The Sixth God (Arc 1: From The Pale Ashes) [BL]

Chapter 12

"What do you mean, Auntie and Uncle, are going to sell me?" Ina asked, astonished.

Shida pulled Ina behind a tree, scoping Milly's house. His stomach tightened when he spotted a familiar carriage. It was the one Shida saw on the road, a strange bulky carriage with a tarp draped over it. Inside was a sound of rustling, whispers, and clacking.

"The Church of Lumine is looking for you. They have reward money. Ina, we have to escape."

Ina hesitated, the battle in his eyes obvious. Suddenly, they widened. "Wait-we?"

"Of course." Shida calculated what they need to run away. Gear, food, money....

As Shida was thinking he missed the soft smile on Ina's lips as he stared at the black-haired boy.

Shida chewed on his thumbnail, eyes intense. "We need money most of all..."

"I can get it!" Ina chirped.

Shida raised his eyebrows at him.

"I know where Milly keeps her secret stash," Ina explained.

"Tell me where it is. I'll go get it." Shida said though the thought of returning to that house had his stomach twisting and throat tightening.

"No! I'll get it." Ina refused firmly.

"Ina!" Shida grabbed his shoulders, trying to keep the fear out of his voice. "This is no time to fight. Those people-" He pointed to the carriage. "-are already here to take you away. I will go get it."

Ina shook his head stubbornly. "No! I know you hate the house. I'll get it. Besides, you haven't been in the house in years, you don't know where the money is. I'll sneak around back and climb through the window so they won't see me."

Shida gritted his teeth, wanting to argue but the thought of entering the house.... "Fine, we will split up. While you do that, I'll scrounge around the barn and look for supplies. Then we can run into town and grab that Geldkey." The plan formed as he talked, excitement making him giddy.

Leaving, we are finally leaving!

The relief made Shida's eyes water up.

They both split up, Shida sneakily running towards the barn. His hands were shaking with excitement as he slid the door open. The desolate area looked cleanly picked over but Shida knew where everything was. He picked up the ratty hemp bag in the corner. It was used to hold grain for the cow, smelled of dust and wheat, and hand a finger size hole in the bottom that the rats chewed through but it could hold bigger items with ease like-

A frayed rope only three feet long.

A dented, rusty can they could use to hold water.

The broken prong of an old pitchfork.

Shida happily packed this into the sack, lips twitching and threatening to do something he hadn't done in a long time.

Smile.

The sound of footsteps had Shida turning around, holding the bag proudly.

"Ina-"

Shida's breath left him, shock slamming into his bones.

Grey and Milly looked ecstatic as they spotted him, two cloaked figures quietly looking him up and down from behind the couple.

"Ah, he's here!" Milly rushed up to Shida, grabbing his arm and pulling him towards the group.

Goosebumps ran down his body at the touch. Shida eyed the two figures. They were both in dark cloaks, one a hulking figure with his hood up, hiding his face while the other was smaller buy a few feet. His stature was slim and spotting Shida, his hooded face tilted to the side, a feeling of curiosity radiating from within.