5:00 AM. Another semi-warm shower. Another nod to Del. Another day on street clean-up. The day was much more overcast than the last, with little pockets of rainfall pouring down throughout the day, causing Aura to take cover until they passed. One lasting particularly long, she took cover under a pawn shop’s awning, picking her nails and surveying the streets before her. If she was honest, she was hoping to sight the man from last night, but as the end of the day neared, she gave up hope. A runner she recognized as friendly to the cause passed her, quietly mumbling “they’ve been released. Meeting in the fields at six.” As soon as he said it, he was gone around the corner. Aura took a deep breath. While she had always admired Gregor’s passion, it sometimes led them down a darker path, especially when he felt wronged. The last time they had baselessly arrested some of their members, they had set fire to one of the buildings the AE used as a headquarters. There was no use in getting herself worked up, though; she’d have to wait until 6:00pm to see what he was planning. [center]***[/center] “Thank you for gathering on such short notice,” Gregor spoke quietly, but sternly, his commanding timbre captivating those in front of him. The crowd around him sat or crouched in silence, allowing the tall wheat stocks around them to shield the group from any onlookers. The breeze whipped through the field, causing a continuous rustling around them. “They tried to get whatever they could out of us last night. They got nothing, and finally released us when they realized they’d have to feed us if they held us any longer.” Gregor’s eyes, one donning blue and purple bruises, landed on Aura briefly, then continued to scan the rest. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they try to pick off more of us. We need to be more vigilant than ever. And for now, operations will be need-to-know for now.” Murmurs rose, but he put his hands up in response. “You know we are all about transparency. This is just to keep you safe in the upcoming weeks. The AE seems to be getting pressure from their bosses that they need to crack down, so we need to as well.” The group nodded in response. “Good. Now, I need about ten to fifteen volunteers. The rest of you, stagger out of here and go home.” As much as her gut told her to leave, it wasn’t possible. She had worked too long to prove herself to Gregor and the others to back out now. It took about ten minutes, each person leaving in a different direction and a minute apart to not draw attention. Her eyes met Mila’s, a woman close to her age, and she scooted towards Aura and wrapped an arm around her. The rest gathered closer to Gregor to await their instruction. “Tonight, we attack.” [center]***[/center] As Aura got dressed, Gregor’s directions played over and over in her head. [i]”Black, loose clothing. Cover your faces. Hide your hair in a hat. No visible tattoos or jewelry.”[/i] Anticipation and nerves, along with the familiar feeling with hunger in her stomach had her feeling nauseous, but Gregor had promised some bread and a drink before they set out on their operation, and that would have to be enough. Aura stuffed her bag with a black bandana, a large black hoodie, and a knit black beanie, checked herself in the 6” x 6” mirror she had, then quietly clicked her door shut. It was two hours before curfew, and she was sure many of the buildings residents were fast asleep by now. [i]Click. Click. Click.[/i] her nails tapped on the cold steel Del snapped opened his door and Aura tumbled inside. “What does he have you doing?! You look - “ “I know, I know,” Aura whispered. “I may not be back before curfew. If not, I’ll find somewhere to sleep until the morning. Just don’t come looking for me, okay?” “Aura, I -” “Promise me,” she begged, sticking a pinkie finger out, and her friend reluctantly grabbed it with his. “Fine. Just please be careful.” “I’ll see you tomorrow, Del,” she nodded, gripping his shoulders. “Thank you.” [center]***[/center] The group gathered at a fellow volunteer’s house, a quaint, slanted cottage close to her father’s. As promised, Gregor had brought them rum and bread, both most likely stolen. The warmth of alcohol pulsed through Aura’s veins, awakening the rebel deep inside her. She was ready to carry out their mission, to follow orders, to cause the AE to feel at least an [i]ounce[/i] of pain that they had to endure. Gregor approached her, snatching the bottle from her handles and taking a swig. “I can count on you, right?” “O-of course,” she pushed out, unsure of the nerves that came with the sentiment. “Good girl. You’ve been with me for years. I knew you wouldn’t fail me now.” Gregor placed the rum back into her hands and removed a stray piece of hair from her face, his eyes remaining locked on her as he did. “Be careful out there tonight.” Aura quickly nodded, dismissing his attention and instead taking another drink from the bottle. The longer that it took for them to head out, the intenser her nerves grew, now sitting like a rock in her stomach. About forty-five minutes after gathering, the first warning siren sounded throughout the subsection, heard from each corner of its limits. [i]”One hour until curfew,”[/i] a robotic voice boomed following a shrill alarm. The group of eighteen poured out of the home, single-file, weaving through a field until they felt solid concrete beneath their feet. Thunder roared overhead, and Aura couldn’t help but think it was the sky cheering them on. “Into positions,” Gregor whispered sharply. “Stop for no one. Only retreat when you’re out of ammunition.” Without any response, the group quickly dispersed, heading to their appointed posts. Aura was assigned to the roof of Mae’s tavern, a spot she had only been for pleasure before. Was she desecrating it now by bringing her hatred there? It began to drizzle as the next alarm sounded, ricocheting off the storefronts. [i]”Thirty minutes until curfew.”[/i] This was when many of the officers came out onto the streets, ready to punish anyone who wasn’t on their way home. Or really, ready to punish whoever they felt like that night. Whether it was adrenaline or the mask, Aura was breathing heavily, her eyes darting back and forth as she watched the road below her. Citizens were bustling down the sidewalks, hoping to make it home without any trouble, an occasional officer shoving someone who they deemed to be walking too slowly. It wasn’t long before the final siren went off, the one with no robot voice. Just the piercing, terrible note. [i]It was time.[/i] The streets had mostly cleared, allowing a couple of officers to meet on the intersection, and Aura could hear their ignorant chortles over the thunder that boomed. She laid down on her stomach, swung her gun around, and positioned it so that only a couple inches of its barrel hung off of the lip of the rooftop. The officers were perfectly framed by her iron sight. Gregor’s blaring whistle shot through the air, causing the officer’s to look around in confusion. “Fuck, fuck, fuck.” Aura closed her eyes as she squeezed the trigger, not opening them until she heard a painful grunt from the ground. An officer sat on the ground gripping his arm. The others drew their guns, pointing their guns as they looked around, obviously not knowing where the assault originated. Other officers that must have been shot at blocks down began to charge toward the group in front of her, and they created a circle around their injured colleague. “COME OUT! NOW!” Their instructions prompted more fire, and the officers shot blindly in response. Aura ducked until there was a pause, and she anxiously peered over the lip of the roof. Three were down, nine still standing, but surely more were on the way. From Gregor’s post catty-corner from her, shooting resumed, knocking down another two officers. Then silence. In order to reposition herself, Aura grabbed the edge of the roof to hoist herself up, but the old construction crumbled from the pressure, and a chunk of concrete tumbled down to the sidewalk. [i]Fuck.[/i] “Up there!” As gunfire began, Aura crawled hastily towards the ladder and slid down, breaking into a sprint as soon as she hit the ground. She had to get home, or at least, [i]out of Atlantic[/i], without getting a bullet in the back. Six more blocks. Six more blocks then she’d be back to her room. Keep running. Keep running. Between the rain and blackness of the night, Aura had not noticed a figure on the sidewalk until she had crashed into them, causing them both to tumble down on the wet concrete. “You shouldn’t go down there,” the woman huffed and puffed, “the officers…” It took a moment, but she finally recognized the man she had tumbled on top of. Mystery man. The man who may as well have been an enforcer. Quickly, she scrambled to a standing position, pointing her gun at him and snapping her eyes between him and behind her. What would she do? She had been caught red-handed. If she was linked to this attack, she’d be executed by dawn. [i]Think, Aura.[/i] “She’s down there!” A shout came from a block back. She had no more time. Aura shoved the barrel of the gun into the man’s stomach, hoping her dominance would outweigh the fact that he towered over her. “Into the alleyway up ahead. Go!” As they cleared its entryway, she dragged him by the shirt deep into the alley, pulling him behind a dumpster and instructing him to sit. “Don’t move.” She removed the mask from her face, enjoying her first unhindered breath, and she brought a sleeve to her forehead to remove the mixture of sweat and rain. The gun stayed trained on the man. Where could she bring him? It’d be too risky to take him home. Too many witnesses. It took only a few moments until the idea, although it was horrible, came to her. She’d have to bring him to her father’s house until the morning. Or… at least she could convince him not to report her. Or kill her. As soon as the group of enforcers that were tailing her had ran past the alleyway, Aura signaled for the man to get up. “Let’s go.”