All Right Reserved

∞ | Chapter 2 - Capture | ∞

Town Centre, Vonsworth

Valia watched as people were hustled about in preparation for the likely event that the rebellion will attack. She could also see some of the Valiant bullying some of the Destitutes begging on the street.

Curling her fingers into vengeful fists, she resisted the urge to put a stop to it. She knew how it felt, afterall, she and Vyctor had been in that position when they were slaves as children before they joined the Medial owned circus after escaping.

They had been orphans begging on the streets until they were sold into slavery. Life had been cruel, no one cared about two orphans who didn't mean anything to anyone. When they were thirteen, they escaped due to the negligence of one of the slave owners and after being on their own for a while, they were taken in by a Medial owned circus.

Yes, life had improved since, but it still had been harsh.

Vyctor had looked out for her as he always did. Both of them only had each other since young and till now. She certainly had no idea what to do if he was gone. The telltale sting in the back of her eyes made her angrily wipe the tears away.

Her twin brother was dying. Every minute that passed, he was closer to the door that led a person away from earth. He had been injured by an arrow that was laced with the poison of the deadly Bloodberries.

The worst part was that the arrow was meant for her. Vyctor had shoved her out of the way and she could only watch as the person who meant more to her than life itself got pierced by an arrow through his shoulder.

The guilt and anguish were eating her alive.

"Vyctor will be fine."

She turned to see Jarek watching her with concern in his eyes but it only made her feel worse. She knew it was a lie. The poison of the Bloodberries was fatal when injected or ingested into the body.

More guilt filled her once she had finally noticed that Jarek was all tense and his features were hard. Valia certainly wasn't making things better. Jarek was suffering. How could she forget? His soul mate had died right here in Vonsworth while trying to protect him. She didn't need to burden Jarek with her problems and grief.

"How are you?" she asked quietly as the stoic man remained still.

"I'm okay. It's been a decade but I'm okay," Jarek said, his gaze fixed on his shoes.

Valia didn't respond. They both knew it was a lie.

However, she couldn't help but notice that the familiar shadow of her brother wasn't beside her. Vyctor had been struck by the arrow here in Vonsworth a few days ago when Valia's cover had been blown. Fortunately, instinct kicked in and she had gone after the two members of the Valiant who had shot the arrow.

After getting rid of the bodies and thank fuck that no one else saw the skirmish, she had managed to bring Vyctor back to the rebellion camp where he still was. She knew that he was going to die and it was killing her to know that there wasn't anything she could do.

Biting her lip, she forced those worries away for now. It wouldn't do her good if she got distracted. Tonight was the night that the rebellion would strike Vonsworth, one of the Five Great Cities of Mosmagna.

Or maybe the Four Great Cities of Mosmagna, considering the fact that Deserra had fallen to the rebellion about a month ago.

"About a minute more and the signal would appear," Jarek whispered inconspicuously under his breath as they walked down the street.

It was getting late as the sun had just set and the Valiant was checking for any new visitors to the city for fear of them being part of the rebellion. The irony was that members of the rebellion had already been integrated into the society for about three weeks now.

"I know," Valia muttered under her breath as once again, she had to stop herself from lunging after another Valiant who was kicking a Destitute on the ground.

How many years has it been that it was her and Vyctor on streets like these? Where people scorned them just because of their birth?

"Hey! You two! Stop!"

Valia froze but Jarek, the stoic man he was, kept his cool and simply turned around to see two Valiant walking towards them.

Damn it, where in hell was the fucking signal?

"How may we help you sirs?" Jarek asked cordially but the Valiant who stopped them merely narrowed his eyes and scrutinised them carefully. "What are the two of you walking around at night? There's a curfew."

"My sister needed some fresh air and-"

"Where are your identification papers?" The Valiant interjected rudely, clearly knowing that the pair of them didn't possess Affluent status.

Valia shifted a wary glance to the other Valiant who was waiting at a fair distance and her hands slid to her knives under her cloak. Both her and Vyctor had picked up the skill when trained in the circus.

"Sir, I apologise, we have left them back home. If it isn't too much trouble, we can head back home right now," Jarek continued smoothly and Valia gaped at the fact that he was perfectly calm while she was twitching anxiously.

It was obviously clear that she wasn't the type to talk. She was more of a woman of action.

"'verybody in Vonsworth knows to carry their identification papers everywhere," the man spoke, his beady eyes staring at them in suspicion.

Valia couldn't help but eye the hideous band on the man's arm that declared to everyone that he was a member of the Valiant. She could not wait to rip it off and shove it into this man's throat.

But first, the signal had to be given.

Jarek cleared his throat and straightened, "Yes, we know but we have forgotten-"

"Well, too fucking bad, we have to take you in."

Her fingers tightened on the handle of her blades and Valia knew if Vyctor was here with her, he would be doing the same.

But the signal hadn't been given and if they blew their cover way too early, things could go horribly wrong.

The Valiant grabbed Jarek and the other started making his way to her and with a big meaty hand, it wrapped around her arm and began tugging her unceremoniously down the street.

Where was that fucking signal?!

"Both of you are probably rebels aren't you?" One of the Valiant spat in disgust before a wicked sneer crossed his face. "I would love to see what Regnant Mabuz would do to scum like you. Fighting pits like in Deserra before it fell," he suggested, his beady eyes lighting up in glee.

Just then, Jarek could have probably decided that enough was enough as head butted the Valiant who held on to him. The Valiant let go of him and clutched his head, cursing in pain while the Valiant holding onto her swore violently before gripping both of her arms together, making Valia lose her hold on her knives.

"One more move and she's going to die!"

Jarek watched her passively and Valia ignored the Valiant holding her captive as she searched the sky earnestly for that damn fucking signal that hadn't yet arrived. She was definitely going to wring Darius' neck when she saw him next-

A bright flash of light soared throughout the sky and Valia swore in relief.

The signal had just been given.

As quick as lightning, she elbowed the Valiant in the nose holding her captive and he bent over and clutched at his broken nose in agony before lunging after her and missing. His hands grasping through air as Valia ducked just in time, her hair mere millimetres away from the Valiant's fingers.

Without hesitation, her hands slid around the handles of her knives and tightening her grip on them, she slid them out and neatly sliced them in a horizontal direction over his neck.

The Valiant grabbed at his throat, gurgling with inaudible words before collapsing onto the ground. She didn't spare him a second glance before another Valiant rushed at her, a gun aimed in her direction.

She braced herself to duck when the man fell over, a red stain appearing on his gut that grew as the seconds passed.

Jarek's shoulders slumped as he lowered the pistol in his hand. "I'm going to kill Darius when I see him," he grumbled under his breath as he took in the four dead bodies on the ground.

Valia snorted and tightened her grip on her knives and double checking to see if her pistols were in her boots as the sounds of people screaming along with gunshots - the signs of a battle - resonated throughout the city.

"That is really tonight's understatement," she said and Jarek smiled wryly, mentally preparing themselves for the upcoming fight.

* * *

She was awakened by the sound of shouting and screams which were then followed by the deafening ring of a gunshot.

Adrastea hurried out of bed and peered out of the window and was met with the sight of flames engulfing a building along with people fighting in the streets around the city. Bodies were lying on the ground as people ran about.

The rebellion had finally come.

She quickly got dressed and grabbed the spare knife resting in one of her bedside table drawers just in case anything happened and tucked it into the pockets of the loose trousers she was wearing.

A loud cry wailed from the streets just outside her Medic centre and she froze. It was a cry full of pain and anguish and sorrow. A cry that chilled the blood in her veins. She shifted the drawn drapes to see a woman crying over a body on the ground.

Taking a better look, the body appeared to be a young boy who seemed to be struggling in pain as an arrow pierced through his thigh.

She bit her lip and looked around this road to see a couple of people fighting and some bodies strewn around but otherwise, it was mostly devoid of any danger. Adrastea could also see occupants of the house opposite her staring out of their windows, ignoring the cries of the sobbing woman as they looked at the rebellion soldiers and the Valiant battling.

It was wise, she knew to be indoors for the remaining of the rebellion. It would definitely be safer but she just couldn't sit by and do nothing when someone clearly needed her help.

She knew she was taking a huge risk as she ran out of the door and passed a few buildings to where the mother and son were. The mother was giving out heart-wrenching sobs while the young boy whimpered in agony as he grew paler under the moonlight.

Adrastea quickly assessed the damage and was relieved to see that the head of the arrow had totally gone through his leg.

"Please help him!"

She spared the woman a nod and began reaching for the knife in the bag that she had brought to cut the arrowhead off so that she could pull out the remains of it from his leg.

The boy cried out in agony and she quickly stitched back the wound but before she could get some bandages, the sight of six Valiants marching down the street towards them made her freeze.

It didn't matter that she nor the mother and her son had any means or the intention to attack, the Valiant that were approaching had their weapons out. There wasn't a doubt that they had every intention to kill them.

There was no way that the three of them could fight the men off. Judging by the look on her companions' expression, they it as well. Just as Adrastea prepared for herself to meet her end, a pair leapt down from the building above and stood in front of them defensively.

One of them turned around and she noted that the person was no doubt a woman. Glad that she had a few minutes more of her life to spare, Adrastea quickly bandaged the wound as the sound of people fighting began.

Each time a gun was fired, she couldn't help but flinch. Taking a quick glance, she could see that two of the Valiant were sprawled out on the ground, dead. Which meant that four more were left.

How the pair that had come to their rescue managed to hold all of them back was a miracle. A miracle that Adrastea was ever so grateful for.

Giving her attention to the boy and his mother, Adrastea helped the boy up. "Go. Get out of here! Go indoors! It's safer!" she shouted above the cries of fallen men and the occasional sound of blades meeting blades.

The woman nodded frantically and hauled her son up and disappeared down the streets into an unmarked building. She just hoped that they would remain safe.

Suddenly, hands clamped down on her shoulders and she looked up to see that same Valiant who had threatened her a few weeks ago when she helped him with a deep cut in his arm.

Before she could react, the man grabbed her by the arm and shoved her harshly against the wall. "Yes, it's me. And we're going to have a nice little reunion won't we?" he sneered and his other hand placed a knife against her throat.

She could see that his partner was joining his comrades as they fought against the two figures who had come to her aid earlier. Feeling the cold blade against her neck, she noted that it already had blood stains and staring at his foul odious man, Adrastea wondered who else had he killed or injured on this night.

Her arm inched towards the knife in her pocket but apparently, she hadn't been too sneaky about it for the Valiant who was holding her captive saw the action and pressed the knife deeper into her skin.

A sting of pain streaked through her nerves and she knew that he had cut into her neck. "Any funny movement and your head will be separated from your body," the man grinned wickedly and she knew that he was not fibbing.

"Now, I think it's fair that you have the same scar I have don't you agree?" he gestured to the diagonal scar across his face that she had given him the other day. "After," he continued, "I think we'll have some fun and I think some of my buddies would enjoy you too. Y'er quite a looker," he leered and disgust coiled like a snake in her belly.

Fear began creeping up her spine as the man let out a laugh and his knife began trailing down her front, cutting the front blouse that she wore.

His mouth began inching towards hers to punish them in a painful bruising kiss when she threw all caution to the wind and slipped the knife out from her pockets to push it into his gut.

There was no way she was going down without a fight. She may be dead by the end of tonight but at least, she would take down some of these horrid men with her. Without hesitation and with all her strength, she pushed the blade into the man's gut just between the two plates of his armour where the link of the metal was at its weakest.

The man howled in agony and pulled away from her. Refusing to let go of the handle of the blade, she withdrew it out of the Valiant's chest and watched in quiet satisfaction as the man sank to the ground in agony as his blood began to pool out of the wound and all around him as if he was being slaughtered like an animal.

"Bitch!" A man yelled and she looked up to see the partner of the Valiant she had just killed raise his pistol in her direction.

Defiantly, Adrastea tilted her head and stared him down and just for a moment, she could sense that everything slowed down as if time stopped just as the man pulled the trigger.

Adrastea closed her eyes, expecting to feel the excruciating pain of the bullet piercing her body when a gurgled scream sounded from in front of her.

Opening her eyes, her eyes widened in shock to see the Valiant who had raised his gun towards her had dropped to his knees, the tip of a knife protruding out of his throat as rivulets of blood rolled down his neck.

With another muffled cry, the man fell to the ground and his chest stopped moving. Looking up, the woman from before gave her a quick glance to see if she was alright before running to one of the fallen bodies on the ground.

"Jarek fucking shit!" the woman swore as she tried to lift the man up. Adrastea assumed it was the same man who had come to her rescue with the woman.

Grabbing her medical bag, she sprinted to them and her heart dropped to see the man gasping shallowly in response. The woman was frantically checking the man over to find the source of his injury before she let out an anguished cry when she saw his arms.

"Jarek, you've got Bloodberry poison in your system," she gasped out in horror and Adrastea silently took the man's arm to study the red veins appearing on his skin. Upon further examination, a shallow cut has been made across his arms and that was where Adrastea figured that poison had entered his bloodstream.

The Valiant had probably laced their weapons with the poison.

"It's okay," the man breathed out with much difficulty.

"Here, bring him into my building. I can help," she said and the woman whipped her head towards her in surprise.

"Help him? It's the Bloodberry poison. It's fatal-"

Adrastea eyed the man on the ground whose breathing became even more irregular. "I can help him," she said quietly and the woman stared at her as if she was a ghost.

"He hasn't much time left. The poison was a very deadly dose. I have what he needs," she prompted urgently and the woman stared at her for a while more before nodded frantically, breaking out of her stupor as she helped the man up.

For someone who was extremely lithe, Adrastea didn't expect the woman to have the strength to heft the man up and drag him to her medical centre.

"Lay him on the table," she instructed once they were back in her medical centre and the woman swept everything off the desk before helping the man lie on the table as Adrastea hurried to her private office to get the things needed.

When she was back, the woman seemed to be conversing quietly with the man before her gaze landed on the bottles and needle in her hands.

"What are you doing?"

"Helping him," she answered and began laying everything on the table before cutting a small incision into the man's arm just over his veins and injected a needle from the contents of the bottle she was holding.

Thankfully, Adrastea managed to remember proper hygiene etiquette before operating. As the cure began entering the man's body, she watched in relief as the crimson veins appearing on his skin faded.

"How? What- This is a cure?" the woman demanded, her green eyes wide in astonishment as she took in the now pale arms as well as the man's steadier breathing.

"Yes," she said and the woman gaped at her, her green eyes staring at her as if she was a deity. "I can't believe it. How? How did you get it?"

Adrastea's eyes became fixed on her patient. "I developed it myself." She began cleaning the long but shallow cut on the man's arm before patching it up.

"Will it work?" the woman asked urgently as her eyes went back to her friend. "Jarek will be alright?"

"He should," she said.

The woman watched her carefully before chewing on her lip, "How did you manage to develop a cure?"

Not wanting to answer, Adrastea managed a tight smile. "Research." Deciding to change the subject before the questions became too personal, Adrastea exhaled heavily before murmuring quietly. "Thank you for saving my life earlier."

The woman nodded. "You're a trained medic then?"

Before she could reply, the man lets out a gasp before coughing painfully but Adrastea could see that he was much better. The crimson veins were gone and his breathing had steadied.

"Valia? What's going on?"

Now that the man - Jarek - was awake, the woman swallowed harshly, her eyes flying up to meet hers, causing the hood of her cloak dropped to her shoulders, revealing her blonde hair.

"Your cure worked," she breathed out disbelievingly, her fingers shakily curling into the long cloak she wore.

To Jarek, she replied, "You got poisoned by the Bloodberries and the medic here helped you out." The man coughed once more before his eyes darted to her in surprise. "I'm still alive?"

"Yes, she has a cure, and you're alright now," the woman replied and helped Jarek get to his feet. Silently, Adrastea handed him a cup of water and he gulped it down before handing her back the cup.

"Thank you," he said in a hoarse voice as he nodded gratefully and she offered him a tight smile in response.

"Could you come with us? Pleas? My brother has been poisoned as well by the Valiant here in Vonsworth a few weeks ago," the blonde pleaded, her green eyes were frantic and they were desperate.

Adrastea hesitated. She had never left Vonsworth before and she didn't know what would happen to her medic centre if it was left on its own for too long. Also, had it really been wise of her to reveal the fact that she had developed a cure to complete strangers?

Yes, they may be part of the rebellion that was fighting for equality but life had taught her to always be wary of strangers.

However, these people had saved her life. They didn't have to put theirs in danger to help her out. Feeling indebted to them, Adrastea nodded uncertainly. "Yes, when was he poisoned?"

"Almost a week ago. We have to hurry, he's not responding anymore," Valia answered, wringing her hands anxiously.

Adrastea nodded and went back to her private office to get the necessary equipment and medicines and placed them carefully into her bag. Heading back to them, she could see that Jarek was still a little unsteady on his feet. "How far away is the camp?"

Valia shook her head. "Not that far off," she said and wrapped an arm around Jarek's waist in an effort to support him. "I've got transport."

Never in Adrastea's life had she imagined that the transport Valia mentioned would be a vehicle. 

They had walked to the town centre which was apparently a pre-determined meeting place for the rebellion and there, she could see groups of people being huddled into a corner. Noting their armour and not to mention the gaudy banner on their arms, there wasn't a doubt that they were Valiants.

The wounded were also treated here as well as the dead lined up on the ground. Unfortunately, she recognised some of them and seeing their lifeless eyes made her look away.

Valia had been speaking to one of the men and he nodded before handing her a key before leading them to one of the vehicles nearby.

Unlike Valia, Adrastea didn't have the strength to fully support Jarek but thankfully, two men had seen her struggles before reaching out to carry Jarek.

Together, they helped him into the back of the vehicle and shut the door. Meanwhile, Adrastea could only stare at the scene in front of her.

There had so much debris on the ground and she could hardly recognise the place had it not been for the statue of the first Regnant of Vonsworth erected at the centre of the street.

She could also note that there were a few unhappy Affluents being bound together on the ground. Also, there were many armed men and women around and she was sure that they were part of the rebellion.

To her shock, Valia had stopped abruptly and pointed to one of the Valiants being huddled in a group. "Him, the one who is in the centre, front row. Burn him alive," she ordered, the light conversational tone she used contradicting the horror of her orders.

Adrastea recognised the man as he was one of the leaders of the Valiant here in Vonsworth. Some of the armed members of the rebellion began tugging the man to the centre as they tied him to a pole. Before she could see anything, Adrastea was tugged gently into the vehicle as Valia got into the vehicle beside her.

"Is Jarek alright?" Valia asked, not flinching as the man began shouting and pleading for mercy.

"Y-yes," she said, still in shock. "Most of Vonsworth has fallen," Valia informed as she started the vehicle. Seeing the look of shock and disbelief on her face, Valia explained quietly, "That man killed a woman and her child just because they were in his way. Don't feel sorry for scum like him."

Adrastea could only remain silent as the screams of the man being burnt alive rang in her ears as they left. 

* * *

A/N: Hi guys! Here is the next update! I hope you guys enjoyed this even though it's just a filler! Plus, I'm trying to think of appropriate gifs for each chapter. It could be of characters or the places but I'll figure it out. Please vote and let me know your thoughts about this, or if you have questions, feel free to shoot! :) Thanks so much for reading and have a great day!

P.S. This chapter is dedicated to @_3m_ily_ for her previous comment!