Silas looked out of the fogged over window of the train. He was riding in a compartment by himself, so no one could look at him.
Being albino was never easy. Painful childhood memories were brought back to him every time someone pointed at him, looking at his hair, his skin…
If he could have one wish what would it be? To be like an average human? To have an accepting family? No. None of that would do. To start life over again? Now that would be one great wish.
I am an angle, he told himself. I must not forget that. I am God's messenger…
For hours he had been able to think of what lay ahead. But maybe it had been too long for him to contemplate what he was about to do. Could he really do this?
Robert Langdon rolled out of bed. How late was it? Checking the clock, it was 8:30. It wasn't that late, after all.
He walked into the bathroom to shave. He hated hotel bathrooms. They were too small for his liking. It made him feel like… no, he wouldn't let himself think about it.
He ran the water, and closed the door.
Down in the lobby of the hotel, Silas had made his way to the front desk.
"Excuse me," he said to the lady standing behind the desk, "I am looking for my friend. His Name is Robert Langdon. I am afraid that I have lost the room number that he gave me. Would you be so kind as to tell me which room he is staying in?"
The woman paused for a second, still taking in Silas, before saying, "Sure. Give me a moment." She pounded away at a keyboard, and after a few seconds she said, "He's staying in room 203. It's on the second floor. Take a right after you get off the elevator."
"Thank you," Silas said before walking swiftly away from the desk in the direction of the elevators.
Without the hotel worker knowing, Silas had stolen a key pass that would allow him to enter any room. It was one of the passes that the maid staff used to access the rooms.
Silently, like a ghost, he slipped down the hallway towards Robert Langdon's room. He placed his ear to the door, and could hear water running in the bathroom. Good. He slid the key into the lock, and it beeped, letting him know that the door had unlocked.
He opened it cautiously, not wanting Langdon to know that he was in the room.
Langdon had just finished up shaving and washing his face. While he was drying it with a towel, he didn't hear the bathroom door creek open. When he looked back up into the mirror, he saw another figure in the room with him.
For a few moments he was frozen, trying to remember the face. Then it hit him. It was the albino monk.
Langdon turned and charged at the man, who easily stepped out of the way, as Langdon smashed into the closet. The monk grabbed Langdon, and pulled him up.
"Mr. Langdon," he said, his voice silky, "I do no mean you any harm. I have come here for terms."
"What?" Langdon asked, very confused. Only months ago had the two been mortal enemies, and now the monk was coming to find him for something that required them to be friends?
"I know that you must think that this is a trap," the other man said, "but I have no weapons, no backup, nothing. I have just myself to show you."
"What are these terms that you want?" Langdon asked.
"Good," the monk said, releasing Langdon, "I have come to ask you a favor. I assume that you know who the man behind all of the, shall we say… scheme so many months ago?"
"Yes, I did. His name was Leigh Teabing. He was an old friend of mine."
"Aw, we can never trust the ones who are so close to us," Silas said, "Do you know what became of him?"
"I know that he was being held in prison," Langdon offered, "But I can't remember where. London, I think. Why do you ask?"
"I am merely trying to get my revenge on the man who ruined my life," Silas said simply, as if it meant nothing to him what so ever.
For a few seconds Langdon could not think of a response. "Ah…" he started, "I'm not sure if I can help you there."
