All Of Us - Part 1: Summer

Chapter 18 - The debate

Trigger warning: violence

- Dæor -

Huh ?

I blink twice, but nothing gets clearer. My brain is in an information overload. What just happened ? And... "Did I hear that right ?" I ask whilst helping myself down with the chair. No reply. My back is to her. I can't bear to turn around now - I can't bear to face her gaze.

"Yes. You heard correctly. I think," she adds.

My heartbeat won't calm down. All I can seem to think about it is the way she stood perfectly still before her "Fuck you". Do Princesses even say that kind of stuff ? Princess... I pass my forearm over my forehead. How am I going to deal with this ?

My mind is a mess, but there is one thing I'm certain of: if she wants to join the rebels, I can't decide on my own. This has to be democratic. I blink twice. Do I want her to join ? Instantly, the answer is yes, three exclamation points following it. But the response comes from my chest, and I can't trust that. I need to think this through - with my brain.

What do I know about this girl ? Nothing, really. She's the Crown, but she hasn't committed any criminal acts that I've heard of. But on the other hand, she's spent her entire life in the King's hands. She must be about as indoctrinated as they come. If that's the case, why did she suggest joining ? Is it just a tactic to save her skin ? Again, my chest screams out loud: "No, it can't be. It can't be." Ah, shut up, will you ?

I sneak a peek at her. Her face is hidden from my view by her tangled hair as she bends over to climb down the table. I can't help but notice her grace. "Here, let me help you," I suggest in spite of myself.

"And what makes you believe I need help ?" She shakes her head and her hair flies back. The Prin - Evangeline looks at me dead in the eye. . Her eyes... I have never seen anything quite like it. They're dangerous. But also beautiful. They're... lovely. My cheeks go bright red, but she doesn't seem to notice and stays deadpan. Could it be... Was it only me ? That feeling of spinning - of falling ? Was it only mine ?

I break eye contact and let my head drop. I can't figure this out alone. "Follow me," I tell her, my tone more blunt than I would have liked it to be. She nods as I skirt around the desk and towards the door. My palm against the wood, I take a deep breath. Whatever the outcome of tonight will be, it'll be a turning point. For all of us.

I open the door and stride outside. She trails behind me. No one's in the hallway - they must all be in the mess hall, eating. "Listen up," I throw behind my shoulder. "I'm going to ask them if they want you to join."

She stops dead in her tracks, and I spin around. For the first time since she came into my office, I can feel fear emanating from her. "What's wrong ?" Her head turns and we make eye contact. I kinda stop breathing. "They hate me," she finally says.

"It'll be fine."

"You saw what Thet did !"

My eyes look away for a split second and flit towards her neck. The faded shadow of two hands still circle it.

"You'll be safe. I promise," I reply, looking back into her eyes. She hesitates, before nodding. Some of the fear dissipates, and my heart rate slows down slightly. "Come on, let's go." I gesture with my head towards the end of the hallway. Before I know it, we're right outside the mess hall. The doors are closed, no one can see us, yet murmurs of the chaos inside still reach our ears. Next to me, I can feel Evangeline's mounting apprehension. "Are you ready ?" I ask her. She takes a while, but ends up answering a short and strong "Yes. Yes, I am ready.". She looks in my direction before stepping towards the double doors and pushes them.