The Air Out Of [Wattys2018 shortlist]

36

IT WAS FINALLY TIME. IT WAS TIME THAT JESS AND HER FRIENDS GOT ARRESTED. You heard that right, arrested. Apparently, the sky was the limit to what Aspyn could suggest the lavine's do to save Covia. Jess was getting increasingly uncomfortable as the time passed by.

"Okay," Jess uttered, adjusting the belt around her waist one more time.

"Jess," Leo teased, "When we get arrested, no one is going to care whether or not your belt is velcroed on the right way round. All they're going to do is throw you in some cell with handcuffs."

"Oh, shut up, you." She smacked his arm lightly. He chuckled in response.

"But seriously, Jess. Relax." He said after a moment gazing at her in a pitiful manner. Although she hated pity in general, she enjoyed his attention and continued to fumble with the tangles in her hair.

Scar coughed sarcastically, "You two are something else."

"Why thank you, captain." Jess saluted.

"Complete with a hand motion, wow, Scar. You must be really important." Ellie mocked, nudging Jess softly. Jess winked back before adjusting herself to take a seat in the tightly packed room. The others followed suit. "Aye, Captain." she teased.

"Oh?" Louis said, "Since when did we get promoted to teasing status, and why wasn't I informed."

"The usual." Jess nodded with a wink. She was seconds away from doing just about anything to either alleviated the growing boredom, or the increasing stress multiplying when she wasn't busy being bored. "Find an underwater colony in the middle of a war, decide to help it. Trust your life with not-so-stranger-like strangers over parents in a place where we can actually die and never see Earth again. You know, the usual."

"Sounds just about right."

Jett clears his throat as he strides into the room, he's eyeing the five of them like they've just committed a crime. "Shall we proceed with phase one." he nodded. "Jess, Leo, Scar, take the floor away."

Jess stood up, rubbing her sweaty palms against the tight fabric wrapped around her skin. Her second skin. One that wouldn't be enough to shield her from a knife. It was thin polyester, an easy stretch, easy move type of grab and go idea. But it wasn't armor. "Okay." She said, finally.

This was a risk that gambled their lives, and her necklace.

"Trois," Leo whispered as the three ran into a place they would most likely get caught. Avinians continued their daily lives as per usual while ignoring them, although Jess was sure that once they had ducked behind their soft cottony tents made as barricades, they would be dialing the police.

This was the easiest part: getting caught.

"Glad you learned something in class," Jess muttered as her mind urged her to focus. Leo shot her a look from where he stood.

"At least try to do something useful with this time besides muttering numbers in French." Scar grunted, next. "After all, we're going to have to make it out somehow."

"All we need to do is get the transmitter in. It'll create some white waves that'll distract the connection within the premises." Jess nodded, "Once the soldiers are all in a mess, that's where the others come in to get us out of there, and into Avine's private cellars, where he'll be. Alone."

"How are we even supposed to know if he's alone? For all we know, he'll be surrounding us with guards." Leo spoke. "Again."

"He only lets his trio council in. Currently, one is dead, one is in Covian prison, and one is Madrinay, who'll be staying out of our way."