Chapter Two: The Path We Have Chosen

Btw, this is written by somebody who has only read Mister Monday and half of Grim Tuesday, so...

"How do you know that our new Dawn will agree with our plans?" Mister Monday asked.

Monday's Noon thought for a second. "We could force her to agree, and she would not be able to work behind our backs. There are three of us, you know."

Monday's Dusk sighed. "I do not wish to be involved in this project, nor do I think it is wise.

"You work for me," Monday reminded him. "And if you disobey me, I could punish you beyond what you can imagine."

"I'm sure. Returning to the previous topic that does not involve my untimely demise, do we need our Dawn to agree with us?"

"What do you mean?" the other men frowned.

"If she is innocent, and we let her handle the public affairs, the people will be convinced that everything is fine, just as she does."

"A good idea," Monday said with a flick of his hand. "You may be dismissed. Come back here in half an hour, and you shall both help me choose my Dawn."

Astrid took a deep breath and let herself up to Monday's Antechamber, where she would wait to see Mister Monday.

She smiled at nothing and curled her hands in her white dress, turning to face the wall

"Hello," she said pleasantly to the wall. "I am here to apply for the position of Monday's Dawn."

"Are you now?" a flat voice said, and she turned around to see a handsome man glaring at her. Monday's Noon. She disliked him instantly.

"Yes, I am. Am I allowed to go in?"

"You are too early. You must come back later."

She frowned at him. "Why?"

"It is the rules."

"Well, I have nothing else to do right now, and so I am going to stay here, and if you don't want me to stay here, sod off."

Noon's face contorted in anger and he grasped his sword so tightly his muscles stood out. "You. Will. Leave. Now. And you will not speak to me like that."

"He's right," said a more humorous voice. "Normally you should leave the insulting to me."

Noon moved away and Astrid could now see the second man. He was almost identical to Noon, but his eyes sparkled with wit and he sported a genuine smile.

"Let her be," he said to Noon, who kept holding his sword.

"You let ME be."

"Are we four-year-olds? No. Get out."

"You do not tell me what to do."

"I do tell you what to do. You just don't listen to me."

"Oh, I hear you all too well."

"Wonderful. So does that mean you are going to comply?"

"No."

"Lovely, just lovely. You see, my dear, this is why you should leave. Being in the same room as Noon is really not a pleasant experience."

She had to laugh a little, and Noon lurched forward to grab out at her but quickly retreated.

"I will be back shortly," he said, his voice tight. He left them there.

The man turned to her. "I am Monday's Dusk. And you?"

"Astrid Scarlett."

He nodded briefly. "All right then."

They stood there in silence until she said, "How do you put up with Monday's Noon?"

"You put up or get put down," he grinned. "It is most definitely better than spending life in the Pit."

"You're right there," she sighed as more people began to file in.

"One thing before I leave," Dusk said in a soft, low voice. "You are not here to make a change."

"What?"

"You are here for Mister Monday to tell you what to do and you obey without question. That is the life that will be laid out for you if you choose this path. Do you want this path?"

She nodded. "More than anything. But shouldn't we try and improve people's lives?"

He gave her a sad look. "We should. But we do not."

"Why?"

"Because we don't want to die, Miss Scarlett. Because we don't want him to kill us.

"He'll kill you? You are his Dusk!"

He managed a half-hearted smile. "I can be easily replaced. Now, good luck to you. I honestly hope you become our Dawn."

"Me too," she sighed. She looked at him. "Is there anything that can be done?"

He looked at her for a long time. "I don't know," he finally said, and then disappeared after Noon.

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