Author's note: In hindsight, we probably should've eased off with all the cliff hangers. Please bear with us, it was not our intention to have so many in a row but we hope it will be worth it in the end. We will continue to publish every second or third day until Part 1 is complete. Currently, we are working on the last chapter of it, already outlining Part 2. Between the parts we will most likely take a break to allow us some time to stock up on chapters so that we can post regularly.

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Chapter 14 - The intervention

Present day - March

Stan POV

I had just locked up the gym, about to head for the other buildings on my evening round, when I heard them.

"You never do as you're told. I swear to God there's only trouble when it comes to you. I think it's time we finally do something about that." Moore's voice broke through the night.

With quick steps I walked over there to intervene. His temper was getting the best of him lately, and I was afraid he would seriously injure someone. My suspicion of who he was taking out his anger on was correct when I saw Rose on the ground.

"What is going on out here?" I said with an authoritative voice. Moore was my superior, but I had to stop him from seriously hurting her.

Moore looked at me with contempt before replying icily "None of your business, Alto. Rosie and I will just finish our conversation."

I wasn't having any of that. "Girl, get inside now. It's past your curfew." She stirred on the ground and slowly got up on her feet, walking back inside with unsteady steps. She was clutching her stomach.

I signaled to Moore to follow me, which he reluctantly did. I knew he was pissed off for my intervention, but right now I just didn't care. After we had stepped away for some privacy I turned to him, about to ask what the hell he was doing, but he silenced me with a glare.

"I know you're soft, Alto. I can't say I like it. But as long as you mind your own fucking business I will mind mine."

"You can't do this" I said, already guessing what he meant by minding my own business.

"Nobody wants her. You know what we do with those that are too strong willed, they have to be broken. It's not my fucking fault if you refuse to take what is rightfully yours." Moore said menacingly.

I was getting angry, but kept my guardian mask on. "Still, she's more valuable untouched. The Morois come first, not us or our urges."

Moore's radio crackled and a voice requested him to the control room.

"Look, it's our job - no, it's our goddamn right to break in those that need it. They will thank me for it. You may have interrupted us now but there will always be another time".

Moore was scheduled for patrol after midnight, taking over from me, and by the look of it he was well aware of that. "Finish your rounds Alto, and go to sleep. Maybe someday you'll see what you're missing, and you'll embrace it." he said and turned around to get back inside.

I stood there for a while. My anger slowly seeped out of me, replaced by a feeling of sadness. Yet another girl would be ruined, and there was nothing I could do to stop it.

After checking the buildings I walked towards the forest, on my way to check the ward line. After I had gotten to the safety of the trees I fell down on my knees, burying my face in my hands. A few sobs managed to escape before I pulled myself together. I couldn't show any weakness, it would only get me killed. On several occasions it almost had.

I got up on my feet again and headed towards the wards. I listened to the forest intently, but it was a silent witness to my sorrow. The further I walked the more lost I became in my memories.

Perhaps one reason I had the courage to stand up to Moore was that I basically grew up with him. He tormented me my whole childhood, taunting me every chance he got in order to toughen me up. I thought about how he trained me, tried to mold me into the monster he was. Like so many of my colleagues were. I couldn't help but think how all of us were exactly like the girls. It didn't seem to bother anyone else. How could it not bother them that we had also been taken away?

I laughed bitterly when I thought about embracing our values. I knew that I was a hypocrite, doing basically nothing in order to stop them, but at least I didn't engage in that myself. I stood still for a while, mulling over that. Perhaps it was time I actually did something. She didn't deserve that, not that she deserved anything else that was going to happen to her. But Moore had to be the worst of it. I had made my decision. No matter the consequences, I would at least try to prevent him from breaking her.

With determined steps I continued my round, heading back towards the Institution again.

Dimitri POV

Spiridon and I were listening to the group below us intently. When the fucker called the girl Rosie, it was like my anger swelled to the point of bursting. It could very well be that I had just witnessed him drag my Rose out and kick her in the stomach. I was shaking, struggling against my restraints. I couldn't remember the last time I felt like this. Maybe when I took care of him after he almost killed mama? Or perhaps the last time I met this vile, sorry excuse of a man.

It was unbearable hearing him talk so casually about breaking them. I could taste my blood from biting my tongue. I wanted to roar, to let him know I was here to avenge. To stop him from taking what he thought was his right to take. I glanced over to Spiridon and he was watching them with a murderous look. I could tell he was almost as affected by this as I was.

We weren't supposed to use lethal force, but I wasn't sure how I was supposed to stop myself from killing that animal. It was appalling how he seemed to enjoy raping and tormenting some of these girls, obviously planning on doing it to Rose. I wasn't going to fail her this time. I wasn't sure if that really was her, but Rosie seemed like too much of a coincidence. Her appearance and age seemed to match as well.

Spiridon and I looked at each other in the darkness. I was thankful for him being here with me, understanding me almost better than my family. He knew what I wanted, and simply gave me a small nod once.

I was going after him. Tonight, I was going to rectify my failure the last time we encountered each other. Tonight, I was going to make it count.

They parted, and the other guardian walked towards the forest, luckily not heading towards our direction. It would be an unfortunate risk if we would have to subdue him, risking exposure. Once he was inside the tree line he fell on his knees, slumping down. His whole body was shaking as he hid his face. I glanced at Spiridon and he looked at the scene in front of us with a puzzled look. Was he crying?

Then he just stood up and straightened himself, and continued towards the ward line.

From our intel gathered when we found the Ardeal Institution, we knew most of the guardians working at the Institutions were taken ones, trained and brainwashed to be capable of brutality. It seemed as this particular one still managed to hold on to his humanity. I knew that this was the main reason we were instructed to avoid lethal force. It was fucked up to think that they had at some point been the same children we were dedicated to retrieve and rescue.

Rose POV

It was hard to fall asleep. My stomach hurt so bad, almost as bad as when I was sick. It wasn't like I could ask for pain medication without them sending me to the Infirmary. I finally managed to drift into unconsciousness.

It felt like I had just closed my eyes when someone woke me up, lightly gripping my arm and shaking me. I was immediately terrified and tried to get away from the person holding on to me. I barely managed to contain the shriek in my throat.

"Be quiet. Don't wake anyone up" a voice whispered, and I relaxed a bit. At least it wasn't Moore.

"Alto, what are you doing?" I whispered back.

"Come with me", he whispered and silently walked out of the room. I quickly followed him. I wanted to get dressed before going out of the girl's dormitory, but it didn't seem like there was any time for that. My steps were as silent as Alto's as I tiptoed out of the room barefeet. He stood by the door, closing it silently behind me. It felt awkward standing there in the hallway with him dressed only in my nightgown, but it didn't seem like he wanted to hurt me. He had never done anything to indicate that he was after something like that.

"You have to hide. He's coming for you," Alto said. He sounded desperate, almost scared. Was he scared for me? I didn't have to ask who was coming for me, I already knew it had to be Moore. I was paralyzed with fear as we silently stared at each other in the dark hallway.

"Rose, did you hear me? You have to hide," he continued. My eyes were like saucers and I could feel my bottom lip trembling. He knew that I had heard him, and gave me a slight push to get me moving. "Hide, now!" he said one last time before walking towards the staircase.

Hide. I had to hide. I stood there in the darkness, evaluating my options. Unfortunately Moore was well acquainted with the building and all my favorite hiding spots. My entire time here he had always been able to find me, whether I was playing with my friends or just wanted to get away from everyone for a while. I started heading towards the staircase that would lead me upstairs to the Headmistress' bedroom until I remembered that she wasn't here. She was the only one who could protect me from Moore and she wasn't here. Fucking hell.

Where could I hide? A part of me wanted to go to Igor, but I didn't think he would defy Moore if it came to that. I just didn't think he would let me stay in his room. And it's not like I could go to the guardian quarters anyways, I'd be stupid to do that.

But maybe… Maybe that wasn't so stupid after all. I didn't think Moore would look for me there. I scanned through all my options, trying to decide where exactly I would hide. The only place that seemed reasonable was the basement. I had only been there once, when Igor asked me to help him carry some wine bottles upstairs that were kept in storage in the basement.

I knew there was a bomb shelter downstairs and a couple of other rooms. My stomach was in knots, my gut-feeling telling me this was a bad idea. But I felt like I was out of options, and more importantly, out of time. I could hear Alto and Moore downstairs. Moore was probably relieving Alto from his shift, which meant I was running out of time.

I had to hide.