UPRISE

034

"We should write letters," Jasmine suggests, her eyes glancing around the room. "Just in case."

"In case what?" Reagan asks.

Jasmine purses her lips. Reagan can read it off her. He feels his chest burn, but he doesn't dare exit the room. Instead, he leans his head backwards. It thunks against the bunk bed.

Wren delicately lifts him off. "She's right."

Unfortunately, Rinn did not tap more pencils. Instead, she hulled back food and blankets to the Compound. This means, between the nine (or, now, she guesses, the eight) of them, there is only one pencil to go around. Each of them needs to keep their note succinct and clear if they all want to get their letters done before they storm the town to break all the machines.

The day that they all will become Clears.

They decide to go in order of their numbers, so that way it is easiest to get through them without bickering. Which means that Corbin is first.

Hey Sam,

Thank you for all that you've done for me. I was kind of a shithead. Sorry for that. Here though, I've become a man that I think you would make you proud. It's cheesy, I know, but it is what it is.

Anyway, if you get this, I'm dead. One of my friends will have brought you this note. I don't really have much to say except that I died for something worth dying for, I promise. Really, I think my life is so precious now. I wouldn't go down without a fight, and I wouldn't fight without a reason. So, please understand.

I love you,

Binny

While Corbin writes his letter, Noah sneaks outside.

Harper trails after him. In the hallway, he calls out. "Where are you going?"

Noah's body goes stiff. He turns around to stare at Harper, tears in his eyes. "If we die, do we lose the money? I can't die without the money."

Harper can't die, period. He has to get home to his son. If it comes down to it, Harper knows that he is going to have to throw one of them under the bus for himself, and he hates himself for it. "Money isn't everything."

"My sister is a teen mom with a baby," Noah rolls his eyes. God, Viola was right. They don't understand.

"I'm a teen dad," Harper answers.

Noah shrugs. "And? Were your parents supportive? Did your partner leave you the second things got tough? Did you have to drop out of high school?"

Obviously, the answer is no.

"Then go run and be with Edison," Harper can feel himself growing tense.

With that, Noah turns around. He brushes past Harper and pulls himself back into the room.

Harper doesn't leave the hallway for a while.

Inside, Pluto writes her letter.

To Whom it may concern,

I'm dead. It was a good run while it lasted. I'll be in Hell, with all the good people.

Signed,

The planet that is no longer a planet, but simply a rock hurtling through space

She passes the pencil along to Jasmine. From there, she moves over to Reagan and puts her head in his lap. She reaches a hand up and runs her fingers through his tussled hair. "Why the long face?"