The 1%

Chapter 5

"How do you plan on doing that?" I ask.

"We have our ways." Greyson replies

"We've been waiting for someone like you. We didn't have enough people before. But now, those hunters and tracers better watch out!" Cally continues, excitedly.

I smile and look out the window. I am reminded of the bus that I was riding not even a day ago. Harper must be wondering where I am. My teacher must be looking for me as well. I look at the time on my watch. School is out. I would be at home now, playing with my dog and telling my mom about my day. My mom. She must be worried sick. I have to call her; I need to let her know that i'm ok. I put my hand in the pocket of my hoodie to get my phone. But it's not there.

I feel my heart drop as I feel the emptiness of my pocket. It must have fallen out sometime when I didn't notice.

"Anyone have a phone I can borrow?" I ask.

"Why?" Aiden asks

"My mom. She's probably worried. I must have dropped my phone somewhere."

"At least you have a mom." Cally says, a hint of sadness in her reply

"Cally was abused mentally and physically by her family until she was no longer able to do labor in a hospital. Then she was thrown out and the tracers picked her up. All before she was 16." Greyson explains.

"Greyson" Cally murmurs harshly

"Sorry." He replies.

"I was thrown out too." I say quietly. Macy puts a hand on my arm and smiles. "My mom saw my eyes when I was born. The doctors took me from her and tried to kill me. But I must have used my powers to stop it. My dad took me home. He must have liked me. Anyway, my mom got mad and put me in a box. Then left me outside of a store in the rain. That's when my adopted mom took me." I say, tears coming to my eyes.

"It's ok, Athena. We're here for you. You have us now. We won't throw you out." Macy says in that adorable, small voice of hers. I feel better almost immediately. I sniffle and rub my nose.

I must have fallen asleep at some point. The next thing I know, Aiden is shaking me awake.

"Hm?" I sit up and rub my eyes.

"You fell asleep for a few hours." Aiden tells me. "We're here now."

"Hours?" I ask "How long were we driving for?"

"Awhile." I guess he doesn't feel like talking. I noticed that about Aiden. He's not much of a talker.

We open the door and I get out. All I can see is a shack and what looks to be a farm surrounding it.

Greyson must have noticed my face and walks over to me. "We use an abandoned farm so nobody will come and look for us." He explains, walking to a door. "Cally! Hide the car around back!" Greyson shouts over his shoulder. He leads us over to a large door in the shack and opens it. It makes a loud screech as it is shoved open.

We walk in and it takes a little bit to adjust to the low lighting. The shack has a few small lights here and there and sleeping bags sprawled over the floor.

There are a few things that make the shack feel more lived in and nicer. Or, as nice as a shack can get. There were some Barbie dolls next to a small pink sleeping bag. It was probably Macy's. There were books and journals stacked up neatly next to a green-blue bag. It was probably Cally's.

I look to the other side of the shack across from Macy and Cally's bags. There is a black bag with some sketchbooks and charcoal pencils which I am guessing is Greyson's. Then there is a green bag that has a bunch of random things but also things that are totally normal. Some posters attached to the wall, a few comics, and baseball hats. Then there are the weird things. There is a lot of jewelry and dark clothing. What the heck is Aiden into?

He must have noticed me staring because he runs over and shoves it all in a box.

"It's nothing." He mutters, turning red and pushing the box against the wall.

Cally pulls me aside and whispers to me "Don't judge him."

"I won't."

"He's really self-conscious about all his stuff."

"What is all that anyway?" I ask looking over

"I actually don't know. He's been really into all this piercing stuff and I thought it was weird at first but I don't mind it now. Besides, he was the one who gave this to me." She says, tucking her hair behind her ear and turning her head to the side to reveal her ear. I didn't notice how many piercings she had.

"What's all that?" I ask

"Industrial, rook and snug. Aiden did all three." She says, smiling. She made it look so nice. "Aiden has his lip and septum done. He says he did the lip by himself."

"He must be pretty good." I reply

"If you ask, he might give you something."

"I'll think about it." I say.

"Anyway, you can sleep here. I'll get you a spare sleeping bag and later, we can head out and get you some more stuff." Cally tells me.

I smile and look at the place Cally pointed to. Right next to her space. I think about what I could do to make this place my own. I could put up some posters from my favorite singers and rappers. I could put up some fairy lights maybe? I'm getting carried away. This place isn't a real house. I can't just put up some lights. What if someone were to find this place and they see some freaking fairy lights on the wall? Yeah, no. I'll have to pass on the lights.

"So how are you going to decorate?" Cally asks, smiling. She holds out a deep purple sleeping bag. My new bed. I am finally starting to feel like I have a place in the world.