Annihilation

Carolus

People ogled over us, whispering and staring at the newcomers despite our adherence to wearing the outfits that were supposed to help us blend in. We stopped by the seamstress' shop, a small boutique with dresses in the same style I currently wore, but ranging from casual to extravagant. I rolled my eyes at the giggles that Jin and Jimin bit back as they made me stand on a pedestal, taking my measurements and showing me various fabrics to have dresses made from.

We strolled down the street, pausing to observe the work of a blacksmith and taste hand-churned ice cream a woman made using goat's milk. Gideon offered for the guys to have their hair cut at the shop on the corner and asked if I would be interested in having my hair lightened, but it all felt superficial. Sure, I trimmed their hair a few times at the prison when it started to grow over their eyes, but everything about Carolus felt like a novelty, like a deluded community so far from reality that I didn't want to be pulled in.

Jin was taken by the small piece of land that held a few goats and chickens, Namjoon entranced with the university library that was still intact. Jimin was the perfect guest, accepting every offer so that he looked even sweeter with his quaffed hair and a shirt even frillier than the one he wore. Yoongi was just the opposite, his shoulders filled with tension and scowling at everything in sight.

"Would you join us for dinner tonight?" Gideon asked once we'd finished the tour, keeping his arm bent for Shelby to hold on to.

The silence that fell between us lasted too long, Jimin picking up on the offense in Gideon's eye and replying with one of the only words he pretended to be confident expressing in English. "Dinner? Yes."

Gideon's expression quickly changed so that he wore that charming smile, clapping his hands together once. "Perfect, I'll have someone fetch you in a few hours." He responded, Emmanuel reappearing as if he'd been there the entire time. I looked over to find him just as he'd been when we started our morning, armed and secure at Jin's side.

"So this is where you're staying. Let me check it out." I observed, looking up at the former fraternity house, the outlines of Greek letters that'd been removed still pressed into the paint.

Shelby was by my side then, taking hold of my hand. "We only have a few hours to get ready. I really wanted your help to pick out a dress for dinner." She batted her eyelashes at me. I honestly couldn't care less about what dress she wore to dinner.

"It's okay, it's just a bunch of rooms with bunk beds. We'll see you at dinner." Namjoon gave my other hand a reassuring squeeze, nodding toward Gideon and Shelby before leading the others back into their new home.

I paid special attention to the route from where they were staying to the royal quarters. Gideon parted from us at the front door to handle other business, Shelby leading us upstairs to their bedroom again.

"I'm thinking I might go for something kind of simple but then do my hair in a half-up, half-down thing." Shelby moved immediately to pull open her closet, bursting with fabrics.

I took a seat on the bench at the foot of their bed, my mouth pressed into a hard line. "Why does it feel like you don't want me alone with them?" The irritation in my voice was evident and Shelby turned around, honest confusion in her expression.

"That's not it, Lena." She sat next to me with her own question. "Do you not trust me?"

"I do, I just haven't had a moment alone with them since we got here. That worries me. This place is very different from how things are outside of here, and while I have you to make me more comfortable, they don't have that." I explained. I hadn't been able to make sure they were really okay.

She could see the concern in my eyes. "I'm sorry, I guess I've been greedy with you since it's been so long. I'll make sure you get to visit them tomorrow afternoon." She nodded confidently.