24
I DIDN’T THINK TOO MUCH of it because I’d been doing so much practice posting with all the new recruits. I was zoned into writing code and didn’t respond for a few seconds, but when the buzzing continued I stopped and took a look at the contact name on the screen. It was Kristen!
kristen: madison its me are you there im all right im alive
me: yes yes im here youre all right
kristen: im a servant in a big house but they didnt hurt me
me: you got the cell now we can keep in touch
kristen: how did you do all this why its too dangerous
me: I want you back what the bloods do has to stop
kristen: what now what do you want me to do
me: for now just stay safe and keep the cell hidden were going to start to shake things up
kristen: what do you mean
me: were planning a demonstration and I need feedback whatever you hear about it
kristen: i can do that but please be careful you know how the SMPs are
me: i will ill let you know the day it happens lots to do bye for now
kristen: love you
me: lvu2 i will
“Guys . . . get over here . . . take a look!”
I was stunned and didn’t even hear what Liza and Birkhoff were saying to me when they realized Kristen had just contacted us. After a full-blown exhale, I slapped myself in the face in order to rejoin the world of the here and now.
“Madison . . . Madison . . . did you hear me?” Liza asked, snapping her fingers in front of my laconic unblinking eyes while Birkhoff was shaking my shoulders.
“Yah . . . no . . . what did you say again?” I apologetically replied, just barely back among the living.
“You must be so relieved and hearing from Kristen is great, but what now?” Liza asked, her words still singed with traces of skepticism.
“She’s right, you know, we did all this work, we’ve got this amazing communications tool slash weapon, but are we ready to actually see what it can do, and are we ready for the fallout, no matter what that is if we take aim at the Citadel?” Birkhoff added, the seriousness of taking the next step weighing heavily even on his rebellious broad shoulders.
CHANGE NEVER COMES EASY. I could appreciate the warnings, but I knew there was no turning back. Things had to change. Freedom and Justice were worth dying for.
Where was that coming from? I was only 16. Why did I even care about anyone but myself and my immediate family? What was going on inside, pushing me to race down such a dangerous slippery slope? This was one of those rare times in a person’s life—when the only thing you can do is to follow your gut no matter where it leads.
“Look we can certainly go over this some more, but for now let’s table any talk of retreat and instead plan something to at least let the bloods know there are plebs ready to stand up to their tyranny!” I railed, part of me ready to rally the troops and fearlessly march forward, banner in hand, like Joan of Arc of old, while the rest of me wanted to run for cover, pull a blanket over my head, and never leave the house again.
I could see that my best next move was to engage Birkhoff hoping Liza would catch our rebel fever and join in.
“I’m thinking we send out a sniff post to see how many of our contacts would be willing to make signs and meet up at the same time, at the same place. What do you think?” I proposed, hoping for consensus without appearing to be driving things forward on my own.
YOU ARE READING
Hereafter
Teen FictionYou’re about to read Hereafter. Possibly you’ve already read, Maitreya, and may have a sense that the storyline was not pure fiction. Much of the plot was inspired by made-up stories in pop culture, as in the Twilight characters, Bella and Edward, a...
