The Unwanted Ones - Book One

Chapter Six

"The resistance?" I repeat in disbelief.

"You heard correctly," Matt says with a nod. Although I'm still not sure I did.

"You must be joking," I say. Because the very idea of there being some resistance group is absurd. And even if there is, joining it would be like digging your own grave.

"It's true, it's real," Lena confirms. "There's a group of people who've been organizing to change the way things are. We're gonna join them."

"Will you come with us?" Matthew asks me, his eyes hopeful. I look at him and then Lena and then Danny.

"I don't know," I say. It's more than risky, it's certain death. And I have my parents and Ella to worry for.

"Alex, I know what you're thinking," Matt says. "It's dangerous. But it's worth it. Things have to change."

It's true. Doing nothing won't make things better. The more I think about it, the more I realize that I have to say yes. And for some reason I trust Matt.

"I'll go with you guys. When are you leaving?" I ask.

"Tomorrow night," Danny says, standing. He walks over and gives me an enthusiastic pat on the back. "Nice to have you join the squad!"

They all looked happy that I said yes, but I wonder what my parents will say. I'm certain they won't be supportive. They have a policy of keeping our heads down, just following the rules and getting by. Ella was an accident after all. And then I start wondering why these guys want me to go with them. So I ask.

"Because you believe things aren't right, and you seem like the type who would want to bring change." Matt explains.

Okay but I don't even have any useful skills other than reading books. How useful could that be? I don't say that out loud though.

"How did you guys even find out about this?" I ask them.

"Find out about what?" asks a familiar voice.

Gwen walks in and sits down next to Danny, her hair piled high on her head in a messy bun. She looks at all of us quizzically, and her gaze settles on me.

"Ugh you told her?" she scoffs, crossing her arms. I roll my eyes.

"Yeah, we did. She hates the government and President Nolan  just as much as you," Lena says, coming to my defense.

"Heh, I don't think anyone hates it as much as me." Gwen replies.

"Well anyways, we found out from Angela," Lena tells me.

"Yeah my aunt used to be apart of it, until she inherited this huge house from her mom. She figured opening this orphanage could be a good way to make a difference." Matt explains.

"Wait Danny weren't you just saying there's no use in fighting?" I ask him, surprised by his sudden change of heart.

Danny shrugs. "Matthew can talk practically anyone into doing anything." Matt smiles sheepishly.

Matt asks us to sit down so he can tell us the plan for tomorrow. Lena climbs onto the top bunk, and I join her, sitting with my legs crossed, my elbows propped on my knees for support.

Matt grabs a seat and turns it to face us. Holding up the map for us all to see, he starts.

"Tomorrow evening we'll start off. The group of resistors, from what my aunt told me, is here, south of us. That's a few days journey on foot, but we can hop a cargo train in between this town and the one closest to the resistance. I'm not entirely sure where they are though." he starts.

"What do you mean you don't know where they are?" Gwen asks. I can practically see the scowl forming on her face.

"Well I know they're somewhere in Westborough. I just don't have an address. I mean, my aunt gave me one but she said they may have moved since she left." Matt tells us.

"Well we can't really go around asking. How are we supposed to find them?" Lena asks.

"With any luck, they'll find us," Matt replies.

He continues, telling us what we'll need for the journey. Food, sleeping bags, the basics. We're all talking now, piping up with other things we might need.

"And if we get caught along the way?" Danny says in a serious tone, one that I didn't know he had. The rest of us go quiet.

"Well then we're just students traveling, looking for work," Matthew says with a shrug.

After all of that I decide it's time to go home and tell my parents about what I'm going to do. Danny goes back to reading, Lena and Gwen go off to do whatever and Matt brings me to go see Ella.

She's in a room full of toys, and other kids are there. She sees me and starts to crawl over.

I lean down and pick her up into my arms.

"Hey there Elly-belly," I say, smiling at her. She giggles and starts babbling.

"She'll be alright," Matt says from behind me. I turn towards him.

"What?" I ask.

"Ella, your sister. She'll be safe here while you're gone. I figured that's a big worry of yours." he tells me, his voice reassuring.

"Thank you," I say, wondering how he could so easily pick through my thoughts and tell me what I need. My heart's fluttering so I turn my attention back to Ella to keep my face from reddening.

I hand her to one of the young girls in the room, because it really is time for me to go. I leave the room and Matt comes with me, and I try not to act too startled when he places a hand on my lower back.

"What do you think about tomorrow?" he asks me.

"I think it's insane," I start. He laughs, taken aback by my bluntness.

I look at him and smile, "but I also think it's doable."

"Insane but doable," he repeats. "not the worst opinion I've gotten about it."

"What was the worst?" I ask curiously.

"'Batshit crazy.'" he says, his face serious. I can't contain my laughter at that. He walks me to the door and opens it for me, his other hand still resting on my back.

"So I'll see you tomorrow? he asks me.

"Yep, tomorrow." I reply. I turn and walk out and set out on the path home.