New story here with Kim and Jack. This and SQ are probably my two favorite stories I've written. First chapter's kinda short. My "new years resolution" is to update more and make longer chapters. Anyway, enjoy and review!

The streets were completely deserted. It seemed like a scene from a movie where the camera panned across a ghost town. It was after curfew, meaning everyone in their right mind was indoors and trying to distract themselves from the horrific events of the passed day. Every once in a while a boy or girl would find themselves stuck outside, where they were swiftly disposed of. People whispered of shadows snatching young children and older men and women who were never to be seen again. They constantly lived in fear that they or their family would be next to be taken.

Chapter 1

Kim watched as the gong rang. To-night was the night. Her parents were staying the night at a good friend's house, leaving Kim alone.

"Lock the door and stay inside," they'd said.

But Kim wasn't planning to. For years she'd tried and failed to find the rebel hideout. She'd lived under the dictator's rule and obediently followed the ruled, but it was time to break that streak.

Kim dug her fingernails into the windowsill and didn't move. All the lights in her house were out, and the gong had just rung, signaling curfew.

She wore a black leather jacket—a gift from her brother before he disappeared (but more on that later)—and black jeans and boots so she was as dark as night.

You cannot be seen, she reminded herself. You cannot be seen.

A movement caught her and she squinted into the shadows. A figure wearing a dark cloak moved quickly from building to building, pausing every once in a while to listen. Kim's heart began to race. This was it.

She opened the door and softly threaded down the street, following the person.

She knew the schedule well. After curfew was when the rebels met in their secret and carefully concealed meeting place, where they discussed the current situations. Kim assumed things like the mysterious Shadow creatures and the missing men, women, and children consumed most of their time.

She walked cautiously past a guard station, where she could hear sounds of loud talking and the clinking of glass from inside. The figure she was watching walked past the last building in the small town and knelt beside the well. After plumbing failures several years ago—no doubt the water was being taken by the dictator and used for his purposes—a well had been built to save the people time.

The person pressed several stone blocks on the side of the well, and waited. After a couple seconds, they stood up and and climbed down into the well.

Kim was expecting to hear a splash, but she heard no such thing. Instead, there was a thump, and then silence ensued.

Curious and confused, she made her way over to the well and looked down. Darkness met her gaze, so she carefully stepped down, clutching the edge. Her feet met footholds on the walls, so being cautious, she began her descent.

At one point she almost slipped and fell, but she caught herself, heart still pounding and the sound of her blood rushing in her ears. She kept going until her feet hit solid ground. Bewildered, Kim looked around. No water.

But it was a well, and it worked. Kim's mom brought water home from it every day. So where was the water?

She knelt down and touched the stone floor, rubbing her fingers together. They were now damp.

"Huh," Kim said to herself. She strained to see in the darkness and ran her hands over the walls. Nothing. No openings. No patches. The footholds in the walls were even gone.

Kim looked up. She was stuck.

"Damn it!" She groaned. She stomped on the ground in frustration.

Suddenly she heard heard a click and saw a door open in the wall.

Smirking, Kim realized that was the thump she heard from the other figure who came down here. She entered the doorway and pulled the door shut behind her.

There were two tunnels before her, branching off in two directions. The one on the left was lit, and the one on the right was pitch black. Sounds of dripping water echoed from this tunnel. They must've sealed off the left tunnel and drained the well water into the right tunnel.

"Clever," she murmured.

Kim continued down the left tunnel and could just make out voices talking in hushed tones. From what she could hear, it sounded like quite a few people, and it seemed as if they were waiting for something—or someone.

Peering through the slightly opened door, Kim was able to make out many people. They were all having private, quiet conversations. About what, Kim had no idea.

All of a sudden, a voice announced, "Would you all please find a seat?"

All the men and women shuffled out of Kim's point of view, so she quietly slipped inside. She almost fainted.

There were so many people!

Kim recognized Chelsea from the market, Stephen from the inn—even the quiet and supposed mute homeless man Kim passed every day.

There must've been four hundred people gathered there in that space underneath the city.

There were not any chairs, but boxes and crates were scattered around the room.

Kim's braid settled in the crook of neck, and she crept to the back of the room, where the shadows were the darkest.

"I would like to thank you all for risking your lives to come here to-night. We are all that's left of the rebellion in our town."

Kim saw the boy who was speaking standing on a crate, high above the rest. He looked her age, maybe a little older. He had shaggy brown hair and had a passionate glint in his eyes as he talked.

A girl near Kim turned to her, cocking an eyebrow.

"Who are you?" She asked. "I haven't ever seen you here before."

Kim's heart started to race.

"I've contacted the small population of rebels in Lenton and they're looking to strike all at once. Strate has huge numbers of people who are willing to fight back. Many other towns have decided that next week would be the best time, right after curfew," the boy said.

"Um, hello?" The girl said, waving a hand in Kim's face.

"Uhh...I'm Kim," Kim answered.

The girl's eyes narrowed. "How did you get here? How did you find us?"

Kim didn't answer. This could blow her whole cover. She could be in danger if they knew who she was.

"We're going to go over everything we have stored up for this kind of thing. Karen, you've taken care of the food?"

A woman stood up. "Yes. We have plenty."

"Milton, you've sorted the weapons?"

A red haired boy stood. "You bet. Every single one is in place."

"You're a spy!" The girl hissed, baring her teeth. Her dark brown hair was spread over her shoulders.

Kim shook her head urgently. "No, you really don't understand—"

The girl leaped to her feet. "Jack!" She shouted.

Everyone turned, including the shaggy brown haired boy.

"She's a spy!" The girl cried. Immediately everyone gasped, and Kim stepped forward.

"Look, I'm not a spy!" She protested.

The girl, with a crack, backhanded her with such force that Kim flew back into the wall, where she slid to the floor.

The girl was going to hit Kim again, but the boy stepped in front.

"That's enough, Grace," he barked.

Grace backed off and growled. "Jack, she's a filthy spy—probably works for the dictator. She must've followed someone here."

Kim was seeing stars. She could barely breathe; it felt like someone was sitting on her chest. Her head was killing her. Her blonde hair had come out of its braid, leaving it splayed around her head.

Several men came out of the crowd and yanked Kim to her feet.

"How did you get here?" Jack asked, his muscled arms folded across his chest. He was wearing tattered jeans and an obviously worn black T-shirt.

Kim blinked. "I followed someone in a black cloak. But I was just trying to—"

One of the men shook her violently. "Shut up. He didn't ask you anything else."

Kim's skull felt completely rattled. She could barely see straight. Jack made a noise.

"Black cloak?" He turned to Grace. "Weren't you wearing one? And you came in late."

Grace paled. "Jack, I'm so sorry. I was just careless. I should've covered my tracks."

Kim shook her head. "No, Grace, you were good. I've just trained myself to see the smallest things."

Grace stalked forward. "Yeah, well, the dictator's guards might've done the same. Then where would I be?"

Kim shrugged. "Just trying to help."

"I didn't ask for your help," Grace spat.

"Calm down, sis," Jack said. He placed a hand on her shoulder.

Grace went to stand next to but behind Jack. She crossed her arms. Her glare was pure fury that burned into Kim.

"How do we know we can trust you?" Jack asked.

Kim took a breath. She'd prepared for this.

"I swear to keep the secrets and strategies of this rebellion on the name of everything good in this corrupt world. I sever my allegiance to any dictator and take the pledge to serve the people forever."

She finished and looked Jack straight in the eye. Everyone seemed surprised, even Grace. But she recovered quicker.

"She could've heard that anywhere," Grace scoffed.

"My mother taught it to me in private when she was part of the failed rebellion twenty years ago. She was one of the only survivors. I see you haven't changed the pledge."

Jack's face softened. "What's your name?"

"Kim."

He smiled, then stuck out his hand. "Welcome to the rebellion, Kim."

Grace was livid. "You're trusting her?! Just like that?! Jack, this is suicide! We don't even know if she's telling the truth."

Jack sighed. "Grace, I can tell when people are lying. And she's not. Kim, please come with me."

Jack turned and began to walk away. The other people who'd been watching grabbed their coats and began to meander out and back to their homes.

Kim tried to follow Jack, but Grace stepped in her path.

"You better be real careful," she hissed. "My brother may like you, but I don't. And I'm dangerous when I'm mad."

"Well then you better avoid me," Kim said sweetly. She winked and continued to walk, but Grace stuck out her foot and tripped her, causing Kim to cry out as she prepared to strike the cold stone floor.

But instead she felt warm strong arms around her waist and neck, and she looked up and saw Jack holding her, his shaggy hair falling in his face. She was clutching his shirt with one hand and the other was on his shoulder. Jack smirked.

"Clumsy much?" He joked. He helped her to her feet and she started blushing. And not just from embarrassment.

"N-no, I just—never mind," Kim stuttered. Her heart was fluttering. What the hell? She never acted this way around boys. She was strong and independent.

And this boy would be no different, she thought firmly, and followed Jack out of the big room into a little hallway.

A/N: So I should update by the end of the week. Your reviews, follows, and favorites keep me going ;) Ill be sure to update SQ as soon as possible as well. To keep it it short, I'm going to nickname this story UG (for Underground).

Thanks!

—Kit Kat