Paris 1791, January 4
Almost a year has pass since Arno was taken into the brotherhood of the Assassins, he started his search for De Le Serre's murderer, Elizabeth helps with the investigation as best as she could, with the help of her friends. Charles Abbali the tank, Andy Christian the thief, James Angelo the flirt and Jackson Abbot the shadow. So Arno meet up with Elizabeth at the square where there was a crowd of people. "Took ya long enough." she tells him as she turns around. "Were you waiting for me?" he asks her, stopping next to her. "Well of course I was. And good timing, I can feel the men here starting at me." she tells him, Arno just laughs. She looks at him "It's nice to hear you laugh again." she said with a smile. Arno looks at her and smiles back, "It's nice to see you smile again." he tells her, she just sighs. "I know, but when everything that's going on. It hard to ever smile." she tells him.
Arno nods at her, "That I can understand." he tells her, and they started to walk, "So you've been an Assassin, all your life?" Arno asks her, she nods at him, "Oui. I was born into this as were my ancestors before me." she tells him, "You mean… you're entire bloodline was part of this war?" he asks her and she looks at him, "Yes, but I've grown tied of this war, every kill I've taken it has etch away a part of me away, I felt empty inside everytime I drew the blade." she tells him, he just looks at her with sad eyes, but she smiles a little. "But there was one good thing in my life that was worth spilling blood." she states, his eyes lit up. She turns to him. "You. Elise and De La Serre. You all were worth it." she said with a smile. Arno drops his head in shame as he still remember the look on her face when he shouted at her, "Izzy… will you become my best friend again?" he asks her, she looks at him, then steps up to him, grips his hand, lowers her head, looking under his hood into his eyes and nods, "I would love to be you best friend again, you're stuck with me Arno, get use to it." she tells him, making him smile a little at her.
He then wraps his arm around her, holding her close, Elizabeth lets herself go as she pulls out her hand and places it on his shoulder as she rested her head on his shoulder. "Merci, Izzy." Arno tells her, she giggles, "Merci, Arno." she tells him, they pull back "Come, let head to seek out Bellec and when this little business they want is done, then we can continue with out investigation on De La Serre's murderer." Elizabeth tells him, Arno nods at her. "That I can agree on." he tells her and they climb up a building and ran along the roof where the met Bellec. "What the mission?" Arno ask him, Elizabeth looks over at him as she sat down. Bellec stood up, "The mission is get your arse in position and don't asks questions, pisspot." Bellec tells him and walks off, Arno looks over at Elizabeth and she shrugs at him, "I live to serve." he mumbles as she sighs then places her hand on his shoulder, "I'll be here if you need my help." she tells him, he looks at her, places his hand over hers and nods, "Merci, mon amie." Arno tells her, then he pulls his hand away as hers slip off his Arno then leaps off the edge and into the hay wagon.
Elizabeth then squats down close to the edge, gripping it gently with her hand, as she watch Arno kill the guards and sabotage the warning bell and waited for something to happen. She then ran over next to the two boys as men started to showed up and was starting a meeting. "Lord Guillaume de Roussel has generously agree to our price of forty percent." a Templar states, Elizabeth growls as she recognized the Templar, "Izzy, what is it?" Arno whispers to her. "An act of desperation. What about the priest?" the other asks him, "He'll come around." he tells him. "Your confidence is infectious, Sivert. My boys will have the wagon ready." the man tells him, Elizabeth stiffens. "That him. That's the man that help murder De La Serre." she growls as she grips her pistol as anger boils in her belly, but Bellec grips her wrist that held her pistol, "If you do this now, you will jeopardize the mission. Never let your feeling cloud you better judgment." Bellec reminds her, she glares at him, then Arno places his hand on her shoulder.
She then looks over at him, seeing the worry in them, she sighs as she calms down and places her pistol back in her hosier. "Here are the details – make sure it goes smoothly." Sivert tells her. "Of course." the man tells him, and Sivert walks off. "Make sure it goes smoothly. Cul. When I ever-" the man went on, but was suddenly shut up, when Bellec jumps on top of him, stabbing his hidden blade into the back of his head. "Murder! Murder! Help!" another man calls, but Arno and Elizabeth walks out from the shadows as the man was screaming, Bellec just looks at him. "These bastards always have bodyguards." Bellec tells him, "Well?" Bellec asks him, Arno walks up behind the man and slits his throat, "Next time do that before he starts screaming." Bellec argues, Elizabeth places her hands on her hips as she looks at him, then shook her head as she walks over and retreves the details that Seivet had given the man. "Why do we hang about here, when Sivert still lives? He killed Monsieur De Le Serre!" Arno growls at him as he takes the letter of the corpse. "Patience. Sivert is not the only target. Not today." Bellec tells him, Elizabeth just groans and they continue on. "Come on. Council is waiting for our report." Bellec tells them, they ran to the streets, but stop behind a carriage.
"Merde. Patriots. These imbeciles will pick a fight with anyone. Try not to draw their attention." Bellec warns Arno, "Shouldn't we stop them?" Arno tells him, Bellec looks at him. "Stop them, avoid them, it doesn't matter. There's always more fanatics. You can't save everyone, pisspot." Bellec advise him, then took off waking. Arno place him hands on his hips, looks over to Elizabeth and points his thumb after him. She shrugs, with the mutual feeling. Then they walk on. They caught with Bellec as he stood in front of a sewer. "I can't believe this! We've not seen Sivert for a year. And you're letting him walk? All because his name wasn't on the bloody peace of paper?" Arno question him as they walk into the tunnel. "The timing is not right. Too many variables. Too many loose threads." Bellec informs him.
"And if you lose him again?" Arno questions him, "He'll be in Notre Dame tomorrow if he keeps to the schedule we found." Bellec informs him. "You might of shared that earlier." Arno reports, Elizabeth sighs as the two bickered among themselves. And they walk through the gate into the sanctuary. "So what's next?" arno asks him as they walk through the hall. "We take this ledger full of Templar records to Mirabeau, who proceeds to do nothing with it." Bellec informs him. "You don't seem terribly found of him." Arno states hearing the dislike for Mirabeau in Bellec's voice. "He's a politician. Sees himself as a great peacemaker. He thinks he can end the war between Assassins and Templars, bring the Revolution to a happy conclution, a convince dogs and cats to live together in peace." bellec reports, "At least someone is trying." Elizabeth mutters to herself "And that's… bad?" Arno questions him. "It's a self-aggrandizing pipe dream. The Templars are at their weakest since Jacques de Molay burned, and we're running after second rate smugglers! All because Mirabeau wants to secure his legacy." Bellec complains. stairs and walks into the room where the council was in conference. "Monsieur De La Serre believed a truce was possible." Arno informs him, both him and Elizabeth put the reason for the truce to themselves. "And look where it got him." Bellec reminds him, "At least he tried." Elizabeth mutters again as they walk into the council chambers.
Arno and Bellec walk through the doorway as Elizabeth leans against the frame with her arms cross. "The custom agents can rest easy. Arpinon is dead." Bellec informs him as he places the details down on the desk in front of Mirabeau. He took the book and opens it, reading over the contents. "Shaking down imprisoned nobles seems to be a bit out of his oeuvre. What are the Templars to?" Mirabeau asks aloud. "If we hadn't spent the pass year huddled by your damn truce, we might know that." Bellec complains, Elizabeth just roll her eyes at him. Mirabeau just closes the book and leans back into his chair. "He as a point, Honore. The truce was with Grand master De La Serre." Guillaume informs him, "The man's been dead for two years! Whoever is in charge now, you can be certain that they aren't idle." Trenet agrees with him, as Elizabeth pushes herself off the frame, then walks over and leans against the desk. "We might of learn more had we not let Sivert to escape." Arno voice his option.
"Sivert was there?" Mirabeau asks him as he leans forward in his chair, then Arno looks at him, "I know your heart is set on keeping the peace, but bringing Monsieur De La Serre's killer to justice would count as something, wouldn't it?" Arno asks him. "Yes, it would. But do not confuse your personal vendetta with a sound strategy." Mirabeau reminds him. "If he wants to kill Templars, let him kill Templars. I've taught all I can." Bellec tell them, "The kid's ready." he said. Mirabeau looks at Elizabeth, "What's your say in all this?" he asks her. Everyone looks at her, she sighs.
Elizabeth shot her gaze at Arno as he was looking at her, for her answer and she looks back at Mirabeau "you just have to take that leap of faith." she answers him, Mirabeau nods at her, "Very well. Assassin, I charge you to go to Notre Dame de Paris, and find to there, the Templar agent Charles Gabriel Sivert." he tells him after everyone in the room stood. "You will learn his secrets, and when you have done so, you will bring him, in accordance with our tenets." Mirabeau orders him, Arno bows his head and left the room, Elizabeth followed after him.
~8~8~8~
They ran to the Notre Dame de Paris, meeting with Bellec and Jackson, who was waiting for Elizabeth. They stood on a roof, looking over the crowd at Notre Dame de Paris. "What's our plan?" Arno asks him, then Bellec turns to him, "Our plan? You're not an apprentice any more, boy. So study your surroundings and devise your plan your own plan. I'm not here to hold your hand." Bellec informs him. "Jackson and I will be plan B in all things should go downhill." Elizabeth informs him. Arno looks at him and smiles at her, "Go get him, Arno." she tells him with a light nudge as his shoulder and then jumps off the roof, Jackson followed after her and they blended in through the crowd, but when they pass the doorway, Elizabeth's shoulder was bump into by someone, her markings faintly glowed and their memory played in her head.
~Flashback~
Sivert and De la Serre walk through the hall and up to a door, "Wait here. See that we're not disturb." Monsieur De La Serre orders him, as he enters the room. Sicert was displease that De La Serre was making a truce with the Assassins.
~8~
Then as it was night and he was in front of a man with guards, that man was wearing rags, glasses and was hunch a bit. "Sivert." Monsieur La Touche states, "Monsieur La Touche. I'm here to see the King of Beggars." Sivert informs him. "Come with me." La Touche tells him as they headed into the sewers. he was in league with Sivert, Sivert once ask him about the King of beggars. The so called king was a filthy man, trying to dress in noble clothing and lived in the sewers.
"The intrigues of rats? Pompous fool! If only I could lay my hands on him…" the king of Beggars growls to himself.
~8~
Night had fallen a few night after meeting with the king, Monsieur De La Serre steps outside as he meets with Sivert, "Well? What was so important that you had to pull me away from my daughter's-" De La Serre starts but, Sivert hits him right in the belly, knocking him off guards, but De La Serre fought back against him. But then De La Serre pulls out his blade, blinding Sivert's right eye. Then the King of Beggars came up behind him and stabs De La Serre in the side of his neck. "You alright Monsieur? Too much of the King's champange?" Arno asks as he and Elizabeth walk out into the courtyard.
The king of Beggars and Sivert hurried into the shadows as Elizabeth ran up to him, "Monsieur?" she asks him and he grabs a hold of her arm and collapse to the ground. "Sivert, come away!" the king of Beggars warns him in fear that they might be seen, but that fear came true as Elizabeth looks right at them.
~End of Flashback~
Elizabeth was then pulled back from the memory. She then looks back seeing that the person that push pass her was Sivert himself, he disappeared into the church as Elizabeth growls as she clutch her fist, Jackson pulls on her arm and they moved away from the door to the church and Arno meets up with them. "What happened?" he asks them, Elizabeth looks up at him, "I saw his memories, Sivert was not the one that delivered the killing blow." she informs him, Arno was surprise by her words. "That changes nothing, Sivert will still die." Arno reports to her, Elizabeth's look hardens as she then took a step forward and grips his coat, "Then end him Arno, Sivert does not deserve to see another day." Elizabeth orders him, Arno then places his hand on hers. "With pleasure." he states, she nods and pulls her hand back, "We'll meet you inside." she tells him and they both took off and Arno went is way inside.
Jackson and Elizabeth climb up the walk and found a priest trap. "Oh thank God, please you have to get me out of here." he begs them, Jackson walks over to the door, picks the look and it opens, "Voici." he offers the way out, "Oh merci! Je vous remercie! Que Dieu veille sur vous!" the Priest tells them and ran down the stairs. Jackson scoff. "Sorry pal, but I don't believe in God." he mutters and they both start down the stairs. "I don't understand what you see in him." he starts, Elizabeth then looks at him, "Who are you talking about?" she asks him, he looks over his shoulder at her, "Arno." he answers. Elizabeth then rolls her eyes with sigh. "Pas cette fois…" she mutters to herself. "Jackson I don't want to talk about this." she tells him, he stops and turns to her, "Why love him when he clearly loves another? A Templar much less and not to mention, one you consider your sister?" Jackson questions her.
Elizabeth just glares at him, "Parce que je ne peux pas l'aider!" she snaps at him, he didn't flinch at her, "He saw Elizabeth Castidenia, not some weapon to use. And why I consider Elise to be my sister is because she saw Elizabeth Castidenia, even knowing that I was the child of Eden and why I avenge her father and because he wanted me to be free from this war!" she went on, Jackson just narrows his eyes at her. "I may lose these feelings for him, maybe I won't. But I would die for them!" she reports. Jackson looks away from her with anger and a little be a sadness in his eyes, "But would they do the same?" he questions, Elizabeth calms down and sigh, then places her hand on his shoulder. "I don't except them to nor want them to. It's my choice, Jack. Please, don't question why I would sacrifice myself for them." she informs him, then walks pass him down the stairs, Jackson hung his head, "Pourquoi ne pouvez-vous pas juste moi, au lieu de ce bâtard?" he questions and then followed after her, they make it to the second floor and jump at the beams as they were over the confession booth. The saw three to four guards were in front of the booth. Then they both jumps down and delivered their blades into guards' necks, killing them on the spot, Arno steps out as the two stood up. "Nicely done." Arno tells them.
Elizabeth at him and nods, "Come on, there's a secret passage here in the church." she tells him and the two followed after her, they came a clearing, looks around then walks up to the wall and press a stone in, opening the door. "Go, go." she whispers to them and the two men hurried down the steps. Elizabeth hurried after them, then walks up to the wall presses the tile and the hidden door closes. "There. No one can follow." she states and then walks down the tunnel, "You seem to know your way around." Arno states as he and Jackson followed her, "I know these tunnel like the back of my hand, you need to get somewhere unseen, I can get you there." she tells him with a smile. Arno chuckles, "Like that one time when we snuck into the kitchen to steal the ham." Arno reminds her, Elizabeth giggles, "You couldn't resist Arno, admit it." she shout back at him. He just laughs as they reach the ladder and climb up and out of the sewer.
Once all three were out, Arno swung his arm over Elizabeth's shoulders she looks up at him, "You're right I couldn't, but for the record, it was your idea." he reminds her, she smirks at him and then crosses her arms, "You agreed and went with it." she reminds him, then they both laugh and headed back, Jackson fumed with anger, glaring daggers at the back of Arno's head as he following after them. But then Elizabeth stop laughing as he looks down at her arm, seeing her marking were glowing, "Jackson…" she calls out, the man walks up to them and looks down at her arm as well, "Oh no…" he mutters as he eyes went wide. Arno look down at her arm as he pulls his away in confusion and then saw that everyone had frozen. "What's going on?" he asks them.
"I'm sorry Arno, I didn't mean for you to get involved like this." Elizabeth tells him as she steps away from them, Arno was confused by her words. He turns and saw thin red lights coming at them, "What are those?" he asks, but he was pulled back and turns back and saw that Elizabeth was pulling him away, "Come on, run!" she tells him and they took off running, "Why are we running?!" Arno asks then as they climb up a building. "It's the precursors, they're trying to find me." Elizabeth answers him. He looks at her as they jump over to another roof, Jackson then looks over his shoulder, "They're getting closer! Izzy open up a portal." Jackson tells her, she looks at him and nods.
She then look forward, shooting out her hand and a portal suddenly open, "What the…" Arno states as he was in shook, "Later!" Jackson informs him and the three jump into the portal and it closes behind them.
~8~8~8~
The portal opens and the three stumble out of it, Jackson and Arno fell to the ground as Elizabeth kept her balance and quickly closes the portal behind them. She exhales and looks around. Jackson groans as he sat up, "I always hated that part." he said and then flips onto his feet and rotates his neck, "You still breathing, Dorian?" he asks as he checks his gear. Arno groans as he pulls himself onto his hands and knees.
"How… what… I don't…" he starts as he were confused, Elizabeth went to his side and helps him up, "Just breath, we time jump, first times the worst." she tells him, Arno nods as he rubs the back of his neck. "Thanks for the warning." he tells with a little smile and she nods, then Arno looks around. "where are we?" he asks them, then laughs a little, "Wait sorry, wrong questions." he states and side leans closer to Elizabeth, "When are we?" he asks her. She fridges with her fingers, "Well we're still in France." she answers, he nods at her. "But…" she starts, "But?" he asks her, and saw the nervous look in her eyes. "Do I even want to know?" he asks her, she sighs and grips his wrist, "I'll show you." she tells him, leading Arno out of the alley, and they step onto the street. And he was in awe. The streets were stone and the building were stone as well, but the people weren't all there. "What in God's…" Arno starts as he looks around.
"What is this place?" Arno asks and looks at a music recorder, Elizabeth looks around, "Le Belle Epoque, 1898." she answers him and they stop in the middle of the street. The Jackson walk up to her, "How long before your power recharges?" he asks her. Elizabeth lets go of Arno's arm and looks down at her, she that her marking through her fabric and hidden blade were very dim. "It will take a while for me to recharge and until I do, we're stuck here." she informs him and they look around. "You know I like this Paris. More cleaner, civilized and no beheadings." she states, the two look at her and she shrugs her shoulders.
"She does have a point, you know." a man calls out, they look over and saw a man that was in the Assassin attire and was sipping a cup a tea. "Nice to meet you all, I'm Johnathan Kimble." he informs them and sets down his tea. "I've been waiting for you." he tells them and then stood up, Jackson stood in front of Elizabeth, "And what do you want with us?" he questions him, Johnathan just chuckles. "Jackson Abboi son of Andrew Abboi the Pirate and Casadena the noble of France, impulsive, thin with his fists, but is an impressive informant and has anger issues." he informs him with his arms. Jackson stiffens, "How did you know all that?" Arno questions him, Johnathan shrugs his shoulders at him, "I know a few things." he informs them.
Then steps to them, looking Elizabeth in the eyes, "I know a place where you can recharge faster, but it's underground, come. I'll take you." he informs them and walks off. The three look at each other and the follow him, they walk down the steps into the subway, "Come." he said and started to run, "Wait up!" Elizabeth calls out to him and followed him, "Elizabeth!" Jackson said, "Izzy!" Arno calls out too and they took off after her, they followed Johnathan through the hidden way through the subway, "We're almost there." he informs them. Arno stayed close to Elizabeth as she looks down at her arm, seeing that her marking were slowly starting to brighten. But then the ground under her gave out, she lets out a yelp as she fell.
"Izzy!" Arno calls out as she hits the floor, she gasp in pain as she felt her ankle, Arno then jumps down next to her, "Are you alright?" he asks her, she nods, "Yeah, I think I twisted my ankle though." she informs him, but then they look behind them seeing a train. "Shit, come on!" Arno said as he helps her to her feet. They quickly move and take cover in a tunnel, but as they did, they both fell and land on the ground. But Arno uses his body as a shield and covers hers as the train passes them.
Elizabeth felt her hear pounding like crazy as she felt Arno's body press against hers like that, him holding her in his arms as if she was fragile. She wanted to stay this, but it came to an end as the train was gone and Arno sat up on his hand and knees as his other hand was now press to the back of her neck. "Are you alright?" he asks her, she nods at him, "Yes, I'm fine, thank you for the save." she tells him, he nods and pulls away from her. Then helps her to her feet, but she cries out a little as she shifted her weight on one foot and Arno helps her balance. "Here, let me see." he said and kneel down, checking her ankle.
The two then join them seeing this scene, "How is she?" Johnathan asks him, "She's fine, it will heal in a few minutes." Arno answers him, then kneels down in front of her, and she climbs onto his back, "But I'll carry her until she charge up and ready to open the portal." he informs and they started to walk. They then ended up back outside and Elizabeth's arm started to glow, the four look at her arm, "I'm all charge up." she said and Arno set her back on her feet and she stand perfectly on her own two feet. "If you're all charge up, then that means…" Jackson starts, "That somewhere around here is your ticket out of here." Johnathan finishes for him and the two look at him, "What's a ticket?" Arno asks him, Johnathan sighs. "Nevermind." he tells them and looks at Elizabeth, "Can you find the place where you can return to your time?" he asks her.
Elizabeth turns back and looks around the area, but her eyes laid on a statue in construction, and then points at it. "There." she answers and they look at it, "Statue de la Liberté?" Johnathan asks her and she nods. "No doubt about it, that were the energy is strongest." she answers and saw her markings were pulsing, "The closer I get to it, I will be able to open a portal to get us back home." she informs them. Jackson nods, "Well, what are we waiting for?" he asks and they race to the statue, running up the wooden boards and Elizabeth held up her hand and a portal opens up and strong went pushes at them, but the kept their balance, "That's a lot of air!" Johnathan shout, "The portal, it's unstable! Guess I'm not yet strong enough yet to control my powers!" Elizabeth shouts as well. "Come on, the sooner we can get home, the sooner we can get back to the council!" Jackson said and the continued on.
Johnathan looks at them and smirks, "Well I get this is where my path ends!" he tells them and the three look down at him, Elizabeth just smiles at him, "It was meeting you, John!" she tells him and he nods at her, then the three climb up and reach the portal, but Elizabeth looks back down at him, "Vive la liberté!" she shouts down at him and they jump through the portal, Johnathan smiles to himself, "Adieu… Aunt Elizabeth."
~8~8~8~
The three then step out of the portal and were in their same spots as before and everything was in their right place, they exhale and Elizabeth looks down at her arm, seeing that there was no glow, "We're safe for the time being." she informs them, then nod at her, "I sometimes hate the Precursors." Jackson whines, Elizabeth just giggles at him, "I know you do. Come the council is waiting for us." she informs them and walks off.
Arno chuckles and they followed after her, "I wonder how Johnathan knew we were coming?" Arno wonders, Jackson shrugs his shoulders. "You know, maybe it already happen or is going to happen." he answers and Arno looks at him, "If you're talking to me, that must mean you don't hate me anymore." he states, but Jackson glares at him, "Don't get me wrong, Dorian. I do hate you, in fact I despise you." he answers him and Arno looks at him in dis-belief. "Why do you hate me so much? What have I done to you that made you feel this way?" Arno questions him as they stop, "It's not what you've done, it's what you're doing." Jackson informs him. "What does that even mean?" Arno questions him, Jackson just scoffs at him, "Cabrón." he mutters in Spanish and walks off, Arno turns to him, can't believing his attitude
They return to the sanctuary, walk up the stairs and enters the council chambers, the four walk inside and the council notices them. "Parishioners found a body in Notre Dame today. The wags are already calling him the Penitent. I take it justice has been done?" Mirabeau asks them, Arno shot a look at Elizabeth, she shot him a look and then crosses her arms and sigh. Arno looks back at Mirabeau. "Not entirety. Sivert had an accomplice on the night of Monsieur De Le Serre's murder. He struck the killing blow." Arno starts to tell them. "This raises troubling questions – what have you learn?" Mirabeau asks him, "He was working with a man called le Roi des Thunes." Arno informs him.
"The king of Beggars? Are you sure?" Guillaume asks him, then Elizabeth steps forwards, "Arno tells no lie, I saw him on the night of Monsieur De La Serre's murder and I never forget a face." she vouch for him. "You know him?" Arno asks the two. "Of him. The beggars pay him tribute, the man himself is a ghost." Guillaume answers him. "We've sent three Assassins after him. The frist two found no trace, but the third never returns." Guillaume informs Arno, as Elizabeth looks away and Jackson walks up to her, placing his hand on his shoulder. She looks at it and places her hand over Jackson's for comfort. "I can find him. Sivert met with one of his lieutenant. I owe it to the memory of Monsieur De Le Serre to uncover the truth." Arno tells Mirabeau, Elizabeth looks at him, then at the council.
"Perhaps you can at that. You've proved yourself a true Assassin today—and a true Assassin must have the proper tool." Mirabeau tells him as Bellec applies a new weapon on Arno's hidden blade, "So the concealed blade and the smoke bombs just, what you had on hand, then?" Arno, Elizabeth rolls her eyes with a giggle. "The phantom blade. A modest little update from the traditional Assassin's blade. Where you are going, you may not wish to get too close to your enemies." he states. After Bellec applied the mini crossbow to the hidden blade. Arno flex his wrist, making the phantom blade open, he looks at Elizabeth, who shook her head at him, he smirks then retracts the blade back. "Now then, Assassin, this council charges you to go to la Cour des Miracles Find there the Templar agent le Roi des Thunes. Learn his secrets, and bring him peace." Mirabeau orders him. Arno and Elizabeth bows their heads at him and walk out of the bureau. Jackson sighs as he watches them leave.