The Queer Rebels

Chapter 38: Stumbling

We step out of the alley and into the chaos of the Unity Day parade. The streets are unrecognizable from earlier today, now a sea of color and noise under the bright lights. People are still shouting and laughing. Giant posters of the Great Olek hang from the sides of buildings, his stern face overseeing the celebrations.

Eli, carrying most of Harry's weight, nods, and we move.

Eli's loud voice cuts through the din. "Man, brother! You haven't been this drunk since the dorms!" He laughs heartily, drawing a few passersby to join in.

I force a smile, my heart pounding in my chest.

We weave through the crowd, which is slowly breaking up now that the parade is over and the fireworks display has ended.

Every few blocks, a guard scans the crowd from the corner. Have there always been this many guards in the city? Or is this because of our recent protest?

I keep my head down, trying to blend in, but my pulse quickens each time we pass one. The halo-mask should hold, but there's always a risk. Eli keeps up his boisterous act, making jokes and greeting strangers with exaggerated cheerfulness.

We pass a group of people dressed in traditional Unity Day attire, their clothes a patchwork of reds, blues, and golds. One of them stumbles into me, and I mutter an apology, trying not to draw too much attention. The air is thick with the smell of fried food and sweat, a tangible reminder of how many people have packed into this space.

"Hey, watch it, brother!" Eli says, laughing as he pretends to steady Harry. "Don't want you puking on my shoes!"

We're just another group of revelers, nothing to see here.

As we move away from the main drag, the noise of the celebration fades. The crowd thins out, the sidewalks darken, and most people head towards the tram stops. We don't have the IDs needed to board, so we'll have to keep walking. My arms ache from supporting Harry's weight, and I know Eli must be feeling it too. We can't keep this up for much longer.

"Almost there," Eli mutters, his voice low enough that only I can hear. "Just a bit further."

I nod, glancing back to make sure no one is following us. Even in the dim lamplight of the side-streets, the posters of the Great Olek seem to glare down at us, a constant reminder of the danger we're in.

But for now, we blend in.

For now, we're safe.

We continue to walk, each step taking us further from the noise and chaos of the parade and closer to the city's edge. The sense of relief is palpable, but I know it's only temporary. We still have a long way to go.

As we get closer to the city's edge, the crowd becomes sparse, and the sounds of the parade no longer float on the air. My arms ache, my shoulders burn, and every step feels like I'm wading through thick mud. Harry's weight is taking its toll on both of us. I glance at Eli, his face strained with effort, but determined.

"Finally," Eli says when we make it to the border.

We lug Harry down the dark narrow alley and approach the retaining wall. I look up, seeing the outline of the thick hedges that we'll need to push through.

Eli grunts as he shifts Harry's weight. "Alright, let's do this."

With a final heave, we lift Harry up the wall. I clamber up first, pulling Harry up by his arms, while Eli pushes from below. Then we push through the hedges. They are prickly and resist our efforts, but we squeeze through, our clothes snagging on the branches.

Finally, we reach the fence. The hole is barely big enough, but we manage, one by one. I go first, then Eli pushes Harry through, and finally squeezes himself. The moment we're on the other side, a sense of relief washes over me.