"Zack, there…is something I need to tell you."
"Not now," I threw the manhole cover down. "we're running out of time."
It slammed onto the wet concrete with a metallic crack that echoed through the tunnel. Anny flinched at the noise it produced.
I then grabbed the ladder rungs and climbed up the shaft, my boots slipping slightly on the damp metal, I tightened my grip on the bars.
When I reached the top, I glanced down. Anny was staring up at me, hesitant.
She exhaled and started climbing. Halfway up, I caught her arm, and pulled her the rest of the way.
We crawled onto the narrow metal catwalk, barely wide enough. The air was much warmer here compare to the shabby tunnel. The humming of the vibration of pipes indicated that we were getting closer.
I began crawling with speed and soon, a faint square of light appeared ahead.
It was the vent grate.
I pressed my face to the bars, checking the room below.
"Empty…" I whispered.
With a grunt, I pushed the grate open. It clattered softly as it fell. I slipped through the opening and landed on top of a toilet seat lid, the plastic bending, I steadied myself, then reached up.
Anny dropped into my arms and I set her down gently on the bathroom tiles.
Quickly, I scan the bathroom around us. Everything gleamed, marble sink, gold-trimmed miror, a bathtub big enough to fit four people and even the air smelled like an exotic perfume.
I turned to Anny. "It seems like we're inside one of the three buildings, and just outside…the execution is being held."
"..How do we save the queen?"
"I don't particularly have a plan in mind…"
"But, we'll figure it out, I promise you, I'll save Mei."
[ I don't dare lie to Anny, in fact I didn't have a plan or a way I can save the queen; however, it is one of the changes I desire to change.
The interaction I had with Yidern made me realize that maybe whoever is doing the "changes" is helping me.
One of the conditions of the skill [The Phoenix's Requiem] was that a change must happen or else this timeline will be erased and I'll be back to the beginning. ]
I gently open the bathroom door just enough to slip an eye through the gap. A narrow hallway stretched out in front of us, one way only.
Luckly, the left side ended in a dead-end wall, which meant our only option was forward.
I stepped out first, after ensuring that the path was clear and safe, I calmly whispered for Anny to follow me.
We moved in silence, inching along the wall. I paid close attention around me.
At the end of the hallway, it opened into a wider intersection. I leaned out just enough to scan it.
To my left: a room with its door wide open, inside guards were sitting and talking, but since I was pretty far away I couldn't hear what they were saying. Then farther away, there was a circular area that resembled a lobby with an elevator in the middle.
To my right: another hallway stretched out with four rooms and a staircase cutting through.
I turned to look at Anny, trying to come up with an escape plan but before I could open my mouth one of the guards stepped out of the open room.
Barely time to think, I grabbed Anny's hand and darted into the nearest door on our right, I eased it shut, turning the lock with a soft click.
My heart hammered so loudly I was certin it would give us away.
We stood completely still, frozen, afraid even the smallest movement would trigger the guard to turn toward us.
I leaned toward the door, pressing one ear against it. Footsteps were approaching.
Then the sound of their boots stopped inches away—a strip of light leaked in from the hallway, cutting across the floor—and then it vanished. The dark outline of heavy boots settled beneath the door.
I caught myself holding my breath. I didn't dare blink as I held Anny's hand tightly. The shadow didn't move.
He was standing there, waiting for the smallest sound, the faintest proof that someone was indeed inside.
Then the shadow shifted again. Light appeared back as he turned away, fading down the hall until silence was back again.
I exhaled shakily, letting go off Anny's hand.
I turned and I looked at the room we were in. It was small and dim, crammed with cardboard boxes stacked on top of each other and furniture still wrapped in white sheets.
Across, a narrow window caught my eyes.
I rushed past Anny and drew the curtains aside.
Below us, the site could be seen.
It seems like we're on the building located at the East. From here, I had a clear view of the main square, the platform, the crowd, the balcony. Edward sat there, alongside the Duke and the King of Rosette, his son at his side, all of them watching with a smile on their faces.
I squint my eyes and on the stage, they had already bought Mei out.
Guards surrounded her, unfastening the cuffs around her wrists, and body. They then forced her into position, pressing her down, adjusting her beneath the looming blade of the guillotine.
[Damn it. If only I came a little late. ]
Just then, the light shifted, and I noticed two more figures chained nearby to an iron bar at the back of the stage. I realized who they were as the announcer approached them, his voice strong as he delivered his speech.
"Is that…Cody? And Victor…?"
I stumbled back from the window, my mind scrambling, I tried to piece together a plan—any.
Hmm…
..hmm…
…hmm…!
…hmmmm!!!…
Nothing was coming to me. My head was empty. I opened my eyes and looked down to my hand pressed against my chest.
Ba-dum…Ba-dum..
My heart was racing out of nowhere.
[ This isn't the time for stuff like this! ]
I pulled my hand away and I saw it trembling violently. Then a wave of dizziness washed over me, numbness spreading from my skull down to my legs.
I staggered backward and crashed into the boxed behind me. They toppled noisily as I fell, grabbing at them for support.
My vision blurred, everything was darkening each time I blinked. My breaths were short and shallow, as I gasp for air.
I fell on my knees, one hand clutching my chest, the other dragging uselessly against the ground as I tried not to collapse completely.
The noise startled Anny. She spun around, her eyes wide, and rushed to me, trying to pull me upright. The panic send her high rockets, she began screaming at me with questions—but I couldn't hear her.
All I heard was an old buzzing noise, a high grating static frequency buzzing at my ears—almost like an old television with no channels left.
My body was heating up as sweat soaked through my clothes. Anny managed to drag me onto the couch, then ran to grab one of the white sheets, soaking it with water before placing it on my forehead.
My world tilted and the last thing I saw was Anny's small hands slapping my cheeks, each strike harder than the last, her voice breaking through the static vibration.
"Wake up!"
"Wake up!"
"Wake up!"
⪻────────𖤓────────⪼
"This was perfect becausetonight is the night.
The night we settle down. The night we show the world who we are."
"Don't get too comfortable now, we're just two men against a group of soldiers."
"As if they're in anyway on the same level as me."
"Wow, what a confidence!"
"Shall we go now, master?"
- - -
Buzz…buzz… ["BEN!—BEN CAN YOU HEAR ME?!"]
Wrrr—-wrrr—- ["BEN!BEN!—!"]
He flinched, fingers tightening around the headset. His gaze flicked sideways, removing himself from the spotligh.
The voice crackled through his headset in frantic bursts of static.
"I hear you," Ben muttered. "I hear—"
A sudden, piercing shriek cut through the channel.
"ARGH!—"
Ben cried out, clutching his ear as pain exploded through his head. He staggered sideways, ripped the headset off, and hurled it across the stage with great force.
The device skidded across the wooden planks and clattered to a stop near the edge.
Ben bent forward, gasping, one hand braced against his knee as the ringing still echoed inside his skull.
He remained like that for a moment before pulling himself straight.
When he straightened, the scene snapped back. The queen was kneeling before him, her head bowed beneath the raised blade of the guillotine. Her hair obscuring her face.
The two guards took notice of Ben as they stared at him.
The crowd begin to murmur and Ben's heart sank.
He swallowed, and took a few steps toward the crowd, smoothing his coat.
Ben cleared his throat. "Citizens of Victoria, let us pray when the blade drops with grace."
He turned slightly as he eyed the balcony.
"As for tonight…"
His eyes lifted.
And then—he saw something move up above.
Two figures stood on the rooftop of the main building. One stood rigid, the other slightly bent, they were watching.
Ben's breath caught, his eyes widened, pupils shrinking as he tried to form words. He took an unsteady step backward.
"W—watch out! G—Guards…!"
"…GUARDS?!"
He lifted a trembing hand and pointed upward.
"GUARDS!!"
His sudden scream and behaviour puzzled the crowd and the two guards beside him, their heads turned toward the direction Ben's finger was pointing at.
There wasn't anyone on the rooftop.
"…Is everything alright, Ben?" One of the guard asked cautiously, glancing between him and the sky.
From the backstage, Thomas leaned, his voice low and irritated. "What's going on? Has he lost his mind? Drop the blade already!"
Ben opened his mouth to speak but before he had the time, his eyes snapped wide as the two figures burst into view, shadows tearing free from the building as they leapt.
"They're…here! There!!"
The figures dropped straight into the crowd.
A violent rush of wind slammed downward as they fell, howling across the square. Torches flickered—then went out all at once.
Ben threw his arm up, shielding his face as grit and cold air blasted past him. The guards did the same, their boots scraping against the stage as they staggered back.
"Aughhh!!!"
BOOOM—!
Smoke exploded outward.
Thick, white fog surged through the crowd, swallowing the espace, the people and the guards nearby—everything was sucked inside that slimey white smoke.
Shouts erupted from inside as people screamed and shoved blindly, panic spreading faster. Outside the smoke, the soldiers camping wasted no time to dash into the area with force.
"SECURE THE BORDERS!" Thomas barked from the backstage as he ran toward the crowd. "RESCUE THE PEOPLE!"
"WATCH OUT FOR AMBUSH!" Another sergeant shouted as he commanded his men to fire.
Soldiers rushed, some disapeared into the fog, while some stood guarded Observing what will happen next.
Ben lowered his arm slowly, he couldn't see a thing. Everything was dark except that foggy-area that englobled the center of the fortress.
The crowd had vanished; darkness surrounded the fortress.
The only source of light for now was from the torches the guard held up, and the flame of the gun being fired.
The two present guard seized the queen by the arms, yanking her back from the guillotine.
Victor blinked awake, coughing softly through the settled debris and smoke. His wrists were tugged behind his back.
"Cody," he whispered urgently. "Cody—can you hear me?!"
"Cody!"
Beside him, Cody was knocked out.
Then—his eyes fluttered open upon hearing Victor.
"Victor?…" he groaned.
Victor smiled in relief. He shifted carefully, as Cody watched him.
One, two. Slowly, he twisted his wrists forward.
The chain dangled loose.
Cody's eyes widened as he let out a gasp.
Victor crawled to Cody, reached for his back and began twisting the lock, metal clicking softly. With a soft clasp, Cody's chain dropped.
"Her majesty!" Victor cried out. "Don't let her get taken away again."