We're the Freaks

Innocent as a Flower

"Be good while we're gone!" Their mom calls from the front door before locking it behind her.
Kyla practically jumps off her bed and races to her sister's room, her long hair practically floating behind her.
"Luke!" She opens the door and her brother looks up at her from where he's lying in the bed. His eyes are tired and sad, but he smiles when he sees Kyla.
"Are you ready?" He swings his feet off the bed and walks over to her as his younger sister nods vigorously.
They climb up the steps to their roof. In one corner, a box with dirt sits untouched. Kyla rushes over to it and sits down impatiently. Luke follows, looking around somewhat cautiously. When he sits down next to her sister, he takes a few flower seeds out of his pocket.
"Would you like to do the honors?"
Kyla giggles and holds out her hands. He places three seeds into her palms and watched as his sister puts them on top of the dirt, and then carefully presses them into it.
"Very good." He says. "Now watch this."
Kyla looks over to see his hand poised over the flowers. Slowly, Luke raises his hand up from the dirt. Three green sprouts shoot up, twirling before their eyes. They bloom, bursting with vibrant color as their petals fan out in all directions.
Kyla's mouth drops into an O as she stares, awestruck.
"That was so cool!" She says at last, tackling her older brother with a hug.
Her brother laughs. "I'm glad you like it." Kyla doesn't notice him blinking away tears that threaten to spill forward. Instead, she reaches towards the watering can. It's a little too heavy, and her brother helps her lift it. As they practically douse the flowers with droplets, Luke says quietly, "remember, you can't tell mama or papa about this, ok?"
"Ok!" She says, watching the water cascade over the leaves and petals.

—

Kyla pulls her brother down the street, past various shops that sell a wide variety of goods.
"Look, look!" She points to some flowers in the window as they stop next to the garden store.
"They're pretty, aren't they?" he says.
"Not as pretty as yours." They both giggle at the secret kept between them. Even so, Luke can't help but glance about the street to make sure no one is listening. People continue on with their business; no one pays any attention to the two siblings looking at flowers in the window of a shop.
He shook his head. It's not like growing pretty flowers is an abnormal occurrence. He has nothing to be afraid of. Nothing but the looming threat that the Sentenal Services could lock you up forever. One wrong move and you're done for. He corrects himself.
"Come on!" Kyla tugs his hand again and they continue. "I saw an ice cream shop down this way!"
"Is food the only thing in your mind?" Her brother rolls his eyes but allows himself to be led on.
A girl around his age bumps into them. "Sorry!" She says as she pushes through the crowd.
They watch her go, moving almost frantically against the stream of people. Suddenly, two officers cross her path. She ducks her head and swivels, trying to find another direction to head in.
"Ma'am," one of them says. She returns the way she came, most likely trying to blend into the crowd. The officer grabs her wrist, only to somehow fly backwards in the air and crash into a parked car. The girl stares at him, shocked. The second officer is equally shocked, staring at his partner now lying dazed, on the car.
Someone screams and suddenly people are rushing to get off the streets. Kyla's brother pushes her up against the wall to avoid getting trampled by the crowd.
The second officer points his gun at the girl, still staring at the officer in the car. The partner yells into his walkie, calling for backup. Four more officers round the corner, advancing on the girl. One of them carried a gun with some sort of tranquilizer dart attached.
Luke's eyes widen. Keeping one hand on Kyla, he raises the other towards the advancing officers.
Suddenly, large vines burst from the garden shop, wrapping around the ankles of the advancing officers. Most of them trip and fall to the ground. They continue to try to crawl away from the writhing green tendrils, but soon enough, their entire bodies are wrapped in cocoons.
Without a second glance, the girl ducks into an alleyway. Kyla's brother grabs her hand and pulls her down the street as well.
"I'll have to buy you ice cream another time." He apologizes as they turn the corner, increasing the distance between themselves and the officers.
Kyla doesn't object. She doesn't say anything the entire walk home.