Part 16
Ebony laid with her head on Jay's chest. His arms where around her and she felt safe yet she still wanted to kill him. She sat up when she heard someone come into the room. It was Mackenzie, she looked like she was crying.
"Mac what's wrong?" Ebony asked.
"Nothing. Why?" Mackenzie asked with another sneeze.
"You look like you're crying." Ebony said.
"Nope, sneezing." Mac said plugging her noise. "Anyways, Ved."
When Jay heard his brother's name he sat up fast and looked at her. "What happened?"
"He said that he was going home. He took off through the woods and asked me to tell you that he was going back." Mackenzie said.
"He said what?" Jay said getting up off the bed and looking at her with fear in his eyes.
"He said he was going home." Mackenzie said slowly.
"Oh no." Jay said falling back on the bed.
"Jay what's going on?" Ebony asked.
"He's going back. He's going to tell them and then they'll come." Jay said shaking his head. He didn't want think about what was going to happen when Ved got back to the tribe. He would tell them about Jack and Mackenzie and how the city wasn't being run by anyone. Then they would come and take everyone and take over the city. If they came it would also mean that Java would come and Ebony would find out.
"What do you mean "they"?" Ebony asked with fear in her eyes.
"We need to get everyone out of here." Jay said standing up. "Mackenzie can you get everyone into the café now, we need to move fast."
"Yeah, sure." Mackenzie said with her noise still plugged. She found Bray and together the gathered the mallrats in the café.
"What is going on?" Patsy asked.
Everyone seemed to be talking in their own little groups. No one knew why they had been called to the café. Mackenzie had been gone for a while and they hadn't done anything to upset her during that time.
"Okay guys can I have it quite?" Bray asked standing up. "Jay would like to tell everyone something." Bray said glairing over at Jay who was sitting with Ebony.
Jay stood up and sighed. "We all need to get out of the city tonight."
"What do you mean? It's almost winter." Trudy said holding Brady.
"I have reason to believe that the Techno tribe is headed to this city. They will come here, take control of the city, and the kids in the city. Some of you will work for them if you're caught." Jay said looking around the room so see no one's face shocked. "They are a powerful tribe, with a lot of smart members. They are able to make the whole city run again, water, power, everything. I know this because they were my tribe."
"You lied to me." Ebony said softly as she stood up. She looked at him and backed away as he reached out to touch her. "You lied to me."
"Ebony wait-" Jay said as she ran out of the room with Mackenzie and Stephanie running after her.
"You lied to all of us." Tai-san said standing up. "So who are they going to take Jay? Any of us?"
Jay nodded his head and looked down. "They would take you, Bray, Pride, Mackenzie, Jack and May." He said with his head hung.
"No one is taking my wife." Lex said holding Tai-san closer to him.
"Why do you think I'm telling you all now?" Jay asked. "I want you all go get away before they come. I don't want to ruin your lives."
"But you were going to." Pride said standing up.
"No, that was never our intentions. We left them months ago, we didn't want to be apart of the things they were doing. But something made Ved go back." Jay said looking up.
"So what do we do?" Amber asked looking at everyone else.
"Like he said we have to get out of here." Cloe said holding Jack. "Unless we want to lose everyone."
"Where will we go? It's almost dark out and it'll be freezing out soon." Salene said.
"The freezing thing we can take care of with blankets and a fire. We just need to get out of here now." Jay said.
"Who said anything about we?" Lex asked standing up. "You've lied to us."
"And I know what they're planning on doing and where they're planning on going. It would be stupid of you not to take me." Jay said.
"We don't have time for this right now!" Bray said. "I want everyone to go to their rooms and pack everything and anything. Get on warm cloths and get back here as soon as you can. We leave in ten minutes."
With that everyone left the café and went to their rooms.
Ebony sat on her bed watching Mackenzie and Stephanie put the layers of clothing back on them.
"I'm not going." Ebony said standing up.
"You have to go!" Honesty demanded.
"This is my home and if some one wants it they're going to have to fight for it." Ebony said looking down at the little girl.
"Ebony we all have to go. I know you're mad at Jay but he told us and didn't let us wait and find out when they came." Mackenzie said standing up. "Steph go help Paul make sure he has on a lot of clothes."
"Okay." Stephanie said leaving the room.
"Ebony I need you to come with us. If you stay here then we are staying here and Jay said that I'm one of the people they will take." Mackenzie said. "Please come Ebony. For me, if they take me what would I do without these two? I've spent the last four years of my life taking care of other people and acting like the mother I never want to become. But then I found you and you started to care for me. Ebony you're my mother just like I'm Honesty's, Lane's and Steph's. We all need you."
Ebony looked at Mackenzie then down at her cousins. They looked so cute with all their snow clothes on. She nodded her head and took the bag off her bed and started to shove clothes into it. She stopped when Jay came into the room.
"We'll go see how Steph and Paul are doing." Mackenzie said picking up the four bags and leaving the room with her cousins.
"What?" Ebony asked.
"Can we talk?" Jay asked.
"There is nothing to talk about Jay. You lied, to all of us." Ebony said going back to packing.
He could feel his heart sink with her words. He wanted to be able to explain to her that she was the reason he wasn't going to go back, the reason he had begged Ved not to go back, but he knew it was to late. "I'm sorry Ebony. I wanted to tell you about the tribe but I couldn't."
"You couldn't, it was just that simple." Ebony said looking at him again.
"What should I have told you? Oh hey, the tribe I came from, they like to go in and destroy cities before rebuilding them, but don't worry, they won't come here." Jay said annoyed. He had told them in enough time, they would all be able to get out safely.
"GET OUT OF MY ROOM!" Ebony screamed at the top of her lungs. She had had it with him.
"Ebony please." Jay said paging her as she walked toward him with hatred in her eyes.
Ebony just walked toward him as he backed out of the room. She could kill him right now but she had other things to worry about. "I never want to see you again. You can come with us but if I see you anywhere near me or Mackenzie and her family, I will not play nicely!" Ebony said calmly when he was out of the room. After she slammed to door shut and she went back to packing. Soon Mackenzie was standing in the room helping her gather things and lay things out to wear for the trip.
"I think that's about everything." Mackenzie said looking around the mostly empty room.
"Yeah." Ebony said nodding her head slowly has she put on another pair on pants on a sweatshirt that was Jay's. She picked up three of the bags that where packed and Mackenzie got the other two and they walked to the café. Almost everyone else was there.
"Jack found some strollers. This way we can push the kids and some bags." Mackenzie said hanging one of the bags over the stroller Honesty was sleeping in.
"Mommy are we going home?" Lane asked as Stephanie buckled him in.
"We're going to stop by there." Steph said smiling at him.
"Yeah we need to get some of your things." Mackenzie said putting a hat on Honesty's sleeping head. "Then you can get blue and Honesty can get her Barbie's."
"Mackenzie I can't do this." Ebony said shaking her head.
"Ebony why don't we stay at my place and leave early in the morning. You don't look so good." Mackenzie whispered into her ear.
"That sounds good." Ebony said nodding her head yes. "Let me say good bye to Jack before we go."
"Okay." Mackenzie said smiling as she turned to Paul. She began to sign to him to tell him what was going on.
Cloe hadn't let go of Jack since she heard Jay say that he was someone they would take. She didn't know what she would do without him. She was sitting on his lap looking around at everyone when Ebony came up to them.
"I'm going with Mackenzie." Ebony said talking to Jack.
"What do you mean?" Jack asked.
"We're staying at her place tonight and then leaving at dawn. I'm not going with Jay and the mallrats." Ebony said sitting in the chair next to them.
"So you're leaving?" Cloe asked.
"Yeah." Ebony said nodding her head. "I guess I've just found something better. Any way's you guys are going out to the farm tonight, then heading to the Eco-Tribe's old place in the morning."
"Ebony it's not me you should be saying goodbye to." Jack said looking over at Jay.
"You know I think Mackenzie thinks the same thing." Ebony said standing up. "Cloe take care of him and yourself. One day I want to see a little boy running around with bright red hair or maybe a little girl with black hair and green ends."
"Ebony are you not coming with us?" Amber asked coming over to them.
"No and I bet that just makes you happy." Ebony said when she saw him look over at Jay then back to her.
Amber just looked at Ebony for a minute. Did she know?
"How does it feel Amber to always get my leftovers?" Ebony asked loud enough for Jack and Amber to hear.
"Ebony I'm really going to miss you." Jack said pulling her away from Amber. "It just won't be the same without you around."
"Yeah but you'll get by." Ebony said. "Jack, remember, no matter what happens something good will always come form it."
"Bye Ebony." Jack said hugging her then going back to Cloe.
May was very upset. She didn't want to lose Pride. She watched him as he talked to Bray about what they would do. The rest of the Eco-Tribe was waiting to hear about where they would all go and do. She turned to look at Danni who was sitting next to her holding Johnny. Danni seemed to stay so clam. She knew that if these people came that they would take the father of her baby and her brother. It seemed like she would lose more than anyone.
"We're going to the farm to stay with Alice's and Ellie. Jay doesn't think they will look that far out of town for people and Ved doesn't know anything about it." Pride said coming back to May and Danni.
"So how far away is it?" Danni asked looked down at her sleeping baby boy. He had gotten so big since she had first came back to the mall.
"It's not too far. You can put him in a stroller if you want." May said smiling over at her.
"Okay." Danni said getting up and leaving them.
"May are you okay?" Pride asked sitting in his sister's chair and looking at May.
"I don't want to lose you." May said putting her arms around his neck.
"You're not going to lose me. That's why we're leaving." Pride said with a laugh.
"Come on Bray wants to leave in 10 minutes."
"Okay." May said standing up.
Part 17
Amber watched the others, hurry around, she watched the Eco-tribe leave before them.
"Amber lets go." Bray said pulling Amber out of thought.
"Okay." Amber said turning to face Bray with a smile.
Amber and everyone but Jay and Ebony walked into the cold night air. She could feel her noise turning red right away. She looked around to try and find Jay but she didn't see him anywhere.
"Bray maybe we should do a roll call and see if everyone is here?" Amber said.
"That's a good idea." Bray said smiling at Amber. "Amber you really should wrap up in a blanket. I don't want you or the baby getting ill." Bray said putting an arm around her.
"That's sweet of you Bray but you should be worrying about everyone else not me." Amber said smiling. She gave him a small kiss on the lips.
"Hey guys let do a roll call and see if we're all here." Bray shouted. He began to call everyone's name. 'Ebony?"
There was no reply.
"She isn't coming with us." Amber said smiling.
"Jay?" Bray shouted.
There was again nothing. Everyone seemed to look around for him.
"Ebony wanted to say good bye to him." Jack whispered into Bray's ear
Ebony stood behind Jay as everyone else walked out of the mall. She didn't want to do this but she knew she had to.
"I really am sorry." Jay said turning to look at her.
"I'm sure you are." Ebony said looking down. "So what else did you lie to me about?"
"You don't want to know." Jay said looking down.
"Did you use me? Was I just a toy in this whole thing?" Ebony asked.
"No. Everything I feel for you is real." Jay said walking towards her.
"And Amber?" Ebony asked.
"I swear to you nothing happened. We talked a few times." Jay said looking down into her eyes. They where filled with pain that he had caused. But he could see the love she had for him still in there.
"I wanted to say goodbye." Ebony said trying to pull her eyes away from him.
"Ebony what do you mean? I'm coming with you." Jay said still looking down at her.
"I'm not going with the mallrats. I'm going with Mackenzie and Stephanie." Ebony said. She knew she was going to give in.
"I'll come with you." Jay said placing his hand on her cheek.
"No. You can't." Ebony said no moving.
"Ebony I don't want to lose you." Jay said moving closer to her.
"It's to late." a male voice said coming up behind them.
Ebony looked at Jay and back into his arms to get away from the man that had come up behind them. His eyes where colder than Zoot's and he looked meaner.
"Lord Ram!" Jay said putting his arms around Ebony. He could tell that she was scared of something.
"I'm sorry, did I interrupt something?" Ram asked looking at Jay then Ebony.
"Lord Ram we only found five virts in here." a girl said with a mask coving her face. The girl turned to look at Jay and Ebony. "Make that six. Would you like me to take her?" She asked Jay.
"No one's taking Ebony." Jay said putting Ebony behind him.
"Oh god." Ebony said as fear started to shine in her eyes. "Jay they have Mackenzie and the kids."
"Ebony, don't worry. I'll take care of it." Jay said looking at Ram.
"Jay, she's a virt." Ram said looking at Jay. "Have you become one as well?"
"No, my lord." Jay said. He couldn't let them take Ebony. He had to find a way to put all of this to a stop, without anyone getting taken or hurt. "She is no use to you my lord. Nor are her friends."
"That's not what your brother told me." Ram said.
"Yes Jay. Ved told us that you found some people that would really be a lot of use to us." The girl said stepping closer to him. She moved to where Ebony could hear and removed her mask.
"Siva?" Ebony asked when she saw her.
"Hello sister." Siva said smiling. "Java is here as well. I'm sure she'd be glad to see you Jay."
"Lord Ram, just let Ebony and her friends go. Please!" Jay said looking down at Ram.
"Jay that wouldn't be any fun." Ram said smiling. "Siva take her and put her with the others." Ram ordered.
"No!" Jay said firmly. "I'll take her."
"Very good." Ram said going back out of same way he came.
Jay turned to look at Ebony. He could see the fear in her eyes. "I'm sorry." He said taking her in his arms.
"Where are you taking me? Where are Mackenzie and Stephanie?" Ebony asked as Jay led her out of the mall. "Jay, tell me what's going on!"
When they got outside all they saw were Techno's. The mallrats must have left.
"Ebony I need you to know something." Jay said stopping and looking at her.
"I love you. I love you more than anything else. No matter what happens I need you to always remember that." Jay said.
"Jay what is going on?" Ebony asked.
"Promise me you'll remember that." Jay said.
"Okay." Ebony said letting a tear fall. "I love you too Jay but you need to tell me what's going on."
"I can't tell you Ebony, not yet." Jay said walking toward a truck. "Here get in." He said.
"Why?" Ebony asked. She was beginning to think that she would never see Jay again.
"Mackenzie and the others will be brought to this truck, just get in." Jay said. He helped her into the back. He got in with her. "I'll try my hardest to get them to let you go to the base. If I can't then I'll come looking for you." Jay said placing a hand on her cheek again.
Ebony felt the tears stream down her face as Jay said those words. She leaned forward and kissed him on the lips. She waited for him to turn the kiss into more. He did.
Jay didn't want to pull away from Ebony but he had to find her friends. He pulled away and got out of the truck. He looked around. He saw Mega standing with Mackenzie and her friends.
"Jay, good to see you again." Mega said when Jay ran over to them.
"So you weren't lying about that tribe thing." Mackenzie said looking up at Jay.
"Shut up virt. That is no way to talk to the general." Mega said
"Hey it's not nice to call people names." Honesty said still sitting in the stroller.
"Mega it's okay." Jay said. "There is a truck ready for them. Mackenzie if you'll follow me I'll take you to see some friends."
"You're in deep mister." Mackenzie said as they walked away from that Mega guy.
"Look Ebony's in here. I'm going to try and not get you guys sent to the mines." Jay said standing in front of the truck. He could hear Ebony crying and it was killing him. "Tell her to come out." Jay said as they put the kids into the truck
Mackenzie looked at Jay before she got into the truck. "It's over for us isn't it? There's no way I'm going home."
Jay sighed and looked down. He looked up when he heard some one getting out of the truck. She was crying but stopped as she got out of the truck. He wrapped his arms around her.
Ebony felt safe with Jay's arms around her. Everything around them seemed to just stop and only they where moving. She tried to smile as he brought his face down to meet hers.
"I'm going to do whatever I can to keep you." Jay said looking her right in the eye.
"I know." Ebony said letting tears fall again. She put her arms around his neck and went up on tippy toes as Jay stood up straight. She looked around and saw someone glaring at them. The person looked like Siva. It couldn't be. Ebony let go of Jay and looked up at him. "Both my sisters are here aren't they?"
"Yeah they are." Jay said looking down at her. Java was going to find out soon about him and Ebony and Ebony would find out of him and Java.
"Send me away Jay. I don't want to be anywhere near them." Ebony said looking up at Jay. She knew that he could see the fear in her eyes.
"Ebony I can't do that. I love you to much." Jay said putting his arms around her waist. He leaned down at kissed her passionately.
That seemed to do it. The girl started to walk over towards them. Ebony knew when she got closer that it was Java. She pulled away from Jay and put her head against his chest. She tired to take in his smell before she had to leave. But the girl ripped them apart.
"Nice to see you again sister." Java said removing her mask. "Seems like you haven't changed much. Still going after what's mine."
Ebony just looked up at Jay. What was hers? Jay was with her sister.
"I think it's time for this virt to get back into the truck and get ready for the mines." Java said giving Ebony evil looks.
Ebony closed her eyes to fight back the tears that she was trying to hold in. She opened them and looked up at Jay before she climbed back into the truck with Mackenzie.
