Just warning you, there is a scene in this where a gay couple gets executed. It isn't too graphic, but it could still disturb some readers.
I should also add that a homophobic character in this will say the f-slur in order to show how terrible homophobia is. As a queer (demiromantic and pansexual) person, I can reclaim the slur.
"Oh! Welcome home, Tony. Where have you been? Do you want a snack?" Reginald chirped, gently patting Tony's head.
"I was, um, with Paige and her friends-"
"Anthony Bernard Clarence Davenport! To my office! Now!" A voice shouted. Tony and Reginald swiveled their heads to see Arnold Davenport standing with his arms crossed.
Please say you'll come with me, Tony thought as he stared into Reginald's eyes.
"Excuse me, Master. Is it okay if I accompany Tony to your office?" Reginald hesitated, placing a gentle hand on Tony's shoulder.
"I'm afraid not. I'll need to handle this matter with my son in private. You are dismissed, Reginald," Arnold snapped, grabbing Tony's hand and dragging him down the hallway.
Tony glanced at the statues and paintings that decorated the hallways as servants whispered to each other. Once father and son reached a door labeled Office, Arnold dragged himself and Tony inside and slammed the door behind them.
"Father, I can explain! There wasn't enough time for me to read the questions carefully, and-"
"Enough of your excuses! How would our rivals react to a Davenport failing such an important test?" Arnold shouted, failing to notice his son recoiling in his chair.
"I'm sorry, Father! I'll do better next time! I promise!" Tony begged.
"I'll hold you to that! If you fail again, I'm pulling you out of Clayhill High!" Arnold threatened.
As Tony tiptoed towards the door, Arnold let out a heavy sigh. "Forgive me for my outburst, Anthony. I only want the best for you."
"It's okay, Father. I understand," Tony replied.
"I have some things to take care of. You are dismissed," Arnold sighed, carrying a box to his safe.
As he stepped out of the room, Tony slowly turned his head to see his father opening the safe. 3, 6, 2, 4. 3, 6, 2, 4.
What could be in that box? Could it help the Troubled Twenty?
"Hello, Tony. Are you alright? Are you hungry?" Reginald asked.
"D-Don't worry. I'm good. Father and I just talked about my grades," Tony assured his butler, before adding, "Goodnight, Reggie. I'll see you in the morning."
Once Tony was in his bedroom, he stole a glance at the clock above his bed. It's half past eight…everyone should be asleep by eleven thirty.
What are the others doing right now?
"Welcome home, son! How was your day?" Malcolm beamed as he spun Lazarus around.
"It was great, Pa! I made some new friends!" And we're about to become criminals.
"You're just in time! Your Ma heated up some leftover chicken for dinner tonight!" Malcolm chuckled.
We're just seven teenagers trying to feed twenty people for as long as possible. The cops will catch us eventually…
What's gonna happen to our families when we're in prison? Will they become just like those twenty people?
"Lazzy! Today was the best day ever! We made paper flower chains and animals in art class! Look! I made a purple frog for you!" Jerry called, holding up a purple paper frog.
"I love it, Jerry. Thank you," Lazarus chirped, patting his brother's head.
"Why'd you come back so late, Laz?" Zach asked, gently stroking his stuffed dog.
"Um, I was…studying with my new friends! What did you make in art class?"
"I made a brown doggie. Debby and Kitty made a flower chain together," Zach responded with a smile.
Just pretend everything's normal. They're better off in the dark anyway.
"Lazarus? Is everything alright?" Abigail asked, trying to meet her son's gaze. Everything is fine. Everything is fine.
"Yeah, M-Mom! Why'd you ask?"
"You've clearly got something on your mind. It's written all over your face," Abigail sighed.
"W-Well, I have a science exam coming up. That's what I was studying for with my friends, actually! The better I am in school, the more jobs I can get!" Lazarus lied.
"I'm sure you'll do wonderfully, Lazarus. It's time for bed. I'll see you in the morning," Abigail assured him, kissing his forehead.
As Lazarus opened the door, a pillow flew past his head. Raphael and Ephraim were squeezing their eyes shut as Jerry, Zach, Debby and Kitty swung their pillows at each other. "Christ on a bike! It's ten o'clock!" Raphael hissed.
"Ay, Laz. Can you read those four a bedtime story or somethin'?" Ephraim yawned, covering his eyes with his cotton blanket.
"Hey, you four! Do you want to hear a bedtime story?" Lazarus called.
"Can we hear the story of Michael?" Debby chirped.
"Sure! Once upon a time…" Lazarus began. Everything is fine. You're not about to break the law. Your siblings have nothing to fear. Everything is fine.
By the time Lazarus was done reading, all six of his siblings had fallen asleep. Go to sleep, Laz. Go to sleep, and don't think about your plans. Everything is fine.
The pale glow of the moon illuminated corridors lined with gold-framed paintings and marble statues. Normally, these hallways would be abuzz with activity. Servants would be rushing around the mansion, fulfilling their daily duties. Businessmen and politicians would be walking alongside Arnold Davenport as they prepared for top-secret meetings.
But now, Arnold and the servants were fast asleep. The normally crowded hallways were devoid of people.
Or they would be, if Anthony Davenport wasn't tiptoeing through them, jumping at the slightest of sounds and holding a small flashlight in one hand and a small cloth tote bag in the other.
3, 6, 2, 4. 3, 6, 2, 4.
How much longer until I reach Dad's room?
Five long minutes later, Tony was standing over his father. The normally stern man's face had relaxed, his snores the only sound in his bedroom.
With a shaky hand, Tony slowly reached for the keys on his father's nightstand. "Gladys! Behind you! Gladys! GLADYS!" Arnold shouted in his sleep, flailing his arms and kicking his legs.
What would things be like for us if Mom didn't get shot? Would Dad smile again, like he did when I was a child?
"Gladys…don't leave us…I love you…" Arnold wept, a tear sliding down his cheek.
As Tony hesitantly stuffed the keys in his pocket, he gently wiped the tears from Arnold's face. I'm sorry, Dad.
CREEEAAAK! CREEEAAAK!
Tony slowly tiptoed out of his father's bedroom, carefully closing the door as he stepped out. Calm down, Tony. This is for the greater good.
As Tony opened the door to Arnold's office, the distant echo of the Clayhill Clock reverberated through the room. Creeping towards the safe, he punched in the code and the safe's door swung open.
Documents, jewelry…aha!
Tony slowly lifted the box, its weight causing his muscles to cramp. "Let's see…'Cam-Controller Model 600. NOTE: Only to be used by trusted Federation officials.'"
Once he stuffed seven Cam-Controllers into his tote bag, Tony shoved the box back into the safe and slammed its door shut. Locking the office door as he left, Tony dashed down the hallways towards his father's bedroom.
This is for the greater good, Tony reminded himself as he placed the keys back on Arnold's nightstand and headed to his own room.
I'll have to test out these Cam-Controllers before I show them to the others. Hopefully they'll be of use to our mission, Tony thought as he slumped in his bed.
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
"Nnngh…morning, Pete," Maya yawned, kissing Peter's cheek as she shuffled out of bed.
"Good morning, love," Peter crooned while heading to the triplets' bedroom.
Watching his children sleep, Peter kissed each of them on the forehead. "You three have grown up so fast. Mama and I will see you at six. Stay safe. We love you."
As the couple walked towards the train station, Peter turned to his wife and whispered, "We should be watching Colin more closely. From what the principal told us, he and Leo were practically inseparable. Leo might be gone, but his wicked words could still put our boy in danger."
"Don't worry, sweetie. He has his teachers and sisters. Hell, he even invited some classmates over! Colin will move on from Leo before you know it," Maya assured him, placing a gentle hand on her husband's shoulder.
Suddenly, a scream pierced the air. Members of the Federation Guard marched down the streets, dragging two battered and bruised men by the arms.
One of the men had blonde hair streaked with blood. As a Guard forced him to his feet, he stepped on her iron boots. "Fuck you and your rules! I love Luke, laws be damned!"
By this point, a crowd had gathered, and they were hurling abuse at the men and throwing rotten food at their heads. The Guards forced the men onto a raised platform and bound their wrists and ankles with rope.
The other man glanced at his lover, tears streaming down his face and soaking his dark brown hair. "I'm sorry, Chris! I love you-"
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Luke and Chris slumped to the ground, blood spilling all over the road. The crowd erupted into applause, continuing to hurl abuse at the corpses.
As Peter boarded the train with his wife, Chris and Luke's screams reverberated in his mind.
Zelly, Tracey, Collie…please, stay safe.
"Rise and shine, Collie!" Tracey chirped as Colin slowly opened his emerald green eyes.
"Morning, sis," Colin yawned.
"See you later, Colin. We'll let you know if the others found anything that can help us," Hazel assured her brother, taking two slices of toast with her. Then she and Tracey were gone.
"Doesn't this fresh air just feel divine!" Tracey sighed.
As the sisters strolled down the sidewalk, a metallic odor filled the air, causing them to retch. "On that note, maybe I'm not in the mood for toast," Tracey gagged.
"You must not have heard. Two filthy fags got shot this morning. Serves 'em right," sneered a passerby. Then he continued on his way, spitting on the ground.
"Tracey? Are you okay?" Hazel asked her sister. Tracey's normally cheerful expression was replaced with a blank stare. Tears filled Tracey's silver eyes as the man's mocking words replayed in her mind.
"I know, sis. It isn't right," Hazel whispered, wrapping her arms around her sister.
"Good to see you," Paige greeted, before the stench of blood made her wince.
"There was an execution this morning," Tracey whispered, staring at her feet.
Paige's fist clenched in her pocket, before she placed a hand on Tracey's shoulder. We'll make things right. I promise.
While the three girls made their way to school, Tony was in his bedroom, stuffing the seven Cam-Controllers he'd stolen the night before in his backpack. "Anthony Davenport! You woke up thirty minutes late!" Mrs. Thomas shouted outside his door.
"Coming!"
"What on Earth were you doin' last night, Anthony? You knew full well it was a school night!" Mrs. Thomas scolded as the pair got in the car.
Sneaking around Dad's office. "Studying," Tony blurted out. Then he added, "Is it okay if I walk myself to school? I promise I'll be quick!"
"You can walk yourself home. We have no time to waste!" Mrs. Thomas retorted as she started up the car.
Well, maybe I can test them out at school.
"T-Tim? Who are these b-boys?" Peri stammered, peeking from behind her brother.
"I figured it was time I introduced you to my friends! Peri, meet Leo, Colin, Cesario and Greg!" Tim chirped.
"So you're the little sister Tim never shuts up about! Nice to meet ya, Peri!" Greg laughed, ruffling the girl's hair.
"Um, hello?" Peri sputtered, slowly reaching out to shake Greg's hand.
"Easy there, Greg. She seems a little…high-strung," Cesario pointed out.
"Trust me, she's great once you get to know her! How about a night on the town?" Tim suggested.
As the six children strolled through the town square, Peri clung to her older brother, nervously glancing around while the group walked.Please don't let Sharon be here…
"Peri? Is something wrong?" Colin asked, his emerald eyes filled with concern.
"N-Nothing's wrong-"
Suddenly, mocking laughter filled the air. A girl in a red dress cackled, "Look at pathetic Peri, hiding like a wittle baby!"
Oh, no…
"What d-do you want, Sharon?" Peri stuttered, her grip on Tim's hand tightening.
"Oh? Think you're tough shit because big brother's here to protect you?" Sharon laughed.
"Look, kid. I dunno who you are or what your deal is, but you better leave my sister alone," Tim snarled.
There was a second of silence, then Sharon sauntered off. "You okay, Peri?" Colin asked.
"Y-Yeah. It's not a big deal. She does this all the time," Peri whispered, desperately fighting back tears.
"Don't worry. As long as we're here, you'll be safe. I promise," Colin assured the girl.
And as Peri lost herself in Colin's emerald eyes, all her worries melted away, replaced by a single thought.
I've met the boy I want to marry.
"Peregrine Barrell! You slept through the entire lecture!" Miss McCarthy shouted. As Peri's terrified eyes met her teacher's furious gaze, the classroom filled with snickering.
"I'm s-s-sorry, Miss McCarthy! It won't happen again! I p-p-pinky promise!" Peri stammered, trying to drown out the mocking laughter of her classmates.
"'It won't happen again! I p-p-pinky promise!'" Sharon mocked as the school bell rang.
Timmy…why did they have to take you?
"Peri? Is everything okay?" Stella asked, noticing the tears in her friend's eyes.
"I fell asleep," Peri whispered as Stella wiped away her tears.
"How about I take you to get ice cream after school? Maybe we'll see Colin on the way!"
At the mention of Colin, Peri's frown was replaced with a wide grin. "I'd love that!"
As the two best friends walked to the cafeteria hand in hand, Sharon watched them with venom in her eyes.
So, you really think you can steal Colin from me? Think again, Peri. Colin Campbell is mine.