shouting. People loiter around, holding up signs. They’re protesting. This time, they’re against the League. They chant, “Down with the Keepers. Death to the Keepers.”
“I guess no one likes us anymore ,” I say.
“ Not after seeing me on camera infecting that kid.”
“ Vlayne keeps slipping out of our fingers,” X mutters. “Why don’t we kill her for once and for all?”
“ She escapes,” Kale says.
X gets a determined expression on his face. “She’s not escaping this time. We have to convince Scar to help us.”
***
We go down the New Jersey sewers. X tells us that after he escaped from Vlayne, Scar moved to sewers in another city. He keeps moving his family around to stay hidden.
X climbs down first, then Kale, then me. I close the manhole and the place gets pitch black. The smell attacks me at once, making me want to throw up everything I ate for the past month. I hear squeaks from the rats. Rats!
The only sounds are our footsteps and rats as we follow X. There are a few lights, but it’s still dark. “Are we…?” I can’t finish my sentence because we stop before a wall. It lifts and a guy comes out. His name is Blaze, the security guard of the sewers or something. Okay, maybe he’s not officially called that, but he greeted us when we came to the sewers four months ago.
“Ray.” He holds out his hand. X shakes it, then Blaze pulls him into a hug. “It’s good to see you’re okay. We heard what happened.”
Blaze lifts his head and looks at me and Kale. “Welcome back to the world, guys. Heard about your coma and your death.” He pokes my chest with is finger.
“ Dude, ow.”
He shrugs. “Just making sure you’re not a ghost.” He eyes us. “You guys need a place to stay?”
“ We need to talk to Scar,” X says.
Blaze sweeps his hand toward the lifted wall. “He’s waiting for you inside.”
The place looks like the last sewer house. Everyone here must want to keep it looking the same each time they move. They probably want it to feel like home.
Scar’s standing with his arms crossed over his chest. He looks the same. Scars all over his body, no mouth, just skin instead. I don’t think he likes me. I mean, he didn’t watch over me when he was supposed to, which led to my death. I get why he did it—to protect his family—but still. I don’t think he’s a fan of the Stretch.
Is he pissed to see us? What if he fries our brains? Other people are around, too, watching us closely. It’s not like we’re going to trash the place. A few smile and hug X. He’s got no expression on his face, but in his eyes, I can tell how happy he is to see his old family.
Hello , Ray, Kale Zenith, and Andrew Mason, Scar greets in his freaky, high-pitched tone. Ray had requested a meeting. What can I help you with?
It’s my parents , Kale says. We’re all connected through our minds so no one around can hear what we’re talking about. We can’t find them. I can’t contact them telepathically, but maybe you can.
Scar doesn’t say anything. I’m not sure if he’s going to do as Kale asked. After all, our League leaders are not part of his family.
No , Scar says after a few seconds. I have not succeeded in communicating with them.
Our shoulders fall. If one of the greatest telepaths can’t locate Kale’s parents, what are we supposed to do?
But my mom left an opening for you in my dad’s mental fortification , Kale continues. You should be able to contact him .
I have attempted, but failed. Samson and Cindy’s minds are unreachable.
Kale runs his hand down his face. His body trembles a bit.
I want to say something, but only a whimper comes out. Scar’s eyes flash to mine. Yes?
W-what about other League members? Like—like my parents?
I cannot reach any of your League members.
We exchange looks. Does that mean everyone’s captured? Dead? Were they taken by the Blades?
I cannot answer that .
Kale marches around the room. Okay, you can’t contact my
“I guess no one likes us anymore ,” I say.
“ Not after seeing me on camera infecting that kid.”
“ Vlayne keeps slipping out of our fingers,” X mutters. “Why don’t we kill her for once and for all?”
“ She escapes,” Kale says.
X gets a determined expression on his face. “She’s not escaping this time. We have to convince Scar to help us.”
***
We go down the New Jersey sewers. X tells us that after he escaped from Vlayne, Scar moved to sewers in another city. He keeps moving his family around to stay hidden.
X climbs down first, then Kale, then me. I close the manhole and the place gets pitch black. The smell attacks me at once, making me want to throw up everything I ate for the past month. I hear squeaks from the rats. Rats!
The only sounds are our footsteps and rats as we follow X. There are a few lights, but it’s still dark. “Are we…?” I can’t finish my sentence because we stop before a wall. It lifts and a guy comes out. His name is Blaze, the security guard of the sewers or something. Okay, maybe he’s not officially called that, but he greeted us when we came to the sewers four months ago.
“Ray.” He holds out his hand. X shakes it, then Blaze pulls him into a hug. “It’s good to see you’re okay. We heard what happened.”
Blaze lifts his head and looks at me and Kale. “Welcome back to the world, guys. Heard about your coma and your death.” He pokes my chest with is finger.
“ Dude, ow.”
He shrugs. “Just making sure you’re not a ghost.” He eyes us. “You guys need a place to stay?”
“ We need to talk to Scar,” X says.
Blaze sweeps his hand toward the lifted wall. “He’s waiting for you inside.”
The place looks like the last sewer house. Everyone here must want to keep it looking the same each time they move. They probably want it to feel like home.
Scar’s standing with his arms crossed over his chest. He looks the same. Scars all over his body, no mouth, just skin instead. I don’t think he likes me. I mean, he didn’t watch over me when he was supposed to, which led to my death. I get why he did it—to protect his family—but still. I don’t think he’s a fan of the Stretch.
Is he pissed to see us? What if he fries our brains? Other people are around, too, watching us closely. It’s not like we’re going to trash the place. A few smile and hug X. He’s got no expression on his face, but in his eyes, I can tell how happy he is to see his old family.
Hello , Ray, Kale Zenith, and Andrew Mason, Scar greets in his freaky, high-pitched tone. Ray had requested a meeting. What can I help you with?
It’s my parents , Kale says. We’re all connected through our minds so no one around can hear what we’re talking about. We can’t find them. I can’t contact them telepathically, but maybe you can.
Scar doesn’t say anything. I’m not sure if he’s going to do as Kale asked. After all, our League leaders are not part of his family.
No , Scar says after a few seconds. I have not succeeded in communicating with them.
Our shoulders fall. If one of the greatest telepaths can’t locate Kale’s parents, what are we supposed to do?
But my mom left an opening for you in my dad’s mental fortification , Kale continues. You should be able to contact him .
I have attempted, but failed. Samson and Cindy’s minds are unreachable.
Kale runs his hand down his face. His body trembles a bit.
I want to say something, but only a whimper comes out. Scar’s eyes flash to mine. Yes?
W-what about other League members? Like—like my parents?
I cannot reach any of your League members.
We exchange looks. Does that mean everyone’s captured? Dead? Were they taken by the Blades?
I cannot answer that .
Kale marches around the room. Okay, you can’t contact my
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