Rebels

Ch. 21

By the time Jack had managed to find his way back to Luca and Lyla's, it was surely past twilight. As soon as he had only knocked once on the door, it opened, revealing Lyla. She practically slammed the door back on Jack, but not before Jack caught it. He stepped into the house, closing the door behind him. Lyla had walked away from him, heading behind the counter. The house was dark, with the exception of a lamp lighting up the bedroom.

Before Jack could explain himself, Lyla spoke up. "Do you realize how long you've been gone?" She hissed, trying to keep her voice low for Luca was asleep on the couch.

Jack shifted nervously in his spot. "I got lost."

Lyla scoffed at him. "You could have been caught out there, Jack. If you were, this whole plan would've been a waste. You could've died!"

"But, I didn't." Jack protested, already exhausted from Lyla's argument. Jack headed towards the bed, when Lyla jumped in front of him. "Where had you gone?"

"I am not a teenager, Lyla!" Jack said, possibly a little too loud. "I can take care of myself. You don't even know me, so back off a little, please." Jack sat down on the bed, staring up at the ceiling.

Lyla gave one last long look at Jack and then headed into the bedroom, closing the door.

Luca began to speak, reminding Jack that he still existed. "Don't mind her. She's just stressed about this whole thing."

"How did you become a hacker?" Jack asked, trying to take his mind off of things.

Luca sat up, taken aback a little by this question. Nevertheless, he answered, "Well, ever since I can remember I was always so fascinated in technology. I remember when I was a kid, when they had enforced monitors, I would always think, 'who's staring back at me through this monitor?' I became obsessed with learning all these codes and hacks. I would find people- pretty messed up people, and I would have them teach me these things, in return for me doing their 'chores.' It was hard, but I did it." Luca sighed, looking up at Jack. "Now I can see who's looking back at me. Why do you ask?"

Jack only shrugged. "Just trying to pass time."

Luca sighed. "You know, if this whole plan works, and we get your pal back, then we are going to have to hide. I'll tell you, I don't want to hide; be on the run for the rest of my short life. No, I want to kill the king."

Luca's last words sent a chill over Jack. Jack had never originally meant for anyone to get killed, with the exception possibly of Tom, but to go so far as to suggest to murder the king was a little over Jack's head. He could admit that he was a sort of criminal, but he wasn't a murderer. He was suddenly nervous as to who the man was in which Jack was talking to. "Why would you want to kill the king? I get that he is a little messed up in the head, spying on people and what have you, but he's the king."

Luca nodded, a grim expression on his face. "I know. It's just that whenever you do something bad even for once in your life, if you're two or ninety years old, you're taken, never to be seen again. Think of the heartache this man is causing. Heck, I've done a lot of disorderly conduct when I have been drunk, and on top of it all I'm overriding monitors. The only reason why I am still alive is because my baby sister is very persuasive."

Jack sighed, not sure on how to address Luca. He thought about it for a moment, gathering his thoughts. "I think that we should focus first on getting Arin back. Then, we can think about the king."

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The rest of the week brushed by Jack in the blink of an eye. Lyla had forced him to go back to the bar, where he saw a lot of familiar faces and a few new ones. The waitress had already known what was going to happen, and had ordered him a glass of rum. Jack just barely left that bar alive, and he had had to have Lyla relocate his knee, which was much more excruciating than Jack had expected.

Lyla had also forced Jack to have both Luca and her fire on him, and this time he escaped with just a few dents, yet he was only able to grab Luca's gun, not Lyla's.

Then came the weekend shortly after, which barely any of them spoke. The television was not broadcasting the preparations for the festival, for it was still stuck on the image of the fallen rebellion. Jack had just focused upon getting rest and somewhat maintaining his health, and before he knew it the day had come for them to get their friend back.

Jack slipped the communicator into his ear, and Lyla did the same. Luca had already hacked into several monitors before any of them had awoken, yet Luca could tell there were things he could not see, for it seemed as if the monitors stood only in the hallways of the palace.

Luca and Lyla had stayed behind, while Jack was forced to walk nearly an hour towards the palace. All around him, women were getting ready while men prepared their shops and rum. Multiple people had hung banners from their windows of various colors, and already Jack was disliking this festival. He did not even know what it's meaning was.

Nevertheless, by the time Jack reached the palace, he felt sick to his stomach. He was remembering Luca's words of how no one was ever seen again once they were taken, and this worried Jack. He wasn't sure of what he was getting himself into.

The palace came into his view, and he immediately spotted the numerous officers standing on-guard. Jack slowed his pace a little, but did not back down. "How do I get in?" Jack mumbled, although no one was near enough to hear him.

"Keep walking." Lyla responded. "Luca will get you in."

With hesitation in his step, Jack did so, reaching the tunnel of officers. At the palace door stood two more, both not even breathing even as Jack walked up to them.

The guard to the right slightly shifted his eyes down to Jack. "Why do you come?"

Jack cleared his throat. Having heard no response from Lyla, he figured he would have to go on his own. "I have an appointment with the king."

The guard stiffened. "The king is not seeing anyone today; the festival is beginning. Come back next week, and just maybe, you might see him."

Jack swallowed down a metallic taste in the back of his throat. "He requested my presence today."

The guard was silent for a few moments before speaking. "The rebel walks to a river bend. He is curious because he would like to see his reflection. So, he peers over into the water. His reflection is not symmetrical, for his eyes are dripping blood, and a bandana covers his face. What does the rebel do next?"

Jack was ultimately confused by this, for this did not make sense. He struggled to find the right words with his mouth gaping, but no words came to mind.

Lyla suddenly spoke through the communicator so loud, it sent a faint ringing to his ears. "He surrenders!"

Jack repeated this, and within a swift move the guards opened the doors, allowing Jack to enter.

He was in.