Michela

Chapter six

A week after, there was a royal burial, with the king declaring I had become his ward. There was fear in the air, I could smell it. Everyone at England was scared, the question on everyone's mind was "who's next?" They all wondered who'd be the next sacrifice. I hated that a whole country had to live in fear because of that bitch. I walked through the market with slug pace, with images of my brother flashing through my mind. I noticed lots of eyes following my movements, giving me pitiful faces and shaking their heads sorrowfully. My legs picked up their pace immediately, I was literarily walk-running, if there's a word like that. I got to Cornelius' house and knocked on the door.

"come in"

I entered to meet the whole gang seated on the floor staring up at me.

"ehm... hey guys, am I interrupting something?" I raise my eyebrows.

"of course, not, what could you possibly be interrupting? Martha laughed nervously. I eyed them suspiciously then sat down.

"so ... Martha told me that Cornelius told her that you told him you have a psychotic plan of making Her pay"

"ugh, that's why I never tell you guys things! You guys are snitches!"

"it's fine Nelly, I was going to tell them anyways" I said to a red faced Cornelius.

"You're joking, right? Martha asks and looks around, "she is right?"

"guys, I lost my whole family in a night. For the first time in my life I knew what grief was, I felt what it was like to be alone in the world. I saw them put my parents and my brother's body into the ground. Do you guys think I'm unreasonable for at least planning to get even?"
There was silence, I continued my speech.

"someone has to do it, it may have been my family last time, but who knows whose family is next? It could be anyone of you guys, it could be your friends or extended family. If that happens, can you guys deal with the consequences? With knowing that you could've at least done something to help your family, your friends and even your country."

"I'm not English, and none of my extended family moved from India with me but, count me in" Festus gave me a tight-lipped smile, but this is Festus we're talking about. To him a tight-lipped smile is a toothy grin.

"your brother was mine too, I'm in"

"thanks Leon"

"we ride together, we die together. I'm in"

"thanks Martha"

"I don't particularly agree with the dying part, but Martha's right. So, I'm in"

"thanks August" I said with a shaky voice trying to blink back tears.

We all turned to look at Cornelius.

"what?" he eyed

"Are you in" Martha clapped back

He shook his head, covered his face with his left palm and gave a weak nod.

'YAY!" Martha screamed.

"you're screaming excitedly, when we're about to poke a tiger in the face" Nelly looked at her with eyes poking out of their sockets and hands placed behind his neck.

I looked around, everyone had concerned looks on their faces, even Martha who was playing the extremely bubbly card. Cornelius looked like he was on the death row to be executed at dawn.

Two weeks after we had our meeting, we decided to set off. I woke up that morning feeling pumped up, any other human would've thought I was crazy but I felt like I was doing the right thing. I got off the bed, my maid servant took my bath, and dressed me up. I left for the market with six guards ugh. I got to a crowded stall for ball dresses, I changed my clothes, put on a veil and passed the backdoor. I walked as swiftly as I could without being sighted and headed for the Britonde forest. I got there and met the whole gang.