Chapter 1 - The red sunrise

The sun crept slowly from the gray, heavy clouds of the night, which cracked like an egg shell under the force of rays, bringing a new day. But the sun was not the same. Not anymore. It didn't carry the heavy smell of prison, either the fear of war. It was freedom. People forgot about what this meant, in its true way. For more than 20 long years, the party, the Voice of London, Creedy's threats and Adam Sutler's strong rules transformed freedom into an enemy of the people and the only way to be protected was to remain under their watchful eye. But last night. . . last night, on November the 5th, everything changed. A man. No, not a man, but an idea made this world turn its face towards what freedom really meant and to change it. It was a red sun, a sun which meant the freedom of not only the people of England, but as well to the ones who died believing in it and tried to defeat this idea. An idea. You can't kiss an idea, either hold it or touch it. But you can express it, fight with it as a shield, believe in it more than in God himself. This was what V did in that night of November the 5th. He had and idea. Fought with it as a shield. And materialized it, sadly with the cost of his own life.

As the night slowly turned into day, the old city awakened as from a long, deep sleep. Even since early in the morning, soft, loud voices echoed on the street, still shy in a way, but so cheerful and pleasant, as it was before the war or Resistance. And now that the curfew was not anymore existing, they could go outside whenever they wanted. From behind the still hot cup of coffee, watching the beautiful scenery, Gordon was enjoying a calm morning. Yes, he was alive. All thanks to V. Even though everyone thought him death, vanished forever in Creedy's black bags, V came just in time to save him. It wasn't only his artifacts, not only his sexual orientation either the Coran they found in his house. Not even Evey, Sutler or the whole BTN knew that in the past 5 years, Gordon had helped V to reach his plans. How, you might all ask. As an external member of the party, he had connections with important people, who were attracted V's idea of revolution and provided him plans of the most important buildings, also of the Old Bailey and the Houses of Parliament. In change, V promised him to save him from a possible death and to reunite him with his partner, somewhere away from the party's eyes, but he had to be announced as dead, to /everyone/.

The sadness was still noticeable in the air, as it was only November the 6th and the crumbled walls and destroyed buildings were still there, where once were the Houses of Parliament. Using excavators and large trucks, people slowly started to clean what once was a symbol of freedom, then of slavery and again of freedom. In the same time, with a small, insignificant hope, they tried to find V's body, in the galleries of Victoria's station and under the Parliament. But the chances were little, mainly from the explosion, but as well from the danger that galleries represented at the moment. Sighing, Gordon turned back from the window and let his cup aside on the table near him. In this moment, his thoughts went to Evey, who surely was suffering from her loss. He could say that she loved him very much, from the way she spoke about him, smiled when she remembered him, his presence, his gestures every time it came to talk about him. Wondering his eyes over the half finished breakfast from the table, he stopped when the phone got in his sight. Should he? At the moment Gordon felt split in two. Calling Evey would be a good idea, a friend in such moments would be very necessary. But what if he is still in danger? The Fingermen were still roaming on streets, hidden, of course. This is only the beginning of the revolution, there is still long to go until all will be settled. But. . . stepping over his heart, he held back and fell in the chair. Though he wondered if Evey is alright. . .

In front of the Old Bailey's sight. . .

"My dears, my dear friends. . . Last night we put an end to this oppression which took over our countries for so many years! Last night an idea was accomplished! Last night. . . a man sacrificed his life for this country. . . our beautiful England…V. He was you, he was us, he was an idea. He fought for us. More than 20 years. . . And now, is our duty to continue his idea, Guy Fawkes' idea. This is only the beginning of the revolution. We have to lead it further, to fight against the Fingermen and the last loyal agents of Creedy! And only then, only when they will pay, in justice, now and forever, we will say England is free again!

This is our freedom! Freedom forever!"

In a wave of applause and cheering, the people embraced, kissed and almost worshipped the young girl, now leader of the revolution. There were as well, some who didn't fully trust her, who thought that a woman can't lead such an opposition against the Fingermen and what was left of the party, Sutler's most loyal dogs. They believed she will fail in few days and that such sacrifice will be only in vain. Though, the ones who /did/ believe in Evey decided to help her and founded a rebellious group, called Valerie Carson, in the name of Valerie's sacrifice and what the Scarlet Carsons represented for this revolution. It's members were called the Scarlets. Each of them wore a Scarlet Carson on their clothes or in hair, for women and decided, for when the gatherings will take place, to wear the Guy Fawks masks and represent the idea and the man of the revolution, to make V's memory remain alive, even after his end.

Filled with hundreds of flowers and cards from children, Evey was now leaving the place where the Old Bailey once resided, now only an empty place, but marked by a memorial stone on which was graved : "Vi veri veniversum vivus vici. / By the power of truth, me, as I will live, will have conquered the universe." It was the inscription Evey saw once on V's mirror and found it fitted to this place. Smiling a little at the memory, she wiped a silent tear away and continued her walk. Nothing was worse than her lost. She didn't show it. She couldn't. Evey had to be strong for her people, who now needed only encouragement and force to build up their life again. But silently, not seen by anyone, she shed her tears and mourned her lost love. She loved him, yes. With all her heart. She lost him as well. . . between her fingers. . . They could have it. Their own tree. But he preferred revenge instead of his heart. Was not enough her love to engulf him and make him change his mind? Were not enough her actions to hold him back? Sometimes she hated him for what he did, for sacrificing himself that way. But immediately, the sight around her, the freedom, made this thought vanish as quickly as it came. Though, she needed him. She missed him so much. . . The breakfast he made for her every morning, she missed to watch him fight the armor from the living room, like Edmond Dantes in Count of Monte Cristo. He was her Edmond. Her brave Edmond. She liked how every time, he didn't hesitate to quote from Shakespeare, mostly from Twelft Night, her favorite play. It always brought a blush upon her cheeks.

Now, Evey was heading to one of the tube stations, which she knew it lead directly to the Shadow Gallery. It was abandoned and Evey liked it very much, because she could walk on the tracks as she always dreamed to do when she was a child. It made her feel like a little girl again, it remembered her of the good times with her parents and brother, before the Reclamation times. Reaching the station, she pushed open one of the doors and stepped in, taking care of hiding it. Evey wished to keep the Gallery a secret, to be her hiding place. Now she lived in it, between V's belongings. She knew it wasn't good for her aching heart, but if she was away, it would have felt worse. Following the tracks, she reached the end of it and pushed open another door, secretly hidden by posters and papers,and walked in. It was the same. The Gallery, the Scarlet Carsons, everything. Even the armor. Placing the flowers on the piano, Evey wondered her eyes around, then headed straight to the Valerie's sanctuary, where the always fresh Scarlet Carsons were present. Her fingertips slowly reached the delicate petals and stroked them gently. The perfume was, she could say, of one of the finest she had ever felt and now she knew why Valerie loved them so much in the past. They were love, pain, freedom and hope.

-"Hello, Valerie. I brought you more flowers. They are from the Scarlets. I hope you will like them. They are not like your roses, but they are very beautiful, nevertheless. I am surely V would have appreciated them. I hope he is there, with you. He deserved at least a bit of peace. Love him there. Love him as I had no courage or force to do it. Love him like a mother, like a father, like a sister, like a lover. . .love him. . .is all I ask from you, Valerie. I never met you, even if I wished to do it. You changed my life and made me braver. I hung up on life with your help. And now I ask you this little service : take care of him. Of my V. I will never see him, I know. But knowing he will be on good hands will let me in peace. Just give me a sign. A sign. . ."

As Evey finished her words, an unusual breeze caressed her back and send a shiver on her spine. Her eyes fixed the actress' picture, trying to understand what she meant. A light smile curled her lips up and hurrying to touch the roses, she spread several kisses on them.

-"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you, good friend!" Evey sighed happily and relieved.

At night, after taking a bath in V's large bathtub, Evey lied on /his/ bed, dressed up with one of his gray shirts. They were probably from silk, as she knew V's skin was very raw and sensitive and needed a soft material. It still had his scent. It was minty and exotic. She didn't know why was so, but assumed that working between so many flowers gave V this particular scent. Tiredly, she curled up under the large blanket, letting sleep take over her. It has been a hard day and her skinny body didn't take it too well. So soon, she was drifted off in the dream world. This didn't take long, though. After a few hours, though, a dream started to torment her mind. She could hear a voice calling her, a feminine voice. Then it faded suddenly and an image took form. It was from the Houses of Parliament. A black figure, with a mask! Gasping for air, Evey tried to reach it, but when she looked around, she saw the bedroom and not the vision anymore.

-"V!" She desperately cried, hoping to see him timidly appearing from behind the door, to feel his gaze hoovering over her from behind the mask, to feel his eyes' concern from behind the dark slits. But there was nothing. No footstep,no deep voice calling her name so softly. . . nothing. It was her and her loneliness.

-"Where are you, V? Where are you?" She sobbed, curling as best asshe could under the sheets. No answer came, though. And the night went by like a never ending nightmare.

Aaaand, that was all folks! Sorry for the shortness of it, but I promise the next one will be longer. All my love to you all and I wait for reviews/ follows/ ideas for this little story. See you!

~Eylnor288~