The Darkest Night Will End

The Baudelaire Manor, The Trocadero District, Paris, 8:57pm, June 5th, 1832

The Baudelaire Manor, The Trocadero District, Paris, 8:57pm, June 5th, 1832

Adrien moved quietly down the path toward the grounds shed, near to the shooting range.

He was already running late after a bad run in with his sister, and barely managed to convince her to not give him away when she had confronted him about seeing Jacquelyn around the property again.

They'd fought back and forth, until Adrien had let it spill that he had to go to help at the barricades.

His sister, Aribelle, had grinned wickedly, "The barricades you say? What would father have to say about you going there?"

He'd begged her not to say anything at the dinner he'd hoped to be skipping out on in favor of joining the Amis, and they had squabled again until a servant had appeared announcing that dinner was ready.

So he'd sat uncomfortably through a dinner that seemed to last for an eternity, heart pounding every time Aribelle opened her mouth to speak.

His mother had noticed his unease, quietly asking if he was alright, to which he had excused himself from the table, citing a stomach ache as his reasoning to be leaving, and 'retired' to bed for the night, shooting one last look at his sister as he left.

In his room he had taken a moment to collect himself before retrieving the large bag he'd stowed away in his closet and making his way through the servants halls and out into his fathers trophy room.

After gathering all the guns he could, he'd found himself here, sneaking through the shadows to the hut where rounds were kept, unaware of what has happening in the dining room.

"Does it seem like Adrien is acting strange to you?" His mother asked.

Monsieur Baudelaire hardly looked up from his plate, "He's fine."

"Well maybe but he never gets sick, you know that."

Aribelle glanced around the table, from her parents to her brothers as she sipped at her wine, "Maybe it's all the action happening in town today."

"Action?" Gabrielle, her youngest brother of 15 asked, "What kind of action?"

Monsieur Baudiealre narrowed his eyes, "There's a group of school boys- workers too, they think that they can over power the national guard. They are trying to take over the government, nothing important."

"I hear that its getting pretty serious. They've built barricades and everything," Aribelle said, cutting into a piece of lamb, "There giving the national guard a hard fight. There might even be thousands of them out there, fighting."

Jean-Georges, Adrien's twin, looked at her suspiciously, "And how exactly do you know that?"

"The girls were talking about it today," She shrugged, "Supposedly, the commanders are getting nervous. They think those school boys might win. They've barricaded themselves into streets, and shoot any national guardsmen that get too close. Indigo says that it looks like they could win-"

Monsieur Baudielare banged his fist on the table cutting off her rambling, "Enough of this. Who told you these things?"

Aribelle bowed her head, "The girls- while we were sewing this afternoon..... And Adrien mentioned that there was fighting in the square when I asked him to accompany me out earlier."

"Tell me the truth." He snarled.

By now Adrien had made it to the shed and was filling his bag, and every pocket he could with extra rounds, tucking as many powder horns as would fit into his bags, lord knew the men at the barricade would need it.

Closing the bag he slid the strap over his shoulder, along with a few extra powder horns that couldn't have fit, before turning and creeping out of the shed.

He would have to hurry to reach the barricades before 10, not to mention dodging national guard posts.

Adrien was halfway to the main gate out of the manor when he heard a cough from behind him, "Where do you think you're going?"

He spun to see his father, his twin standing just behind him, "I- it- i-"

"I asked you a question," The man repeated, "Where are you going?"

Adrien took a deep breath, squaring his shoulders and balling his shaking hands into fists "To the barricades."

"Wrong answer." Jean-Georges growled, starting to move forward.

From up near the house Adrien heard a yell, and saw Aribelle struggling against Gabreillies grip, "Adrien! Adrien run! Run!"

He looked back to see Jean-Groeges cocking a pistol, "You're no brother of mine."

Adrien barely managed to run two paces before a shot rang out into the night.