Read Online Rogue by Gina Damico - Free Book Online

there was one. LeRoy . . .” He smiled K”ur of u, remembering. “LeRoy was brilliant. Smooth talker, knew how to get strange things from strange places, and downright scary when he needed to be.” He pointed to the girl with braids. “That’s Skyla. A genius mind for planning. She’s the one who fully engineered our attack, detailed our positions and timing right down to the second.”
    “So there
was
an attack,” Lex pressed.
    “Yes, but we had our reasons. It was this feeling we’d all been getting ever since we first arrived in the Grimsphere—an inkling that something about the Afterlife was off. So we did a little digging, did some calculations. And in the end, the evidence was staring us in the face: the Afterlife was eroding, and it would disappear forever if we didn’t stop, or at least cut down on, human involvement in the area of death.”
    “Which is what we’re trying to do right now,” Driggs said. “Stop the violations.”
    “Right. But back then, we were ahead of our time. We tried to tell the mayor, but he wouldn’t listen to us, thought we were just a bunch of stupid kids. Next we tried to go over his head and tell the president, but again, we were blown off. Everyone thought we were just conspiracy theorists, out to cause trouble because we were bored or couldn’t hold our Yoricks.”
    A spark lit up in his eyes. “But we knew we were right. We
knew
it. So, desperate to get the attention of those in power, we decided to do something a little . . . drastic.”
    After a moment of silence, Pip couldn’t help himself. “What?” he asked. “What did you do?”
    Uncle Mort managed an expression that was sheepish and proud at the same time. “We smashed the jellyfish tank. Knocked Croak offline for a week.”
    Every one of the Juniors gasped. “You
what?
” Elysia cried.
    “How did you not get exiled for that?” Lex asked, incredulous. “They’d probably throw
me
in the Hole just for jaywalking, yet you and LeRoy become
mayors?
How does that happen?”
    At this, Uncle Mort looked pained. Turning his gaze to the floor, he started rubbing his scar, from his eye to his ear.
    “We got creative,” he said.
    Before he could expand on that, though, his Cuff crackled. He held it up to his ear, frowning. “Hello?”
    A muffled voice came back.
    “Who is this?” he demanded, his face getting hard.
    “G’day, Croakers!” Broomie’s voice sang, clear and bouncy. “On the road again?”
    “Broomie!” the Juniors shouted, thrilled to hear from their friend from DeMyse.
    “Ask about Riqo!” Pip told Uncle Mort. Along with Broomie, Riqo had teamed up with them in DeMyse, then distracted Zara so that they could escape. Last time they had seen him, his blood was seeping into the hotel carpet as they Crashed out of DeMyse.
    But Uncle Mort didn’t seem to hear Pip. Agitated, he cupped his hand over the Cuff. “Cuffs can hardly be considered secure lines, Broomie. What are you doing?”
    “I know, sorry about that, mate. But I figured this was too important not to pass on, no matter the risk: You’ve got some allies.”
    Smiles broke out around the car. “How’s that?” Uncle Mort said.
    “Kilda showed your video around, and—”
    “Kilda’s alive?” Lex exclaimed.
    “Alive and chatty as ever. She told me that a small group of Croakers decided to up and follow you, just in case you ran into trouble. Sort of like extra backup for Wicket. So if you see anyone on your tail,
don’t
just fire off a few rounds for the hell of it. Check to see if they’re friendly first.”
    “Okay,” said Uncle Mort. “Got it.”
    “Mort!” K">to s Pip insisted. “Ask about Riqo!”
    “How’s LeRoy?” Uncle Mort said into the Cuff.
    “Don’t worry, he hasn’t changed his mind,” Broomie answered. “He’s solid, trust me. Plus, he knows I’ll personally neuter him if he bails.”
    “Sounds terrifying. Thanks for the heads-up, Broomie.”
    “No worries! Good luck!”
    Uncle