Crown Of Hearts

Chapter 2

He just stood there with his arm stuck out, waiting for my response.

" How the hell do you know who I am?" I clutched my bag closer to me.

" Jesus Christ Zak." The man behind me sighed and walked over.

" My name is Peter," He pauses only to pull the cloth down, "We're part of the nine. And Zak here as leader of the seventh division."

I took another step back. Okay if I turn and run back. I have a 99% probability of being caught, killed, chopped up in a thousand pieces and dumped in the river. The nine. A group of highly dangerous criminals. They ranged in age and genders. It had been said most of the rebels had names just like me, names not on the list. There was a report a week ago where they had taken responsibility in a strange explosion that involved a palace guard's carriage. What do you want with me?

" You both are scaring her." The shorter man scolded them. He yanked his cloth down. He was extremely interesting looking. All his features were perfect, too perfect to the point where he could even be considered too good looking.

Was it a requirement that all rebels had to be good looking?

" Hi Clara, I'm Ian. You don't need to be scared. I promise that we won't hurt you. All we need from you is an answer okay?" He said slowly.

I nodded slowly.

" Good." Zak smiled, " How would you like to join the nine?"

" Uh I- I don't know." I stuttered.

He frowned, " What you mean you don't know?" He turned to Peter, " You mentioned that we're fighting against society right?"

Zak turned back to me, " I don't understand. Why don't you want to join?"

" Please let me go home." I took a chance and slowly walked backward. After getting a distance between us, I turned and walked even faster.

" Told you we should have brought Lindsey and Nadia along. No girl is going to trust three large men wearing masks." Peter hisses at one of them. But I didn't even care to look back.

" Wait, Clara." Zak ran in front of me and I paused. " I know what you're going through, being treated like shit, having to force yourself to stand there while your friends are jerked around, like rag dolls. You have spent most of your life working five houses because you know if you take up less your parents will pay the price"

" How do you know that?"

Zak smiled, it was a soft sympathetic smile.
" Hi, my name's Zak, leader of the seventh division. Now Clara how would you like to join the nine?"

I hesitated. I didn't know if these boys were telling the truth but something in his eyes compelled me to give an answer, " Okay. I'll join."

I could hear a Peter mutter thank god and Ian let out a sigh of relief.

" We'll be in touch. Welcome to the team, Miss Fae." Zak grinned.

" Wait what am-" I turned to find Ian and Peter had disappeared. And so had Zak.

I tried to swallow the lump in my throat and continued home.

" Hi, Clara." My parents greeted.

I smiled softly back. My parents were my only source of happiness in this cruel world. The only ones who could make anything better.

Our house was nothing compared to houses like the Krill's. The paint peeling and yellowed from old age, the small gas burner that emitted strange smells, and a soft wool cot served as our beds. Humble my father liked to say. But even humble didn't have dirt floors.

My parents chatted and asked me about my day as if I didn't notice the grey that stained their fingers. No matter how much soap, the grey would never leave their hands.

My parents worked as a toy painters in a rich factory a mere seven blocks from the house. Their main job was to paint and prep the plastic for the toys. God only knows the toxic chemicals in that factory.

" Hon, can you turn that off? I can't stand hearing about those rebels anymore." My mother huffed.

" Let me just find the remote."

" Today we mourn the death of Sargent Tim Fare. He was only fifty-four. Fare has dedicated the last twenty-five years of his life service. Friends and family describe him as generous, kind, and successful. The incident happened right here in Mendel Park. Fare was on his lunch break when he was ambushed by the Nine. He was attacked and a struggle ensued. He was stabbed multiple times and left for dead. His body was discovered hours later by joggers."

My fork fell to the ground. Why this the true extent of the Nine? Was this what Zak, Peter, and Ian capable of?

" A memorial will be held tomorrow at noon. Fare leaves behind a wife and three young children."

" Turn it off. Clara are you okay?" My mother touched my shoulder.

" Thank you, Anna, what horrible people. Who could do this and sleep at night? Just wow-"

The screen went blank.

" I'm fine," I shrugged and retrieved my fork from the ground. " I was just surprised by how anyone could do such a horrible thing." I joined this horrible organization.

My hands were shaking, dropping a majority of my food back into the bowl.

Why couldn't I be more confident and strong? I'm not meant for this life.

After dinner, my parents began to prepare for their second shift as caretakers of one of the family's children. It was a good two blocks away and they were preparing to walk there themselves. King Nobel had passed a bill earlier this year that lower-ranked families could no longer own cars. He said it was to help bring the pollution epidemic down but the elite didn't get their vehicles taken away.

I busied myself with the housework. That is until I heard footsteps from the roof. My eyes widen and I grabbed the nearest object. Which helpfully was a fire poker.

The footsteps got closer and closer and I flicked the lights off and pressed myself against a corner. My heart was pounding so loud, I swore the intruders could hear it. I can't do this- if someone-

The door swung opened and I hit the floor.

" Clara?"

" It's the second shift. She probably has another house." It was Peter?

I stood up slowly and flicked the lights on. All three boys yelped and jumped backward.

" Clara!" Zak was the first to recover. " You ready to go?"

" What?"

" We have work to do. We did warn you that we would be in touch." He smiled patiently.

" Could have given the girl more than two hours," Peter muttered. He seemed more interested in the pictures of the wall than anything.

" Oh, that's cute." He mutters, lingering at an old photograph.

" Well let's go," Zak said.

" I'll help you onto the jet." Ian smiled.

My thoughts flashed back to the news. These were the people who killed an officer, a father, and husband. Don't do anything to piss off these people.

" Hey, are you okay? You look pale." Ian frowned.

" No, I'm fine." The words came out breathless.

There were a scream and a loud thud,
" Who the hell throws a fire poker on the ground." Ian was on the ground, nursing his toes.

Peter chuckled, " Well it seems like I'll be helping you and Clara into the jet."