All According to Plan

If she had thought she was apprehensive about being tested, she was a nervous wreck now. Rhya had pulled her aside that morning. “Look,” She began. “I don’t know what’s going on with you. But you are better than this. Whatever happens, you got this, girl. Show them who you are. You are Annebeth Windwood, and you can do it.” She had thanked her profusely, and tried to take the words to heart, to varying degrees of success.

“What are we doing?” She whispered to Jax as they sneaked out of town.

“Nothing too complicated. 15 bentless people are being sold” he spat out the word as if it was poison. “To someone else. Our job is to intercept them, and free them from the Kings’ tyranny.”

“Got it.” They had reached a neighborhood much like Anne’s old one. Ben had stayed strangely silent throughout. They soon arrived at a train car, muffled noise emanating from it. They silently creeped in. It’s occupants looked like- well, they looked like slaves. Ragged outfits. Chains. They looked frightened by our very presence. How barbaric. How utterly barbaric.

“I couldn’t agree more.” Father said curtly. Oh. She had said that outloud. She really needed to stop doing that. Jax tossed them both a lock pick, and they got to work. Soon, their work was almost complete. Anne could practically taste victory when they heard footsteps, coming from outside.

“Impossible.” Jax gasped.

“Not so much.” Ben said, his voice suddenly cold and cruel. “Not when a mole is there.” A grin started to form.

“You-you-” Jax struggled to find words through his anger. “How could you?” His eyes screamed at me. Run. But I was frozen solid, unable to process the events unfolding.

“I was like any other bentless person. Weak and forgotten. But then, I get the offer of a lifetime. All I had to do was pretend to have a bent, and join this-” He made finger quotes “Rebellion, and I got my freedom.” Ben’s( if that was even his name) gaze shifted towards me. “As for you- I didn’t have to pretend to be your father. You were just another bentless girl among many. When I found out, all I really had to do was to sabotage your efforts, and find a discreet way to turn you in. You know, it’s pretty mysterious- how you fled, the night Calvin Long died. ”

“ I- I didn’t do it! You know that!” Ben pressed a finger to his lips.

“Ah, but they don’t know that. In thirty seconds, this train car will explode with Jax in it- Unless you come quietly.” The man whom she once considered a father smirked. Unlike Jax’s trademark look, his grin held only malice.

She looked at Jax, frantic. Jax looked pale. He mouthed once more, “Go!” She shook her head.

“You must. Now!”

Somehow, those words managed to stun her into action. She fled, running like she never had before. She didn’t look back, even as she heard the train car explode, with Jax in it.

She stopped to catch her breath, unwilling to even think back to the event of the train car. She had to go back to the gang. She had to- “Annebeth. You are now under the custody of the Kings. Resistance is futile." Out of the corner of her eye, she saw something swing towards her head. She saw black. And thus, Anne found herself without a father, friend, or her freedom. It’s amazing what can happen in just one night.