Chapter 13

"Good morning!" He called across the quiet room, shutting the door behind him. He marched over to me. In his hands were a bundle of flowers. Reds and yellow flowers were blended in a beautiful bouquet. He also had muffins in the basket from his other hand.

"Carlo, what are you doing?" I asked, rubbing my eyes.

"What do you mean?" He played coy, I thought.

"The muffins. And the flowers." I looked down at his gifts.

"Oh these? This is for a girl across the street." He said.

"Haha, funny." I said.

"Why? Is there something wrong with that?" He had a look of confusion on his face.

My stomach churned. My face felt hot. They really weren't for me. Perhaps Carlo did want a friendly acquaintance, and I was reading too much into his generosity.

"Oh. Sorry. I just thought. Never mind. Shh! I'm reading!" I quickly turned my head away and tried to shove my face into my book, hoping he didn't see my tomato face.

I had been so foolish. Perhaps he didn't like men at all. I shouldn't have assumed. The hand touching could have been a mistake. It could have been friendly. I needed to relax. There was no relationship between us. I had to stop building it up in my head. Something that was forbidden in so many ways.

He walked away and said nothing. I didn't raise my head until he was on the other side of the library. Book shelves separated us and created barriers for distance. For the first day since I had been there, he left me alone. I heard not a single word out of him. Not a single attempt to help, or a single story to tell. I must have really upset him, I thought. I was so embarrassed.

It was getting late. I couldn't focus on reading anymore. I tried to push him out of my mind but I couldn't. I got up and went to find him.

"Carlo?" I called out, walking through the rows of the dark library.

"Carlo?" I called again.

"This is a library. You're supposed to be quiet." He said, taking books from a pile and placing them onto shelves.

"I just wanted to say I-."

My voice was cut off by ringing of bells outside.

"What's that?" I asked.

"Summoning bells. Anyone who can needs to go to the middle of town."

"I think I should stay here." I said. I couldn't go into town.

Carlo nodded.

"Alright." He didn't question me. He left me with the library keys and left. His unusual shortness made his displease with me clear.

There was a rumble outside. People were shouting. Don't go outside, I told myself. I needed to stay hidden, what if I had been recognized.

I stood by the door, listening to the foot traffic.

"They found rebels! Rebels!" I heard voices from outside.

"Rebels? In the city?" Another person said.

Towns people shouted back and fourth to each other. Rebels? From Lafayette? My curiosity peaked. Did they have Johnny? My stomach dropped, fearing the worst. What if they had Daniel or Mavis?

I pushed through the doors and went outside. I kept my head low, my hood up. I tried to blend into the town to the best of my abilities. The citizens slowed down and proceeded in an orderly fashion as they approached the center of the town. I didn't see Carlo. He was washed away in the sea of people.

The center of the town was marked by a black and gold fountain. Guards surrounded it, they had three people on display. Two men, and a woman. I didn't recognize them. They were tied and on their knees. The woman had a jagged cut down her face. I kept myself deep in the crowd. I had not recognized any of them.

One guard stood out from the rest. His uniform was more decorated by golden pins. He spoke loudly, ending the towns chattiness.

"LAFAYETTE LOYALISTS WERE REPORTED IN TOWN. They were CAPTURED by MY guard squad. They were foiling a weak plan to attack and ambush us. YOUR KINGDOM HAS FALLEN. Join us. OR DIE." The head guard drew his sword to the three.

"Never." Hissed the woman.

The other guards followed, drawing their swords.

"We are the Vendov empire, you will prosper with us, or parish like your home." The head guard pushed his sword closer to the woman.

"I'd rather die than join you!" One of the men yelled. The lead guard kicked him, flattening him to the ground.

"That is your choice. On my count!" He yelled at the other guards.

I needed to stop it. They were going to die loyal to me. I couldn't let that happen. I began pushing my way forward through the crowd.

"Rebels, don't end your search! Go to the place of nothing and awaken what you already have! The baby doesn't cry! Your trainer has spoken! There you will find-" the woman shouted, before a sword was plunged through her back.

I stopped in my tracks. They did the same to both the men. Blood spilled as the sword was pulled out of them. Their bodies fell. There was no speaking from the Vendov people. The fountain water was tainted with fresh blood of fallen rebels.

"WE DO NOT TOLERATE LOYALISTS OF ANY PAST KINGDOMS. ANYONE ELSE FOUND WITH REBEL AFFILIATIONS WILL BE QUESTIONED AND KILLED. Everyone, go home!" He screamed

I rushed back to the library. There were other rebels in the city? She left a message before she died. What other rebels could be in the city? Was it a message for me?

The baby doesn't cry. The baby. Opal. Mavis's baby. She doesn't cry. Does that mean she's alright? Does that mean the baby is dead? The message has to be for me. Your trainer has spoken. Johnny must've sent them. To send a message. A message for me? Was I the one meant to receive it? Johnny knew where I was going, I thought. She knew the mission I was on. I believed she had sent them to give me a message. A message they lost their lives giving. More blood was spilled on my account.

Carlo came in. He shut the doors behind him.

"That was quite unpleasant, wasn't it?" He said.

I pulled down my hood.

"Yeah. It was."  I lowered my head.

"The guards are paranoid now. They're searching everywhere for loyalists." Carlo said.

"What? When?" My throat tightened.

"Right now." He said.

"I. I can't let them see me. I can't explain why. I need to hide. Carlo, please. Please help me." I pleaded.

He gave me a small nod. His hesitation was brief. He led me to the back corner of the library. He signaled me to crouch under a table. He then stacked every inch of the table with books, completely hiding the table. I couldn't move. If the stack moved slightly, it would give my location away. I took shallow breaths. I was tucked under the table with my knees in my face.

The door flew open, without a knock.

"Search the place!"