The Robin Hood Gang 3: A World Joined (Ended)

Eve

After spending a while in the library, I headed downstairs to talk to Riley. Chris beat me to it, though. I heard them talking about the gang, how we were all screwed up now. I decided to join in on their conversation.

"I am afraid me forcing Maitea to leave will upset him." Riley said. I walked in after she said that.

"It might, but it's for the best. All this drama is really messing with us all." I said. They didn't seem to mind that I had joined in.

"Maybe," Riley said. "but couldn't that just tear us apart even more?"

"Again, it might," Chris said. "but he's human, so eventually he'll get over it. No one can get over all the drama when the drama never leaves."

Riley nodded. "I don't think we have a choice. We have to end all this." She looked at me. "Eve, get everyone down here. We need to have another talk." she said. I nod, then walk off.

Hey... I've been without internet, and evidently I missed a lot... so tell me if there's anything wrong with my post

James~~

I closed the door of my car shut and started walking towards the safe house. After everyone had gotten back to the house safely from the battle I had taken extended leave, dropping in for maybe ten minutes one day to collect my stuff, and then going again. I had lived in a vacant apartment in the city, running credit card scams to live, trying to collect my thoughts in solitude.

As soon as I went through the door I could tell something was wrong. No one was there. I heard noises from upstairs, so I followed them, my feet becoming more rushed as time passed.

Reg Carter

I took a step out of the bathroom. It was the first time I hadn't worn my hoody. As I walked out, Alis stopped to my left as she saw me. We looked at each other, momentarily silent; her hand quivering ever so slightly. It was clear she was trying to say something, but nothing would come out; despite whatever she had in mind wouldn't have changed anything. I coughed and threw the towel back into the bathroom, I was stood there, my hair dripping slightly onto my white t-shirt and some rugged jeans hanging over my trainers.

"Ya want some't?" I grumbled, my voice low and scratchy.

"No, but-" she began.

"Spare it, love," I replied harshly, "It'll be a while before I'm gon'a take onboard whatever crap you've got'a say. Tell me later."

I walked down the hall and went downstairs. James was there, obviously back from wherever he'd decided to run off to this time. Thankfully, he didn't know my real sister was still alive; had he killed her, he wouldn't be breathing right now.

"Ah, Reg," He said, slowly, "What have I missed?"

"Hmm, go talk shit pleasantrys with Riles, eh? I've been through the works last few days and the last thing I'm gon'a wan'a do is have the sight of you. Sorry to burst your bubble," I snarled.

Ace

I finished yet another round of somberly pacing the house, gun still in hand.

"...everyone down here," I heard Riley say. I sighed and sat down so I'd be there when everyone else got there. A few others were there, but I ignored them.

The smart thing to do would be to get rid of Maitea. It was something I didn't particularly like the idea of, but I wasn't going to tell them that. Hell. I actually agreed with it, as much as it hurt to.

So then there was me. I could go back home, cover up my ridiculous blue hair dye, change my name, lay low for a while. I'm sure that the gang would report me dead if I asked them. I could even take Maitea with me; she looked a little like a Cali girl. And then I could sit there on Ma's couch, watching cartoons all day, hoping my disease didn't come back full force. What sort of a life is that, though?

I was strangely at peace, knowing Maitea probably wouldn't be coming back and all. It was probably the only time I'd ever felt like I wasn't going to reach over and break something just because I could.

I watched everyone else slowly trickle in and wait.

Riley

I take a look at the group assembled before me. At the last minute, James had come in.

"We are going back to, mot point, what this gang was about in the first place. We will do a quick round tonight. Just get as much money as you can. Chris, you are with Eve, Sal and Cleo. James, you are going with Jimmy and Alis. Reg, Ace, you are staying here, we have somethings to straighten out."

"Riley, I can't..." Alis starts. I hold up my hand.

"No questions. In addition, you are not going armed. I'll give you each rope and some duct tape. You will not kill anyone, and if you do, don't bother coming back here. If you meet up with the cops, get creative." I say, my voice cold as ice. "Any questions? No? good." I put the rope and duct tape on the table. Then I leave the room, gesturing for Reg and Ace to follow me.

I hear footsteps behind me. I walk upstairs, where I have Maitea in my room, on strict orders not to leave. She is still there. Ace and Reg both take seats by the table, both looking at me in confusion.

I turn to them, "You are as much as, and maybe more, a part of this than me. I am just letting you know my decision. If either or you have an argument, you can voice it now. My decision was for Maitea to leave, under the impression if she comes back, she will get shot. No questions asked. Do either of you have an objection?"

I look at both of them. Reg looked kind of like he wanted me to shoot her now, but I ignored his look. They both were silent.

"Leave now, Maitea." I say, and watch as she leaves the room.

Maitea

I walk out of the room, but before I do, I give Ace one last look. This might have been the last time I saw him, if I didn't have a better idea already planned out. I walk out the door, and instead of heading towards the road, I head into the back woods.

I sit and wait for a while, long enough for Riley to have talked to Ace and him to have gone back to his room. I plan out what I am going to say.

As I walk up to the house, I curse the fact his window is on the second story. At least there was a balcony I could use.

I had snatched some rope for this purpose. I make a loop, and manage to hook it around a spike on the balcony fence. I thanked my lucky stars my parents had trained me in doing this. Then I scaled the wall, and climbed onto the balcony. I take a deep breath, then step into Ace's room. His eyes go wide.

"How the heck?" He says, nearly shouting. I put my hand over his mouth.

"Be quiet." I whisper.

"Why are you here?" His voice isn't exactly kind, but at least he is whispering.

"I had to see you again."

"You know if Riley comes in, she will kill you."

"I don't care. I just wanted to see you again." I admit, and I feel a tear leak down my cheek.

Sal

"Am I the only one who thinks Riley's nuts?" I ask.

"Let's go." Alis says, standing up.

"You're actually going to do this?" Jimmy asks her.

"First, we don't have a choice. Second, it shouldn't be that hard. Scared?" Her last word wasn't meant as a challenge, I could tell, but as an honest concern.

"I guess we have to go." Chris says. I turn to look at James for advice.

"What should we do?" I ask him.

"First, where's Bree?" He looks around. We all exchange knowing looks. I walk out the door, gesture to him, and lead him out to Bree's grave. I didn't want to say the words out loud, it would hurt to much.

Ace

Riley stared at me. I could have sworn that her eyes were digging into my thoughts, daring me to contradict her. Finally, I spoke. "Well, as much as it...really wasn't her fault," I choked out, wiping tears from my cheek before continuing, "what with the mind alteration...she did prove that she's unable to fully take care of herself. That she's volatile and...Well, you'd think that she'd be able to tell what her mom was going to do. So. Um, I have no objection. You're just doing what you need to do."

With that, I got up, not waiting for an answer from either her or Reg.

"Are you staying?" Riley asked me before I reached the door.

Turning back, I replied, "For now, if that's okay."

------

Later that night, Maitea was in my room, crying that she just wanted to see me again. She knew Riley would kill her. Technically, I was supposed to kill her.

"So what do you want me to do?" I whispered as I made sure the door was locked. Then I went out to the balcony and reeled the rope in. There was no evidence, and if anyone wanted to come in, I'd have time to hide her before they got inside.

Then I whirled around to her and repeated myself. "You obviously don't care if you get found out here. Why not? What do you want from me?" I didn't care if I got found out. I just didn't want her killed, though judging by my tone of voice, she probably thought otherwise.

Maitea

"You obviously don't care if you get found out here. Why not? What do you want from me?" Ace says.

"I guess I just wanted to see you again. And I wanted to apologize, and..."

"And what?"

"Never mind, I was being stupid."

"Just tell me, Maitea."

"And I was hoping you might forgive me." I say in defeat. What did it matter anymore? He hated me anyway. And second he would probably take out his gun and spare Riley the trouble of killing me.

He'd go and find some other girl, and forget about me completely. And I wouldn't be there to care. And yet, I couldn't find in myself, now, the urge to run. I just wanted to be with him, no matter what happened.

((Maitea is being seriously dramaitc here.))

Ace

I held her as she blubbered nonsense over her tears. I still loved her; it would take a lot to change that. "Maitea," I whispered. "Listen to me. You mean more to me than anything. So please, just tell me what you want me to do. Do you want me to leave with you? Cause I'll make up some B.S. excuse and do it. You could just come home with me if you want."

"We can't go home. We're being hunted by the authorities, in case you didn't notice."

"You can get a lot done in your favor with high-ranking parents and a couple million dollars," I told her. My parents had given me money to help the gang out of tight spots occasionally, or to fund the equipment I used on jobs. If they were that open to funding my crime, I was sure they'd shell out the cash to have my name cleared. Maybe even hers, too.

"So what do you want to do, Maitea?" I asked again. Each time we were silent, I could have sworn I heard footsteps outside my door, though I knew it was probably just my imagination. "Just say the word, and we'll go," I urged. She needed to hurry up.

Riley

I pressed my ear to the door, listening. Ace was talking, and Maitea's voice rang with it.

I had to make a choice now. Between what was moral for me as a person, and moral for me as a leader. As a person, I would walk away and pretend I didn't hear a word of it. As a leader, I would go in and shoot the girl, and make Ace leave. Those were some crappy options.

But could I make Ace leave Maitea? Could I do to him what Maitea did to Reg? I knew the answer, I couldn't do that to them. I couldn't do that to Ace. I couldn't bring myself to be angry, either. I just had to accept some things would just happen whether I wanted to or not.

Of course, I would talk to Ace about this in time. But not now.

Maitea

"I wont make you leave them, Ace. they need you, you know. But I will come when I can. In my free time, I will do what I can to help those who need it. You know, continue the mission of the Robin Hood gangs without being in one." I say.

"Are you sure?" He asks me.

"Positive. This feels like Romeo and Juliet. Forbidden love, tons of people dieing. We even have a jealous guy who wants Juliet. Except he's dead now. Maybe my life is some screwed up fairytale." I laugh quietly.

"All of ours sort of are." He laughs along. I lean up and give him a quick kiss.

"O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?" I quote qith a sigh.

Ace

"O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?" she said, sighing.

"Right here," I replied, kissing her. I put my hands on her shoulders. "Look, Maitea. Take care of yourself. Call me if you need to. Hopefully I can be with you later on."

She went to the door and I handed her the rope and watched to make sure she didn't fall on her way down.

"Goodbye, Juliet," I called down just loudly enough for her to hear. Smiling, she turned back to wave to me. Then I went back into my room, hoping that no one heard us. Well, even if they did...whatever. After all, they were being a little unfair for making her leave. It wasn't her fault. If she'd done it to anyone else, she'd still be in the gang. But people were biased, and what could I really do about that?

Riley

I knock on the door. "Ace, let me in." I say. The door opens.

"Yes?"

"I wanted to make sure you were okay."

"I'm fine."

"And tell you both to keep your voices down. You need to be more careful, if anyone else had caught you, and reported to me, I would have had no choice but to kill her. Ace, understand, I don't want to do that. I wont take away your Juliet." I say. Ace looks shocked, and his face turns a little red. I smile, nod, then walk away.

"Thank you, Riley." I hear him say.

"Don't say I never did anything for you." I respond.

Jimmy

I was surprised, but I was actually disappointed that Riley hadn't given us permission to kill anyone. Ah well, I guess that I had to go back to my old way of doing things; without violence. I should have been pretty good at it, I'd been doing it until about a week ago. Alis on the other hand would find it a lot harder.

"How are we planning on doing this?" I said, turning to the other guys.

"We'll just have to improvise, I guess." James replied.

I looked at Alis who simply shrugged. I wished that things could be normal between us again, I was fed up of this awkwardness now. As much as I hated to admit it, I really did like Alis. By the sound of it, she felt the same. If only I hadn't messed everything up.

"Jimmy?" James interrupted my thoughts.

"Huh?" I said, turning to him.

"You coming any time soon...?" James rolled his eyes.