Unraveled
Bo was tucked within the sheets of Galatea's bed, resting peacefully. Scipio was leaning against the doorway, watching him. In his head, he was thinking of Bo's accusations towards his daughter? Did Galatea really kill her teacher? Was she also responsible for Bo's drowning? There was only one way to be sure. Scipio carefully walked over to the closet, trying not the wake the boy. Gently opening the door, he spotted the pea coat and blood soaked uniform. The man sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.
"Scipio?" Gretchen's voice was approaching the room.
Scipio closed the door and hurried to the window, trying to look casual.
The fiancée walked in and noticed Bo sleeping. She gestured for Scipio to come, which he quickly obeyed. The pair stood outside, looking in on Bo. "I called Prosper. He's coming as soon as he can." Gretchen whispered.
"Good." Scipio nodded.
"This has got to be the most insane day I've ever had." Gretchen rubbed her temples.
"Gretchen, I'm so sorry I didn't tell you about my father." Scipio looked down, "He and I never saw eye to eye. I didn't want to be my father in any way."
"Scipio, you're not. I was upset that you lied to me. You said you were an orphan. Do the others know about the true you?"
"Yes, and they reacted the same way you did."
"So, why weren't you found with your father when they arrested him?"
"Because that means I would've been sent to live with my uncle, who he is ten times worse than my father."
"Hmm. Why don't you start from the beginning, Scipio?"
Later, Scipio and Gretchen were sitting on the couch, with him telling her the tales of his youth and his days as the Thief Lord. Gretchen had a calm, yet understanding look on her face, taking her fiancé's history in.
"So, you would sneak out, parade around as a thief, steal from your own house, making our friends believe you stole from strangers, then pawn them off?"
"Yes." Scipio confessed.
"Hearing all of this sounds like you could write a book. Did Galatea-Wait, Galatea! Where is she? I completely forgot about her!" Gretchen shot up and started panicking.
"Maybe she's hiding in the woods." Scipio put both hands on her shoulders and calmed her down, "I'll go looking for her when Prosper comes for Bo."
The doorbell rang. Scipio and Gretchen headed for the front door and opened it to reveal Prosper and Hornet on the other side. "Where is he?" Prosper barged in, with Hornet following behind him.
"He's resting. Come with me, I'll lead you to him." Scipio led Prosper upstairs.
Hornet stayed with Gretchen, "Prop told me what happened. I came over to his place as soon I could, that's why we're late, I'm so sorry, Gretchen." Hornet began to tear up.
"It's okay, Hornet. Bo's fine." Gretchen reassured her friend.
"What happened?"
"From what Bo said, someone broke into the house. Tea and Bo tried to escape into the woods, Bo fell, but he kept telling Galatea to run. The prep grabbed Bo and tried to drown him in the lake. Scipio and I managed to get home in time to save him."
"And Galatea?"
"She could still be in the woods. Scipio is going to search for her as soon as possible." Gretchen sighed.
Upstairs, Prosper stroked his brother's blonde hair, with a relieved smile on his face, "Thank God he's alright." He turned over to Scipio, "Who could've done this? Some random person who broke in here and tried to kill my brother?"
"It wasn't just some random person, Prop. It was Galatea."
"Galatea!" Prosper jumped.
"Shh!" Scipio whispered, "Yes."
"Does Gretchen know about this?"
"No. I came up with some lie to throw her off the trail."
"B-But why? Why would Galatea do this?" Prosper was flabbergasted.
"I don't know. Bo called me earlier today and said that Galatea isn't the girl who we knew. Something has changed within her. Something that drove her to kill."
"Scipio, there are days where Bo speaks absolute nonsense. How can you prove Galatea tried to drown Bo?"
"While Gretchen was calling you, Bo told me that after he called me, Galatea chased him all over the house. She caught up to him and tried to drown him in the lake. I didn't believe him at first, but I managed to lift some fingerprints off Bo's neck when he was being held down in the water. Then I compared it to the ones I lifted off Galatea's drinking glass. Guess what, Prop? They're a match."
"So what do we do now?"
"Galatea ran off into the woods. I'm going to try to track her down."
"How are you going to do that?"
"I'm her father, Prop. I should have some idea where my own children would be."
"Can't say the same for yours." Prosper rolled his eyes.
Scipio was speechless as Hornet walked in.
"Hey. Glad Bo's okay. Come on, Prop, we should be heading home." Hornet said, "Good night, Scipio."
Prosper scooped Bo up in his arms with a strained look on his face, "He was so easier to carry ten years ago." He turned to Scipio, "Good night, Scip." Prosper, Bo, and Hornet departed the house.
Scipio headed towards the back with a flashlight in hand when Gretchen approached him, with a flashlight in her hand.
"I'm coming with you."
"No, it's too dangerous."
"I'm not scared, Scipio. Besides, we'll cover more ground if we're together."
"Gretchen-"
"I've already made my decision, Scipio. Come on, Galatea might be freezing to death out there." Gretchen turned on her flashlight and hastened into the dark woods.
Scipio threw his arms in defeat and followed her.
The dark forest was lit with small beams of light from the flashlights. The only sounds came from Gretchen and Scipio, hollering for Galatea.
"Scipio." Gretchen sighed.
"Yes?"
"About your father,"
Scipio stopped in his tracks, "Gretchen, I explained everything to you. I don't want anything to do with him."
"I know. But he wants to talk to you."
"What?"
"It sounds crazy, but I think you should." Gretchen confessed.
"Gretchen, I'm not going to talk to him!"
"Just this once, Scipio, that's all I ask. I think you need to get things of your chest. Afterwards, you can throw him out of your life. Our life." Gretchen held his hand and looked deeply into his eyes.
This is why he loved her. She was sincere. She was always doing the right thing. Something that Scipio has done, which in some cases were never easy. "Will you come with me?"
She smiled and kissed his soft, tender lips, "Of course." She let go of his hand and continued shining the flashlight, "Galatea! Galatea!"
Scipio was left alone, wrapped in the darkness of the forest.
I do not own the Thief Lord.
Original characters are mine.
R&R. Enjoy!