Among the Alive
Chapter 2
Jen looked at Sal in the eyes again, biting her lip.
"I'm gonna go.." she told him, a bit of apology escaping her voice. She shook her head, suddenly thinking how crazy her idea was. Apparently Sal could see it, and let out a sigh.
"Are you okay?" he asked, tilting his head. Jen's mind racked for the meaning of what he just said. It took her a few minutes, and the sun started rising. She looked around the woods, fear scorching her veins.
"Well, now we both gotta go," Sal sighed. He turned around to face his house, and was about to run. "Wait," Jen said, rubbing her eyes. Sal turned around to face Jen, concern taking over him. "Yeah?" he asked, crossing his arms.
"We need to go find Luke," Jen told him. She swore she'd mentioned to Sal Luke a thousand times. Every detail, saying everything he did was amazing. But Jen knew how Luke saw her, brave, willing to do anything to free the shadow children, whether it risked her life. Jen knew that wasn't true, she just came up with dumb plans that others might see heroic because she thought it was fool proof, with no way to die.
Sal cleared his throat.
"I guess. But how do we get to him? We have about an hour a day, we can't get across this city in that time. We have to tell our parents," Sal pointed out. Jen shook her head.
"Come up with some excuse, create a fake I.D even if you want to cower in the corner without being yourself." Jen would never use a fake I.D, she could fool the government easily, just like with her death. Her father thought she was dead, but her mother managed to tell Jen's dad all about it. Luke had got the news and evidently went to Hendricks school for boys. Some nights Jen wish she could go to Harlow, because there was woods right between the two buildings where they could meet, just like her and Sal.
"I know you think it's stupid, but you'll need one too. You can try to cover it up, lie by lie, but you can't prove me wrong on this one. You need a fake I.D. I can't lose you just because you think it's stupid." Sal pleaded.
Jen wanted to believe him, but she couldn't bring herself to do it.
She opened her mouth to reply, but before she could say something Sal handed her a plastic card with the name Leslie Mack on it. It looked just like Jen, just different eyes.
"Where did this come from?" Jen asked. She studied the card, and realized everything was correct but the eyes. Jen winced once she figured it out for herself. Only the population police could make something so believable, because only barons could afford such a fancy card. Sal was right in between, sometimes living like a baron, sometimes living poor.
"My parents paid for it. We're a little on the poor side, but I knew you'd need it," Sal said without emotion. But to Jen Sal was more transparent then ever. He would live poorly for about 6 months, and it was wrong to accept something that could put his family in danger.
"I-I-I can't take this without giving you anything in return. It's too expensive," Jen stammered. She was astonished at Sal's commitment to helping her. Sal shook his head.
"No, please, take it. It's okay," Sal claimed. Jen couldn't understand why he took it so lightly.
"But your money. Poor must be terrible," Jen corrected.
Sal knew where Jen couldn't argue.
"How would you know?" Sal asked. Jen tried to keep arguing, but she knew Sal was right.
"But I'm paying you back," Jen announced. Sal sighed with relief, glad Jen took the plastic card. Jen wanted to survive and find Luke, and save the shadow children like she had been trying to do all along.
"That's okay, just not right now. We need to get going," Sal agreed.
He reached for Jen's shoulders and hoped these words were clear;
"Everything will be okay, and the shadow children will be free."
Jen triggered, and excitement washed over her. "Free." she repeated. "That's what I live for. Let's get going."
