Back inside Kelly Street Meat's upstairs two-bedroom apartment, El and little Rose sit down across from one another, "Oh, El!" Rose shouts, "What brought you so far away from England?" He smiles back, "I was chosen to come colonize this place, back when there was little rain." He stares off into space, then his face springs to life, "You know what, I got a letter from your mother, she called on me." She hangs on the edge of her tiny seat, almost spilling her tea, "Really?" He nods, "Yeah, little princess. It meant so much to me that she gave me a chance." She tilts her head, "Is that why you're giving us a chance?" He leans in and smiles, "I can't just send you away into the cold. That would be rude." She giggles as she holds out her fancy teacup, "Yeah, it would be rude." "Good to finally meet you, Princess." He clinks his to hers and they drink.
Just down below their feet, Mama mans the counter of the store while Jack sits. "Mama? What are we going to do? Just like on Ferron, we're criminals." She closes the register and they both look at each other, both nearly blind. "I just cannot tell how much the bills are. We need to get you some glasses." He shrugs, "You're starting to sound like Jean. How she was at the farm." She sighs deep, "Jack?" She walks over, hugs him and he jumps. She sniffles as tears drip onto his forehead, "Just like Ferron, there's so much suffering here." He hugs her tight, "Let's make it more tolerable." She suddenly heard something coming from Jack's eyes, the same jolt she thought she heard back at the farm, when he miraculously killed that sniper. She shakes her head, "You're growing up too fast, Jack." Jack looks past Mama as Scott, Jan and Puppers quietly come in through the back door, walk in and head downstairs.
Jan sighs, "We need to find another way." Scott shakes his head, "I really think we can get in there through the vents." Jan scratches his head, "Enough about the damn vents. I need proof." Markus quickly comes down the stairs, Jan draws his gun as Scott turns, "I have a solution." Jan lowers his gun as Scott throws his hands up, "To what?" He nods, "Right. We can't live like this. Carter would win." Jan sighs, "Get to the point." He nods again as Jack and Mama come down, "Okay, we need to somehow be right under his nose. We don't have a chance if he makes everyone under the sun consent." He smiles wide, "We break him. His power. It would give us all a fighting chance!"
Jan rolls his eyes, "How?" Markus raises a finger to the sky and pauses, "I don't know." Everyone else loudly sighs, Puppers lays down, whines and covers his face with his paws. El steps into the doorway of the basement steps with little Rose peeking from behind him, "We'd have to find Kaylin." Everyone turns and can't help but smile back. Everyone, except Jan and Puppers.
If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.
Time passes- Jan, Scott, Mama and I sit at El's upstairs coffee table. El walks in and sits down, "We need a Knight." Scott rubs his palms on his wet pants, "A knight?" Jan sighs, "There's pawns, people outside of us. Civilians." I scratch his head, "Pawn, Bishop, Knight, Rook, then Queen and King." Mama smiles, "Really?" Scott looks up from his knees, "So, what? Is Kaylin-" Jan nods, "Yes. He's a knight" El looks at Scott and he turns, "Listen closely now, not everyone in this organization are nice like we are. Clashing of Ideals and policy. It's best to avoid confronting us like you did. Mama bangs on the table, El shouts as she clenches her teeth, "This is an antique!" Everyone watches in confusion with worry on their faces, she grabs at her ears. Tears pour from her eyes, "Oh my god!"
"They want privacy!" Jack barges in blindly brandishing a knife with Rose latched to his leg, "Mama!?" Mama shouts as if everyone was yelling at her, "Quiet down!" He lowers the knife, Rose pinches his leg from the floor, he grinds his teeth so he wouldn't interfere with Mama's hearing. She grins up at him as he clenches his fist at her. The grandfather clock ticks past fifteen minutes of silence. She takes a huge gulp with the puffiest of eyes, "Kids, go and behave. We have to talk." The duo leave, poking each other viciously. She leans back in her chair, "Kaylin did not consent." El quickly extends a hand to her shoulder, "What else?" "No." Markus jerks forward, "If you don't tell us-" She holds up her wrinkled hand, "Leave it!" She stares at Scott. He freezes in place, "Right now, Kaylin is getting picked up by Carter. I have no clue where they're going. Carter's starting to become more careful." Jan, El and Scott stand up, "Do you guys have a radio Mama and I can use?" They both shake their heads and Mama looks right at me, "Scott, can I talk to you? Alone?"
Jan and El walk off as Scott starts whispering, "What is it?" She turns away, "I can't help you forever. These kids." He leans in closer, "I can't take care of them." She jerks her hands up, "I know. There's so much torment in this place. It's probably like this everywhere. But a real demon?! It's bad enough they just killed children." Scott pauses in disgust at the very idea. He quickly comes back with a question, "Did you hear my family?" She shakes her head. He frowns, "We almost didn't make it somewhere safe. Without Jan-Without you-" She shushes him, "Focus on finding Kaylin, kid." "Right." He storms off towards Jan.