How Much I Know - a Renegades | Marissa Meyer fan fiction

Chapter 2

Mara jumped up and down on the balls of her feet as she struggled to see above the heads of the people in front of her. Even at 12, she was still excited by easy things like parades. Her friends chastised her for her childish energy, but Mara knew they were just happy that she was happy. It was hard to see a smile on her face anymore, and everyone knew that if she was in the mood to be joyful, they should let her be.

Mara craned her neck to see the floats. The first ones showed the villains. The actors, playing the roles of Queen Bee, Phobia, and Ace Anarchy. The last one scared Mara by popping out of a building on the float. It was met by joyous laughter. Rotten fruit was launched at the actors, but they kept up their act. Screaming, and calling the audience "Little nightmares," and such. Mara shivered as she remembered Nightmare, the villain, showing up many places within the past year.

She contemplated this while she munched on the pretzels she had purchased from a street vendor.

Don't forget, she reminded herself, the Renegades will protect us, and they always will. That thought gave her hope. A little sliver that started in her chest, then grew until it filled her with warmth. She hugged herself, trying to keep that feeling inside, before - as it had done many times previously - it dissipated and flickered out, to leave her in the world with only the memory of safety.

"Hey you! With the pretzels!" a voice called out to her. She turned around to see a teenage boy with dark skin and glasses looking at her. She tried to calm her startling by taking deep breaths.

Mara's parents had always taught her to be wary of strangers, but that was during the Age of Anarchy. Certainly, talking to a kind-looking person in the middle of a crowd of reasonable people couldn't hurt, could it?

"Hello," Mara said, walking over to the boy.

"Hey, what's your name?" he said, smiling. Mara had expected that he was going to look down at her like 'the child she was,' but instead he kneeled down to her eye level. He met her eyes like she was his equal.

"My name is Mara," she said, relaxing into the situation. Then, remembering her father's lessons, she added, "It is a pleasure to meet you."

The boy laughed warmly, and said, "It is mine also. I'm Adrian."

Suddenly, a thought occurred to Mara. She realized that the boy must have wanted to ask something of her, and if he didn't, than the conversation would become awkward soon, and Mara should leave. So she said as much. "What did you ask me over here for? Obviously, you wanted to ask me something, and otherwise, this greeting will get very uncomfortable without a clear line of focus. So, spill."

The boy looked surprised by this outburst, and he rocked back on his heels. Mara took that as success.

The boy - Adrian - said, "I, um, really didn't think of that part. I suppose I just wanted to make some Rold Gold commercial references. My dads make them all the time."

Mara smiled. Her parents also made references to commercials. "Well, in that case, I'll best be going now," Mara said, in a not-so-stealthy way of getting out of the conversation.

"If, you know, you're ever anywhere inside Renegade HQ... say hi, or something." Adrian, she supposed, was not known for his conversational skills.

"Okay, I'll do that."

Mara turned and dove into the crowd, leaving Adrian staring after her. He looked curious and surprised. Mara had that effect on people.

Just as Mara was contemplating this, a gunshot echoed through the street. It sounded like it was from the other side of the square. Mara dove for cover in an alley. Despite her care-free appearance, she still worried about events like this. She opened her fanny pack - the best carrying contraption ever - and brought out a set of handcuffs. She didn't want The Puppeteer to have free rein over her. Mara cuffed her hands and tied them to a nearby poll. She was restrained, and not a moment too soon.

A golden rope wrapped itself around her neck. Suddenly, she felt her body under someone else's control. She thrashed violently, trying to rid the handcuffs. But she had thought of this. A small feeling of pride filled her conscience; she could avert The Puppeteer's power. She almost laughed aloud, but the sound was only in her head.

So what? She had escaped. She had thought ahead.

Mara's joy was suddenly diminished as she watched the destruction outside of her peaceful alleyway. She saw flashes of the Council, attempting to subdue the Puppeteer-controlled children without hurting them. Have fun with that, she thought bitterly.

Mara was aware of the rope fading around her neck. Even so, the evidence of its existence was clear.

Mara undid the handcuffs by use of a hidden release latch. This was the Puppeteer's flaw; he could control the children physically, but he knew nothing of their mind. Any secret releases would be lost to him. Mara doubted that Winston Pratt - or The Puppeteer - would pay much attention to her again, after the previous mishap. Or, at least, she hoped not.

In any case, Mara had to get home. As far away from this bloodshed as possible. That may sound selfish, but Mara was no hero. She had no powers. She wasn't brave. Let the superheroes deal with that. Mara had better - and more productive - things to do.

Mara started walking home, and looked up to the sky, barely visible through the building, and caught sight of a figure, clad in all black, like a ninja. She was perched on an old fire escape. She also carried a periscope and was using it to peer over top of the building. What she was seeing was anyone's guess, but she looked glued to the spot. Without looking over her shoulder, the ninja reached into her bag and pulled out a slip of paper. She released it and it fluttered down to where Mara was standing. Mara caught it, and read the words:

I am no one. You do not know my name, nor anything about me. Never in your memory did you meet or see me. You may leave now.

Immediately after reading those words, Mara felt an undeniable urge to obey them. She felt the memory leave her head, but it was almost like the note was asking her consent. She knew that if she wanted to, she could remember this instant. That she didn't have to obey.

No. That's crazy talk. She was just an innocent little girl. She would obey, because it would bring attention to her otherwise. She didn't want attention.

But... the girl on the wall looked about Mara's age. There was something important about this encounter, she was sure, or else she wouldn't have been given this note.

This was her opportunity to do something memorable. Her chance to be a real hero. No one else had seen the figure on the roof. No one else had this opportunity.

If Mara wouldn't remember this instant; if she couldn't bring herself to be brave, how could she expect anyone else to?

Resist. For the first time in her life, Mara rebelled against the power. She clung to the memory, and wouldn't let go. With all her might she relived the moment with the strange figure. Eventually, the white fog obscuring the moment stopped its fighting. She had won! She had beaten a prodigy, even if only she could revel in the victory.

Nevertheless, Mara stiffly walked away from the alleyway, back toward civilization, trying to look as if under the spell.

"Nice try," the ninja said, voice echoing through the alley.