“We are everywhere,” Mira says, but her piercing gaze speaks volumes. It’s clear she doesn’t trust me any farther than she can throw me.
Calum calmly continues, “During the Purging three decades ago, more Ordinaries remained in Ilya after the banishment than originally believed. They hid in secret, right under the king’s nose. There are Resistance members spread all over Ilya since it is obviously both unsafe and unpractical for us to all reside in one area. Even I do not know where or who they all are. We have leaders assigned to different areas of the kingdom, allowing us to spread information to Resistance members smoothly and without suspicion. Word travels fast when the leaders converse and pass on information to the members in their section.”
“And that is why we met here tonight,” Leena says brightly. “To discuss plans and then make our sections aware of them.”
I blink at them all. “You are all leaders? I mean, you’re so…young.”
“And handsome,” Finn sighs. “But yes, we are some of the leaders that were able to make it tonight. Honestly, we are just glorified carrier pigeons who pass along information secretively so the Resistance can stay united despite not being able to gather all together.”
“I am no carrier pigeon,” Mira huffs.
“I’m not sure why we are talking about birds,” Lenny sighs, “but, yes, they oversee informing Resistance members in certain sections of the kingdom. And it’s no simple task. Ordinaries are still killed constantly, and if information of who is a part of the Resistance gets out, even more will die.”
“So,” I glance between them, “are you Ordinaries?”
Finn grins. “I sure am.”
“Same here,” Leena says proudly.
I stare at the two of them, these people who are just like me, just as Ordinary.
My eyes snap to Mira as she says, “And I’m a Silencer.”
Calum cuts in before I can spew anymore questions. “The Ordinaries in Ilya tend to adapt the ability of the Hypers since it is a fairly easy power to pose with.” At that, Leena shoots Lenny a smug look. “When Ordinaries find us and join the Resistance, we help them build a life, teach them how to survive.” He offers me a sad smile. “Not everyone had a father like yours who taught them to actually become powerful. Your Psychic ability has been trained into you since you were a child, and it’s the most convincing cover I’ve ever seen.”
He pauses for a moment, collecting his thoughts. “As for who we are, well, obviously most of us our Ordinaries. But we also have Elites on our side.”
“The Fatals,” I breathe.
“Yes.” He seems to stiffen at the title. “And it seems you have already encountered one.”
The Silencer I fought in the alley comes to mind as I say slowly, “Was he…？”
“Yes, he was a Resistance member.” Calum holds up a hand, silencing the apology I was about to utter for taking one of their members down. “There is no need to apologize, Paedyn. It was Marcus’s own foolishness that got him caught.”
“He always was a hothead,” Lenny mutters. “And a dumb-ass. A reckless dumb ass. To think he could take down the prince, the future Enforcer, without consequences…”
My eyes dance between the five of them. “Do I get to know exactly why this Micah is a reckless dumb-ass?”
“Because he saw the prince already weakened and his anger got the best of him,” Mira says, her expression void of sympathy. “Long story short, Prince Kai killed someone very close to Micah, consuming the Silencer with rage and a need for revenge. When he saw the prince in that alley, worn out and preoccupied, he took the opportunity to try and take him down.” She pins me with a stare. “But you took him down instead.”
“At the time, we didn’t know who you were,” Lenny adds. “We put the pieces together when we saw your name on the banner in Loot and saw you at the interviews.”
“I thought you were dead, Paedyn.” Calum says gravely. “And then you suddenly showed up in the Trials, and we had found Adam’s daughter. Well, you found us.”
“Who would have thought that Adam Gray’s daughter, the kid of a Resistance leader, would be the one to rob me blind and find that note,” Finn says with a sigh. “The note that led you right to us and right back to your own home.” He looks up at the ceiling and smiles to himself. “When I saw you at the ball, saw you recognize who I was, I knew it wouldn’t be long before you came and found us.”
I swallow, unable to move on from the prior topic. “I’m sorry about the Silencer…about Micah.” I can’t help but feel guilty, seeing that I’m the reason he was caught. “Do you know if he is still alive?”
Calum’s expression grows grim. “We aren’t sure. But if he is, it likely won’t be for much longer.” He continues before I can try to apologize again. “And there is no need to feel guilty, Paedyn. Micah was his own undoing.”
He takes a deep breath before casually carrying on the conversation. “Now, as I was saying, the Resistance is made up of both Ordinaries and Elites, including the Silencers, Mind Readers, and Controllers. Since the king also tried to kill the Fatals off and has continued to do so, they want justice as well. Other Elites have joined the cause for their own reasons. Those who care enough to think about it don’t buy in to the idea that the Ordinaries were suddenly banished because of a disease.”
“So, the Resistance members don’t believe the Ordinaries are weakening the Elites,” I say, watching as Calum nods. “Does anyone have proof to use against the king and his Healers?”
Calum’s eyes search mine before he sighs. “No, we don’t have proof.”
Lenny adds, “We are just the Ilyans who care enough to realize that it doesn’t add up. Ordinaries lived with the Elites for decades before the Purging, and even now, they hide under the king’s nose and live right alongside the Elites with no complaints of any abilities dwindling.” He sighs. “But just because the king and his Healers said the Ordinaries were diseased, most of the Elites won’t think twice if it means their powers and lives are at stake.”
I nod slowly as my brain is suddenly flooded with questions once again.
What exactly is the Resistance’s goal, and what could I possibly offer them?
I open my mouth to ask this, but Calum beats me to it. “The Resistance is finally ready to take action. And unlike what the king has said about us, we are not radicals who kill for the sheer fun of it. We want justice. We want the truth to be told. We want Ordinaries and the Fatals to live in peace with the rest of the Elites once more. To not be hunted and killed for things they cannot control simply because the king wants an Elite society and is willing to lie about Ordinaries to get it. So that is our goal. That is our cause.”
And that’s exactly what I want, exactly what I’ve hoped for all my life. To be accepted and free.
I realize it then, how badly I want to be a part of this. How badly I want to help and make a difference. I think I’ve been waiting all my life to find such a purpose.
“What about the ball?” I blurt out. “Why attack at the ball?”