The Untouchables

Chapter Twenty-six: Lynn

For the remainder of the day, everyone prepped, and trained for the mission we had ahead of us.

Apparently, the 'curses' so to speak that each of the kids were given, were proving to be incredibly useful.

More like 'gifts' actually, as opposed to 'curses'.

Each 'curse', was an advantage against the Monarch and the Rangers that they don't have.

But that's probably what they were meant to do in the first place.

Throughout the rest of the afternoon while the rest of the kids practiced their abilities, Melody, Arlo, Griffin, and I prepared backpacks for each of us to carry. Some with food and snacks, others with weapons, and some with tools like lockpicks and grappling hooks. I tried to ask where they got all of this stuff, since we as citizens, or fugitives, couldn't own them without being arrested or killed.

Arlo just told me it was none of my business, and we left it at that.

Eventually, after a long afternoon's work of preparation, Melody called out to everyone in the Hideout.

"Dinner's ready!" She shouted.

A stampede of kids of all ages flooded into the dining room, eager to get a filling meal before we raid government buildings.

Casually of course.

Good times.

Despite never opening her eyes, and I have no idea how she does almost anything, Kasumi is a spectacular cook. For what we had left in the refrigerator, she whipped up lemon-herb chicken with teriyaki rice.

I don't know how, but she did.

It might've topped the potato mushroom stew I made for Jayden and I a couple of months ago.

It was delicious nonetheless.

We all sat around a long, rectangular wooden dining room, surrounded by grand, plush chairs.

Everyone filed into the room, sat down at their respective spots, and Kasumi filled everyone's plates.

It tasted amazing! It was definitely more than what I've eaten in a single sitting in more than a month. Probably almost ever.

The chatter around the table was loud, but it was also extremely heartwarming.

For the past three months, I've had to listen to the sounds of noisy, unintelligent children for months on end, while now, I was surrounded by talking by intelligent kids like myself, even if we were all underground and about to commit a felony.

Once we all finished, Melody passed out the bags to the kids, and helped them up the ladder, leading out of the hideout. Arlo gave all of the kids black masks, and the older few of us tied them around their heads.

After everyone looked ready to commit a federal jailbreak, we set out to the dark streets of the Monarch's Sector, surrounded by my only friends, and the cold, night air.

~~~

Melody led the way through the black streets of the Monarch's Sector. We weaved in and out of alleyways and out of the way of patrolling Rangers for miles and hours. We didn't have many weapons besides our abilities, except I had my sword, Melody had a little bag slung across her body, and Arlo had a small handgun at his waist.

I didn't think that some of the younger kids could say that quiet for that long, especially Lysander, a little firecracker of a boy, but that must've been something they practiced for hours on end.

And I was certainly thankful for it.

We made our way soundlessly through the streets as the large, black raven flew ominously overhead, gliding on the night air.