As many things unravel
Making something new
The more and more it's impossible
To know what's false and true
However, there is always a price to pay
Episode 10: Unraveling of the Truth
Manny
I gasped in awe to what we found in the box and she was surprised as to see us. Her vibrant lavender fur wad dripping wet, her lovely ears twitched as her tail tucked itself between her legs, and her deep violet eyes showed fear as she shrank herself away.
"It's an espeon," Prim said in awe. "What is she doing here in the training grounds?"
"She doesn't look like she's owned," I said.
We should report her to Kaba or the other captains," Prim suggested. "Might save the trouble."
The espeon shivered in fear and shook her head. I glanced at her, her eyes pleading for the decision to be abated. As if it was heinous enough to even consider it.
"Can't we just take her to my room and give her some food?" I asked. "It's not like she'll kill anyone."
"But still..."
"Please?"
"Fine," she said with a bit of uncertainty. "Let's hurry before they find us with her."
"Come on girl," I said. "Let's take you some place warm."
I carefully and swiftly picked the box up, cautious of the "stow-away" inside. I made sure that the lid was closed and briskly walked inside.
Don't worry, I thought in my head, you'll be safe.
It was only until the corner when a Talem, probably a captain, stopped me.
"Where are you going with that?" she questioned.
"Uhh..."
"We're taking a shipment of medical supplies to the infirmary Belle," Prim explained.
"What for?"
"Preparations for the games next week. I doubt you captains enjoy having half of the lower ranks in the infirmary."
"Carry on then," she said before she stormed out the hall.
"Thanks Prim," I told her with a small smile.
"No problem," she smiled back. "We should get going before we get stopped."
"Okay."
We quickly walked down the hallway, bringing our little friend to my room
x
"It's safe to come out now," I told her gently after setting the box on my bed.
The espeon slowly poked her head out and silently glanced around, now knowing she's away from danger.
"What are we gonna do with her?" Prim asked.
"We'll keep her here until the rain stops of course," I said.
"Without advising a captain?"
"I doubt we need to for just letting her stay for one night."
"You don't know how much trouble you can get in without telling them."
"It's just for one night," I told her pleadingly. "Its not like I'm going to keep her forever and ever...unless she wants to."
"Still..."
"Please?"
"Fine then, she can stay," Prim said.
"Thank you for not turning me in," a voice said softly
"Who said that?!" Prim questioned as she looked around with a confused look.
"Maybe it was..." I said slowly.
"No, that's impossible," Prim interrupted me. "She can't talk."
"Y-y-yes I can."
We stared at the espeon, shocked to hear her words, and Prim began to slowly back to the wall.
"What's your name?" I asked her.
"C-C-Christi."
"That's a lovely name," I gave a small smile.
"I think we need to tell them about her," Prim whispered in my ear.
"Who, the captains?"
"Please don't turn me in!" Christi begged. "Please!"
"The captains won't hurt you," Prim assured her. "They'll help you and keep you safe."
"No they won't!"
"Maybe telling the captains is a bad idea," I said slowly.
"We can get in trouble if we don't."
"Please don't."
"Why not?" Prim questioned.
"Because."
"Tell me."
"No, I can't."
"I don't want to be hard on you," Prim said calmly, yet firm. "But if you don't tell me, then I have no choice but to-"
"They turned me into this!" she cried. "They're the ones who took everything away from me! Everything!"
My heart sank and my eyes grew wide as the words echoed in my mind. Prim grew pale and seemed petrified to the words, having no statement whatsoever.
"W-w-what?" I quivered.
The espeon slowly up, her eyes ready to burst into tears, and softly said, "They are the ones who took my life away and killed everyone I loved."
Aidan
We stayed speechless as we glanced at the children huddling together in the back of the altar. The oldest of the groups is about 10 years old and the youngest is probably less than a year old.
"There's got to be some mistake," Lazardus said. "If he knew there would be children, why would he told me to charge the bomb to blow up the place?"
"Blow up the...When did he told you that?" Eli questioned.
"Right after you went to bed last night. He told me specifically to set it up and get ready to pull the trigger no matter who is inside."
"He expects us to kill small children?!"
"What he expects will get us to become captains."
"Lazardus," Eli's voice was filled with anger I never knew he had. "There are children maybe orphans, and the youngest is a baby. If killing an innocent soul like that baby would get me to become captain, I'll deny it and won't ever regret it."
I glanced at the children: some confused, some angry, and others scared. There was no way I'll let anything happen to them, especially if they'll end up like me. I slowly lingered forward, towards a young girl, and gently touched her hand with my nose, proving them that we mean no harm. All of the youngest children (including the girl) began to circle around me and began to pet and stroke my fur as I helped melt their fears away.
"What are you doing Crest?" Stride asked and kept his distance.
"What is your umbreon doing?" Lazardus questioned.
"Keeping them at ease," Eli replied. "At least he understands what's right and wrong. Lazardus we can't do this, we have to keep them safe."
"But we worked hard to get close to becoming captains," he protested.
"This isn't the way to go, even if we spent our lives to reach this close."
Both of them grew silent, letting tensions rise slowly. The children's smiles began to fade away and I quickly started nuzzling their hands to regain what little happiness and innocence they have left.
"I have an idea," Lazardus spoke after a period of silence and settled his backpack on the ground.
All of us watched him as he opened his bag, revealing and charged it.
"What are you doing?" Eli questioned.
"Setting up the bomb," Lazardus said. "We'll take them somewhere else and blow up the building so that way everyone wins."
"Good idea Lazardus," Eli smiled. "Thanks."
"Anytime," he smiled back. "Okay kids, we'll be taking you somewhere safe."
Lazardus raced towards the door and swung it open.
"Time to blow up the place."
Then, he froze. His eyes widened as his hands gently touched a dart that was on his chest
"Lazardus!"
"Breon bri!"
"Jolteon!"
We gaped at Lazardus as he collapsed to the ground, unconscious. Stride began to growl as a familiar figure pointed a tranquilizer at the jolteon and pulled the trigger, sending him to the debris covered ground next to his partner.
"I was hoping you two would follow my instructions properly instead of disobeying and dishonoring the Talems."
"Kaba?"
"I heard you trying to convince Lazardus here to rescue these...rebels."
"They're just children," Eli said defiantly. "They didn't do anything wrong."
"I'll give you one more chance to get rid of these filthy things."
"I'll never harm someone as innocent as them," Eli glared.
"I guess you leave me no choice."
He pulled the tranquilizer and shot Eli at his chest.
"Breon bri!" I cried and dashed towards my unconscious partner and nuzzled him.
"Too bad, he had potential," Kaba grimaced. "My, won't Serenity be disappointed when she hears this."
I glared at him as I gave the fiercest growl I could ever make.
"Lights out," he said before he pulled the trigger.