Word Count: 1866

~Avila

I hurry down the cobbled streets, my fingers keeping my dark hood from slipping back over my head.

This all feels very forbidden and secretive...I guess that is exactly what it is. It's late into the evening and I've snuck from my bedroom window and hurried into the town with the purpose of doing something everyone wouldn't condone.

I'm meeting Emerick, and I'm finally going to learn what his relationship with the rebellion is like.

I know this is dangerous, but if I'm going to make a decision about whether I keep in contact with Emerick, I need to do this.

My footsteps are silent as I slip through the shadows.

People mull about, mostly drunk with booming laughs and staggering steps. They filter in an out of taverns along the main street, so I keep to the alleyways, not wanting to be recognised.

I find Emerick where he promised me he would be. He's leaning against a brick wall, gazing up at the sky where the moon is fat and bright.

He turns as he hears me approach, a smile stretching across his mouth.

"There you are." He looks over me in all my shadow clothing. "I didn't think you would come."

"It was hard to sneak out. I managed it though," I mumble, rubbing my gloved hands together, feeling the cold of the frigid night.

He looks over my shoulder. "So no one is following you?"

"No..."

Crimson seems to be avoiding me, Roel falls asleep in his library after dinner, and Vade vanishes the moment dusk falls. I'm alone.

"And you haven't told anyone about the rebellion?" He pushes off the wall, straightening to his true height, like it may make me think twice about turning him in.

"No. I want to see what this is all about first."

"Good girl." He places both hands on my shoulder, squeezing tightly. "Now, there will be people here who remember you. I've instructed them to give you space, to forget what they think you know about you and to start fresh."

I nod gratefully. At least he understands that.

"I have to be honest here, Emerick. I don't know if I want any part of this. I mean, I'm part of the problem you're trying to rid of," I voice, scared I'm going to walk in there and be offed by some angry rebel.

"You're not. You're actually our key to changing a system that has only harmed us."

He brushes his thumb along my cheek tenderly. Were I not terrified about what I'm going to walk into, I might melt at the gesture.

"How?"

He pulls away instead of anger. "Let's get inside."

"How do you know I won't just tell everyone about this later?" I ask him, following him to the door.

Their meeting space, which I imagine is subject to change, is at the back of an old abandoned building. No one would wander in here casually, including any member of the authorities.

Emerick gives me one last smirk before he pushes the door open. "The Avila I know wouldn't."

I frown at that, but it immediately melts from my face as I take in the surroundings.

There's more people here than I expected, all spread around the space. Some sit on old benches, other's on tables that have clearly been dragged in. They all turn to look as Emerick and I stride in, their conversations halting.

Suddenly this feels like a very bad idea.

A girl not much older than me breaks away from her group, skipping over to us.

"Avila, it's wonderful to see you in such good health," she exclaims with a broad smile. "My name is Valery."

Valery has an accent I can't place and glimmering blue eyes. Her hair is buzzed, revealing a tattoo on her scalp of what appears to be a wolf. She would look intimidating were it not for the warmth of her smile.

"Nice to meet you," I say warily.

"You and Valery were close friends, actually," Emerick tells me.

"We were?"

By the way Valery appears so excited to see me, yet also a little sad makes me believe him. Immediately the familar ache of guilt takes up residence in the pit of my stomach.

"Don't stress about it. There's no expectations from me," she assures me.

I release a long breath. "Thank you. That's a relief."

Casting my gaze around, people have returned to speak, although much lower and apprehensively. My nose scrunches up at the strange, stale smell in the air. By the metal hooks hanging from the roof near the side of the room, I'm going to assume this place was once a butchery.

Emerick pats my shoulder before he breaks away from me, heading over to a group of people who eye me strangely.

No one trusts me.

"Everyone here wants to talk to you, but we've told them to back off for tonight. What is important is that you sit and you enjoy your time here in this space. Maybe you'll have some good memories come back to you," Valery says as she pulls up a stool for me at a dusty counter, sliding into one next to me.

"Some clarity would be nice right about now," I mumble.

"The rebellion isn't scary. We aren't scary," she states assuredly. "Emerick can be rough at times, but he has a soft spot for you and then rest of us. But especially you."

I fold my arms over my stomach, staring out at everyone. I can't imagine how I fit in with these people. The old me is long gone...

How long until they all realise it?

"I heard the rebellion leader kills people," I say cautiously, looking her over.

She appears capable of killing people, but not at whim. She also doesn't command attention like a leader generally would. I suppose I already have my suspicions on who holds that title around here.

"He does, but only those who oppose our very worthy cause," Varley starts, laughing a little.

"Why is it worthy?"

"It just is, I guess," she shrugs, sweeping her gaze back out at the crowd. "It makes me happy, and gives me a glimpse at a future I really want."

I narrow my eyes. She's been purposefully evasive and cryptic. They clearly have agreed not to feed me any information that could be used against them, which means Emerick really doesn't trust me.

"Which is?" I push.

"Don't worry about any of that tonight," she exclaims dismissively, waving her hand about. "Isn't this place great? Look at all the happy smiles."

I follow her gaze. People are smiling, but their expressions drop when they look back at me. I feel like the animal having just been slaughtered and cooked, ready to be feasted upon by all the hungry dinner guests.

"Why do I get the feeling you're not telling me things?" I ask her.

She sighs, rubbing a hand over her face.

"I'm sorry. It's just you're still close to the objective and we can't give you enough information to ruin us were it to leak," she explains, affirming my suspicions.

I suppose I can't blame her. If this is really a good cause, I would want to protect it too. These rebellion members are soliders, fighting for something important to them.

"What's the objective?"

"That's how we refer to your mother and father," she responds slowly, like she's deciding what she's been cleared to tell me.

"I guess it makes sense. I wouldn't tell me anything either," I murmur.

I'm still deciding if I want to try gain their trusts. I haven't decided if I'm with them or against them. Either way, there feels like there's a reason Emerick has given Valery space to talk to me...

She seems like the most palatable of the group.

Valery turns her whole body to face me. "What Emerick and I...well, what everyone wants you to know is you're as much a part of this as all of us. We need you. We want you."

"To do what?"

"Support us. Help us." She rubs my arm. "We want things to change, but not at the expense of anyone's life or anything. We are seeking good, helpful change."

"What will become of my husband in this system change?" I ask.

Valery looks confused. "Your husband?"

"Soon to be. Vade."

Her eyes widen slightly before she turns back to the group, swallowing thickly. I watch her reaction carefully, practically seeing her sift through her mind, deciding what she should say.

"Prince Vade...ah, well, we aren't sure," she stammers.

"By 'you're not sure,' you mean you can't tell me." I'm not letting her walk around this one. I will not support any organisation that wants Vade dead.

I may no know much about him, but I know he doesn't deserve that...

Valery leans close, not wanting anyone to overhear our conversation. "Vade is a monster, with many secrets. Beware of him."

"Do you know these secrets?" I ask softly.

"No, but we know they exist." Her eyes dart to Emerick, whose back is to us. "Anyways, we have a meeting like this every week. Next time, if we can trust you more, we will start sharing information like we usually do."

"Oh. Okay."

"Please come back. We really need you here," she says earnestly. "And selfishly, I miss your friendship."

I can see why we were friends. She may not trust me now, but she desperately wants to. It makes all this worse...It was bad enough being torn in two different directions with Emerick and Vade, but Valery is reminding me more about the double life I led.

And how I'm going to have to choose between the two.

Suddenly the door burst open, a man stumbling in, breathing harshly as they double over.

Emerick and a few others rush to their side, the person starting to convey information I can't hear from here.

"What are they talking about?" I ask Varley, watching Emerick's face contort to anger.

"Oh no," Valery whispers, her hand covering her mouth.

"What?"

"I bet one of our members has been hurt...or killed." She stands from her stool, aghast.

My eyes widen. That's quite an assumption to make, but it would be a reasonable one if this happens a lot, which it must do.

"Whose killing them?" I ask her.

Valery doesn't say anything, she just watches the exchange from a distance. Emerick see's me watching, so he rushes over to me.

"Avila, do you want to get some air? You're looking flushed," she says, dragging his gaze over me.

Valery pats my back. "She would love some air."

I look between the two. They want me out of here, and no amount of protest is going to reveal anymore information to me.

"I guess I would then," I mutter, taking Emerick's hand so he can lead me from the building.

❤️••❤️

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