Flag Smashers: Karli Morgenthau x Male OC

9 | Innocence and Guiltiness

Hey sorry guys! I've been away for a weeklong hike but I'm back now and still posting every Tuesday (except today. That's an exception).

8:12am

"The depot that was bombed was funded and run by the GRC, the Global Repatriation Council," came the reporter's voice from the radio.

The Flag Smashers had relocated to an abandoned field in the outskirts of Vilnius. There was a run down, collapsed brick building that they had set camp in. The foundations had completely collapsed, the walls caved in and there was more open space than stone. A large babbling creek threaded its way through the field a little way from the building.

The gang was clustered around in a rough circle, eating and resting whilst they listened to the report on each others' phones.

Quin paced back and forth, looking distraught as the radio blared on.

"One of the workers killed was the father of two and had only been on the job for one week. After condemning this latest action by the radical group known as the Flag Smashers the GRC has formally began drafting legislation known as the Patch Act, which would seek to restore traditional border regulations and fast track the return to normalcy."

With a frustrated grunt Karli stood up, slowly ambling away from the main group, wrapping her parka tighter around her shoulders. She stopped and leaned against the crumbling wall, gazing out at the creek waters.

"That act of violence has also brought attention and followers to the Flag Smasher cause. No one can deny the world wide reach of the group is growing, as is the danger."

She heard his footsteps crunching on the hard earth and the crackling of autumn leaves.

"Are...are you sure we're doing the right thing?" Quin asked hesitantly as he stood beside her. "I mean, I support the cause a hundred percent. But you heard the reporter. Dad of two killed. Children left fatherless."

"They were the first ones to mess up," Karli started with a heated tone, turning to him almost aggressively. He backed up a bit, surprised at her outburst. "We're the ones who have to fix it. And now they're draftin' that fucking Patch Act. I thought you were supposed to support me."

"I do support you, Morgenthau. I just don't think killing innocents would be a good idea-"

"Innocents? They're not innocent. They have as much blood on their hands as we do! More even! Weren't you proud to join our cause?"

He opened his mouth to speak but the redhead silenced him. "Save your breath Quin." She walked past him, hitting his shoulder as she did so.

They weren't killing in cold blood. It was avenging the lives lost and righting the wrongs. But Karli couldn't help but feel that she had been too harsh on him. She wanted to go back and apologise to him, but she bit her lip and kept walking. Not back to the rest of the gang, but along the river.

He watched her leave and sighed softly, briefly catching a scent of her cinnamon smell. Had he betrayed her? Betrayed the Flag Smashers? Betrayed the people who were looking up to them, needed them? She was right though, he knew. They weren't innocent, but still the reporter's words rang in his head.

The sound of the creek's soft gurgling filled her ears. The harsh breeze blew past, ruffling the cascading red curls on her shoulders. Karli trudged on, ignoring the cold. The landscape here was barren, hard earth with barely any greenery. It was broken every now and then with a copse of old maple or oak trees. Above the sky was an angry grey canvas with brush strokes of white clouds.