Bob arrived home late that afternoon after a long day of seeking new souls. He actually found a boy of about seven years old. The boy was taken to an orphanage. The orphanages on Una operated differently from those on earth. The kids were not only taken care of, but there were people specially trained to help them adapt and to properly inform them about life on Una. Seekers normally only took care of Souls over the age of twenty. Everyone younger went to an ‘orphanage’. However, there were special cases like Mikey and Gabby. Bob had found both of them, but for some strange reason he didn’t want to just leave them at some orphanage. He took some kind of liking to them and now they were like his brother and sister. It was the same with Frank when Nana found him. Some Souls just immediately crawled into your heart and became a part of the family, because everyone has to build their own family on Una. Few were lucky enough to reunite with real family. Sometimes he thought that chosen family was better than real family. Real family could hurt you so much more than the people you choose to be your family.
Outside, the sun was just beginning to set. The house was dark and silent when he entered which was unusual, because with two young teenagers in the house, it was rarely ever quiet. He turned on some lights and started a search for life through the house. All the rooms were empty, including Ashley’s bedroom. He returned to the living room, wondering where everyone was. It was strange that no one was home, especially not Ashley. It worried him. Just as he opened the front door to go and look for her, she stood in front of him. The brunette jumped when the door suddenly opened.
“There you are!” Bob exclaimed relieved. “You nearly had me worried. Where were you?”
“Sorry,” she apologized. “I probably should’ve left you a note or something. The house was just too quiet today and I decided to go out and explore. Una is actually very fascinating.”
“Don’t you mean boring?” he wanted to know. “Everything looks the same.”
“Maybe, but it’s something new to me. Oh, and I got a job,” she told him excitedly.
“A job?” he asked blue eyes wide in surprise.
She started towards the kitchen and turned on the coffeemaker.
“Yeah, I’m officially a waitress now,” she explained proudly. “The hours are decent. I’ll be home before dark. The pay is also good. I was starting to feel guilty for sponging off you the whole time.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” he scolded. “I can take perfectly care of all of us. I don’t mind.”
“Either way,” she replied, removing two cups from a cupboard. “What am I going to do with myself? I can’t stay in the house forever. That’s the main reason I got the job. I need to get out and do something. I may be dead on earth, but I’m alive on Una,” she stated, pouring coffee into the mugs and handing him one. “In the real world you had to work for a living and I have no doubt that those same rules apply on Una. I’m a grown woman; I work.”
Bob shook his head, smiling, “There’s no point in arguing with you on this, is there?”
“No,” she grinned satisfied. “You’ll just have to accept the fact that you’re not alone in the house anymore. I’m not a kid like Mikey or Gabby anymore. I make my own decisions – without your permission.”
Bob’s deep laughter sounded through the kitchen.
“Point taken,” he conceded, taking a sip of his coffee.
Suddenly there was a loud crashing sound from inside the house as the front door burst open.
“Bob!!!” someone called out loudly.
Bob hurriedly placed the cup on the table before storming into the living room only to freeze in his tracks, stunned by the sight in front of him. Mikey and Gabby were being dragged into the house by Ray and Frank, Chelle following behind.
“What the hell happened?” he demanded angrily.
“Rebellions,” Ray muttered under his breath.
Bob hurried forward to help them. They lay Mikey down on the couch and sat Gabby down in one of the chairs.
“Chelle and I were on our way home when we met up with Ray. Not too far further we heard yells and saw the Rebellions advance on someone,” Frank explained.
“Frank kept them distracted while I got the two kids out,” Ray finished. “As you can see though, Mikey is off far worse, because he stood in front of Gabby when they attacked.”
It was true. Mikey’s state was critical. His face was covered in blood and cuts were visible all over his body. Gabby just sat frozen in fear, not saying a word. Ashley was also speechless. It dawned on her that she would probably have looked like that if Bob didn’t find her when he did.
“Ray,” Bob spoke. “Could you please stay here with Gabby? I need to get Mikey to the hospital.”
“Of course,” Ray nodded, picking Gabby up and taking her to her room.
Bob picked Mikey up and disappeared out the door. Ashley came back to reality at this point and ran after him.
“No!” Frank exclaimed, catching her around the waist to keep her from running out the door.
The brunette started fighting against him.
“But whatever did that to Mikey and Gabby is still out there! Bob can’t…”
“He’ll be fine,” Frank assured her in a calm voice, pulling her back inside and asking Chelle to lock the door.
He carefully let her go and she crossed her arms over her chest, sitting down on the couch with a huff.
“Trust me. Bob can take care of himself,” Frank tried consoling her.
“How do you know that?” she asked upset. “He’s only one man!”
“I just know, okay.”
Ray’s tall frame reappeared in the room and he watched the expressions on everyone’s faces.
“Bob will be okay,” Ray affirmed. “Gabby’s asleep. She’s pretty shaken up after what happened, but she’ll be okay.”
“I just hope Mikey makes it,” Frank breathed.
Chelle sat down next to Ashley and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. Ray and Frank paced the living room as they all waited for Bob and Mikey to return.
“I can’t just sit here and do nothing. I’m going out of my fucking mind!” Ashley stated, jumping up from her seat on the couch. “I’m going to start on dinner.”
A long silence followed after she left the room.
“I have a question,” Chelle said, breaking the silence.
Both boys stopped pacing and turned to look at her.
“How on earth did you run so fast?” she asked Frank curiously.
“It’s a Talent,” he shrugged. “At least that’s what we call them here on Una. It’s the same as Gerard being able to turn invisible and Bob being super strong. That’s why we’re not worried about him. He can take care of himself.”
“Does everyone have a Talent?” she wanted to know.
“Well,” Frank started, shooting a mischievous glance in Ray’s direction. “Not everyone. Ray doesn’t have any Talents, except maybe making people laugh,” he snickered.
“Hey, punk!” Ray scowled, smacking the back of the teen’s head. “I’m really good at reading facial expressions and deducing people’s thoughts from that. For instance, you’re amused by mine and Frank’s bickering and Frank’s annoyed that I hit him.”
“Any idiot can see all of that,” Frank retorted. “You’re not special.”
Ray opened his mouth to reply, but then someone tried opening the front door. Chelle jumped up to unlock it, but Frank stopped her.
“Who is it?” he called in a mocking high pitched voice.
“Frank, open the damn door!” Bob’s angry voice was heard from the other side.
The teen laughed and went to open the door.
“Bob!” Ashley exclaimed, coming back into the room. “What happened?”
He sighed, “They’re going to keep him for a couple of days, but he’s okay. He didn’t have any serious injuries, but he’s lost a lot of blood.”
“Thank goodness,” Ray muttered relieved.
“I just don’t understand what they were doing out that late. They know the rules!” Bob growled angrily.
“I’m thinking that if Mikey knows what’s good for him, he’d stay in the hospital a little longer,” Frank whispered to Chelle.
“Oh, uhm, Tati said she won’t be home tonight. She’s working the night shift,” Bob told Ray.
“Thanks. Come on, Chelle. We’d better get home in a hurry before the same fate hits us,” Ray said.
“I should be getting home too. See you all tomorrow,” Frank said, running out the door.

*

“Are you returning to your rebellious phase?” Rae asked when she heard Frank come in the front door.
“No, Mikey and Gabby were attacked by Rebellions,” he breathed in reply.
“What?” she gasped.
“Oh dear,” Nana murmured, deep in thought. “Are they okay?”
“Gabby is fine, but Mikey’s been taken up in the hospital,” he informed them.
“How did they survive?” Rae wanted to know.
Gerard came into the living room and immediately caught the somber atmosphere.
“What’s going on?” he asked concerned.
“Mikey and Gabby were attacked by Rebellions,” Rae informed him.
“Ray, Chelle and I saw them and helped them,” Frank explained. “Don’t ask me how we did it though. I’m sure we were just lucky. Those things are scary as hell.”
Rae nodded slowly in response.
“I want you to come home earlier in the evenings,” Nana said, talking to all three of them. “You’ve all had close encounters with them in the past few weeks. Your luck won’t last forever and I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“Yes, Nana,” Frank replied.
“Of course,” Rae nodded.
Gerard was deep in thought as he nodded quietly. These things bothered him. They were crossing the line. What’s the point of a second chance at life if they just stole that opportunity without so much as blinking? Who put them in charge and gave them that power?