Chapter II:
Slaughterhouse
The days following that fatidic proclamation by Emperor Charles IV saw Maximilian and the other Catholic pupils of the St. Edmund being confined within the urban premises of the school and being watched by the New York Metropolitan Police.
He kept in constant touch with his family, in particular his parents and siblings whom, he learned, were confined as well in their palace, back in Pendragon, watched and forbidden from leaving it.
This limbo, where they could only wonder about their fate, went on for nearly two weeks, during which, for the three days during which the other pupils would go to the countryhouse, Maximilian and the other Catholic students would remain confined in New York, without the permission of even going across the street. During the days when the others would go to the countryside, they would entertain themselves at school by playing tennis or shooting at the shooting range, throwing small parties at night, while the school could provide little more than that, with even the Catholic chaplain having been arrested by the Police.
On their second Sunday evening, however, things took an even darker turn...
- Hello, Clovis! - Greeted Maximilian, happily, as the buses transporting the other pupils arrived and they, in their green country uniforms and waxed jacked, started getting down and collecting their luggages.
- Hey Max. - Said Clovis with a dark expression on his face.
- How did it go? - Asked Maximilian, wondering about the reason behind Clovis' lack of enthusiasm.
His friend answered by shrugging his shoulders. - Decently. - As he walked inside the hall, Maximilian followed him. - I'm sorry but... - Maximilian noticed Clovis' eyes almost weeping. - I don't think we can talk again. -
- Wait, what? Clovis! - His friend walked up the marble staircase of the Neorenaissance-styled hall, leaving him behind.
Soon after, however, he came to discover the reason behind Clovis' sadness: indeeed, shortly afterwards, he was reached by the Head Master, whom, although ashamed, told him that he had to move away from his bedroom to a common dormitory in the wing reserved to the employees, along with the other Catholic students. When he asked for the reason, the only explanation he would get was a very broad 'Orders from the Secretary of Education, I'm sorry'.
- Feels like a bloody quarter! - Complained one of the student, as they get into the common dormitory with bunk beds.
- Don't worry, Louis, I'm sure it's temporary. - Said Maximilian, who made an attempt at staying positive. - Plus look at the bright side, we've got the girls here too. -
- Go to Hell, Max! - Replied a green-haired fresher.
- Uh-uh Lady Colloredo got mad! - Mocked Maximilan.
She looked at him with disdain.
- Come on, Mary, I'm just trying to stay positive. - He genuinely felt guilty: he had a sense that something terrible was about to happen and wanted to cheer people up, not make them more miserable.
- Your Highness. - Said another student, who slept on the bed next to Maximilian. - You don't actually believe we're getting out of this, do you? Your father is the party leader in Pendragon, you must know something. -
Maximilian took a long breath. - Look, in all honestly, I don't know and they cut all of mine communication with Pendragon this morning. All that I know is that now we're here and we have to go through this. I'm sure it's just party politics in the capital, Emperor Charles may be... Charles, and the Anglicans never liked us, but what can they do? Purge us? I'm sure they will remove the catholics from the Great Council and then calm down. Now sorry, but I really want to sleep. We still have class tomorrow. Goodnight! -
Lights went off. Maximilian however struggled to sleep. There was something in his instinct that made him feel like something was about to happen. What was the point, after all, of isolating them from the other students? Why gathering all of them, boys and girls in the same dormitory?
His attempts at sleeping however, were soon interrupted by some movements in the corridor that led to the dormitory. Initially, he noticed attempts at communicating with a small lantern, whose light was being switched on and off making the Morse-code for "S-O-S". It then switched off and all of a sudden he noticed someone sneaking in.
He was about to get out of bed and check when the mysterious person placed a hand on his mouth and forced him on bed again. He gasped.
- Shhh - Said the figure, whose face was covered with a balaclava. - I need you to come with me. - It was Clovis: he felt relieved.
He then followed Clovis outside the dormitory to a storage room in the basement nearby, where his friend turned on the lights.
- Clovis? What the hell is happening? - He asked.
Clovis did not reply. Instead he handed him some clothes. - Wear those. - He said, keeping his voice very low. - And take these. - He added, handing him five a plastic bag with blocs of £ 100 and £ 200.
- What? - Asked Maximilian. - What's all this cash for? -
- Hurry up! - Commanded Clovis.
- Clovis! What the hell is happening? - Shouted Maximilan. - Would you care to explain? -
- Yes! But lower your voice, they'll be here soon. - Replied the Britannian Prince. - My father was taking this time to round up all the Catholic leadership and nobles families and now... - Clovis seemed deeply grieved by the information he was about to give.
- Now what? - Asked Maximilian, already sensing what was about to come, but deep in his heart, hoping it would be something different.
- Now he ordered the execution of all of them, or better, all of you. -
Maximilian shook his head in shock. - This can't be... -
- And yet it is. - Replied Clovis. - And I know it because my sister, Cornelia, has been among those tasked with carrying out the order and she... She'll be after you! -
Maximilian felt a chill down his spine. In the meantime, from the corridor, he began hearing the noises of troops closing in.
- Shit! They're here. - Said Clovis, thinking of what to do.
- Wait... It's the police? - Asked Maximilian.
Clovis shook his head. - I wish it was. My father sent the elite units. It's the Purists and God knows who else out there. -
Maximilian closed his eyes and took a long breath. - Then we're done. - He headed to the door, but was stopped just in time by Clovis, who pushed him against the wall. - Don't you dare! Stay right here! - Commanded his friend, grinding his teeth, so anxious he was.
- But why me? - He asked, with his blue eyes betraying his confusion and terror. - What... What about the others? -
In that moment, from the dormitory echoed the sound of shots being fired, followed by pupils waking out and trying to desperately escape, some of them crying in terror, others begging for mercy others still praying or shouting insults against the Emperor and the troops. The infernal mixture of those cries with the sound of the guns firing at will made up some frightnening dark concert of pain and desperation, destined to remain engraved in anyone there, perpetrator or witness.
- Here's your answer. - Replied Clovis, with a shaking voice, trembling in fear.
The cries and the shots continued for a few more moments, followed by the even more frightening noise of flesh being stabbed and young boys and girls making their last cries.
Maximilian broke in tears: he felt he could recognise some of the voices. - Why? Why all of this? What did we do? -
Clovis stood speechless, his mouth open for a few more moments, seeking to formulate something.
However, that was no moment for feelings: the troops were approaching.
- We must hide. - Whispered the Prince. - Here, with me. - He said, pushing Maximilian to the middle of the materials chaotically storaged there.
- The light... - Muttered Maximilian, as he noticed they had forgot the light on.
It was too late: a soldier kicked the door and four troopers broke inside.
Author Note
As you can see from the labels, I have divided the story in Acts, each of which will make up a short story of a few chapter, still related to the others, which will, overall, deal with the trajectory of the character as the war between Britannia and the EuroUniverse unfolds and Lelouch leads the Black Rebellion. Also, the characters you see mentioned in the cover won't be the only ones that will show up, I am just avoiding spoilering things...