1: No More Barriers
RALPH POV
It was Monday morning when I sent the message that held a spontaneous, so called stupid Idea. I don't even know why I had the strongest urge to contact everybody In person out of the blue. Maybe it was the seclusion getting to me or the lack of epinephrine, but I held no regrets for the action that could change our lives for better or for worse.
It was Monday night when I snuck out of the house at 7pm, well more like walked out, both of my parents weren't home. My mom was out grocery shopping while my dad was at work...just the usual. Anyways I made It to my grandpas house around 9pm since Benson Utah is an hour and forty one minutes walking distance from Logan Utah.
It was a simple, relaxing, and quiet trip since both cities mainly consist of trees. My grandpa, Harold Miller, is also one cool dude. He's crazy, but the good kind of crazy. For instance, me knocking on the door led to him to opening it with a shotgun while wearing boxers, an old tank top, and blue monkey slippers.
"What kind of fuckery is this!?" He shouted.
"Gramps it's me, Ralph?" I tried to explain hoping he'll remember me.
"Ah Ralph!!! My boy, come in come in." He exclaimed while practically dragging me inside.
Thank God he knew about my existence, because I'm definitely positive he's not scared to use that thing.
"I like what you've done to the place..." I stated while he sat down on his recliner.
"Please boy, I may be old, but I know you've never seen my cabin before." He sighed while taking a sip of his Jack Daniels.
"I mean, I've seen pictures." I turned to face him while shrugging my shoulders.
I can obviously tell it has changed a lot. The wooden beams are freshly coated while the kitchen is a complete mess. There's a nasty smell throughout the place and the living room literally looks like his bedroom.
"Damn Ralph, the only time I ever saw you, you were this little." He gazed at me while squeezing his fingers together.
"So I have met you..." I spoke while looking at pictures of him and grandma.
"Yes, glad you matured into a man, you were one hell of a monster when you were young." He chuckled while chugging another shot.
"Who said I'm not now?" I looked at him while smirking.
"What brings you here anyway? I know your mom and dad would never approve of this, Aren't you...what's the word?" He asked getting lost.
"Forbidden Grandpa, don't you listen to any broadcasts, or watch TV?" I asked while sitting on the blue sofa that matched his recliner.
"News rhymes with schmooze for a reason." He stated bluntly.
"Mom did say you were old fashioned." I remarked without correcting his "rhyming" words.
"Im surprised your mom even talks about me. She was a huge fan of my son but not the person who created him." He continued while taking a pipe out of his pocket to smoke.
"Why?" I asked officially now intrigued.
"Who cares? She said I have no respect for current laws. Which is absolutely true, who kills children because they exceed a limit people just like us created." He tried to explain while going into a coughing fit.
This man already became my favorite relative.
"I completely agree. Mom's just in a frenzy all the time because of the result of their rule-breaking." I concluded while closing my eyes.
"Nah uh, young man you didn't answer my question..." He said while tapping his pipe.
"Well, you won't mind having a few guests right?" I asked without opening my eyes.
"Mind?! Haha maybe if my wife was still with us, but now? No, I would love some guests to drink with me and talk about the newest Office 4.0 episode." He clapped his hands while laughing.
"Okay, eight forbidden kids are meeting up with me here. I'm sure one of them will be happy to do those things." I said while praying in my head.
"I see you Ralph Miller, creating a revolution?" He smiled while questioning me.
"No, I just want to feel normal for a change." I said quietly while finally laying down.
"You have no idea what this will do for other kids like you. I knew I would be proud of you from the start. Did I tell you---" I heard his voice drown out while I fell into a deep sleep.
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SIMON POV
It was the brink of dawn when I finally climbed through the last rough patch of bushes and saw the beautiful cabin I've only heard Ralph's dreams speak about.
I walked up to the back door which was very well hidden with overgrown grass, and tall trees surrounding the miniature brown object that will lead me to my future. For a second, I just stood there, I couldn't move, I couldn't breathe. Right when I knock a whole world is going to open for me, and how will I live with myself if I ever let it go. Will I ever be able to go back?
I didn't get to decide in time before the door swung open revealing a chubby, dirty looking, old man with flannels on, jeans, and contained the biggest white beard I have ever laid eyes on. Then again I've only seen like four people in person.
"Are you trying to get yourself killed, come in!" He whisper shouted while grabbing my collar and pulling me in the house.
"Ralph is still sleeping, I'm certain you are here to meet him?" He asked while turning around to look at me.
"No- I mean no, I mean yeah." My social awkwardness started to show from not being around people.
"...Okay" He looked at me with a concerned glance.
"Hold on, I'll be right back." He continued while leaving the kitchen.
I sat down at the island while observing the numerous stains and old appliances that overcrowded the kitchen when I heard the conversation that was happening in the living room through the thin walls.
"Ralph wake up I think I let in a Hobo!" His grandpa shouted.
"Wha-" I heard Ralph's voice.
"In the kitchen, he's probably eating my food, quick get him out. I'll get my shot gun." Was the last sentence I heard before his big footsteps started occurring due to the change in speed.
Ralph walked into the kitchen slowly while rubbing his eyes.
"No way--" He began to speak, but I cut him off by standing up and hugging the shit out of him.
"Simon?" He asked with a constricted voice because of our hug.
"Hell yeah It's me, dang Ralph look at you." I stated while smiling and punching his shoulder.
"STEP BACK OR I'LL SHOOT!!!" We heard a scream behind us.
"Gramps, he's forbidden, your judgement was right don't worry." Ralph said while stepping in front of me to guard me.
"Thank the lord! I gotta save these shells for the punks that are stealing my vegetables from the garden." He explained while massaging his neck.
"Gramps, you don't have a garden?" Ralph questioned.
"Shhhh they don't got to know that." His grandpa waved us away while walking out of the kitchen.
"It's great to see you man, thanks for coming brother." Ralph looked at me again smiling.
"Of course, the forbidden fellas stick together right?" I replied.
"Okay lets set up food for the rest of them. I'm starving so I definitely know you are too." Ralph pointed at me while walking behind the island.
"Hell yeah let's do it." I agreed while going to the sink to wash my hands.
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Kadyn POV
I ran until the bloody, dirty GPS stated I reached my destination. The unknown cabin to the world, including me, was more inviting than the Secrets Sealed compound ever was. The left side of my stomach was completely covered in dirt and blood. My legs felt completely shattered, and my head was literally, not figuratively, about to explode. My heart was hammering in my chest when I reached the wooden door.
I knocked ferociously.
"Please let me in!" I pleaded while slamming my fists against the door with all the strength I could muster.
There was a long pause before I chose my words carefully instead of using my fists to communicate the urgency.
"Please I knew Maya. I know you guys."
The door opened so fast that I completely fell into the cabin and everything blacked out.
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Jaanai POV
"I am not getting out of this car." I stated firmly while Jack was holding the door open for me.
"We made it Jaanai, you seriously risked your life to get to a place and not go in?!" He whispered shouted to try not to gain attention.
"That's the point, we risked it enough, now you want me to walk up to a sketchy cabin with absolute no sound and movement coming from it." I exclaimed.
"Yes." He bluntly replied.
"Ugh you are unbelievable." I sighed.
"All you sweetheart." He remarked while clearly getting annoyed at my sudden outburst.
I gave him a sneer while slowly exiting the vehicle.
"If someone steals this baby because of you wanting to meet your so called friends, I'll physically beat you up." I gave him a final warning while strutting to the back door.
I knocked politely while Jack stood behind me rocking back and forth on his heals. Something he does when he's excited. I rolled my eyes in disbelief.
"When they answer and they don't seem like your friends, act like you belong." I gave him a fake smile.
There was a long silence filled with absolutely no movement inside or outside the cabin.
"I really don't think anyone is in there..." I finally stated.
"No, they are being smart. I have to prove it's me." Jack concluded.
That is actually smart and logical so I allowed him to step in front of me and take the lead.
"Hey, it's Jack I talk about Jaanai so much to the point where ya'll would text block me, but you don't want to risk losing me forever. Quote on quote by Ralph." Jack said with the biggest smile on his face.
The door opened slowly and all you saw was a brown eye staring at us.
"Wow you both look great, why did I look like this after my journey." Someone stated while the door opened wider.
"Simon!?" Jack screamed while jumping into him causing both of them to fall in the cabin.
Boys
I quickly rushed in after them and shut the door.
"If you both act like this the whole time say goodbye to meeting your other friends." I yelled at them.
"That's definitely Jaanai!" I heard someone shout from the kitchen.
"What's that supposed to mean!?" I stated while crossing my arms.
"Jack said you complained a lot." The mysterious voice came out of the kitchen with peanut butter all over his fingers and mouth.
"Lovely." I snarled while giving my boyfriend the 'you are dead later' look.
"Ralph, my man, thanks for making this all possible!" Jack cheered while ignoring me completely.
Great, I already despise this.
I went to sit down on the sofa but ended up sitting on a foot.
"OW!" Someones muffled shouts echoed throughout the room.
"I am so sorry." I pleaded while jumping off his foot.
"Maybe watch where you sit." A dark haired pale skinned boy remarked while removing the pillow off of his face.
"Maybe try not to hide yourself next time too, and then hopefully it'll work out for both of us." I retaliated.
"That's Kadyn, don't mind him. I was trying to get a bullet out of him, that's why he was muffling his screams." Simon explained while putting his hands up to show surrender.
"Kadyn?" Jack shot me a questioned glance.
"Yeah there's news, but let's wait for everyone. It's not pleasant." Ralph stated solemnly.
I have a feeling Jack is never going to want to leave...
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Hunter POV
The car suddenly stopped in the middle of the overgrown woods.
"No, no, no. Crap!" I nervously chanted while jumping out to see what it was stuck on.
Multiple tree trunks were underneath the car stopping it completely. No sense in trying to move that without help, besides I think I'm close enough to the cabin now anyways. I started trudging through the muddy forest in search of a wooden house in the middle of nowhere.
The roof started to show as I heard voices echoing around me.
"Oh hello, I'm trying to sell cookies for a bake sale."
"Oh really, where are they?"
It sounded like a male and female talking.
"In my mom's car."
"Ah very interesting, I'm the post man."
"Cool, I'll get out of your hair then."
I emerged from the greenery to reveal myself to the two voices. The female had blonde hair and a really pretty smile while the man looked too young to deliver mail but had a whole blue outfit on.
"Wait a second...Alex?" I said letting her voice and looks finally set in.
"Oh my god Hunter?!" She gasped while running to hug me.
She was a lot shorter than me and I would definitely beat her in an arm wrestling competition, but she was just like how I Imagined her. Her blue eyes twinkled with happiness just like my moms and she couldn't stop smiling.
"I almost had a panic attack when that freak over there started walking over to me." She whispered.
"Guys it's Tate." He came over laughing, "Boy do I feel like chopped liver."
Alex slapped him hard on the shoulder.
"Never do that again, I literally thought I was about to die." She yelled at him but then we heard the cabin door open.
An old man walked out with his gun and shouted, "Ya'll are scaring away the rare deer that come out around this time of the month, some call them forbidden. So get your pretty butts inside before people start looking for MY DEER!!!" He shouted while trudging back inside.
"Was that some sort of code or--" Alex started to say while Tate started to walk towards the cabin.
"Keep up shitty liars, we gotta head inside. The forbidden fellas are uniting."
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Ralph POV
We were all hanging out in the kitchen and living room areas. Some of us were sitting and talking while other were standing, dancing, and eating, but all of us were full of smiles and laughter. Nothing could beat this moment right here. Nothing ever will.
The only people we were waiting for were Briana and Dylan. No one has any word on either of them. I for one know Dylan is coming but even Alex said Briana never gave her an answer.
I decided to let it go for the night and start some fun party games to get to know each other when a knock sounded on the door.
"Everyone quiet." I whispered while leaning my ear against the door.
"Grrrrr..."
"Twix shut up" I heard the faintest of whispers.
I flew the door open not being able to contain my excitement and picked up Briana while spinning and hugging her.
I could hear the tiniest confused whimper coming out of her dog Twix, having no understanding of why she brought him, but I was beyond happy that she decided to put us before her beloved family.
"You came!" I shouted.
"Yeah, you didn't get my group chat message?" She questioned.
"No." I shrugged my shoulders.
"That's weird..." She stated quietly.
"Well I'm glad we waited up for you, now all we have to do is wait for Dylan." I smiled.
"Great." She replied. She definitely was shaken up from the trip.
"Here let me take your jacket and introduce you to every body." I stated thoughtfully.
"Thanks that would be great." She exhaled.
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Briana POV
Ralph put his arm around my shoulders while his other hand held a drink that smelled a lot like fruit.
"So over there we have Kadyn." He pointed to a boy that I've never had seen nor heard about before.
"Great, another defenseless girl." He smirked while flinging a knife across the room that barely missed my face but hit the eye of an Office 4.0 character perfectly.
I sighed frustratingly.
"Yeah, I don't know much about him, but he worked with Maya." Ralph noticed my looks towards him.
"Is she here!?" I asked impatiently.
"No, we'll get to that later." He replied while looking away from me.
He pointed at Jack and Jaanai who were snuggling on the couch. Jack gave me a hug while Jaanai looked me up and down.
Then Alex and hunter were dancing in the middle of the kitchen and invited me to join when they saw me. I didn't see how it could hurt, so I danced the night away with my best friend Alex and her close friend hunter while Simon and Tate kept score.
Laughing and giggling was the only sound echoing off the walls that night. Everyone gathered in the living room with no sense of loneliness, fear, or abandonment. This is our family. The family that is strongest together.
No one remembered to ask Ralph about the unpleasant news, no one questioned where Dylan was, and everyone was completely lost in the moment. Until morning came...
and someone knocked on Ralph's Grandpa's Cabin in Logan, Utah, at 8:43 a.m.