UPRISE

036

They walk in silence, around the town and into the forest. The path is the same as before, but now is a trek through snow-covered roads. The tips of their noses go numb, but they can still smell the tobacco burning from Thatcher's pipe.

Two of Thatcher's men stand on either side of Corbin. They aren't outnumbered but they are certainly unarmed. Corbin tries to figure out an escape plan. They couldn't make it far on their feet. He tries to look to Harper, only to receive a punch to the stomach. Corbin kneels down in the snow, until one of the men grabs his arm and drags him forward.

Jasmine sees all of this happen, but keeps her nose tilted high. She won't look at Thatcher, otherwise, she would lose her composure. Her neck is covered in violet bruises. Jasmine is familiar with holding herself up while the world pushes down against her.

Now, more than ever, Harper wishes he had said something to Corbin. He recognizes the heavy grunt and hears the thump of Corbin's knees smashing into the snow, but he doesn't dare look. Tears freeze on his face. The cold tastes bitter.

Noah wonders what became of Edison. Perhaps Noah wasn't forgotten like he had assumed he had been. It's funny how his waking thoughts now rest on Edison. Like the blonde boy, they blame himself for his hardship. If only Noah had listened to Edison, they wouldn't be here. Noah's fingers are too cold to strum an imaginary guitar, so the tune of the march to their deaths is sombre.

There had previously been a time where Reagan felt comfortable holding Wren's hands. Even if they weren't separated by these armed men, Reagan wouldn't feel safe. He keeps his head down, forcing his eyes to concentrate on every step. He doesn't try to breathe with anyone.

Wren isn't nervous. He has been in stickier situations before. Killing someone makes everyone's life seem so fragile but your own. Though he is worried about his friends, the cold numbs him.

Just like Wren, Rinn is confident. She is ready to pay her debt. An opportunity has presented itself. Rinn thinks that there are two kinds of people in this world: the caring and the cruel. There are another two kinds though: those who are active and those who are passive, and Rinn has never been one to take anything sitting down.

When they finally arrive, Pluto can't breathe. She heads the pack, but she stops dead in her tracks.

A thin layer of ice covers the deep circular pond. It looks as if it would break under the weight of a feather. This does not surprise Pluto. Edison awaits them, standing with his arms crossed. He is not restrained in any way, but this does not surprise her either.

What does surprise her is Mars, bound to a chair across from her. Underneath the chair is a large suitcase. Connery has a leather satchel over one shoulder. He pulls out a gun from within it and presses against Mars's temple. Her sob is muted by the rag stuffed in her mouth.

As the others file in, a man pairs up with each of them. There are six men, excluding Thatcher and Connery. Each of them claims one the group, with Rinn and Noah sharing one man. Thatcher cozies up to Pluto, pressing his cheek against hers. She doesn't flinch, instead of staring forward.

The others want to whisper and ask who is tied to the chair, and why she looks exactly like Pluto, but none of them dare breathe let alone speak.

"Eliza Fairchild," Thatcher smiles. "Although, you go by Pluto, don't you?"

Pluto's spine stiffens. Her hair catches in her mouth, and the strong scent of smoke on Thatcher's clothes wavers into her throat, and so she feels like she is choking.