The Brightest Stars

Skyler

I look through all the papers in my father's file. I've always felt better looking through actual books in my hands instead of the feeling of a small rectangular screen. It feels the same here at the facility. After the conversation we had with my mother and Uncle Steve, it's impossible to run away from the many questions in my head.

Kristen and AJ are still oblivious of this place. My mother closed the door of my room on that night and she gave me her serious expression. It used to be scare me but training after training, I've learned to discover what real fear is. All I did was listen with my chin up high at the way she whispered to not say a single word about the facility to my siblings. It's enough that I'm in it and curious about it. Imagine if they were to find out....

She should be worried. Because if I've always been the weak and quiet person in the house, imagine the spark in Kristen's and AJ's personality when they join this place. They will become into the people they've always wanted to be.

They will be able to change the world....

But for now, I quietly look through so many pages. I'm trying to make sense of everything. Connect points, but it's all too much to understand. When I feel as if I'm getting close to a point, the one next to it brings me back to the start.

I've been so focused at the so many pieces that I didn't hear the soft sound of the sliding doors of this office. I don't know someone is here until I feel Ty's hands gently run at my waist and the breath on my neck makes me smile.

He gives me a gentle kiss on my cheek and his low voice whispers, "What are you up to now?"

I smile at his touch and softly say, "Trying to understand my father's mission. After Indie's description of the place, I know I'll find some sort of loop hole that I can get into...."

I don't have to look at him to know that he has his brows furrowed. "Why would you want to do that?"

"Why did you accept to be one of the pilots of the new world they just found?" He keeps quiet and I do a teasing smile. "Yeah. That's what I thought."

"That's different. You can get in real trouble if you dig too deep."

"You can, too!" This time I turn around and look at him. He's wearing his training uniform for pilots. He's been practicing the newest planes they've created due to the messy hair. I sigh when I see that soft sadness in his eyes and say, "You can get killed just like my father.... I can't lose you, too, Ty."

Ty clenches his jaw and looks down. As much as he loves me, his desire is to fly into this world with hope to find the answers to his past. We're both on the same mission to find the missing pieces. I stand up and wrap my arms around his waist. I smile up at him and let my hands land on his cheeks so I can bring him in for a kiss. Every time he wears his uniforms, I want to proudly hold his hand and kiss him knowing that my boyfriend is one of the best agents in this place.

He sweetly kisses me back with the same pride that his girlfriend is becoming stronger as a trainee. He believes that I will do great things. I believe that he will not only fly, but he will soar....

We pull away and Ty tenderly takes my cheek. He does that small smile that lightens up my day and says, "Don't worry, sweetheart. I will survive for you...."

"You better," I playfully say. I give him one last tip toed kiss and walk back to the piles of papers. I let out a sigh and pray for someone to reveal to me all of this confusion.

"I don't know if you wanted to stop by the cafeteria before leaving or do you want to get something outside?"

I turn back to Ty and give him a small smile. "Let's go check out if the rumors are true about heaven's food." We share a laugh and I start to put all the papers back in my father's file.

"Hey, guys." I recognize the playful tone as Josh walks in. I turn to say my hello and get back to cleaning up.

"We were just gonna stop by the cafeteria. Do you wanna join?"

Josh stays silent and I hear him do a breath of hesitation. "Well. I don't know. I guess I will. I have nothing else to do, but code."

"Sounds good," Ty says as I hear him give Josh a pat on his arm. "I'll just go change out of my training uniform, love."

"Yeah. Go ahead. I'll meet up with you there," I say as I give Ty a tender smile and he leaves me with a wink.

Once he's gone, Josh stands by me and looks down at the papers I'm trying to organize. "Wow. What nerd threw up in here?"

I laugh at this and say, "Look who's talking."

He does a quiet laugh and watches me finish off. "What were you looking for?"

I sigh and look at him. "My father's file. I'm trying to make sense out of all of this."

"You're Newman's daughter, huh?"

"You knew my father?" I say with a hint of curiosity. If there's something I've noticed in Josh is that whenever he sees me, there's this small shine that Indie had also. He's hiding this secret that weighs on him only when he sees me...

Josh stays quiet as he looks at the papers in my hands. He hesitates and I say, "You did know him...."

"You're smart, Skyler," Josh says quietly. "But sometimes being too smart is a curse...."

I step closer to him and let my eyes burn through him as I say, "Who are you?"

Josh looks up at me and that fire consumes him as he clenches his jaw at me. "I might just be the last piece of information you're looking for. And you might just be the agent I've been looking for...."

I furrow my brows at him and barely recognize this boy. He's lost that playfulness and the seriousness makes him look older. His blue eyes are as dark as the secrets that have surrounded my life and he stands taller. "What if I told you that I am one of the people that have found a way to connect worlds?" I stay silent in confusion as I put the pieces of this boy together.

"I'm a natural born from the District World and your father ran into that mission when he learned about my past. Of who I am. That's why he ran to my sister, the Mockingjay. That's why he died. Because my family thinks I'm dead and for some people over there, they prefer that my status stays like that."

"What are you saying? My father gave up his life for you?"

Josh falls back to his sad expression and he nods. "He started the mission so I can see my family again...."

"You are the one who opened this path for the facility. Your brains got you here. You think you're cursed because an agent died to complete what was your project?"

"It was an accident. I found this world and my family think I'm dead. What else was I supposed to do? But if I go back...If I let them see the truth about this place...Imagine what we can create. Imagine the doors we will open. Skyler." He has this begging in his eyes as he steps closer. "I will do everything it takes to bring you back to your family, but please take on the mission. I've talked with Shaw about it and he sees that you've been improving rather quickly because you're smart. Don't let this be a curse like I did. Let it be your strength...."

I'm at shock. My mind races as I slowly connect the pieces. Of course. This is why he's been around me. This is why he's been talking with me so often. This is why my father died. He died for a cause. He died because he saw himself in Josh. A young boy left in oblivion about his past....

I look down at the papers in my hands and realize that maybe....just maybe that this is what my father meant when he used to tell me that some people discover who they really are with only a single click.

The click comes when I see a single word on a sentence on the top page in my hand.

Mockingjay.

I give Josh a firm nod and an excited smile starts on his lips; bringing back his playful personality.

"Let's bring you and the Mockingjay home, Josh."