ARC ONE: MIND

The Second Chapter

Reason

"It's no good." He twirls the blade between his fingers, perched on an old crate somebody left behind. Since then, it was reserved for him: the leader. The thinker.

"I think it is." I tell my brother, referring to our latest problem. "They're gonna do it. I can tell."

"How can you tell?" pipes up Flighty, the youngest in the group. He is only 15, which makes me mourn. No kid should have to deal with what we deal with. Not even here. But Boomerang, my brother, is the leader, and he decides who's in and who's not. There's another 15 year-old, actually – a girl.

"We haven't seen any of the Agnis in awhile, right?" I point out. Sometimes I wonder if I'm the only one who sees these things.

"Cat," interrupts T., "You're wrong. Zuko jumped Boomerang last week."

"Which is exactly what we're getting them back for," I deadpan. "They've got to be planning this. Those guys are filthy rich."

"So that's the plan, then?" Boomerang glances around the little alley. "We crash the party, mix a little strong stuff in the food, and nick their stuff?"

T. jumps in again. "That's pretty lame. No offense, Boomerang."

My brother narrows his eyes, but doesn't react. "What's your idea, T.?"

"We drug the punch and jump their woozy asses," she laughs. "Then steal their stuff."

"That's good," I comment. And in my approval, faces relax all around and everyone is ready to give the newcomer the respect she deserves.

"Prove us your worth something," mutters my brother. He leaps up and slinks away, headed for who knows where.

"I'm headed for the hardware store," announces Flighty, touching a hand to his inked head. "See if I can nick some more paint."

"Red, Flighty. It's their favorite color," I say sarcastically.

"Ciao, Flighty."

After both guys have left, T. turns to me. "Cat."

"What?" I fiddle with the little handknife. It's the only weapon Boomerang will let me have; it's strictly for self-protection, he says. I'm good with it, too.

"Seen Jet around?"

I snort a little. "Boomerang sent Jet and his crew to the North side to do a little scavenging. Nothing major."

Silence envelops us. Our gang is perhaps the most diverse in town. We were the people who hated one thing and one thing only – the Agnis, and anybody even remotely related to them.

Jet and his "crew" (consisting of Smellerbee, Longshot, Pipsqueak, and the Duke) are thieves. They called themselves the "Freedom Fighters" – that is, before Boomerang introduced them to our posse. Now they are just "Jet's crew".

The Duke never talks. He's one of those troubled types. Boomerang isn't too sure about him, but it would take just one mention of the name ("Dao, old buddy,") to seal his outcast.

Pipsqueak is a misnomer. He's huge – but unfortunately not too intelligent. He'd be the brawn of the group, except that half the year he goes to an academy in another state. Hasn't done him much good.

Smellerbee and Longshot are Jet's closest friends. Longshot is a mute – which might seem hindering at first, but he's good at expressing himself…and he's a hell of a shot when it comes to guns. Smellerbee is the only other girl in the gang, but just like T. and me, she is not to be underestimated.

Then there's Jet.

Jet is…rebellious. He's a born leader, actually, and I can tell it irks him that he isn't in charge. But when Boomerang let them in, it wasn't free. In our little family, you protect your own. No matter what.

Jet isn't just an extraordinary thief; he's an excellent fighter and could give even Flighty a run for his money. He's quick, agile, tall…

I guess you could say he's my…buddy. To be put into very, very vague terms.

But god, that man is possessive. Ever since he laid eyes on me, he was intent on having me. And what can I say…?