The Masked War

Chapter 3

When dinnertime came around and the sun had fallen from where it had hovered in the center of the sky, Leo had explained each aspect of what he named the "Rebellion life". We were left to find and claim a classroom to sleep in. Unfortunately, Leo explained, there are only about fifty total classrooms and about sixty-five people, so it was likely that I would have to share a classroom. But, if I had the luck to find an empty one, it was mine to keep, and no one could steal it from me. In the mornings, we would be woken by the school bell, which the Rebellion had somehow learned how to operate, and would train outside for the entire morning. Leo noted that I was not to go out to the front of the school for fear that the police would see me and think that there was something suspicious going on in the school. If the school was searched, we would be forced to scatter and move. Instead, the training would be taking place in a large clearing within the woods behind the school. At around noon, we would report to the cafeteria to eat lunch. In the afternoon, everyone below twelve years old would go to "school" in a classroom. Council members would meet in the teachers' lounge to discuss plans. Everyone else was free to learn what they wanted. "What do you mean by that?" I'd asked. Leo elaborated, "You can try to learn some coding to be a hacker, or shooting as a sniper." "Would someone teach you?" "Only if someone else already learned that skill." Finally, to end the day, we'd have dinner and return to our sleeping areas. "Do you have an infirmary?" I'd questioned, raising an eyebrow. Leo had explained that the auditorium was mainly for meetings for the entire Brierook Sector. The gym was to be used if the nurses' office and the main office no longer have any more room for the wounded, though that only happened after larger battles, which rarely happened. Though, Leo mentioned, it'd be quite easy to attack the Brierook Government Sector because of the fact that while we hide where we organize, they freely advertise where they live. Despite that fact, there are usually only small skirmishes that are fought between the Brierook Rebellion and Government.

A grin has spread across his face as he began to explain the weekly games that they had.

"We play the matches to experience what it's like in a battle," he'd explained, his eyes bright. "Though Bella decides to change the games sometimes-"

"Who's Bella?" I'd interrupted. "The leader of the Brierook Rebellion Sector," he sighed. "Indigo's just filling in for her while she's meeting with New York City's Rebellion Sector Leader."

"Why?" "They're childhood friends. Anyways, the usual objective is to get the other team's flag. Like capture the flag, just with paintballs. Lucky for you, Friday is tomorrow."

Though I wasn't sure I was lucky, I understood the importance of these weekly matches. The Brierook Government Sector, like all of the thousands of other sectors across the country, is made up of government-trained children. They are the children of government-supportive families that are trained by the government to crush rebellions within towns and cities before they become too big a threat. The army only handled the big rebellions, like the ones in New York, Florida and California. The small fights were left to the Government Sectors. To walk into a fight against those government-trained soldiers with no experience would be suicide.

Leo walks into the cafeteria as I trail behind him, my hands grasping Rory's. I scan over the room. An empty table grabs my eyes and I begin to stride over to it, when a hand grabs my wrist. Turning around in confusion, I watch as Leo drags me over to another table.

"Why are we going to this table?" I hiss to him as I slowly follow him.

"Just be nice," he responds, a smirk dancing on his lips.

I nearly roll my eyes at his words as we approach the half-filled table.

Indigo sits directly across from me, her face slightly turned to face Ellen. Before, she had looked at me with cold brown eyes and an emotionless face, yet now she looks lively. She looks alive. Her blonde hair seems to spring up, her chocolate eyes seem bright. A small smile lies on her face, and I'm nearly taken aback by it. Based on her personality, I'd thought she'd never smile. Turned out she had a beautiful one.