4: Unguarded

Ralph POV

The van was dark and grim from the overwhelming sense of fear and anger towards our future.

I tried to focus on my breathing but all my lungs received were the large amounts of sweat and gas fumes that were being produced by the van, and the suffering being held inside. 

No one uttered a word. Dylan wouldn't even look at us, his knuckles were pale, matching his face. He looked like he was about to be sick. 

Even though it was completely silent, you could still hear the occasional sob that was quieter than a whisper. If someone dared to look at one and another all that could be seen were silent tears from the ones who just went through horrific experiences no teen should ever go through.

And I put them there. In that isolated, depressed state. All because of one erratic thought that popped into my empty lonely brain. 

The physical pain that was extremely noticeable with my throbbing face and bruised ribs, couldn't compare to the emotional turmoil my thoughts were putting me through. 

It's not that no one could speak because of their shocked states. It's that no one wants to, they are barely holding themselves up as it is. 

________________________________________________________________________________

Alex POV

They know we are forbidden. They know our full names. They entered them into their devices. They know everything about where we came from.

"OUR FAMILIES!!!" I gasped into the thick silence.

"Woah woah breathe..." Hunter whispered while rubbing my back.

"Ptff...don't tell her to breathe, she's right. We gave them our full name which holds our parents last name. They now know where our families are." Tate explained. 

"Nice going hot shot that definitely helps everyone feel better." Hunter retaliated.

"Everyone involved in hiding a forbidden child shall be sentenced to death..." Briana whispered under her breath while rocking back and forth.

"This isn't a time to feel better nor go psychotic," Kadyn interrupted while looking at Briana with a disgraceful look, "They found us. One of us is dead. Now my family is already gone and so is Jaanai's and Jack's so we won't hesitate in going separate ways if Ralph has another brilliant idea of going after them." He continued angrily. 

"Uhm I never said that." Jack added while Jaanai agreeing by shaking her head next to him. 

"Also Kadyn ever think about the compound that helped you stay hidden and healthy. They are in much greater risk now than ever because of us." Jaanai rolled her eyes.

"How princess? The government doesn't know they exist, our names trace back to nothing." He laughed. 

"Exactly jack ass, no parents? They are going to wonder how a pig like you survived this long, they'll be looking for anything!" I yelled suddenly. 

He bit his lip and shook his head back and forth. We were frustrating him, it was frustrating all of us, we had no answers.

"My parents have no idea what's coming for them. They are so carefree, so innocent. They don't deserve the pain we are about to inflict on them." Tate sighed. 

"My mom..." Hunter whispered.

"I swear to god if another person dies because of me, especially Oliver, the man who saved my life. I wouldn't be able to live with myself." We heard Dylan contribute to the conversation. 

"If you think about it..." Ralph moaned, "They need us mainly right? So they will probably use our families as bait." He finished.

"So they won't kill them then and there..." Briana stated.

"But they'll arrest them, threaten them on live air, in front of people, and wait for us to bite the hook." Ralph concluded. 

"So we beat them to it?!" I added. 

"What?" Kadyn asked.

"Get there before they even have a chance to plan it. Steal their weapons, steal their captives, create our own army, and get our life back." I said with such energy I actually believed we could do it.

"No." Jaanai bluntly stated.

"I mean, sounds like a great movie, but we are kids Alex. No experience, no training, no knowledge of this type of stuff. Not to mention we are outnumbered by literally thousands." Tate sighed looking up to think about the statistics. 

"I'm in." Kadyn said suddenly. 

"Kadyn you just had a great speech about what a dumb ass I am and how you'll leave at any given time." Ralph turned around in his seat. 

"Yeah if you had a stupid idea. This one could work." Kadyn responded. 

"Did you not just hear my statistics?" Tate asked with a disgusted look on his face.

"I did but they can change easily." He shrugged his shoulders while playing with his gloves. 

"How, genius?" Jaanai scoffed. 

"Well, we find a place to call home for a couple weeks, help each other get in shape. I know how to fight so I can hold lessons if that makes sense?" His voice got quieter and quieter. 

"I know a lot about weaponry, I can make weapons for you all, and hold shooting lessons." Ralph added. 

"Uhm anyone need driving lesson." Dylan whispered while chuckling. 

"We have a lot of potential." I tried to hype everyone up even though my anxiety was about to get the best of me.

"Not to mention the emotions we have towards them. My mom always talks about how powerful negative emotions make someone." Hunter concluded.

"That leaves us with location." Briana stated while resting her chin on her hand. She looked like she was far in thought. 

"Far away from any of our homes since they'll be searching around there." Tate added. 

"And absolutely no where near the gang leaders bases." Kadyn sighed. 

"So we have very little room to work with..." Ralph whispered while gazing out the window. 

The sun was setting creating a red aura around us. Almost like a warning. 

"Go the opposite way." Briana said sternly. 

"What?" Dylan questioned. His voice sounded dry. Like he hasn't talked enough today.

"Towards California, or Washington State, I know that's close to Tate but you are an extremely good liar. The people who knew you are going to be backing you up without even knowing it. It's a quiet area. My dad is always praising the leaders for not going that far west, it helps him travel less. I'm positive they barely follow the rules in the first place there's like no supervision there. Everyone mostly left because of how extreme the heat got when the Ozone vanished and the disease hit. It's perfect." Briana explained so fast I couldn't even keep up. 

"That's actually smart..." Kadyn whispered. 

"The group that just caught us saw us go east also, they will never expect it. When they do it will be their last resort. There's also extreme coverage in California with their forests." Ralph supported her idea. 

"She's also correct with the people of Oregon, they'll lead them everywhere but California." Tate was also with it.

"Best thing we've got." Dylan and Hunter said at the same exact time.

"Jack and I are going our own way." Jaanai entered the conversation with her arms crossed.

"I never agreed to that." Jack said rather quickly after her.

"Jack!" She yelped while smacking him.

"Why?" Briana said bluntly while giving her a very judgmental look that I pray she never gives me. 

"I grew up in my safe haven, I have people there that I love and care for deeply. I'd be damned if I let them handle what I caused alone." She snarled. 

"They don't even know about your safe haven. You going back is risking more for them than you already have." Briana argued.

"She's right. You don't see me wanting to go back." Kadyn added.

"Well you were already running away with your girlfriend before you even knew about us." She retaliated.

"Watch it." He growled.

"Quiet!" Ralph shouted then proceeded to hold his ribs in pain. 

Maya was a touchy subject for all of us right now. I'm sure if someone mentioned Simon we would all snap. I can't blame Jaanai since she doesn't know us like Jack does, but at least support us. We are one of you. Kadyn does that at least. 

"Go a few more miles. Pull over somewhere covered and turn off the headlights. I need to strip the Radio out of the car." Kadyn demanded.

"Shit, why haven't we done it sooner?" Hunter asked worriedly.

"It's the government's van. They just think we are heading back to base. I need to take it out before we turn around." Kadyn explained calmly. 

"So it's a plan then?" Dylan spoke up. 

"Hands in if we all agree on our next course of action." Ralph groaned while putting his hand out in the open space of the van.

Briana and Kadyn held no hesitation in putting their hands in, Tate, Hunter, and I shortly followed.

"Someone put two hands in to count for me." Dylan shouted from the drivers seat. 

Briana proceeded to put her left hand in for him. 

Jack looked at Jaanai with a terrified glance, then put his hand in.

"You have got to be kidding me!" She shrieked. 

She put her hand in miserably. 

Eight hands in a fist bump motion were in a circle, all touching each other, all full of renewed strength, hope, and hungry for revenge. 

"Permitted on three!!!" I yelled.

"Permitted?" Hunter asked.

"Get it? It's the opposite of forbidden. Usually the thing you chant is what your goal is. My sisters do cheerleading and they taught me it. We want to be legal right?" I explained. 

"Hell yeah!!!" Briana cheered. 

"Then permitted on three..." I continued. 

"1"

"2"

"3"

"PERMITTED!!!" All of our voices echoed through the once horrendous van, now the vehicle paving our way to freedom.  

It's the first of many chants to a better life.