The True Lives Of The Fabulous Kill Joys

Chapter 19- Practice Hard

I sneak outside, its late. Shrouded in the shadows I rush behind the building.

"If I can shoot in the dark, I can do anything." I mumble to myself, stepping back from the wall.

I aim and fire at the wall, practicing until I get a good aim. I practice running in different direction. I practice at different heights. Soon, as this is the second or third night of practice, I can hit the target almost every time, from any direction. I grin, catching my breath. Practice makes perfect.

I climb up onto the roof, still pumped with adrenalin. I lie back on the roof, chest still rising rapidly. Since there is less light pollution in Zone Six, I can see the stars. I admire them, the sky not black but a dark navy. Stars sprinkled on like glitter on a navy satin dress. I close my eyes and smile. Its pretty out here.

When I open my eyes they meet someone elses. I stop myself from shouting in surprise by plugging my hands over my mouth.

"Stargazing?" Gee asks.

"Yeah, why you here?" I ask.

"I could ask the same for you." He says, sitting down next to me.

"Couldnt sleep?" I prop myself up on my elbows.

"Yeah. Looks like you were practicing?"

"Yeah, I want to get better so..."

He nods and I lie back down, looking back at the stars.

When I turn to look at him, he is already looking at me. I meet his gaze and he grins. He looks like he wants to say something. I pull a face, attempting to prompt him. He doesnt say anything so I look back at the sky.

"Stars are pretty." I say, trying to make conversation.

I turn to look at him and he nods.

"Is there something on your mind?"

"Nah, just planning tomorrow." He dismisses.

"So, what is happening tomorrow?" I try and catch him out.

"A raid. Should be good." He says, barely stuttering.

I nod, fiddling with my gun on my leg.

"Is your foot better?"

"Yeah. I dont know what happened to it... Ill be able to run I think tomorrow."

"I should redo it one more time, just to keep it secure?"

I shrug, lifting my foot by him. He gives me a look before reapplying the bandage so it is tight and secure. He hums quietly, feeling around my ankle.

"Done."

"My hero!" I say like a damsel in distress.

He smirks at me and I chuckle.

"Well. Thank you and goodnight. Laters..." I wave, standing.

He nods my way and I leave him on the roof.

***

The car is again steaming down the dusty pathways toward Battery City.

"We are going back to Jay school to wreck some havoc." Gee states.

"Sounds good." Ar grins.

"Agreed." I say.

"Keep you mask on and guns up. Theyre all scared of anything that moves anyway." Gee continues.

"Just running through the halls, painting our signs and shooting?"

"Basically."

I nod as MK turns up the radio. The familiar tune plays on the radio and we all bop our heads.

Slowly we start swivelling around corners and into small streets. The music is quietened and we put our masks on. The familiar view of my old school appears in my vision. I sigh, Im back "home".

Theres something comforting about being back here. Maybe its the idea that the craziest thing will be me and everything is predictable. Maybe because nothing happens.

I poise, ready to jump out and run into the building. I pull out a piece of paper from my pocket. I write a small message on it before replacing it back in my pocket. Ive got a definite hidden agenda.

Gee stops the car outside the school and I jump out of it, running at the building. I slam the door open with a yell and run down the hall over to where my classroom was. I push the door open dramatically, seeing my old class. Everyone screams, putting their hands up. The obviously dont recognise me. The teacher is not there and I laugh. I walk over to Ace, who honestly looks terrified, and drop the note on her desk:

Ace. Not dead. J.

I stride out the class and hear the alarm go off. I run down the hall and into the main hall. I stand next to Ar who is painting his symbol. I paint my symbol quickly and run back out into the hallway.

Everyone is evacuating as I turn the corner and I grin. I mess with everyone, shooting each window out from across the hall, avoiding each person.

My adrenaline pumps as I stride down the hall. I spot Gee at the end, his red hair swept across his face. He is waving his arms around and shouting. He gives me a '30 seconds' sign and I nod in return.

I jog down another hall, out the door. MK and Ef are just getting into the car, Ar shouts from behind me.

After a few seconds, Gee runs out, yelling for MK to start the car. As soon as Gee is in the car, we speed off.

We all laugh, thinking about the reaction we got. Hilarious.

"All good? No finger prints left?" Gee asks.

"Finger prints?" I ask.

"Did you touch something and leave it there?"

I pause and think. The only thing I left there was the paper for ace. I nod slowly.

"What did you leave?"

"I left Ace a code saying Im alive? On paper?" I laugh nervously.

Ar sighs dramatically.

"Sorry?"