Perk Up, Mr. Misery PART TWO

And so, dear readers, this is how Logan sank into a fast and inevitable despondency. While his friends careened around him a little more happily, he was mourning – for what, I don’t know. After all, pixie minds work in very strange way.  

If I’m allowed to ponder it, I have a hunch that something died in him that day after he stormed off into the forest. Will we ever know what? Probably not. After carefully surveying his story, Logan Manchester morphed from a shy, cowardly boy into a brave leader, then into a dejected young man very quickly. And, in the end, this alteration proved a sole aspect for his end.

Logan lay awake. Saraha was dozing by the fire. Ji-Ji’d been so happy that day, unlike him. Logan hated being sad. He loved it and hated it and envied it and despised it, but it still clung to him like an infection to a wound.

Ji-Ji had burst from the bushes, into camp, a cheery smile on her face. This overly excited behaviour was rare for her.

“This place is wonderful!” she’d gushed. “Idyllic. Perfect.”

“You seem… happy,” Flo P said suspiciously.

Logan had cocked his head to the side in agreement. “Why’s that?”

Ji-Ji hesitated for a fraction of a second. She never hesitated unless there was something not up to par. “It’s a good spot, as well as a good village. They have lots of supplies, and little suspicion… Just trust me, it’s great.” She trotted off to find Saraha.

Flo P looked at Logan and raised her eyebrows. He shrugged his shoulders back.

That night, a cry rent the air. Saraha had caught a fish, and she’d immediately ran back to camp, holding the flopping thing by the tail. Logan saw it, immediately turning angry.

“ARE YOU MAD?” he said. “KILL THE THING, YOU’RE TORTURING IT.”

She looked at him for a moment. “Whatever you say, King Ra of the Holy Sun.” Saraha placed the fish on the ground. It was still flopping horribly, albeit a little more sporadically and dully. Saraha took the butt of Ji-Ji’s hunting knife and clubbed it. 

The fish stopped moving. The tail twitched once more, and was still.

“I am not gutting this thing,” said Saraha.

Flo P had her nose wrinkled, disgusted. When no one stepped up, she said, “Finders keepers. You caught it, you clean it. Go down to the river. I’ll come.”

“Logan and I’ll start a fire,” said Ji-Ji.

Saraha cut open and washed it in the stream, letting the inedible organs and brain flow downstream, washing away the smell. When the fish had been cleaned, she and Flo P returned to camp to see a small but hot fire, and a couple sharpened sticks, ready to roast the meat.

Logan eyed the fish. “I’m so hungry, I volunteer having the stomach.”

They divvied up the fish, and ate gladly and barbarically. The fresh fish, though a little charred, was better than the week-old bread, canned tomatoes and stale water that they’d been living on the for the past weeks, and whatever unpalatable thoughts anyone had had of the animal soon vanished. The entire fish dematerialized soon after.

Saraha proffered her watch, and the others soon fell to sleep.

But not Logan.

He was aware Saraha was dozing, slightly, perhaps neglecting her duties after an uncannily full stomach, but he was glad she couldn’t sense his acuteness.

What of his feelings of Flo P? Logan laid them out – everything, bluntly – before him. There was definitely admiration… respect, protectiveness, friendship, and everything he should feel. But what of the more difficult emotions? Love? Could he really go so far to say that? Though he’d only really known Flo P closely for three and a half weeks, it felt like decades and eons and centuries, and infinite time, he thought to himself.

Yes, he said to himself. I like her a lot. I like Flo P. She is the one for me… Hey there, Flo P – you’re the one for me! Can’t you see, Flo P? – I love thee! And with these odd tunes floating through his head, Logan soon fell into a fitful sleep.

A very short and very mysterious chapter, I will admit. What will become of Logan next? (And what does “sole aspect for his end” mean, Sarah? D:)

READ “AHOY, SNUGGLE BOY!” ON JANUARY 6^TH TO FIND OUT…

Special: Logan Sketch

I honestly have no idea what I’m doing, guys. Dx I suck at drawing, but I still like to, and this is a fruit of some many erasings and croppings and colourings. I know that the pixels look like Logan dancing naked but for Ji-Ji’s pantaloons, but I can’t do it all sophisticated like the people online do in their sophisticated laptop-drawing applications. So I colour it with pencil crayons.

I apologize for the crap art skills, but I like to share my envisioning on Logan. I admit, he doesn’t look very pixie in this picture, and his legs look really odd, but I hope you see what I’m getting at…?

Maybe, if you’re very unlucky, my next Sunday Special will have another sketch of the Quad Squad.  

Ps. He is wearing sweatpants; that’s why there’s no zipper. I have a story behind that, so I’m telling you this so you’re not confused like the other person who saw this drawing.   

13: Perk Up, Mr. Misery PART ONE

Yes, I know this is a boring chappie Dx I just needed to add some insight onto Logan’s past, and why he’s so annoyingly innocent.

Logan impatiently bobbed up and down waiting for Ji-Ji to return. Saraha was cutting bark with her knife that hung round her waist. They’d all decided that they should be armed at all times, just in case.

Finally, Ji-Ji’s face broke through the foliage a couple metres away. All of them jumped, and Saraha nearly threw her knife in Ji-Ji’s face.

“So, is it Thorn Valley?” asked Flo P.

Ji-Ji nodded wisely. “Definitely. It’s pretty big – bigger than our hometown.”

Logan cheered. “Good! No more walking.”

“We’ll set up camp somewhere farther in; somewhere where no one will accidentally wander into it,” said Flo P, and they walked deeper into the forest surrounding Thorn Valley.

When Ji-Ji okayed the spot they’d chosen, they settled down to make a more permanent residence. Logan vainly attempted on making it more homely, which resulted in a lot of Saraha calling him a loser and Logan storming off, then Flo P giving Saraha a long talk about how Logan was sensitive and that she was the loser.

When Flo P left to find Logan, Ji-Ji said, “Why do you hate him so much anyway?”

“I don’t hate him,” said Saraha. “He’s just so dumb and stupid and really awkward sometimes. He just bothers me. And the way Flo P dotes upon him – how does she, may I ask? – it’s like he’s this innocent baby. Yeah, he’s a big, fat, wailing baby who can’t care for himself.” 

Saraha crossed her arms and donned the expression of a stormy brow; Ji-Ji shoved four Evan-branded Water Bottles into Saraha’s hands. “Find a water source and fill these. Calm yourself and stop sulking, Little Miss Irritable.”

Saraha stalked off.

Meanwhile, Logan sat on a log and cried. He could hear Flo P blundering around the dense underbrush and calling his name, but she’d never find him here. Saraha’s words rang in his ears, and he wondered why it had to be him. Why had he brought them into this anyway? Obviously Ji-Ji and Saraha regretted it, while Flo P was a little more tactful and didn’t show it.

He pounded his fists on his thighs in frustration. Why now? Of all the people to be affected, it was he! Which divine power has damned him to this life?

Flo P eventually gave up her search. He knew she was obviously very worried at not finding him, but that was alright; let them take a break from him. He began to think. He remembered when it had been the three of them – Saraha, Ji-Ji, and Flo P – happily conversing about the next band piece to play.

Flo P had been so youthful and childlike. She’d been so full of random cheeriness. Now, the more he thought of it, in the couple short weeks they’d been on the run, she’d aged one thousand years. And Saraha and Ji-Ji – they had been silly and up to stupid pranks.

How much had he condemned them to?

Lode strode up to Logan and shoved him. Lode was a massive boy for fourth grade – his shoulders were thick and his torso was so wide it seemed he was a human reincarnation of a wall. It made him even more formidable as Logan cowered in the dirt.

Lode sneered. “Freak.” Logan looked up into his eyes. It was probably the bravest thing he could remember doing. What was that he saw in Lode’s eyes? Menace and sadism and hate… But pain, maybe? Fear?

Lode saw Logan’s face change to what he saw, and immediately he snarled and kicked Logan. “WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?” he shrieked. “YOU DON’T DESERVE TO LIVE!”

The other kids watched in frightened silence. This was grade four, before there was Flo P or Saraha or Ji-Ji to help him. Back when Lode ruled over everything. And he hated Logan with a fierce intensity.

Lode kicked him again and again, sometimes stopping to stoop down and aim a  punch. Logan was curled in the fetal position. He could feel hot, sticky tears dripping down his cheeks. Dirty and grass and other cloth-marring substances were all over his clothes. Logan just lay there until Lode laughed and ran away.

When he got home, his mother viewed him critically. It was just after Walter Manchester had disappeared. “What’s going on?” asked his mother.

Logan looked at the floor. “I fell while playing on the monkey bars.” Why didn’t he tell her the truth?

Mrs. Manchester looked disbelieving. She shook her head, and said. “Is there something you need to tell me, Logan?”

Logan shook his head, still staring at his toes. “No.”

“Alright. Be more careful next time.” 

12: Kristmas Kerfluffles

I may have loads more specials coming up, although it depends on whether I like my artistry skills. Incidentally, today is my birthday. (HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARAH!) The best present would be to comment, maybe tell me what other scenarios the Quad Squad could get into?

After Flo P had recovered Logan from his faint, he became angry. “You said you thought no one would notice you!” he yelled.

“Calm your wits, man. We shouldn’t be worrying that he noticed me, it’s that I told him Mr. Murphy was my uncle. They’ll definitely notice there’s something wrong,” said Saraha, “and then Commander Brack will unquestionably be on our trail.”

They walked in silence for the rest of the day. Unfortunately, the nearest town was seventy miles away, so the journey would take at least two days. They had pondered how to get there faster – Ji-Ji suggested run, but all the others quailed at the thought of it – Flo P had proposed they hijacked a car and drove there, but no one knew how to drive, and they would be smack out in the open.

ONE DAY LATER…

When they stopped for the night, the ground was covered by two feet of snow. It had been snowing lightly. Finding a slightly bare area was difficult. It was bitterly cold. That night, they went to bed with their shoes on, and every pair of socks wrapped around their hands.

“MERRY CHRISTMAS!” grinned Ji-Ji the next morning. She was in unusually good spirits. “It’s Christmas Eve, why the long faces?” For the rest of the day, she insisted they didn’t have to walk so fast, and they were allowed a decent lunch for once.

When they stopped for the night, the snow was falling thinly again. Logan broke out the jerky. He also took a precious package of salted nuts and a brick of chocolate that Maxee had slipped them. They ate heartily and happily. The sky grew dark.

“I have a secret,” said Saraha awkwardly. She was no good at presenting gifts. “There’s a reason I took so long in that place – Thornshot – a couple days ago.” From her backpack she pulled out three packages.

Ji-Ji cried with outrage. “You didn’t!”

“Here.” Saraha thrust the package into Ji-Ji’s hands, beaming broadly. Ji-Ji unwrapped it cautiously, then took out the shirt, and laughed. She laughed and toppled over, and then hugged her friend. “Thank you! I love it!”

Logan and Flo P giggled, seeing “SHUT UP” written across the front. Next, Saraha gave Flo P her package.

Flo P tore hers apart. Her eyes widen. “Oh my goodness. Wow. Thank you so much. All I have are pants. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

Logan smiled the whole time, but was a little sad that nobody had thought of him. You can only blame yourself, he thought. You were the one who dragged them into this. They cannot be very happy right now.

“I got you nothing, Logan,” Saraha said seriously. “Because I hate you and I want you to die, you filthy Coward.”

“I – Look, I’m –” Logan stuttered.

Saraha grinned. “I’m kidding.” She presented him with his “I’m a pixie bracelet”, and he smiled appreciatively.

“Thanks,” he awkwardly grinned. Upon seeing the words on it, Ji-Ji burst out laughing and smacked him on the back. Even Flo P, who disapproved of Saraha’s taunts, chuckled.

They all admired their gifts for a moment, until Logan said, “Don’t think I’ve left it to Saraha. I made you some things, too.” He pulled out four sturdy-looking cloth bracelets. “I started them at S.K.A.T.,” he explained, watching Saraha and Ji-Ji flinch at the mention of the name.

“I used pieces that I found, and when I ran out, I used some of the straps of my backpack. He presented the golden one to Flo P (“It’s his declaration of love!” cried Saraha upon seeing the colour), the green one to Ji-Ji, the red one to Saraha, and kept the blue on for himself.

In the end, he’d received a silver bell from Flo P and two pieces of Ji-Ji’s jerky. Instead of getting or making them anything, Ji-Ji had divvied up her beef jerky. Saraha especially loved this, as she was always whining about wanting meat.

Ji-Ji pulled Saraha to the edge of the camp. “What’re you doing?”

“Just leave them alone for a while. It’s Christmas,” she replied.

They stayed silent for a couple minutes, while the other two talked and laughed and forgot momentarily about Ji-Ji and Saraha.

“What is happening with them, though?” sighed Ji-Ji, watching the two.

Saraha shook her head, expressionless. “I dunno. I have no idea.” She bit into a piece of Ji-Ji’s gifted jerky. “But whatever it is, I bet it tastes nothing like this jerky.”

11: Saraha, What've You Done Now?

So, let’s see how the Quad Squad plan to celebrate their Christmas.

Ji-Ji yawned and stretched, breathing in the early morning air. It was cold and frigid, but there was not yet snow, much to the children’s gratefulness.

“Morning, Lo,” she said, plopping down next Logan and in front of the fire. He’d had the last watch of the night.

“Good morning,” said Logan quietly. His eyes drooped.

“You look tired,” observed Ji-Ji.

“I am.”

They sat for a while, dozing, while Saraha and Flo P slept peacefully beside them. The morning was bitterly cold, and the clouds hung over, emitting a silvery light that they do when it’s about to snow.

Suddenly, two arms threw themselves from the sleeping bags and a loud grunt emerged. The bag rolled over, and struggled for a long while. Logan and Ji-Ji watched it blearily. Then the bag finally disengaged itself, and Saraha ran to the fire like a mad rhinoceros. She plopped herself down.

“Crikey, it’s cold.” Saraha pulled on her boots. “I wonder what the date is… it must be nearing Christmas.”

Ji-Ji nodded. “It’ll be days away now. I wonder what Commander Brack’s will do, regarding hunting us.”

“Full steam ahead, probably. He would never give up.” Flo P slowly got out of her sleeping bag, and came to the fire. She yawned and gave Saraha the evil eye. “Can you be more quiet next time?”

“No can do, Captain, I’m a loud sort of person.”

Flo P rolled her eyes at Logan while Ji-Ji giggled softly.

It took them minutes to realise that they’d better be going, so they packed up the camp they’d made in an abandoned shack at the edge of a town and trekked along the edge of it, careful not to be seen. They were nearly by the main road that would take them North, when Saraha pointed; “Look!”

The other three turned. Her finger pointed to the main clock tower, sticking from the middle of the quaint town like a giant, knobbly thumb. Not only did it mark seven-thirty am, but it also showed in large letters, “DECEMBER 21”.

“So what?” asked Flo P.

“It’s nearly Christmas,” said Logan faintly.

Everyone was silent. They’d never celebrated Christmas like this, on the run, trying to get away from a ruthless man who was attempting to capture them. (Or kill?) Finally, Ji-Ji roused them, and said, “Let’s get going. It looks as if it’s going to snow, and I don’t want to make camp in two feet of it. I want to get to Thornshot by tonight.” 

They continued on. They walked through the fields and forests surrounding the area, stopping only in the forests where they knew nobody could see them. When they had to cross seas of barley and wheat, they stayed far the centre as they could go, so they looked only like specs in the distance.

It had been a week since the Alec massacre. Saraha, Logan, Flo P and Ji-Ji tried not to think about it. Saraha had tried to be more cheery than usual, but cheeriness wasn’t her thing. Ji-Ji just stuck to ignoring it. Flo P and Logan hadn’t really known what had happened, but they witnessed their companion’s attempts to deal with the shock.

“Finally,” said Saraha, slumping down in a low dell that they’d found in a particularly thick area of the woods. “I thought this would wear my feet off. 30 kilometres I’ve walked in one day.”

She lay back and closed her eyes. Ji-Ji unwrapped their blankets and bags, while Flo P started a fire and Logan opened two cans of beans and a roll of bread each.

“Beans, beans, beans,” grumbled Saraha. “All I eat is beans and canned tomatoes. It’s nearly Christmas; give me a little bit of meat. I hunger.”

“Then help us,” sniffed Flo P.

Saraha got out a small tin pan and put it over the fire, where Logan put the beans, letting them warm. The fire crackled merrily. Soon it grew pitch dark all around them, except for the sky, which emitted a warm white glow.

“I’ll take first watch until midnight,” said Ji-Ji after they’d supped. “Saraha, you take the morning one, okay?”

“Fine, then, give me the crap shift.”

Saraha nearly fell asleep as she sat near the embers. The sky was lightening, but hardly, and she gauged it to be around 3 o’clock in the morning. She looked up, and felt something cold prickle her face. The sky wasn’t lightening – it was snowing.

Soon a thin blanket of white covered the landscape. Though grass still poked out, Saraha liked how it made everything a lot more magical. She sighed. Christmas was nearly upon them, but there wasn’t anything but weariness and something Logan called “hope”, but “hope” wasn’t helping very much.

When the others had woken, they packed up and got ready to leave, but not before Logan said, “Our food is getting alarmingly low. We’ve been eating like buffalos since we left Andersbad.”

“Eating like buffalos?” Saraha cried indignantly. “I’ve hardly eaten enough to keep the skin from hanging like paper from my arms.”

“Someone will have to buy some more.”

“Not me; it’s me they’re hunting for and I’m afraid someone might recognize me too easily,” said Logan.

Then a thought struck Saraha. “ME! I’ll do it!” she volunteered.

Later, with the others by the sidelines of the woods, peering out at her, Saraha embarked across the field to Thornshot. It was quaint, and in the gathering snow, white lights gleamed from roofs. The main square was decorated with evergreen garlands and a huge Christmas tree was positioned in the centre.

Saraha touched her hair. It was down, which wasn’t normal, and she felt stupid and out of place in the getup her friends had forced her to wear. She made her way across the square to “Murphy and Murphy Toys”. She knew her friends had outgrown toys, but the shop seemed so nice she could hardly resist not having a look.

“Hello, I’m Mr. Murphy!” said a little man behind the counter. “Merry Christmas to you!”

“Hello,” said Saraha. She browsed around the store for a while. It was small, but easy to get lost in due to the vast amounts of wooden trinkets, metal objects, and other sorts of toys.

As Saraha walked out of Thornshot, she felt quite accomplished. For Flo P, she had gotten a plaid skirt; Ji-Ji a shirt that said “SHUT UP” on the front; and Logan a leather bracelet with golden, sparkly words, “I’m a pixie”. Her backpack may not have been much heavier, but her wallet was considerably lighter.

“Hey, you!” cried a voice. “Stop!”

Saraha turned to see a man running towards her full-kilter. He wasn’t that big, but she didn’t want to get into a brawl with him. “What?” she asked him, trying to be nonchalant.

She could practically feel the Logan, Ji-Ji, and Flo P fainting behind their bush when he said, “I know you from somewhere. I’m sure of it.”

“No, sir. I’m sorry, but I’ve never seen you before.”

The man shrugged. “Your face looks familiar… Are you from around here?”

“No. I’m visiting my uncle.”

“Oh.”

As Saraha turned to leave, the man said, “Who is your uncle?”

Saraha smiled. “You probably wouldn’t know him.”

“Who? I swear I know you.”

“Mr. … Mr. Murphey,” she said, pulling the nearest name from her head.

“Mr. Murphy! Everybody knows him.” The man chuckled. “Sorry for inconveniencing you. I’ll be on my way.” And he left, leaving Saraha to wonder what on earth she had done.

ON JANUARY 16, FIND OUT THE IMPACTS OF WHAT SARAHA HAS REALLY DONE, IN “KHRISTMAS KERFLUFFLES”. 

Special: Logan's Name Bank

Who have we encountered so far on The Creativity of Logan Manchester? Let’s catch up with ALL our favourite characters. (For those of you who read this, comment BELOW and say who’s your favourite so far since Chappie 10.)

Logan: Logan has a crop of brown hair (you average, boring brown, nothing extraordinary), with green-ish brown-ish eyes. He is tall, lanky, which gives him a perpetually awkward demeanour. He is 14 years old. Logan is a wee bit smitten with Flo P since Chappie 1: The Big Flop. He plays the Pitchy Clarinet and has a shy, delicate personality, but is brave and loyal and will do anything to protect his friends. He is currently travelling with Flo Pattern, Saraha Santrmarine and Ji-Ji Hoods, his best (and only) friends. He has lived in Lesser Villager, Tap, his entire life. His full name is Logan Elliot Manchester.

Flo P: Flo P has dark, shoulder-blade-length brown hair, and chocolate brown eyes. She has a bubbly (but don’t take me wrong, not peppy, just cheerful) and critical personality, and will always stand up for what she believes in. This is especially apparent when she defends Logan from his multitude of teasers and harassers (ie. Saraha). Flo P is brave but not to the point where she is willing to take stupid risks. She is 14 and plays the Uteflay and travels with her friends Saraha Santrmarine, Logan Manchester and Ji-Ji Hoods. Her full name is Flo Pattern.

Ji-Ji: Ji-Ji has long, raven black hair (which flows down her back like a waterfall of ink, cheesy, cheesy, etc.). She is tall and has brown eyes, and is graceful and athletic. She has a permanently calculating expression, and is the “manager” of the group, who ultimately confirms decisions. She is extremely brave and is very attached to her friends, even if she doesn’t always show it. (Except in Chapter 10, when Alec’s death jolted her.) She is 14 years old, plays the Screech and headed Logan’s old band, Tongues of Acid. Her full name is Jimanji Hoods.

Saraha: Saraha has shoulder-length ash blond hair, always tied in a ponytail (but that may change – knowing wink). She can be loud and boisterous, and the one who displays her character traits most within the group. She never shies away from teasing Logan, especially hinting to his questionable relationship with Flo P. She plays the Uteflay and is 14 years of age, like the others. Saraha slightly fancied Alec from S.K.A.T., but everything changed when he was unfortunately shot in front of her very eyes by Commander Brack. Her full name is Saraha Santrmarine.

Maxee: Maxee has floppy black hair and pale skin, and is around 17 years of age. Maxee is the leader of S.K.A.T., an underground network of homeless kids who steal and buy from black markets to survive in the city. (However, it becomes increasingly difficult because of a tightening of security.) Maximus shelters Logan, Flo P, Ji-Ji and Saraha when he first meets them in Andersbad, and shows them the ropes. He is good friends with Alec, who unfortunately died. His full name is Maximus Xent.

Alec: Alec has red hair (no, he is not a ginger – it’s the colour of blood) and blue eyes. He is good friends with Maxee, and has been in S.K.A.T. all his life. He’s brave and heroic in a show-off way, but this always leads to a generous input of supplies. He might have had the hots for Saraha, but that will always remain a mystery. He died on December 17, 2112. His surname is unknown.

Thay: Thay is a fifteen-year-old girl who belongs to S.K.A.T. She was with Alex, Saraha, Ji-Ji, Flo P, and Logan’s first mission. She has a prominent position in S.K.A.T. and is a vehement believer in it. Thay has been part of S.K.A.T. all her life, and nothing else is known about her as she is an orphan.

Commander Brack: Little is known of Comm. Brack. He has dark grey hair, in a buzz cut, and steely grey eyes. He has only been seen with his brigade of soldiers. He is after the “Walrus Document”, something Walter Manchester (Logan’s father), a scientist, was working on before he disappeared. He first appeared storming into a Tounges of Acid practise. It is rumoured he is from the Government, a powerful and what appears to be an increasingly corrupt force that controls the land of Tap.

Andrew: Andrew  is a random Screech player, who enjoys helping out to clean up after band. He is seen for about two seconds, so you’ll probably never encounter him again, as he’s just a prop. 

10: Tragic is as Tragic Does

Wow, happy New Years! Sorry about not posting last week - I was on holiday and got lazy. It was difficult to write this chapter, I really liked Maxee, Alex and S.K.A.T., so I post this with a heavy heart. PS. If you tune in on Sunday evening, there’ll be a special feature.

Logan wondered afterwards whether it was fault – at least, he blamed himself partly. And he’d been stupid to think it was safe, after all, he was the leader of their group.

He couldn’t sleep. He just sat in the dark, while the others slept restlessly, tears trickling down his cheeks. Logan now was living what he’d asked for.

THREE DAYS BEFORE…

 Alec laughed. “Don’t be stupid, we can leave whenever we want. C’mon.” He grabbed Saraha and Ji-Ji’s arms, pulling them out of the hideout.

“What’re you doing?” asked Maxee angrily. “You know we’re not supposed to go out during the day. Do you want to get us all killed?”

“Love you too!” said Alec, and the sound of running feet was heard, and then they were gone.

Maxee rolled his eyes at Flo P. “He’s so stupid; he’ll get us found out one day. But he’s got a lion’s heart, so that’s why we don’t kick him out.” Logan came over, and helped them clear some rubble which had fallen from the ceiling.

“D’you think this is getting a little dangerous?” he asked Maxee. “The roof looks like it’ll crumple any moment. Are you going to start moving to a new location?”

“I suppose so,” Maxee sighed, “but it’s so much work, and we were kept safe here so long. You’re right though, Logan, I’ll start scouting for new places. It’s not as easy as it seems. Will you help us?”

Logan looked at Flo P, and they made that “meaningful”sort of  eye contact. “Actually, we’ll have to think about it,” Flo P said. “We don’t really know what we’re doing next.”

After they had finished, Logan took Flo P aside. “We have to talk. I’d like it if the others were here, but we’ve ignored and brushed away this whole ordeal too long to wait. The question is - what are we planning to do?”

Flo P sighed. “I suggest we leave. We’ve been here a week now, without a sign from Brack’s soldiers, and I don’t like it. It’s too quiet. I think we should be gone by the end of next week. But still, we should have out supplies ready so we can leave on a moment’s notice. Where do you think we should go?”

Logan was sad. He knew Flo P was right, but it still stung him. He liked S.K.A.T. He liked the people, the constant bustle and something to do. It kept his mind off the Walrus Document, off the worry. He would miss Maxee, the genius of webworks, and Alec, who always had some adventure planned. Even Thay, sitting in the corner muttering sarcastic remarks and always yelling at people to help, he would miss. The whole atmosphere suited him.

“North. Somewhere that we can leave to any major outlet, or city. Preferably inland. Let me see...” Logan pulled out a map. “There’s a small village 300 kilometres North-West of here – it’s called Thorn Valley. I suppose we could go there,” he suggested.

Maxee came over, grinning from a joke someone had told him. “Have you taken up on my offer?”

Flo P nodded. “Yes, we have, and I’m afraid it’s not good. We’re being followed by some very... Very dangerous and strange men, and I’m afraid that we’ll have to go by the next week. Is that... Is that okay?”

Maxee sighed. “Whatever you have to do. I’ll miss you four, did you know that? Nothing like odd kids to spice up life.”

For the rest of the afternoon, Logan and Flo P stayed in their corner, packing all the rucksacks for their friends, washing the little clothes they’d brought, and refilling their dwindling stocks of food. Both of their minds were abuzz, dreading to tell Saraha and Ji-Ji that they’d have to leave; that they’d made plans without them. Finally, an end to their worrying occurred when a commotion sounded from outside. Ji-Ji clattered down the steps and through the hole, brushing aside the canvas.

She had a massive scratch down her cheek and was sobbing uncontrollably. Maxee sprang up, along with a couple of his fellows, sensing trouble. “What’s the matter?” he said. “Where’s Alec... Where’s Saraha?”

“Saraha’s... Saraha’s coming,” Ji-Ji sobbed. “They came out of nowhere. It was Commander Brack - he’s back. Alec was so, so, stupid. He knew we’d never get out. He knew it from the beginning, and now he’s dead!”

Maxee’s face contorted into something none of them had ever seen. It was rage and helplessness, and he looked so terrible that even Ji-Ji stumbled back in alarm. “WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?” he yelled. “WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT, ALEC IS DEAD?”

Saraha burst through the hole. “They haven’t found out about the hideout.” Unlike Ji-Ji, she wasn’t crying, but her face was hollow, just as dull and blank and grief-ridden. She turned to Maxee, whose fists were clenched, ready to do battle.

“We couldn’t do anything,” she told him quietly, swaying on the spot. The attention of the whole room had turned on them. Everyone was listening silently. “We were just walking along the streets - we were so cautious, Alec knew we were being so stupid, going out during daylight - and one big man, all in black, just jumped out at us. He was Commander Brack’s man, I’d know him anywhere. He yelled for more people.

“I saw it the minute the man appeared on Alec’s face,” Saraha said. She grabbed the arm of Maxee, who stood rigid, his eyes staring into space, trying to get balance. She swayed alarmingly. He ignored her. Flo P and Logan burst out of the crowd, Flo P comforting Ji-Ji.

Ji-Ji was silently crying into Flo P’s shoulder. Nobody seemed to want to come near them, or Saraha, who was clutching Maxee, about to faint onto the floor. She barely managed, “Alec just ran, and there was nothing I could do to stop him. He ran onto the street in broad daylight as Brack’s car pulled up, and they shot him. He just fell... He’s still there, I think... Just lying... in... the gutter.” Two fat tears squeezed from her eyes, and then she fell to the floor.

When Ji-Ji’s wound had been treated, and Saraha had recovered from her faint, they made to leave. The other kids just watched them sullenly. They were outcasts - the bringers of bad news. Some even regarded them with hostility, thinking them responsible for being the ones who brought on Alec’s death. The Quad Squad left in the dead of night on the same day, planning to catch a train out of Anderbad, where they’d then backpack for a while to Thorn Valley.

Ji-Ji and Saraha hadn’t cared to oppose them, but just had done what was necessary. They had readied quietly. Logan had known, and cursed himself for it, that something would happen. Flo P was right. It had been too quiet... too eerie.

As they hefted their bags onto their backs,  no one cared to say goodbye, except for Fig, a small boy who’d been sleeping near them. “Stay safe,” he said as they’d made to leave, amid the snores of the others. “Don’t let Commander Brack, whoever he is, get you, alright? Just stay strong. S.K.A.T. will always be here if you need us.”

Crouching by the entrance, they made to leave, but a voice stopped them. Maximus Xent’s face was ravaged and sad and had something warlike in it. It was nothing like his peaceful, somewhat anxious features. He looked nothing like they’d known.

“I’ll still miss you,” said Maxee. “I’ll still miss you even though Alec is gone, and most people blame you two -” he indicated to Ji-Ji and Saraha “- for it. I don’t. Alec would never let someone kill him; he’d only die if he wanted to. He must have liked you four... A great deal. Good luck,” Maximus said abruptly, then turned his back and melted into the dark.

They backpacked to the edge of the city and jumped the 2 am train. The trains ran every time of the night in Andersbad. Soon, the sparkling megatropolis of Andersbad  faded behind them. They got off at four o’clock and made their way to a forest where they set up camp. Logan volunteered to keep watch.

As he sat in the dark, the emotion hit him like a wall. He felt so dumb, just sitting there, watching for something that was larger than him -  something he’d never defeat. He felt so dumb to be crying. He wished he was home. He wished he’d never had to have sacrificed S.K.A.T. to go back out to the unknown.

The Quad Squad had been flung back to the craggy rocks of fear, darkness, and uncertainty.