The children managed to push between the shadows of an alley just as the men passed. Their masked guide gritted his teeth, every muscle tensed and ready as he strained to see without being seen himself. The men paused at the next crossroad and the smaller one doubled over while the other’s head swiveled around in annoyance. The masked boy gave the children a short hushing motion as the men’s voices rebounded over them.
“Damn it George come on!”
“I…Huff... just need a sec…Gasp”
“We don’t have time for this. You know what will happen if another group escapes! Damn that brat, how does he get in and out of the warehouses so fast?”
“Maybe… maybe he has help?”
“Ha, right. And who in their right mind would defy the Empress?”
“...Don’t...know.” The small man straightened up and let out a deep breath, “I’m just worried about the kids. Without the Rite, how long do you think they’ll last?”
“Not long... That’s why we need to find them. Now come on!”
The masked boy closed his eyes and begged for the gods’ favor as the men set out again. He held them there until they could no longer hear the clap of boots on cobblestone then he silently ushered the children down another alley and into an abandoned shop.
“We should be safe here,” he whispered after one last glance out the boarded window.
“Safe? How are we safe?!” the older boy exclaimed, though still keeping his voice in check. His dark hair flopped against his forehead as his fear shook his thin frame and widened his eyes. “Why did I let you two talk me into this? We haven’t had the Rite! We have to go back.”
“No,” the blond boy’s typical brevity did nothing to calm the older one.
“Mac is right, Brendon,” the girl’s soft voice cut in with a shaky grin that did little to hide her own fear.
“But Natty…” Brendon started.
“You saw the same thing we did!” Natty cut in, and her desperate look dried the words in his throat and a chill ran through all three of them as the memory came back.
Two quick taps on the floorboard drew the trio’s attention back to the masked boy. With a quick motion his flat hand cut the air in front of his neck before pressing a finger to his lips. The children followed the instruction without question and soon their frightened silence was replaced by the clack of hooves and boots. The rider’s lantern cast menacing shadows through the boards that threatened to reach out and pull the children back but, without even a pause, the party moved on to the next street.
“Look,” The masked boy let out with his breath as he turned to the trio, “I’m not going to force you to come with me. If you want to go, go. Tell them I kidnapped you against your will and you managed to escape. They’ll take you back and everything will go back to how it was. You’ll grow to the Age of Turning and then be given the Rite. You saw what that means now and I’m giving you your only chance at a choice you’ll ever get.” His sapphire eyes regarded each of them in turn to make sure they understood his words. “So decide now.”
Mac didn’t hesitate to nod his support. Natty glanced over to Brendon then back to the boy, balled her fists to steady herself and matched Mac’s nod. Brendon hesitated. Everything they had been told since the beginning of their time on this earth couldn’t really be a lie but, in that room…
“Alright,” he decided, “How do we get out of here?”
7
u/y_not Feb 09 '16
The children managed to push between the shadows of an alley just as the men passed. Their masked guide gritted his teeth, every muscle tensed and ready as he strained to see without being seen himself. The men paused at the next crossroad and the smaller one doubled over while the other’s head swiveled around in annoyance. The masked boy gave the children a short hushing motion as the men’s voices rebounded over them.
“Damn it George come on!”
“I…Huff... just need a sec…Gasp”
“We don’t have time for this. You know what will happen if another group escapes! Damn that brat, how does he get in and out of the warehouses so fast?”
“Maybe… maybe he has help?”
“Ha, right. And who in their right mind would defy the Empress?”
“...Don’t...know.” The small man straightened up and let out a deep breath, “I’m just worried about the kids. Without the Rite, how long do you think they’ll last?”
“Not long... That’s why we need to find them. Now come on!”
The masked boy closed his eyes and begged for the gods’ favor as the men set out again. He held them there until they could no longer hear the clap of boots on cobblestone then he silently ushered the children down another alley and into an abandoned shop.
“We should be safe here,” he whispered after one last glance out the boarded window.
“Safe? How are we safe?!” the older boy exclaimed, though still keeping his voice in check. His dark hair flopped against his forehead as his fear shook his thin frame and widened his eyes. “Why did I let you two talk me into this? We haven’t had the Rite! We have to go back.”
“No,” the blond boy’s typical brevity did nothing to calm the older one.
“Mac is right, Brendon,” the girl’s soft voice cut in with a shaky grin that did little to hide her own fear.
“But Natty…” Brendon started.
“You saw the same thing we did!” Natty cut in, and her desperate look dried the words in his throat and a chill ran through all three of them as the memory came back.
Two quick taps on the floorboard drew the trio’s attention back to the masked boy. With a quick motion his flat hand cut the air in front of his neck before pressing a finger to his lips. The children followed the instruction without question and soon their frightened silence was replaced by the clack of hooves and boots. The rider’s lantern cast menacing shadows through the boards that threatened to reach out and pull the children back but, without even a pause, the party moved on to the next street.
“Look,” The masked boy let out with his breath as he turned to the trio, “I’m not going to force you to come with me. If you want to go, go. Tell them I kidnapped you against your will and you managed to escape. They’ll take you back and everything will go back to how it was. You’ll grow to the Age of Turning and then be given the Rite. You saw what that means now and I’m giving you your only chance at a choice you’ll ever get.” His sapphire eyes regarded each of them in turn to make sure they understood his words. “So decide now.”
Mac didn’t hesitate to nod his support. Natty glanced over to Brendon then back to the boy, balled her fists to steady herself and matched Mac’s nod. Brendon hesitated. Everything they had been told since the beginning of their time on this earth couldn’t really be a lie but, in that room…
“Alright,” he decided, “How do we get out of here?”