasps, Hour moves on to Vine.
"You're Alice Hughes."
Vine gives a similar reaction to Sapi. Hour sprints away towards his bunk.
"What's yours?" Vine asks.
"Yeah, and why is your...scarf stained? Wait, why do you have a scarf!?" Sapi interrogates.
"I don't want to talk about it! Just ask Cat!" Hour yelps, covering himself with the pillow.
"Cat...isn't...Wait, where's Cat!?" Vine realizes.
The doors again burst open, revealing Cat.
"We need to have a meeting! Quickly!" She announces.
All the members of the Resistance gather in a circle on the floor, Hour won't budge from the bed.
"Hour, what are you doing? Come on!" Cat calls out.
"This is stupid!" Hour cries.
"Man up!" Sapi adds.
"Get over here, short-stack! You're wasting time!" Vine carps.
Cat stands up and gives a direct stare at Hour.
"Owen Anderson. Get out of that bed, right now." She scowls.
Hour's eyes widen. He transports to another flashback.
He remembers his room, in his real home. He'd just had been humiliated by a bunch of jerks at school. The next day, he didn't want to go. He protested, staying in bed and not moving by even a bit. His father walks in the room.
"Owen Anderson. Get out of that bed, right now!" His father demands.
He nods no and heads under the covers.
"That's it. I'm getting your mother. I can't stand this behavior." He threatens, slamming the door.
His mother comes back and creaks it open.
"Why ani't you listening to ya' father?" The mother questions, agitated.
Hour can't say anything, he just sobs.
"Do you wanna' go to school?"
Hour nods against the question.
"Why?"
Hour remains unresponsive.
"Ya' know it's kinda' rude to disobey the ones above ya'." The mother mentions.
This time, rather than Hour being unable to respond, he is not sure how to respond.
"Alls ya' wanna' do is ignore me, huh?"
Hour sinks under the covers.
"Fine. Ya' don't have to go to school. But, keep yourself at this rate and you's goin' get a beating." The mother sighs, calmly closing the door behind her.
Hour reverts back to present time, sobbing loudly on the bed. Cat frowns to the response, upset she had been the one to trigger it.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have used your real name. Just take your time." She apologizes, holding back tears.
Cat then looks back to the group.
"Vine, I have to talk to you one on one. Sapi, just wait a bit."
"Whatever." Sapi scoffs.
Vine and Cat move to another corner in the room.
**************************************************
"Actually, Cat, now that I know my name is Alice Hughes. I would like to go by Alice Hughes." Vine smiles.
"Okay then, if you're Alice Hughes. Then I'm Kira Kendrick." Cat giggles, playing along.
"So, what was it you wanted to tell me?" Vine asks.
"When I was in the file floor, I overheard Doctor Chan saying things about us. Like you and I." Cat explains, switching to a more serious tone.
"What kind of things?"
"She said we were in the wrong district."
Vine face goes from grave to shocked.
"What!? What district were we supposed to be in!?"
"Square."
"Do you think she knows about the Resistance?"
"Hopefully not. As long as we're not suspici-"
Cat is interrupted by the sound of the rest of the Diamond District coming back from tasks. They all stare skeptically at the Resistance.
"How come you guys are here when tasks just ended?" A member raises in doubt, emphasizing the word "Just".
Sapi moves in the middle of the rest of the three proudly.
"I think you're the one to question. Considering you did quite a mediocre job on your tasks today." She smirks.
The rest of the members look at each other in a confused manner.
"Doctor Chan let us leave early, since we were doing such a great job on our tasks. Couldn't imagine a fate otherwise." Sapi continues, mocking everyone else in a baby voice.
The rest of the room burst into ambivalence. Questioning whether they are up to the standards of Doctor Chan. Sapi poses proudly. Hour continues grieving. Vine and Cat stare in blow.
YOU ARE READING
The Boy Who Caught Time
Science FictionAfter an electric wave was sent over the city of Buffalo, some children had taken in too much of the energy. They were given mutations, obtaining supernatural abilities. Unfortunately, notorious forces had discovered these youths. Forced into labs a...
