The four friends arrived at the park in the late afternoon. The day had been nothing special, but for Kaylie, it felt like only a matter of minutes.
Wow, another week gone. They say time flies by in your twelfth year, and it really is true!
She felt at peace, surrounded by softly swaying trees and lively families scattered across the grass.
This place is really pretty. Like a scene from a magical storybook.
She thought hard, trying to find the words to describe it.
Hmm… it looks like the kind of place that's normal by day, but at night, all kinds of secrets are being exchanged here.
'If this was a mystery novel, what kind of things do you guys think would happen here?' Kaylie asked the group, looking back at them.
'I think it's where the detective finds the dead body,' Nadine answered, lazily kicking at the grass. 'Just imagine it– he digs up the skeleton of his old boss, who's been missing for years. Then…'
'Then, with a heart full of vengeance and determination, he investigates who did it,' Dan continued dramatically.
'And he finds out it was his best friend, who'd always hated the boss,' Anthony finished, calm as ever.
Kaylie tried not to laugh. 'That… is pretty dark and thrilling. You guys should be novelists.'
As they neared her favourite bench near the edge of the forest, she let out a small sigh.
Next year… if me and Dan really get given jobs at the palace… we won't be able to do things like this. Not as often, anyway.
After they completed school, things would change. Everyone went through it. Everyone got over it. She'd never really worried about it– until last year.
But now that the end was in sight, and everything was about to really start, the parts of her life that had been the same for as long as she could remember weren't as reassuring anymore.
Nope, no thinking about that. Stay in the present. There's still months to go. Even Anthony went through a massive change, coming here. And he's doing fine.
She shook off the thought. No point in wasting energy worrying about things that hadn't even happened yet.
'Race you to the bench!' She shouted, taking off before the others could react.
The wind brushed past her as she darted through laughing children and clusters of people. Seconds later, she yanked her bag off her back and slammed it down on the bench, claiming victory as her friends arrived.
'Slowpokes,' she giggled.
'My bag's just heavy,' Anthony said with a shrug.
'Yeah, you carry literally nothing in yours,' Dan added, breathless.
Kaylie grinned smugly. 'Not my fault you guys pack giant lunch boxes. This is why you should just bring paper bags instead.'
As she talked, she gestured to the forest behind her. 'They make it way easier to–'
Anthony suddenly froze.
His gaze slid right past her. A second later, Dan stilled too, as if they were both seeing something.
Nadine, who hadn't bothered running, finally strolled up beside Dan, facing the same direction: towards Kaylie– and the forest.
'What the fu–' she started, and Dan quickly covered her mouth.
'Shut up,' he hissed under his breath.
What're they doing? Kaylie frowned and turned around to follow their stares.
A woman stood in the forest, fifteen-ish metres away from them. She was tall– athletic looking, with a dark green jacket that blended in with the trees behind her.
Still as stone, piercing green eyes shining sharply. Glaring at them– directly at them.
'Who's that?' Kaylie whispered.
The woman held her ground just a moment longer. Then, without a word, turned and darted into the forest.
The rustling leaves shattered the moment.
Anthony's hand tightened on his bag strap. 'We need to follow her. Right now,' he said decisively, already moving forward.
Kaylie, Dan and Nadine exchanged quick, confused glances, unsure how to reply to him.
But Anthony didn't wait. He was already running, disappearing into the trees.
Dan sighed. 'I guess we're following?'
Nadine nodded reluctantly. 'If we all get killed, I'm blaming him.'
That's the most insistent Anthony's ever been. He probably thinks it's really important. Wait, actually, it could have something to do with everything going on this week. And last Friday too.
Kaylie agreed. 'I don't think going after her is a good idea, but we better go with him. I also kinda wanna know what she was doing. Let's go!'
The three of them hurried after Anthony, going deeper and deeper into the forest. They ducked under low hanging branches, dodged shimmering spider webs, and sidestepped clusters of weeds.
Anthony was fast– surprisingly so. His slim figure wove easily through the trees ahead, until they could only catch flickers of his messy school uniform.
'Anthony!' Kaylie called, breathless. 'Slow down!'
But there was no reply.
Her heart pounded. Everything had gone from normal to… definitely not normal in less than a minute. Why is it always Friday?! It's like everything just waits to happen until the freaking one day of the week I want to be chill!
They reached a fork in the trail, where the undergrowth was flattened in two directions. One path in which Anthony had very clearly gone, and another that might've belonged to the woman.
'Just when I was least expecting it from him, he goes and pulls this shit,' Nadine huffed as they stopped.
'You literally agreed to come with. I guess a bit of running is enough to make anyone think twice, eh?' Dan said, winking cheerfully.
'You can't be talking when you're trying to pretend like you aren't out of breath either,' Kaylie laughed, glad to have a joke around to clear the air.
'We don't acknowledge that,' he replied, although a grin crept onto his face. 'Anyway, which way do we pick? We'll either find the woman, or Anthony, or both– or nobody at all.'
'I say we split up,' Nadine said grimly. 'We'll probably have better luck on our own than as a group. Just shout if you see them.'
Kaylie ignored her growing unease and nodded. 'Okay. I'll take the left side. You guys go forward and right.'
Reaching a silent agreement, they separated without another word.
The area Kaylie had chosen was narrower, less worn. It was still afternoon, but the sunlight barely reached her. Only the tiniest slivers made it past the dense trees.
Twigs of all sizes scratched at her shoes and pants as she passed, the only noise trying to fight the silence surrounding her.
I'm getting goosebumps. Was splitting up the right choice?
She wouldn't have minded the eeriness– if she wasn't alone.
What if that woman's actually some evil ghost who lures people in and eats them?! If Anthony's already dead, then I'm next for sure!
Kaylie pinched her arm, trying to shut her imagination up.
While trying to breathe deeply in and out, she heard voices somewhere close by.
Inching towards the source, she pressed herself behind a tree and peeked out, discovering a small clearing just ahead.
There's Anthony!
Kaylie breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of him, safe and sound. But… the woman's there too. And he's talking to her.
'So that's who they were?' Anthony was saying.
'That's right. They'd been told to go watch you and your friends. Quietly,' the woman replied. 'Looks like they were a little too obvious.'
Anthony nodded, seemingly unfazed.
'I've got to admit,' she continued, 'you're a lot quicker than I would've guessed. The rest of them were nothing special. I thought I'd get further before being caught.'
'Thanks. But they're not slow. I was just… more prepared than them.'
'Really? How?'
He smiled wryly. 'The second I saw you, I knew you had something to do with everything that's been happening to us. And honestly, I just wanted answers.'
She accepted that answer and fell silent.
Kaylie pressed herself closer to the tree, mind going into overdrive. Should I step out and say something? Or bolt and pretend I saw nothing?
'You over there.'
HUH?! IS SHE TALKING TO ME?? No way, she can't possibly see me from there!
'Red-haired girl. Yes, I mean you.'
Anthony turned towards her, waving. 'Don't worry! It's fine. She just wants to talk to all of us!'
Kaylie hesitated. Should I…? If Anthony says it's all good…
She swallowed and made herself walk over.
'Hello!' she called, trying to be friendly.
'Hello. You're Kaylie, right?' the woman asked. She didn't sound unwelcoming, but she wasn't exactly outgoing, either.
'Yeah, that's me. What's your name?'
'Lena.'
Awkward silence followed. Normally, Kaylie had no problems just clicking with new people. But Lena was mysterious, and seemed somewhat reluctant to reveal too much about herself.
'We should wait here for the others,' Anthony suggested, before the silence got too thick.
'Sounds good,' Lena said, checking her watch. 'They better not take too long.'
'Why not?' Kaylie asked, curious.
'Because the most important thing, the thing I actually came here to do, will take a while.'
'And that is…?'
'Just wait for your friends. I can't go without them. Also, I'm not explaining twice.'
Go without them? Is she gonna take us somewhere?
Kaylie heard the sounds of crunching leaves, coming from her hiding spot behind them.
'They BETTER be here–' Nadine's voice rang out, annoyed.
'Chill out! They're fine. Probably.'
Nadine and Dan emerged from the trees, bickering. Both of their faces were simultaneously filled with relief and uneasiness, seeing Kaylie and Anthony with the strange woman.
They made their way over cautiously, eyes flicking both and forth between Lena and Anthony.
'So…' Dan began slowly. 'Wanna explain what that was about?'
Anthony smiled, a little sheepish. 'Sorry about running like that. But there's a good reason, I promise.'
Lena stepped closer. 'I'll do the explaining. I'm Lena. I'm part of a group that's very interested in people like you four.'
'People like us?' Nadine repeated, folding her arms.
'People who don't blindly accept the system. Those who believe in change.' Lena's voice didn't falter in the slightest, even her words were dangerous– bordering on treachery. 'We've noticed you don't seem to have a problem criticising it.'
Kaylie held her breath.
This is super cool– being approached by some kind of super spy. But as cool as it is, it feels risky. We shouldn't even be here…
'Okay, that's a little ominous,' Dan said, taking a small step back. 'I think I might be able to guess what comes next.'
'Well, let me confirm it for you. I want you to come with me. To meet someone who can give you real answers.' She pointed past the trees behind her. 'It's not far. But just to make it clear; I'm not forcing you. If you want, you can just go home and forget this ever happened.'
So, we can move on, or keep following this story.
The friends said nothing. Everyone's mind was whirring. On one hand, this seemed like more trouble than it was worth. But on the other hand, it might be a chance to make a difference with others who shared their interests. To go against the chains that kept every waking moment restricted.
Except… I'm not sure if I'm like them. Nadine's never liked the way things are. Dan doesn't say it much, but I think he's the same. And Anthony had his whole life uprooted by it.
I'm none of those things. Sure, I wish I was a little freer, but I won't ever be.
She glanced sideways at Lena.
Unless…?
'I'm in,' Nadine said simply. Anthony and Dan echoed her words, leaving Kaylie scrambling to respond.
'Um, me too,' she said quickly.
Lena turned without another word, and started walking deeper into the forest.
Kaylie trailed a few steps behind, thoughts racing.
Treading on a path of flattened ground and crushed weeds, there were no signs or markers to show the way. Yet Lena navigated with certainty, relying only on memory.
As they continued, even the distant noises of nature began to fade.
Then, finally, Lena shoved aside a curtain of branches, revealing a wide clearing.
A camp.
Makeshift tents of all sizes were scattered across, effortlessly blending into the environment with their subtle, earthy colours. People moved between them– not many, but maybe thirty or forty. Hurrying between tents, carrying supplies, talking in low voices. In the centre, a firepit smouldered gently.
Kaylie stared, mouth open, eyes wide, in pure shock.
This is real.
'Welcome… to the rebellion.'