Monsters

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I sat in the main lobby with everyone.
Since we were all so close to the goal, Reeva required for us to have a meeting.
I could feel my leg bounce, all I could think about was Monty. He was stuck in the medical center, he wasn't stable enough to make it here. It took every fiber of my being to stay as focused as possible.

"The moment we've been waiting for has finally arrived. Our actions in the next 24 hours will determine the course of mutant history," Reeva told us, "Our uprising has been every bit as successful as we'd hoped. And now it is perfectly clear to mutants and humans alike that there is only one solution. Two nations, divided. Ours and theirs."

At the moment, I didn't feel anything.
No pride or enjoyment, I've worked hard, sacrificed plenty for the cause... but nothing showed for me.

"We have worked hard. And one last push will take us to our goal. We much destroy the institutions of a nation that hates us."

"Hang on," Lorna spoke up, "We're just gonna destroy a government building? Have you seen the security out there?"

The triplets speak, "Don't worry. We have our ways."

"Tonight," continues Reeva, "you'll be receiving your assignments. Until then, prepare yourselves."

As everyone got up, I immediately bee-lined to the elevator. I headed to the medical level and looked to Monty through the window.

I cracked a smile seeing him eat the yellow jello the nurse had given him. He was better than last night, he got rest.

Apparently, Reeva overworked him.
But using his powers too much for hours on end had taken a toll on him. Not including the gunpowder that was in his system.

Reeva had instructed that Monty would use his abilities to place gunpowder into objects. Some had got into his lungs and throat, as intangibility is a messy power.

"Hey." I entered the room. "How are you doing?"

Monty's eyes twinkled when I walked in. "I-I'm better, thanks. How about you?"

"Good. Reeva was just saying how our goal is very soon," I then admitted, "And are targeting government buildings."

The boy nodded, a little hesitant to give an answer.
I put my hand on top of his. Monty noticed and held onto it.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

Monty confessed, "I just... I'm not a killer, Lux. With what Reeva wants me to do, I-I don't know if I have the strength to do it."

I didn't say a word.
I just went over and hugged him. He hugged me back. He was so gentle in his touch as if everything and person were porcelain.

"I can't kill these people, Lux. I know they're bad, I know that they're after us... but I can't do it."

"I-I know, I know," I assure, "It's okay, I got you."

"They're not asking me to take down little buildings like banks, they want me to take down towers and facilities. I can't do it. I can't."

"Hey." I lifted his head to me. "I'll find us a way out. I'll find you a way to not do this."

"You can't," Monty refused, "Reeva is stubborn, the triplets are too. You can't fight them."

"But I have to do something. I don't even know what I'm supposed to play, but I don't think the Inner Circle has our best interest at heart."

"How?"

"Look at Sage. The best computer programmer, the best with technology, they kill her. They killed Sage and were ready to just replace her. Monty... we're not safe here if they have replacements."

"N-No, we're not replaceable. Who can make ice storms happen on a whim? Who can move through atoms?"

"I don't know anymore. I don't know what to think, I don't know anything about anyone!"

"Hey, hey." He cups my cheeks. "You are not doubting yourself. You-You are the smartest person I know, you can figure out a way, we can figure this out."

The two of us hugged it out.
As much as we had each other's backs, that didn't mean we had doubt in us, doubt that we may not be able to make it out of here without any consequences.

When time passed, it was night and Reeva wanted all of us to be on the scout to see what we are doing. Luckily, Monty was discharged so he did come along with us.

The big group ended up being in an isolated area, with a heavy door to the sewers on the other side. The Pryde held onto my hand to stabilize himself, I look to see the glances Andy made to us; with every once in a while, we'd lock eyes.

As Phoebe stepped onto the mushy soil of dirty water and ugly soil, she gagged on the smell, hearing her white heeled boot stepping into the mush.

"Told you we should've worn flats," Esme said.

"Ugh. As if," The other two ewes.

Reeva stated, "This tunnel system will give us access to the city."

"So these tunnels were always here. Why haven't we been down here before?" I asked them.

"Everything in its time."

We all enter in.
Monty squeezed my hand in entering, I could see in his eyes that he was nervous as if the tunnels reminded him of something awful. I squeezed back in assurance.

"So, what exactly are we doing here besides catching typhoid?" Lorna questioned.

"One of the tunnels shares a wall with the D.C. Sentinel Services headquarters. Andrew's gonna get us through the wall with a strike team, with Monty. Once the Sentinel Services is neutralized, we will be unstoppable.

"Neutralized? You mean, I'm going in there, too?" Andy looked to their boss. "To, like, kill them?"

"Is that a problem?"

He looked toward me and I didn't say anything. I just looked to him blankly, as I couldn't even blame him for agreeing with Reeva; knowing about what would happen if he disagreed. Though it didn't know if he meant what he had said.

"No, of course not."
"Excellent."

❅ ❅ ❅

When we were done, Monty, Lorna, Andy, Esme, and I headed back to headquarters. We all got off on the lobby level, heading to our rooms.

Esme tells us, "The others will be back once Reeva gives them their assignments. You four should get some rest before tomorrow's... festivities."

"Yeah... festivities," Monty mutters, "Goodnight."

He quickly moved out and into her room. I could tell that he was very hesitant, that he was dreading what tomorrow would bring him.

Both Andy and I follow him but stayed behind. I shutter a sigh seeing Monty go into his room.

"I-Is he going to be okay?" Andy asked me.

I blink, holding onto my tired body. "I don't know, but I really hope so."

I walked to my room, but Andy stopped me. He called, "Are you going to be okay? I-I mean, Jack has your assignment, so I was just——"

"Do you want just comfort or the actual truth?"

He stepped closer to me. "You know I'll always be here for you. It's okay to not be okay about the mission. I know you, Lux, I know you'd have opinions about this."

I chuckle, "It's not my opinion, Andy. I-I'm not ready for this. Attacking a building, destroying a system. I know it's caused mutants pain, but the thought of it getting destroyed within seconds, it... it bothers."

Andy didn't say a word to me, just listened.

"And if you and Monty are going to destroy buildings, potentially kill people. God knows what Reeva wants of me. And if I can't do it, I-I'm done for."

"Hey, hey," He comforted, "Nothing bad is going to happen to you. Okay? Me, Monty, and Jack would never let that happen to you. Sure, Reeva will be mad, but she's not going to hurt you over it."

"But Andy, I don't feel safe here. I don't feel safe anymore."

The boy gulped.

Andy would never understand what it could be like to be unsafe. For the past year, the Inner Circle was like a second home to him. Sure, it wasn't stable, but it brought him security and made him feel almost invincible.

But with one look at Lux, one look of seeing her feel unsafe, unprotected from them. His whole perspective on his second family shifted. If Lux didn't feel safe about the Inner Circle, what is something she sees that he didn't? Was he just jaded and a fool to think the Inner Circle had the best intentions at heart or did he genuinely believe that the Inner Circle was a second chance at being a haven for mutants?

The only thing that Andy did was hug her. He grabbed Lux's waist and embraced her as if holding her was his way of living. She could feel his heart pounding against hers, her body relaxed to him, as she hugged him back.

"I'm not gonna let anything happen to you," Andy states, "You gotta believe that."

Lux smiled sadly, "I know. I know you'll try."

As the two let go of each other, a third person came into the hallway. They both turn to see Lorna, who held worry in her eyes.

She said, "Lux, Andy. I need to speak with you."

The three of us quickly were in Andy's room. Lorna had to explain everything to us, explain how she was the spy for the Underground, how she revealed Reeva's side hustles to make the Inner Circle happen.

My world was rocked by hearing her explanation. I stayed silently sitting down on the bed, as my mind tried to process what was said.

"That's crazy," Andy said, "Reeva would never work with the Purifiers."

"I saw her myself," informs the Dane, "She was meeting with Benedict Ryan."

"Benedict Ry—Sh-She hates him. She hates them all."

Hearing that Reeva was the puppeteer for the Purifier attacks and in contact with the world's number one talk show host and mutant hated, it was hard to understand.
But then again, why would Lorna lie? There was no use in her lying to us, so... maybe it all was true.

"They both want the same thing, guys: mutants and humans living apart. She needs people angry. She needs the Purifiers."

I ask, "But why would they help her?"

"She's using them to take out her competition so her mutant uprising is all that's left."

"That's insane," mumbled the Strucker, who turned away from the two of us. "I don't believe that."

"Andy." Lorna walked toward him. "Remember earlier, when she wouldn't tell us why we've never been in those tunnels before? There were mutants living there, Andy. Families. The Purifiers wiped them out for her."

"So you're telling me that everything Reeva said was a lie. Everything we did. We've sacrificed everything for a lie?"

"Look, I didn't want to believe it, either. But it's true." She saw our distraught faces. "I know how you two feel. I want a mutant homeland, too, but not like this. Andy, Lux, we... we can stop her. If you two come with me."

I could see Andy's lingering eyes on me. As much as I had the lack of information of a lot of things, I didn't care — I did believe Lorna.
I didn't feel safe here, I didn't feel at home. I didn't want to be in a place that made me feel like I was a bird in a cage.

I stood up and looked to Lorna. "Okay. I'm in. But I'm bringing Monty with us."

I could see the betrayal in Andy's eyes but I didn't care. It's better than if we were as far away from the Inner Circle as possible.

With the woman nodding, she turned to the boy. "Andy, we have to get out of here now."

"N-No. I-I'm sorry, I can't leave."

"What do you mean? Don't you want to go back to your family?"

"Yeah, but how can I? After everything that happened?"

He sat down on the couch, with Lorna defeated and caught. I walked over to him and kneeled in front of him.
"Andy."

His face shifted to avoid me but using my fingertips, I gently guided his head to me. His eyes locked on mine.

"You can't stay here," I tell him, "Knowing what you know..."

"But after all the things I've done... maybe I belong here."

"But you don't. I know you, Andy, deep down you know I'm right and you know that I know who you are."

It was then that Lorna pulled out a little throw-away phone. "I think I have someone you can talk to," She stated.

Andy nodded his head, and Lorna dialed the phone. "Reed, it's Lorna. I'm with Andy. He needs to talk to you."

" Yeah, of course. " I smile to the man's voice on the other line. " Put him on. "

The Dane handed Andy the phone, he looked at me, and I placed a hand on his shoulder. He took it.

" Are you there, son? "

"Dad?" He says.

" Andy, I know the things that Lorna is saying to you are hard to hear, but... they are true. You need to come home. Andy. "

The Strucker gets up and goes to the window. "I'm sorry. I don't think I can do that."

" What? Course you can. We love you so much. We're your family. You belong with us. "

"Do I? When we saved John, when I attacked that Purifier for trying to shoot Lux... I saw you, Dad. You were afraid of me."

" No. Andy, th-that's—that's not true. "

"You know it's true, Dad. And you were right. I wanted to kill that man." Andy looked to me. "I belong here. I am a monster." He turns back to the phone. "You don't have to say anything else. I just—I just wanted you to understand why I can't come."

" Wait, Andy, please. Listen to me. I do understand. More than you know. Today, I... I killed a man. He was threatening us, and... He, um, he was... I-I got so angry, and—and I lost control, and... and I killed him. Nor because I had to, but... because I wanted to. So, if you're a monster, son, then so am I. "

Andy hung up on his father, he handed the phone to Lorna. Seeing that she did all that she could, Lorna got up and walked out. "Tell me when you're ready. We don't have all night."

Seeing her walk out of the room, it was only Andy and me. He sat down on the bed with me. I knew he didn't want a grand supportive speech, he just need a friend by his side.

"If it helps," I say, "you're not a monster to me. And you don't belong here."

He sniffled as his eyes turned gloss. "I-I know, I know, but what if I've gone too far? Lux, I'm not who I used to be."

"It's okay," I assure him, holding his face with my hand. "Trust me, you're not lost. You're Andy Strucker, my best friend, and you are not going to stay here."

He looked down and gently placed his hand on mine. He held onto it like it was pure cotton and silk, as if his hands were too rough for mine.

I slowly get up and he follows with me. "Come on, I'm bringing you home."

His frown turned to a small smile as tears escaped his eyes.

After Andy was packing, I ran to Monty's room. I go to his side and wake him up. He shifted and turned on the lamplight, tired out of his mind.

"W-What are you doing?"

"Come on, get up. We're leaving."

"Leaving? Leaving for where?"
"To a safe place. I'm getting us out of here."

That had seemed to wake him up.
His eye grew wide as he got out of bed and walked toward me. "You-You did it. You really found a way out?"

I nodded my head with a wide grin.
Monty's smile grew large at the news.
His relief and freedom made him feel like the chains around him were let go.

He went up to him and kissed my cheek. "You, Lux, are my angel."

I shake off my blush and said, "Come on. Let's go home."

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it's my birthday and i just turned 18! now this book is literally 2-3 chapters away from end so now i'm crying

— Mariena