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Chapter 9 – Elder's Retaliation

Maren

We've only been in Baladh for a few hours and I hate it. I think this is the worst city I've been in so far and that's really saying a lot.

The sounds of gunfire and bullets fill the air, as I hide behind a nearby pile of rubble that used to be a house. I watch as a nearby fire fills the air with black smoke, which pours out from a destroyed building and makes it harder to breathe. Overheard, I can see the shapes of Loric jets racing through the air, shooting at mog crafts as well as the massive machine guns installed on some of the roofs. I know there are mog soldiers nearby, but the air is so thick with smoke and dust from the recent explosion that one could be five feet away from me and I wouldn't see.

Where are the others? Are they nearby? I demand Lyn, as she crouches by me in panther form. Her black fur is wet with blood, mostly the mogs, but there's a cut on her shoulder that's bleeding slightly.

I can't sense them, she replies. Last I saw them was at the Mayor's building. We're on the outskirts now. I muffle my curse, reloading my gun. There's another loud exploding noise and I watch as another house explodes into rubble and ash. I hear a splash as some of the rubble falls into the nearby lake. I hadn't even realised that I was so close to it.

Come on, I say to Lyn. We have to get back to the others. As much as I like a fight by myself, I want to be with the boys, knowing that we're stronger together.

I go to move when there's another explosion, one that's much closer. I'm thrown backwards from my safety point and I turn invisible, just as I smack the ground nearby. I wince as I roll away from a falling palm tree, which hits the ground where I was only a moment ago. I watch as the last standing house by the lake is destroyed, the mog bomber already flying away for more targets.

I stand, invisible, looking around me with horror. What used to be a row of beautiful houses lining the edge of the lake is now piles of rubble and fire. The palm trees are still standing but they're covered in a grey layer of dust and ash. The streets were cobbled in different-coloured paving stones and there used to be fountains and mosaics. That's all been destroyed and all that's left of this part of the city is rubble and fire. The citizens have mostly fled and all that are left are the Loric rebel fighters and the mogs sent to kill them.

Try to contact BK, I instruct Lyn. We need to get back to the others before more bombers get here. I sense her acknowledgement as she scuttles alongside me in a rat form but we both know she won't be able to reach him from this far away.

I've been in Baladh for a few hours and it's been hell. Explosions and fires and mogs coming from every place possible. But we'd all stuck together as a group, as the mentors directed us from the control room, and we'd been all right. Nine had killed a huge amount of mogs, his Chimaera, Byscoe, doing as much damage. John and Joseph had been just as good, and I had enjoyed every minute of the fight. But then I'd been cut off from the others about an hour ago. Some piken thing had attacked me, which was almost impossible to kill. I'd had to run, further and further away from the main part of the city, just to escape the monster. By the time the thing had been crushed by a falling building, I was far away from the others.

I hear another explosion nearby and watch as what used to be my hiding place is blown up. I duck as a Loric plane spirals through the air and then I wince, as it crashes into a nearby building. The building collapses at once, stones falling around the craft, which seems remarkably undamaged. It's made out of this weird, silver-like material that looks like my sword. My ears are ringing from the noise.

I race over, hoping the Loric inside is alive. Please be alive, please. I reach the craft, using telekinesis to throw random bits of rubble away and then Lyn races up beside me, keeping watch for any mogs that could come our way. I turn visible, knowing if I touch the craft it becomes invisible too, and then I force the door of the craft open as much as I can. I strain hard, the door kind of wedged shut, but I manage to open it enough for me to be able to look through. Panting, I look inside, taking in the enclosed space. Flashing lights and switches, huge window and…I wince when I see the dead Loric staring back at me. I recoil, hitting my head slightly on the craft as I back away, feeling sick.

Maren, there are mogs coming! Lyn alerts me to their presence. I turn, ducking at once as about five or six mogs start to shoot at me. The bullets ricochet off the silver jet, and I press my hands over my head, adrenalin racing through me. I deflect the bullets with telekinesis, but I'm distracted. I turn invisible, using telekinesis to shield Lyn and I, as I try to think of some way out of this. I could run into a nearby street, but even then I don't know where the others are. It could take me hours to find them, and that's not even factoring in the mogs and bombs.

Maren, use the craft! Lyn instructs me. Everything's working even if it is a little beaten up. I stare at her, surprised by her plan. This is stupid even for me. But then more bullets hit the ground near to me, plumes of dust thrown up from the impact. I could run to the street but the chances of being hit by a stray bullet are high and who knows what could be lurking in these streets? Hiding in the craft can at least be good protection, even if the mogs know where I am. I'm dead if I stay here.

Right, I decide. Cover me!

I jump up, turning visible for this bit, bracing myself. Bullets hit the craft scarily close to me and I try to protect myself with telekinesis, but I'm distracted. I almost gag as I prise the door open more so a person can slip through and I reach in, ripping the straps off the dead pilot. I feel sick as I drag the body out, wincing the whole time. I dump the body on the floor, feeling disgusted at having to abandon it but I have no choice. He's dead, he won't know.

I hear more shouting and then more bullets start to hit the area around me. One hits the ground, millimetres from my foot and I jump in shock. I turn, watching with expectation as the mogs race towards me but then Lyn leaps into action as a panther, sinking her claws and teeth into them. That should keep them occupied for a bit.

I twist my sword into its hair grip form, shoving it painfully into my hair. I don't want a loose sword in the tiny cockpit. I slither through the small gap, sliding into the seat at once. Ignoring the straps, I pant as I take in the complicated switches and lights. What do I do?! I push my hair away from my face, adrenalin and panic starting to creep through me. I don't know how to fly one of these! Sure, we were told briefly how they work in case of an emergency but I totally ignored that class!

"Damn it!" I swear, slamming my hands down on the control panel. The ship skids forwards a few steps and then stops again. My heart almost stops and I lurch forwards, almost hitting my head on the windscreen. I decide to strap myself in.

Maren! There are more coming! Lyn suddenly slivers into the gap that I made, turning a bird. I reach out with telekinesis and slam the door shut, protecting us temporarily. I can hear the bullets hitting the plane, fortunately not damaging anything. But I can see the mogs approaching, fanning out in an attack motion.

"Any idea how to fly one of these?" I demand.

Of course not! Didn't you have a class on this? Lyn asks. I ignore her because she's right of course.

"Ok, let's try this," I grit my teeth, grabbing these two handle things that stick out in front of me. I grip them, turning them, and then the ship starts to move to both sides, caught between the conflicting instructions. I stop at once, the dizzying movement not helping.

Those are the steering gears, Lyn reasons. Try that button thing on the top. I look at the red buttons on the top of the handles and then I hear a rumbling noise. I hear a sudden exploding noise and watch as two mogs in front of the craft are blown backwards, exploding into ash as the rockets hit them.

"Cool," I grin. "This thing has guns," I whistle. Lyn scampers around, back in her rat form, sniffing at the control panel.

Focus on flying! Lyn's voice is tinged with panic and I look up to see more mogs approaching. There must be way more than ten out there now; they must have called for back-up.

I scan the controls, trying to concentrate. There are so many buttons and nothing makes sense but I have to try. I notice a lever-like thing that looks a little like one of the hand brakes in a pod. I feel with my foot and notice there's a pedal on the floor…does this thing work like a normal pod? I know how to drive that…kind of. I guess there's only one way to find out with the mogs approaching.

"Ok, brace yourself!" I warn Lyn. I press down on the pedal and I know it's the right thing. The craft starts to hum, getting louder the more I press down. I can feel the energy building up, but I don't release just yet. I notice more and more mogs approaching from the front and taking a deep breath, I continue to build the pressure up.

Maren! Now! Lyn orders me. One mog reaches for the cockpit door and I release the lever.

The ship zooms forward, but doesn't rise. In a panic, I pull on the turning gears desperately, and to my surprise they lift up slightly, tilted towards the ceiling. I feel the ship respond at once and we start to rise. We're in the air in seconds, and I grip the steering handles in exhilarated panic. Lyn wedges herself between me and the straps, trying to secure herself in as much as possible as the ship gains altitude. My heart hammers in my chest and I take a deep breath, trying to control my panic. I can do this. I have to.

Keep doing that, Lyn instructs me as I pull the gears up again, gaining altitude. I nod, feeling sweat building up on my forehead, but I take a deep breath. Pilots make this look so easy but it's not.

"Right, which way to the main city?" I ask, turning in the air slightly. The ship moves perfectly, as smooth as a dream, and I start to relax a little. I turn in the air slowly, still gaining altitude, but I won't go too high. Who knows what'll happen?

Lyn scampers up, looking at the buttons for a few moments, and then sniffs at a nearby button. Press this. The ship will fly automatically. All you have to do is steer, she tells me.

I do as she says, listening as there's a weird clunking noise. I don't feel anything different, but then there's a light on the panel that tells me the ship is in automatic mode now. The pedal beneath my feet stiffens and I move my foot, glad that I don't have to worry about it anymore.

"That way. That's where I want to go," I'm above the rooftops now and can see the city spread out ahead of me. I look in the distance to see a large plume of smoke and bright flashes as ships race through the air, fighting other jets. It must be a good half an hour away at least but the fight is so fierce that I can see it from here. I swallow nervously, planning on getting the hell out of this thing before I can be involved in that battle.

I steer towards the main city, keeping my eyes out for any mog jets. I can see a few nearby mog machine guns used to shoot down Loric crafts, but they're unmanned. I decide to shoot them down anyway, practicing my aim in this new ship. I grin as two explosives blow one of the guns up, rubble shooting through the air. It takes some tight steering to not get hit but the destruction is worth it.

We continue flying for about fifteen minutes and with every minute I start to feel more confident. I can see the plume of smoke where the fight is getting bigger the closer I get to the city, but it's still not a threat for now. There aren't any mog crafts around and I could actually get out of this fight alive. I continue to fly, turning more serious as we approach the main city.

Right. We'll be there soon, Lyn notices, after a while. The ship is way faster than I thought; it's only taken us fifteen minutes. I swallow nervously as I take in the city centre ahead of me.

It's huge but completely destroyed. Huge plumes of smoke and ash fill the air, machine guns firing from the roofs, as soldiers fight in the streets. I take a deep breath, noticing the many mog crafts zipping through the air. I get closer and closer, aiming for a nearby mog machine gun on a nearby roof, the first of many. I take in the huge barrel, the mogs preparing to shoot and I know it has to go. I can see the barrels aimed at me when I shoot it down, the two rockets just managing to hit it. There's a loud exploding noise, and rubble flies through the air as the thing is blown to pieces. I fly up to avoid that, an exhilarated smile on my face.

And then I reach the city centre.

At once the action seems to hit me. My vision is clouded by the smoke and ash that fills the air, crafts flying in front of me and behind me. I grip the steering handles tightly; my stomach filled with nerves, as I try to steer as best I can. I'm not comfortable with this at all. I'm pretty sure I'm shaking, and I'm sweating like crazy, but I focus. I'm not going to die because I couldn't control my panic.

Maren! On your left! As soon as Lyn shouts, I lurch the handles and spin out of the way. The rocket zooms by, inches away and then I notice the mog ship after me. I know at once that I'm not good enough to outfly it. I'm not trained for flying; I'm trained for fighting. Lyn and I are going to have to escape. But before I can think of escaping, the mog craft starts shooting at me.

Right, left, right, Lyn instructs me, watching from the window, as I dodge the rockets being shot from the mogs. I do as she says, steering like a maniac as I keep an eye out for a place to land, but it's so hard when there's so must smoke. More crafts race past me, making me jump, and I'm panting, panicking. The sounds of droning, explosions and crafts are deafening and I want to block my ears.

There! I can see Nine! I look to where Lyn is looking. I can see a small outline that must be more obvious to her eyes. It's fighting by one of those large mog machine guns on the roofs and he's not alone. I think I can see Joseph and John, or two shapes that could be them. I have to join them.

"Ready Lyn?" I ask. "On my count of three, we're going to literally jump ship," I feel her determination when something hits the craft.

I know at once it's a hit from the mog craft behind me. I was distracted and forgot to dodge. My craft spins through the air, some siren thing wailing in the cockpit. The mog must have hit an engine or something. I scream as the craft hurtles through the air, the straps the only thing keeping me strapped in. The crafts zip by outside, the buildings coming closer and closer to me as the craft plunges to the ground. I have to get out now.

I rip the straps off me, terrified. I'm knocked about in the tiny space as the ship hurtles closer to the ground, but I manage to wedge myself between the seat and the steering handles long enough. I kick the door of the cockpit open, putting as much strength behind the kick as I can. The door opens slightly, not enough, and I swear, gritting my teeth. I kick again, knocking the whole thing out. Lyn flies out at once and I heave myself upwards, my arms straining with the effort of fighting against the spinning craft. Grabbing the sides of the door, I pull myself out of the craft and then jump.

I made it just in time. I fall for a mere few seconds and then land heavily on a nearby slanted roof, the impact knocking the breath out of my lungs and making my head spin. I slide down the slanted roof, the tiles falling away beneath me and I scrabble for a handhold. I manage to grab a tile, my feet inches from the edge of the roof. I look up just in time to see my craft crash into a nearby townhouse. I wince as rubbles flies through the air, some hitting the roof I'm on, the rocks raining down around me.

My side aches from where I landed and I'm pretty sure I'm going to have a killer bruise, but I have to move. I try to pull myself upwards, not wanting to go down onto the street. I can hear the shouting, the shooting and I'm sure it's a bloodbath. I gasp for breath, my muscles screaming in pain as I slowly drag myself up the roof, getting carefully to my feet. I nimbly make my way to the ridge on the roof, running along the thankfully flat surface. I can hear a fluttering and then see Lyn nearby, a hawk this time.

You are insane, she tells me. Utterly, completely insane. I simply smile, not sure whether to remind her that it was her idea to use the craft.

I turn invisible, knowing that I won't do the same to the roof. It has to be hand contact do that. I approach the nearby townhouse that has the mog machine on and I can see my friends much easier now. I reach the edge of the ridge, looking up at the tall townhouse in front of me. It won't take long to climb.

I take a deep breath, exhausted already, but I have to fight. I start to pull myself upwards, years of climbing trees making it easy for me to find something to grip. It doesn't take me long to scale the side of the building and I hoist myself up onto the roof, gasping for breath. I lie on the side for a minute, catching my breath. My head is killing me from my fall and I'm definitely bruising up. But weirdly enough I'm starting to feel a little better, as if I'm healing already. I lie there for a few moments, taking in the scene in front of me.

Nine is gleefully killing the mogs with his pipe staff: stabbing them, impaling them, and laughing the whole time. He's caked in ash and blood, but I don't think it's his own. John and Joseph are more reserved, steadily shooting at the mogs that guard this monstrous machine and I know there won't be much of a fight here for much longer. In fact there are very few mogs left. I turn back to watch as Nine beheads one mog with a clean strike, whooping with delight as he does it. He doesn't even seem to notice the mog sneaking up behind him with a sword.

I get to my feet unsteadily, still invisible, as I try to make my way over as quietly as possible. Taking a deep breath, I sneak around with my sword in hand, preparing to kill the sneaky bastard about to impale my friend.

Nine grunts as he kills the mog in front of him with a swipe of his staff. John turns, just in time to see the mog behind Nine. His mouth opens in horror and he's just shouted something when the mog lunges for Nine. Just as the mog is about to kill him, I stab it right in the chest. He bursts into ash.

"Well," I turn visible. "You owe me one," Nine just stares at me, as if unsure of what just happened. I love the stupid look on his face. I can hear the chimaera finishing off the last of the mogs on the rooftop, and even though the battle is still going on, it feels eerily quiet.

"Maren!" Joseph teleports over and wraps me up in a huge hug, even spinning me around a little.

"Joseph!" I play along as he puts me down, grinning back at him. He's beaming, looking happier than I've seen him in a while.

"We thought you were dead!" he exclaims. "Well, Nine did anyway but I insisted that you were alive!" he beams at me. I smirk, wincing a little at the pain in my side where I landed.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," I shoot Nine a look, who simply shrugs. John walks over to us, talking my hand in his. I shoot him a look at him being forward until I feel the wonderful feeing of his healing legacy racing through me. I don't even know how he knew I was in pain.

"Don't scare us like that," he warns me. "It's not nice," he's kind of teasing, but I can tell he's also being serious. I smile, squeezing his hand and then letting go. I feel revitalised after his healing.

"Don't tell me what to do," I retort. "Come on. There are still loads of mogs in the streets. We've barely started," Nine grins in delight and now that I'm healed, I'm filled with anticipation.

Revenge never felt so good.

Xxx

Ella

I've made progress with my plan. Not much but it's still progress.

The handcuffs are gone, replaced by a permanent guard. He stands by the door, watching me with his blaster in his hands, just waiting for me to mess up. I know he's under orders to incapacitate me if anything goes wrong but I'm not planning on being rebellious. I'm planning on being the perfect prisoner.

Already my plan is working. I've already read some of the Great Book, as sick as it made me feel. Every page left a bad taste in my mouth and the words were blatant lies, supposed to make this occupation look like destiny. But I've carried on reading, knowing that the cameras are picking up my every move. A few days after starting to read, my handcuffs were taken off me and that's when I knew Setrakus was starting to fall for it.

I then asked for the drug stopping my legacies to not be administrated. I said I wanted to practice with my legacies, learn about them some more. Setrakus said he'd put me on a trial run, that if he thought I was lying I would be back on the drugs at once. Already I can feel my legacies creeping back. I can reach people's minds and begin to lift things with telekinesis. But I won't try to escape; I'm going to simply practice and fool them.

Setrakus is desperate. I know he is. He would never normally accept this behaviour from anyone, not even from me, but he has no choice. He knows I'm stronger than him; my Dreynen works on him, but his doesn't seem to work on me. With enough practice, I can learn to charge the air with it, just like he manages to do. But even more than me being stronger, Setrakus needs me for something. I don't know what, and I don't know how I know this, but he needs me to do something willingly. He'll do anything for me to be on his side, even if every instinct is telling him not to trust me.

I have to use that to my advantage.

I fidget slightly, the window seat uncomfortable for my taller, 17-year old body. Sighing, I focus on the Great Book, wanting to finish this chapter to look convincing. I turn over another page with telekinesis, my eyes skimming over the words. Destiny, fate, Mogadorian progress…the words are always the same and they make me sick. I sigh, leaning my head against the wall, turning my head to look outside the window.

The Capital looks different. I can see the mogs working feverishly on something but I don't know what. Helicopters and crafts fly over the city, whilst the faint sound of drilling and banging reaches me, even up here in the Justice building. I've seen them put these weird machines onto buildings, but I don't know what they're for. I don't know what the mogs are doing specifically, but I know that they are preparing for war. They're preparing for the Capital to be attacked.

Good. I hope it's soon.

Ella, we need to talk. I almost jump at the voice in my head, louder and clearer than I've ever heard a voice before. I sneak a glance at my guard to see if he noticed my shock but he hasn't. He continues to pace across the doorway, gun in hand.

Oh really? I turn to face the window, trying to keep calm. Who is this?

It's me…Cody, is the eventual reply. I almost scowl when I hear him but I decide to ignore my hatred. Why is Cody talking to me now? And what does he want? And most importantly, should I even bother to listen?

How are you feeling? I ask snidely. How was your night in your cell? Comfortable? I can practically feel him wince at my tone, but I don't feel guilty. He killed Sophia. He almost killed Stanley.

I'm tired of making excuses for what I've done, he replies. Tired of trying to convince people that I want to help. So I'm going to do something to prove that you can trust me.

What? I try to school my face into a blank expression but it's hard when he's talking like this. It's so out of the blue. What are you talking about?

I can't make up for what I've done, he says, his voice almost desperate, feverish. I will never be forgiven for my crimes. But I'm going to try and help as best I can. I take a deep breath, turning back to the book and flipping over another page.

You're all words, I reply harshly. You've said for ages how sorry you are and how much you hate what's happening to me and Marina. You've said that you thought things would be different and you hate that they aren't. But you've done nothing about it all. So why should I believe you now? I demand. I will never trust Cody. Never.

I can't give you a reason why you should, he finally replies after a long silence. You have every right to mistrust me. Every right to doubt me. I would too in your place. But I mean what I say: I want to help.

I sit in silence for a long time, not sure what to think. Cody has proved himself to be a liar and a coward and now a murderer. He was never on our side and apparently not on the mogs either now. He changes sides to suit him and I can't trust him. No one can. But…there's something about him that seems tired, as if he's giving up. I can't explain it.

What were you thinking of? I finally ask. I can practically feel him sigh in relief.

I'm going to free you and Marina. Get you both out of here and to the Resistance headquarters, he admits. I want to laugh at him because escape is practically impossible. The whole suggestion is just absurd. Surely he must know that.

And what about you? I ask, not even serious.

I don't know, he admits. I'll…I can decide later, I sigh harshly, my breath whistling between my teeth as I pretend to read. I can feel the guard staring at me, as if confused by my sudden annoyance.

How exactly are you planning on getting us out of here? It's impossible! This place is a fortress! I almost shout. And why now? Why now of all times? There's a long silence and then he starts to talk.

I've been thinking about it for a while, he finally says. But I didn't have the opportunity until now. And…I want to make up for killing Sophia. I know this won't be enough but it's a start.

I roll my eyes. So what is this opportunity then? I still don't fully believe him but I'm curious now.

A few days before the execution was even planned, I was briefed to go on a mission to Thorold, where I would help lead fighting against the rebels there. I accepted the mission, knowing that once I got to Thorold, I could run away and never return. I was sick of the mogs looking down on me and I didn't want to be here anymore. And I didn't want to kill Sophia and Corban. I want to sneer at his weakness, but at least I know he's being honest. Running away is exactly what he'd do.

But then the execution came along. It was more important than Thorold, and my mission was postponed. After the execution…Setrakus didn't know what to think of me. I killed Sophia but tried to kill him. He pauses for a long moment and then continues, but there's a dark tone to his voice.

That night in the Re-education Centre…they were re-conditioning me to be a soldier. Every vatborn mog soldier goes through it so they're completely loyal. It didn't work on me. It just made it worse. He goes silent, but there's an overwhelming sense of horror and disgust. I don't want to know what they did to him that night but I can only imagine the atrocities he had to suffer. I can't help but feel the tiniest bit of pity for him.

After my punishment, they assumed I was conditioned to think like a mog once more. I played along, pretending that I was. But I wasn't. What they had done…it make me sick. No one should be treated like that. But I pretended that I was like them, that I did believe in them. I said I'd do the mission to Thorold, which is tomorrow.

So what? I interrupt. Get to the point!

I am, he replies, annoyed. I realised that I could pretend to go to Thorold as planned, but instead, smuggle you and Marina with me. The ship would be ready to fly and all we'd have to do is disable the tracking devices and get rid of the crew and then we'd be free. I could get you to the Resistance! His voice is excited, almost feverish. I listen in, working through the plan. The only way to escape from the base now is with insider help and I can do that!

And how would we free Marina? She's locked away, and neither of us can get to her, I retort.

I could pretend that I have orders to bring her for questioning. None of the mogs in the prison cells really know what's going on up here. They're lower rank. You could come with me! Then we could go to the ship together!

His plan is so rubbish that I want to laugh but the worst part is that he's right; only an insider can get us out of this base, and even then that's going to be hard. This is the only chance we have; there will never be another ship ready to go like it will tomorrow. And I can't throw away a chance to save her. I have to help her before the mogs break her.

If we get to the ship without detection, then we've succeeded, I admit slowly. We can start the flight to Thorold as planned, until we're far enough way that the fighter jets can't attack at once. Then we do as you say and fly to the Resistance, I plan. Once we change course, they'll come after us but hopefully we'll have had a good enough head start. I can feel Cody's eagerness, his joy at the plan formulating. I don't understand his motivation but all that counts is that he's helping.

And if this is a trick, then I will destroy him.

It's getting Marina that's going to be hard, I say. Try to go along with the questioning route. I won't come with you…that will look suspicious, so I'll meet you at the ship. You might have to fight your way to the ship, so be prepared for anything, I say grimly.

I know, he admits. But it might be the only chance we have. The others can never save us. We can only save ourselves.

I hate that he's right. It means I have to work with him.

What time are you going? I demand, back on the plan.

Right, we'll meet you at the ship, he agrees. We're going at 10 o'clock in the evening tomorrow. Make sure to be there.

I will, I reply. The connection cuts off at once.

I smile slightly, staring outside. I'm excited, yes, definitely excited to get Marina out. This could be some awful trick of Cody's, and there's enough evidence to prove that it is, but I have no choice. I still have to try and save Marina, even if it endangers everything. She needs to be free, needs to recover after everything. She needs to be reunited with Joseph. But…I can't go. I have to stay here and fight. I know what I have to do and I can't run anymore. This is my fight, no one else's and I have to say. As much as I want to be free, as much as I long for freedom, I have to stay.

One thing keeps bothering me though. Why trust Cody, who is clearly a traitor and a liar, with such an important mission to Thorold? Even before the execution, it doesn't make sense. Setrakus hated Cody, thought he was weak, so why would he send him to Thorold? Unless...unless the mogs were sending Cody to Thorold to die. They knew about his doubts, his hatred of the mogs and sent him off to die, because they don't need him. If Cody was killed in Thorold, no one would question anything. He would just be a tragic martyr who was killed by the evil Loric rebels.

And Cody knows. He knows they want him dead, which is why he's escaping now. It's his last chance to be free, his last chance to be saved, not Marina's. He's doing it, not to free Marina, but to save himself. I shiver, realising that Cody isn't really my friend. He's never been my friend nor Marina's. Friendships are there to help him survive and even now, he's doing everything for him. It's all about him.

Which means I can never trust him. Never. And tomorrow, if this turns out to be a trick, then Cody is going to die. And I will be the one to kill him.

Just an idea of a timeline for this story: The Elders are in Baladh at the moment fighting off the mogs and obviously Ella/Cody have just made their plan. Next two chapters will feature the escape and then chapter 12 is the reunion!

Hope you enjoyed and please review!