You Better Bring an Umbrella, Vol. 2

Chapter 34: The Most Wanted Family in America

"Authorities are asking for help identifying several persons of interest at Dealey Plaza sat the time of the assassination. The FBI believes they may have been acting in concert with the alleged shooter, Lee Harvey Oswald. Vanya Hargreeves, wanted in connection with the deaths of several FBI agents inside the Federal Building at Dealey Plaza. A Cuban exile known only as Diego, who recently escaped from the Holbrook Sanatorium. A bare-knuckle boxer with suspected Mafia ties who fights under the alias 'King Kong'. Allison Chestnut, a Negro radical responsible for instigating and organizing the recent riots at Stadler's lunch counter. Mina Hargreeves, a local choreographer caught engaging in degeneracy. And finally, Klaus, a controversial cult leader and known tax evader. The FBI is asking the public to be on the lookout for this unidentified boy, who they believe is being held hostage by the suspected terrorist network..."

I rolled my eyes at their descriptions, disgusted by the way they were painting my family. I still couldn't believe this twisted time wanted to make me out to be a villain, for something completely normal. I was just about ready to get the hell out of there.

"Well, it's true." I turned my attention down to Five, who refused to remove his eyes from the television. "I do feel like I'm being held hostage most days."

"Oh, ha, ha," I shot back dryly, rolling my eyes at him.

"God, I hate that photo," Diego groaned.

"They're saying I instigated the riot?" Allison scoffed. "That's unbelievable."

"They're trying to tell people who I am is a crime," I griped. "This is bullshit."

All of us finally got our complaints out of the way, leaving room for any other topic of conversation. Luther pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed, bringing our attentions toward him.

"Look, the good news is that we restored the timeline and we stopped doomsday. So—"

"Yeah, a real bunch of goddamn heroes," Diego deadpanned, cutting his brother off. "We let Kennedy die."

I'd had it with him and his indignance. He truly, genuinely felt like he'd done something right, and we were all giving him shit for no reason, but he hadn't stopped to think, just like always. For most of our youth, I'd excused it, blaming it on the way Dad pushed on us. And maybe there was still a lot of that to blame, but Diego didn't listen to us when we tried to stop him. He could have jeopardized humanity.

"Yeah, and now we're officially the most wanted people in the world," Allison added, only further fanning the flames. "The FBI is after us, the Dallas Police, the Secret Service. It's only a matter of time before they hunt us down here."

As much as I hated to admit it, Allison had a point. We were sitting ducks in this place, especially because it was only a matter of time before they found Elliott's body abandoned by the water tower and came here to investigate. If we didn't get out of here soon, we'd all be stuck in prison, with no way to get home.

"Well, where are we supposed to go?" I sighed, trying to piece something together.

"I have this yurt just outside Reykjavik." I turned my torso to look up at Klaus, making his way down the stairs. At least he felt well enough to stand up again. "We could totally lay low there. Folks are a little weird, but lovely."

As much as I loved the idea, there was one fatal flaw in any escape plan.

"Hey, numbnuts," Five grunted, causing Klaus to stop in his tracks and turn around. "Hiding's not going to make a difference here. The Commission will hunt us down wherever and whenever we go."