I have a few things I want to say before starting this chapter.
I don't have an update schedule, but I have an update plan. I'll post a new chapter when I finish writing the next one (Ex: posting this chapter when chapter 10 is done).
Along with that; my love for this story has kind of returned. I know it didn't seem like that long a time between chapters 7 and 8, or 8 and 9, but it's been months since I've written anything for anything. I'm not going to make any promises, but updates might be more often that I would have thought... no promises.
Also, thanks to Venandi for constantly reviewing; it actually helps me love this story more. Bad grammar annoys me too, even though I'm the leat grammatically correct when it comes to writing (probably because I write like I would talk, and that doesn't help). Believe it or not I forgot that there were resources to help with writing characters, oops.
I've been told that Vladimir isn't a Romanian name, I'm sorry! I just poked up common fan given names names so I've changed it to Vlad for the time being. I might change it to something more Romanian later on (ie looking up 'top ten male Romanian first names and picking from that (I quite like the name Andrei))
Anyway I'll stop rambling.
Run away and hide.
At this point, Arthur was concerned.
G. E. A. R was not giving up, trailing the Resistance everywhere they went. Arthur knew everyone was tired; they were all running on fumes. The group could only stay in one place for so long-about two days or so- before armed guards arrived and started to search the area. With barely enough time to eat, sleep, shop, or charge their phones, G. E. A. R had a very good chance of catching up with the fatigued Abnormals.
Another main reason for Arthur's concern was the alarming increase in security around G. E. A. R controlled areas. When the group passed a small compound the other day they saw not the usual five, but around twenty guards patrolling the perimeter. In their current state the Resistance could not even hope to infiltrate it. Arthur knew that this increase was largely due to the recent breakout of the very girl that started their little... 'adventure'.
Natalya Arlovskya had broken out of a solidary compound, slaughtered the guards, and ran off not the be seen again.
Honestly the only reason Arthur knew about this breakout was because of his phone. The incident had caused news articles to pop up about how how Natalya was dangerous and how there was 'no need to worry; no other subjects escaped'. There was even a reward posted for anyone who brought her in, 'preferably alive'. Arthur hoped it would be a while before people acted on their greed, but that relied on them treating Abnormals as human beings, which was sadly not the case.
If G. E. A. R wasn't already paranoid before all of this, they were now. No matter where they went, no less than fifteen armed guards with loaded guns followed. Perhaps G. E. A. R thought that the Resistance was behind Natalya's breakout?
They weren't, of course, but they did get the delight of feeling the aftereffects.
Arthur and Co. (don't tell anyone he called them that) had been walking for about a week and a half. No car was large enough to carry them all, and whatever money they had left was used on food and bus tickets. Lovino and Feliciano swore they were getting closer.
Motels were a blessing, Arthur decided. For the most part, the owners didn't ask questions, like why eleven young adults (although Alfred counted as a child in Arthur's mind) came and left without so much as a word as soon as police like people got close.
Though, in the middle of New York state lived Alfred's parents. Both of which were incredibly adamant about having their son and his friends stay for a little while. While Lovino told them that the group couldn't stay, Mr. and Mrs. Jones insisted on having them stay the afternoon at least.
"Do any of you want drinks? Water or a coke or something?" asked Mrs. Jones.
"Uhhh," Alfred looked around the coffee table, which the Abnormals and Mr. Jones were currently sat around on various couches. He then answered, "a coke and like... eleven waters, please ma?"
"Alright Alfie," Mrs. Jones said before walking into the kitchen and out of view.
'Now begins the awkward silence' Arthur thought. He had met Alfred's parents before under much more agreeable circumstances. Mrs. Jones was a nice, tall southern woman who looked too much like her son. Mr. Jones was a sturdy Native American who shared Alfred's joy and enthusiasm. They were good people, especially for the parents of an Abnormal.
A good family life and/or childhood was almost unheard of for Abnormals.
But despite everything, Alfred's parents were supportive and kind, even when Alfred stormed back into their house after two years of little to no contact with ten other people, most of whom were strangers. In fact, Alfred was smothered with hugs and kisses the minute he had announced his return.
Mr. Jones was sat opposite Arthur and next to Alfred, and when Mrs. Jones returned and put the drinks down on the table she took her place on Alfred's other side. She kissed her son on the cheek and whispered.
"It's been too long Alfie..."
Mr. Jones, leaned forward and smiled, "So. What brings you to this part of New York?"
Clearing his throat, Arthur said, "I- I don't really know how to explain this. A lot has happened-"
Mr. Jones laughed, "I have time."
"... Very well," Arthur started again, "We are on the run. There is an organization, presumably you've heard of them, called Department G. E. A. R, or more commonly G. E. A. R."
"The Department of Genetic Experimentation and Analytical Research," Mr. Jones filled in.
Arthur nodded, "They destroyed our previous... home." He couldn't say headquarters. It would bring up a whole other conversation he wasn't ready to have, "We are trying to find a new place to stay."
"And how long have you been on the run?" Mrs. Jones interrupted. Arthur could see the concerned look on her face.
Lovino butted in, "About a week or so."
Arthur gave Lovino an offended look. "I was talking!"
"You were taking too long," Lovino said matter-of-factly.
"And where is this place you're heading?" Mrs. Jones asked. Arthur noted her hand that held tightly onto Alfred's; as though she didn't want to let go.
"It's about as close to the ocean a mansion can get. The Atlantic Ocean, I mean. I'll know it when I see it." Lovino answered, ignoring Feliciano's pleas to be nicer.
"You've got some way to go," Mr. Jones said bluntly.
"Are you all walking?" asked his wife.
"When we can we get buses, but yes. For the most part we walk."
"Why don't you take a plane? It's probably faster..." Asked Mr. Jones.
Lovino nodded to Francis, who answered, "It's far too expensive. Even if we managed to scrap up enough money, many of the airports systems are easily accessible by G. E. A. R. They would be able to see where we were landing and meet us on the ground."
Mr. Jones nodded, "I'd lend you money but I'm afraid we don't have that much."
"I don't want your money. We need to get to our new home as soon as possible. I don't suppose you have a spare bus we can borrow?" asked Lovino.
"Unfortunately not."
Lovino scoffed sarcastically, "Of course not."
Mrs. Jones cut in, "why don't we talk about something more... pleasant. I'm sure you could all use a break from all this grim stuff."
Alfred chose to pipe up, "Yeah, let's just talk for a bit, I'm sure we can discuss this later!"
Everyone agreed; they were looking for a way to lighten the mood of the whole group. Some light hearted chatter was sure to do just that.
-Linebreak-
Four hours and several glassed of water (and a coke) later, there was a nock on the door, stopping Mr. Jones in the middle of his joke.
From behind the front door, someone could be heard yelling, "G. E. A. R security, please open the door!"
Arthur panicked, rapidly turning around to find someplace to hide. Luckily, Mr. Jones was slightly more quick to respond. He yelled, "Just a minute!" back to the person out front and then told everyone, save Mrs. Jones, to get to the garage and lock the door. Once they were all hidden, Arthur tried to listen through the door to the front. He heard a quick splash of water before the door opened.
"What took you so long?" Arthur didn't recognize the voice, but Erzsébet seemed to. Her face went more pale than Arthur had ever seen from her before, and she kept mouthing 'it isn't him' over and over to herself.
"I had just gotten out of the shower, I wasn't yet dressed." said Mr. Jones.
"Could no one else open the door? Not a family member?"
"It's just my wife and I, she's a rather heavy sleeper and I doubt she wanted to answer the door in her pajamas."
"..."
"Is everything alright, sir? Can I help you at all, surely there's a reason you're here?"
"Yeah, you can. I'm looking for eleven Abnormals that we've tracked into New York. We know you're the parent of one of these Abnormals?"
"I am. Though, you can imagine that I've cut all contact with my son the moment I found out of his... abilities."
"Mhm, so you don't know where they are?"
"No, sir. I haven't seen him in a long while. About ten years to be exact."
"So you won't mind us coming in and performing a routine check?"
"Uh, no sir. Go right ahead."
The man must have come inside with a few other guards, because their footsteps were loud and clunky. One man went off towards the stairs judging by how their footsteps trailed off. One stopped in the main room, and another went into the kitchen.
"You said this is routine, sir?"
"Yes... we've been looking all over for these... Abnormals. They've caused enough trouble."
"I take it they've caused trouble for you, specifically?"
"... I'm just trying to get paid. I've got a little brother to take care of, and since these Abnormals became my boss' main concern he's docked our pay until we find them."
"A little brother you say?"
"Yes. It's none of you're concern, I'm sure you've met people with younger siblings before."
"Ye-"
"Sir, I've found the wife!"
"Bring her down." Two moments later the stairs started creaking.
"We've checked all around, sir, but we can't find anything."
"Does that door lead to a garage?"
"Yes, sir." Said Mr. Jones.
"Check in there."
Footsteps drew closer to the garage door and Arthur scurried behind a work bench, hiding under it. The door was thrown open and light poured into the room, luckily many of them were under things, shielding them from the view of those in the doorway. Someone turned on the lights and kept walking, right into the middle of the garage.
It was a man with strawberry blond hair poking out of his helmet, otherwise his face was covered, as was the rest of his body. Arthur could see Erzsébet mouth 'it is'. The man turned around and declared,
"I know you're in here. So come out know before I'm forced to do something I don't want to. We have your parents."
For a moment, everyone was still and silent. Then one of the guards shot their gun, and Mr. Jones screamed. Alfred burst from his spot on the other side of the lone vehicle in the garage into the man's sight. One by one the rest of the Abnormals followed. Arthur quickly saw that only Mr. Jones' foot was shot; he immediately felt guilty for bringing Alfred's parents into this mess.
"Round them up, " The man ordered. The guards let go of Mr. and Mrs. Jones stepped forward and grabbed the nearest Abnormal. Their hands were cuffed being their backs. The man seemed focused on Erzsébet, and she quickly spit on the ground in front of his feet.
"I hope you're fired... worse... I hope you you're brother knows what you're doing... he wouldn't love you so much then!" She said. The man ignored her.
They were lugged out of Alfred's parent's house and into the big black vans that belonged to G. E. A. R.
"What was all that about?" Arthur asked Erzsébet quietly.
"... He's a douche." She wouldn't look at him.
"You seemed to know him, " he prodded.
"..."
"Okay," he sighed.
Erzsébet looked Arthur dead in the eyes.
"His name is Vlad Popescu, and he's the one who captured me."