Untitled Princess Carolyn Project

Chapter 15

As we walk down the street, the polite chatter we'd heard driving in has turned into whispers about scandals and gossip about other people. They talk as if they're politely talking about the weather while spreading horrible rumors and stories about people who are obviously their friends. This beautiful utopia has revealed itself to be a white hell.

I want this hell to burn.

And suddenly, I have an idea. I snatch the bag with the money in it from Jackal. We left the rest of our bags hidden by a plant on the fire escape. I count the amount of tips, Opelan currency, that Belleth and Jessa gave us. 4500. That's more than enough for what we need.

"Follow me." I say as I take off.

"Wait! What!?" Jackal yells from behind me.

I sprint back in the direction we left Marlein and the others at. I somehow find the building and the garage is still open. A young woman is working in the garage and I walk up to her. The truck is still here but I'm not sure where Marlein, Niyuhn, and Tate are. I don't have enough time to say hello and goodbye again.

"Can you help me?" I ask her.

She looks afraid.

"Yes?" She says. She has an accent I've never heard.

"Do you have a canister of gasoline and matches?" I say. Jackal and Perellies, who finally caught back up to me look utterly confused.

"Why?" She asks, eyeing me nervously.

"I'll pay you double what they cost and you can pocket the money if you give them to me."

"I think you are mistaken. This isn't a shop and I am not allowed to sell things. Especially dangerous things."

"I'll pay triple." I say, doing the math in my head. Gasoline in the Vex was about 100 tips and matches were 5. Triple would be 315 there but I'm not sure how much here.

"630 tips." She whispers.

I nod. She quickly gets up and grabs a green canister. She hands it to me and walks over to a set of metal drawers. She rummages around for a moment before pulling out a brand new box of matches. She hands it to me and looks around nervously.

"I don't want to know what you use it for." She whispers, sticking out her hand for the money.

I count 630 tips and place the coins in her hands. She pockets them swiftly and returns to what she was doing before.

"What the hell are you going to do with that?" Jackal asks, following me back to the truck. I grab one of the empty bags that were left on the truck and place the gasoline and matches in it. I find a pen and paper in the glove box of the car.

Dear Marlein, Niyuhn, and Tetsuhn,

My siblings and I thank you for the safe journey. We have a plan for

the things we need to get but it will be quite chaotic. Please make sure

you're safe. They may realize that you entered the city for the first time

today and may see you as the cause for what we plan. We had to find a

way to conceal a canister of gasoline so we took a bag of yours.

We're not sure how much it cost but I left 500 tips and hopefully it's

enough.

My sincerest apologies,

Analia Courtenay

I explain my plan to Perellies and Jackal who nod along.

"If we're caught, absolute chaos is probably the only thing that could help us get away." Jackal agrees.