The Only Hope

The Epilogue: Part 4

Then

The night was dark, and quite. Not one creature dared to stir, in the risk of disturbing the peace- all but one. In a normal, but timed and careful, pace a dark hooded figure walked the streets of Capital City. Their shoes, soft soled, made not a sound against the ground, and the figure used the moonless night to walk the dead streets freely. The hood figure walked the streets with ease, picking up their pace slightly as they approached their destination. Taking a sharp turn, the figure entered into an alleyway.

They were not alone.

In the middle of the alleyway, blocking the other end was a simple satomoible. The figured stopped, before slowly approaching. As they did, the two front doors opened, and a figure from each side came out. They left the doors open, the mobile’s engine hum was the only sign that the thing was there. They walked, and met the hooded figure each one stopping within a foot of the other. The first figure from the car, a tall, beefy looking man; tipped his head to the side. The hooded figure copied him before nodding. The man tipped his head back and made a motion to his companion, a thin woman only an inch or two shorter than him. She, and the figure, stepped forward, as the figure removed the bag from their back. The figure cradled the bag against their chest, as the woman held out a bad of her own. Releasing one hand from their bag, the figure grabbed for the woman’s bag as she reached out for their own. Each one took their new bag, the woman cradling the bag in her arms while the masked figure slung theirs over their back. The beefy man nodded his head once and turned to leave. The hooded figure watched the pair get back into their mobile, back up from the alleyway- their lights still off- and drive away. When the figure could no longer hear the engine, they turned and started back in the direction they came.

~~~

I found myself staring down at the child in the cradle. I didn’t touch, coo, or worry over it; just stared. My gaze was torn away when my bedroom door opened, his nurse maid Li-Lu came in. I moved over towards her, not to just get away from the child but to speak with her.

“He’s a sleep; let him rest for another hour or two. If he doesn’t wake up by then, wake him and feed him.” She nodded and bowed to me. I thanked her and left. I had a busy day ahead of me and I didn’t have time to waste. I had opted out of eating breakfast with Dazen, eating it in my room as I got ready that morning and heading straight to my first meeting.

Today would be an enjoyable day; I had begun a once-a-month open meeting with my subjects. For four hours, I would sit on my throne and listen to issues they were dealing with. Most I was able to help right on the spot- that was how petty they were- but others required time. Such as the whole dead-fish thing that had just gotten wrapped up- that took nearly ten months! None the less we found out why the fish were dying, and how we could stop it and last I was told the town is thriving more so than before. I also enjoyed the chance to interact with my subjects, and any good leader should know and understand their people. How else could they be a leader should all of their subjects leave?

I hadn’t know that they day would be one that would be forever etched into the deepest parts of my mind.

It had been simple enough; about an hour into the public meeting, the line outside the door unending, and I had just been brought a cup of white tea. Holding the cup up, I brought it to my lips as the doors opened to allow the next group in. Just as they closed, the village-looking people slowly walked towards me as the gawked- a scream clear as day filled the room. My tea cup jumped in my hands, and shattered to the ground beside me. I rose, ignoring the mess, and rushed from the room as I begun to bark orders. I pointed to a small group of guards, “You three- stay here- keep these people safe and you two, follow me.”

Rushing out from my throne room, I begun to go aimlessly towards the direction of the scream. As I did, I passed a few people who tried to help guide me, but as I got closer to the sounds of sobs and shouts; I realized it was coming from my bedroom. I picked up my flight, rising a bit higher from the ground as I rushed through the halls. The doors to my room were wide open, and upon entering I saw Li-Lu on the ground, by the cradle; sobbing. A few guards stood around her, but moved as I came up.