An Opportunity

The next morning, I found Heisenberg taking a long drag from his cigar by the building's entrance.

"Let me guess; another meeting?" I asked.

"Yup. Aren't I just so fucking lucky?"

"Of course; that's why you're in charge," I joked.

"Ha… you're not wrong. Wanna trade places?"

"And face your family, who for the record have all tried to kill me? Yeah, no thanks."

He shrugged. "Worth a shot."

He begrudgingly took his hammer and walked toward the gate. "Hold the fort for me 'til I get back."

"Yes, sir."

There wasn't really much to "hold" though. Heisenberg said there was a key piece missing from his plan, but he hadn't found a way to fill it yet. Until then, there wasn't much left to do. He'd perfected most of his designs. There were some other machines he'd worked on using as weapons, but those were almost done too.

I resorted to riding Daria around the property until the meeting was over. She was in her usual joyous mood despite the dark clouds looming in the distance. The mountains loomed taller than ever, their icy peaks piercing into the sky.

Hours passed. It wasn't until close to sundown that Heisenberg returned. Daria whinnied at him as he strolled up the path.

"Long meeting?" I asked as I hopped off her back.

No response. He barely glanced at me as smoke spewed from his nostrils.

"…What's wrong?"

He just stared at the ground, a scowl crossing his face.

"Hellooo? Earth to Heisenberg?"

"Just shut the fuck up!"

I froze. At least I had my answer; something was definitely wrong. But I didn't dare to push further. The last thing I wanted was for him to accidentally rip my metal arm off in a fit of rage.

"Just… just stay the fuck away from me." With that, he walked off, taking one last puff before he chucked his cigar down the path, narrowly missing the grass.

"What happened?" I asked Daria.

She just stared at me as her ear twitched and the gear on her belly churned.

I got the sinking feeling I dreaded. If something was getting under his skin that bad... Was it something I did? He'd had no problem with me before the meeting. He probably just needed time to think… But what about? The question gnawed at me, but there was no point in asking Heisenberg about it… not while he was like that.

The next week went largely the same. Heisenberg stayed focused on his work, paying me no attention. I would find him from time to time as I wandered around. He would just pace back and forth, smoking cigar after cigar. My desire to keep my head on prevented me from checking on him further. I was used to giving him space when he was angry, but it never lasted longer than a few hours, a day at most. The sinking feeling dug deeper as each day passed, leaving me to wonder whether I should let it pass, or try to do something about it.

It hurt me to be ignored like that. We'd gotten so close, and yet he'd grown cold towards me all of a sudden. Probably his family's fault, I thought ruefully. They just had to ruin everything about my life, didn't they? Oh well. It won't matter once we're out of the village.

For a while, I thought Heisenberg had forgotten me completely. But every night before bed, he stayed near the entrance of my room, stealing glances at me. It was like he was waiting for some unforeseen threat…

How much did it hurt you? How long did you mull it over in solitude? If only you'd have told me… All I wanted was to help. But you didn't want me to get close, did you? Not until it was all said and done.

I stuck to Daria to keep me from getting lonely. When I was in my room, I played the music box to prevent any intrusive thoughts from disturbing my already bothered mind.

I drifted off to sleep after coming up with a plan; in the morning, I would ask Heisenberg what was wrong. It had been a week. That was enough time, right? He couldn't stay mad forever. Yes, once I got some sleep, everything… would be...

Suddenly, a hand was shaking me awake.

"Lipa! Wake up, dammit!"

My eyes snapped open as I turned over.

"…Heisenberg? The hell?"

"Get up. We're leaving: now." He stood up from his crouched position and offered me a hand. I grabbed it and allowed him to pull me up. "Grab your shit and meet me outside." He turned on his heel and marched out the door.

"What's going on?" I called to his back.

"I'll explain on the way. Just hurry the fuck up!"

...Had the day finally come? Were all of his ambitions about to come to fruition? But wouldn't he have told me to be ready for a fight? If I was grabbing my stuff, then...

No… no, no, no, this couldn't be happening again. I was thrown back to that day four years ago, watching Mamă carry my luggage as she urged me to leave. Why? Why, when I was just finding content with the new life I was having, was it being torn from me? Why wasn't I allowed to just settle in? No upheavals, no new directions, no decisions being made on my behalf… Why wasn't I allowed that?

That was why I couldn't move. I just stood in the middle of the room, my head spinning. It was just like last time… the nausea, the hesitation, the demand to know why…

Heisenberg stormed back in. "Are you fucking deaf? I said get a move on!"

"No!"

I shocked myself and Heisenberg. Tears were coming out of my eyes, a rage building up inside me.

"I'm… I'm not leaving."

"Lipa−"

"Not until you tell me why!"

"I told you, I'll tell you when it's time. Just… just trust me. Please."

His voice was somber, his eyes pleading. I just wanted to know why. Was that really so hard? But even in my anger, I couldn't ignore the look he had. It was reminiscent of Mamă's when she sent me away.

Without further protest, I grabbed my things and threw them into my luggage. Heisenberg left the room, placing his shades on his face as he grabbed his hammer. I dressed in more durable clothing and wrapped myself in a cloak before putting my hood up. Luggage in hand, I went outside. Daria trotted over to nestle against me. I hugged her tight, fearing that if I dared to let go, she'd be gone for good.

"C'mon. We don't have much time." Heisenberg started walking towards the gate. My heart pounded. Each step I took made my heart sink further. The gates creaked open, revealing the true source of my dread.

"Ms. Tarnicerin! How nice to see you again. I trust you've been well?"

"Duke? Why are you here?"

"Why, to offer my services, of course. Lord Heisenberg has asked for my assistance on a time sensitive matter."

I looked at Heisenberg, waiting for the explanation he promised. He looked at me for a moment before sighing.

"He's taking you out of here. He knows things about the outside, so he's your best chance of making it."

I was leaving the village… for good? Just like that? But… that wasn't the plan… Sure, I wanted to leave… Yet now there was so much more. Now, there was something keeping me there. I couldn't just leave that behind. I didn't want it to end like that.

"I'm not leaving," I said.

"No arguments. You're going whether you like it or not," Heisenberg answered.

"Why?!"

"Would it kill you to just listen to me for once?!"

"Don't I at least get a choice for once in my goddamn life?!"

"Fine! You want a choice?! Here's your fucking choice! Either you leave with him now, or I'll kill you here and now!"

That wasn't a choice. He was just being a smart ass. As silence hung in the air, it dawned on me. His grip was tight around his hammer, poised for what he might have to do. This wasn't my choice; it was his.

"…Why?" I asked.

Heisenber's gaze avoided mine. He just gritted his teeth. "I… I just can't, alright?"

"Then come with me. You want to get out of this village more than anyone."

Heisenberg smirked. "You got that right… but I can't. Not until Miranda's dead. Besides, if you're gonna start over, you don't wanna have to deal with me."

"What… What about Daria?"

"Unfortunately, given her current state, she'd bring a lot of attention in the outside world," Duke said.

"Then… will you please−?" I pleaded to Heisenberg.

"Consider her payment for the safe passage. Don't worry, I don't intend on using her any time soon," he answered.

Daria walked over, allowing me to at least hug her one last time. My best friend… and I would have to leave her behind. Was there anything crueler than that?

"Goodbye, Dari. Don't cause Heisenberg too much trouble, OK?" I held her chin for a moment as tears welled in my eyes. She playfully nipped at my forehead. At least I knew she'd be in good hands.

"C'mon, we don't want anyone to catch on," Heisenberg urged.

"What'll happen if they do?"

"I'll deal with it. Now go on."

I put my luggage in the back of Duke's carriage. I took a step inside and gripped the side handle. But I stopped. That couldn't be the end. No… I wouldn't let it be. There was so much I wanted to say, to give… I turned around to face Heisenberg.

"I…" my voice choked. I told myself not to cry, but...

"Look, you don't have to say anything. I told you, gratitude's wasted on me."

I wouldn't let him have the last word. I couldn't. I stepped down from the carriage, lunging forward to wrap my arms around him before he could protest. The tears were streaming down my cheeks, but I didn't let myself sob. He wouldn't get the best of me: not that easily. Slowly, hesitantly, he returned the gesture. The fact that he was even willing to do that meant I had won.

"Save your tears, sweetheart. Those are wasted on me too," he said softly.

I had to cherish those few moments. They would probably be the last time I would ever get any sort of physical affection from him. But after a few moments, I let myself let go. Heisenberg smiled at me, wiping my tears with his thumb. With that, I entered the carriage for good. I sat facing the back to look between Daria and Heisenberg.

"So long, Lipa." Heisenberg tipped his hat to me.

I smiled at them one last time and waved. Duke cracked the reins on Benjamin, and we were off. I watched Heisenberg turn around as he whistled for Daria. She obediently walked by his side. They disappeared behind the gates as they continued down the path. That was the last time I saw them.

I shut the carriage doors, allowing myself to be taken by the rhythm of the road beneath its wheels.

"If I may, Lipa."

"Yes, Duke?"

"There was something more you wanted to say to Lord Heisenberg, wasn't there?"

"…Yes."

"Then why didn't you?"

If I had said those words to him, what would it have done? I knew the truth in my heart. Even if he had repeated them back to me, it wouldn't have changed anything. If anything, saying the words aloud would have made it worse. We would still be separated, with him stuck in the village while I got to escape. Those words weren't enough to break our respective fates, so what was the point? Besides…

"I think he already knows," I replied.

"Fair enough. I must warn you, Lipa; the outside world is very different from the world you know. They're not entirely dissimilar, but you will have a lot of adjusting to do."

Duke continued to tell me about how things worked in the outside world. Most of it sounded like a fantasy, something out of a book Mamă used to read to me. He gave me a new currency and told me about what transportation to take. I would need a new job, a new name, a new home. The task was daunting, and I wouldn't have anyone to help me once we arrived.

The destination: Munich, Germany. The Duke could've completely made it up for all I knew. But we weren't going straight into the city. Duke said he didn't want to draw attention. I couldn't imagine a place where a horse and carriage were unusual.

"We've arrived," Duke said after what felt like ages.

What was waiting for me out there? What kind of world had Miranda forbidden the rest of us from seeing?

"Thank you, Duke. For everything."

"Happy to be of service."

"And… one last question, if I may."

"Of course."

"…What will happen to the village? Why was Heisenberg forced to choose between sending me away or killing me?"

Duke was silent for a moment. "Do you really want to know? You won't be returning there anyhow."

"Please. It's the last loose end before I start over."

"Hm… I suppose you're right. Very well… To answer your second question, Miranda put Heisenberg and all the Lords in that position."

"What do you mean?"

"It was her last order before… well, before her end game."

Frankly, I didn't, and don't, care what Miranda's end game was. As far as I'm concerned, I hope she met (or meets) a fate worse than death.

"Miranda ordered the Lords to kill all of their servants and the villagers," Duke continued. "So, as for your first question… I think you can imagine what that means."

All of them… were destined to die. Heisenberg wasn't really given a choice; he was given an order. And he chose to defy it on his own.

"To think that Heisenberg would risk showing his hand and revealing where his true loyalties lie," Duke chuckled. "You really are special, Lipa."

"Then… What'll happen to you?"

"I'll keep running my business, of course."

"But if the villagers are all going to die, then…"

"Don't worry about me, Lipa. Something tells me a whole lot of profits are about to come my way."

"Thank you again, Duke. Be safe."

"Farewell, Lipa."