Rebels

Ch. 9

Jack was unusually eager the next morning. His interest for this so-called rebellion had eaten him up inside. He loved to get involved with messy things, and rebelling against the government was the best thing he could think of. He loved to make his name known, and not in a good way. Yet, the only thing he called himself good at was being a thief. He has had no experience in politics or any such related topic.

Lyla had come out of her room, yet Luca had not been seen. Arin was still sleeping in the bed, and Jack forced his jealousy down. He rolled out from the couch, his arms still feeling like a ton weighing his shoulders down. He stood, walking to the kitchen, where he searched the cabinets in desperate need for food. He had gotten used to the feeling of starvation before, but now that he knew he didn't have to steal any food, he was more desperate than ever. He opened up a cupboard above the sink and found it stocked with a few remnants of bread. He sighed and grabbed the pieces anyways, closing the cabinet. He brushed the dust from the pieces and bit into them, ignoring the stale flavor they gave off.

Lyla stepped to the other side of the counter and propped her elbows on the countertop. "Luca's still as good as dead. We have to keep our profiles low for a few days." She spoke as if she were bored to do so.

Jack ripped another piece from the bread. He was more interested in these "monitors" that Lyla spoke of earlier. In his sleep, Jack thought of multiple questions that were roaming through his mind about the topic. He wanted to know why officials took citizens away. He was desperate to know whether this posed him for more of a serious threat- for he and Arin both had escaped the slave trade. "What triggers the monitor to go off?" Jack started.

Lyla groaned and slid her arms off of the countertop, turning away. "Honestly Jack, why do you keep nagging at me about it?" She said.

Jack set his bread down, a sudden urge to speak his mind washing over him. "First of all, Lyla, I want to make something straight. You can't kick me out. I am an adult and only I am in control of my life. Secondly, I think that if I'm new to this city, you should tell me the regulations."

Lyla turned, grabbing a flower from a vase that stood in the center of the dining table. "Why should I be the one to tell you?"

Jack smiled, knowing that he had looped her under his persuasion. "Well, you can't seem to get rid of me."

At that, Lyla frowned, knowing it was somewhat true. She hadn't wanted Jack nor Arin to leave for multiple reasons she would never dare to say out loud. She set the flower she was picking back into the vase, letting the picked petals fall to the floor. "Fine." She stated, stepping back up to the counter and placing her elbows once again onto the countertop. "The rules are simple. Do not murder, steal, commit any violations that affect others physically-"

"Ah, yes." Jack interrupted, not interested in that part of the regulations. "Can you possibly tell me more about what relates to the monitors?" He implied as simply as he could.

Lyla knew that Jack was going to continue to nag her, so she gave in. "If you attempt to get rid of a pen, then the government will take you away. If you try to do something incorrect such as to steal or to even get drunk, then you will be taken. They see everything. There is no possible way to turn the pens off. Any newcomers to the city will receive a pen if they go directly to the king, which is required of you to do."

Jack's eyes widened. He had dug himself too big of a hole, he knew that much. All he wanted was to escape the slave trade. Now that Jack had learned of these things, first and foremost he wanted to find the rebellion. "Has anyone been able to locate this group of anonymous rebels?"

Lyla sighed and turned, walking back towards the flower vase. She hesitated to pick a flower this time. "Many people have tried, and in turn they have been taken." She turned to Jack, her eyes serious. "Jack, listen to me. Whatever is going on in your mind, stop it right now. No one has found out where they take you if you do something wrong. For all I know it leads to death."

Jack understood why Lyla was trying to warn him, but at this point he was lost. He knew he could never go to the king to get a pen, for then they would know of his crimes. He couldn't understand why he was stressing about this topic, for never before had he given a thought to the consequences of his actions. He sighed, deciding not to let these new rules worry him.

Just then, Arin stood from his bed, stretching his arms out into the air. "Won't you two ever quit talking?" He winced, remembering the wounds on his back.

Lyla rolled her eyes, stepping back into the bedroom where Luca still lie unconscious in the bed. She closed the door behind her so Jack and Arin would leave her be. She scanned her brother with her eyes from a distance, crossing her arms. "You should be looking after me, not the other way around." She mumbled to herself.

Just on the other side of the door, Arin had been caught up to date with the conversation he had missed. He himself was more upset over these so-called monitors. He knew he shouldn't blame Jack for the danger he was in, but he couldn't help it. If Arin hadn't ever escaped the slave trade, he would be comfortable sitting on the bench on the ship. He would much rather prefer that atmosphere than the mess he and Jack were in now.

Jack only shrugged it away. "I've run from the law before. I don't plan on stopping."

Arin scoffed at that. "Judging from what I've observed, you haven't hid very well from the law."

Jack's jaw clenched at this. He knew he may not have been as good as Wicks, the best thief Jack had ever known, but he understood he wasn't the worst thief in the world. So long as he wasn't the worst, he knew he could make it.