The Masque: Part 1: Unwanted Struggle

The Masque: Chapter 6: Assassin's Hideout

Gem has started to learn a little bit more about Ria. He then pats Ria on the head, almost like combing it wih his hand, and took his time to look at her. Sir. Elleanor on the other hand, is taking a nap in a sitting position. The carriage along with other caravans and wooden carts are now reaching their intended destination, Yuel's encampment.

"That was such an idiotic move of yours, Ria. You could've been killed!" Gem says to himself and pertains the words to Ria.

"Why would you even bother protecting an unknown man. I am in no position to be helped and be protected by you."

"You lent your life without thinking!"

"You should've just used me as a shield against those deadly debris and walk away safely."

"You should've expressed those emotion to someone you knew, and not to me."

"Especially, after what you've gone through." A short pause went afterwards.

"But still, thank y- No... I'll just say it to you when you wake up."

Gem pats her head one more time and then decided to take a rest. While resting, something comes across Gem's mind. It's her. The scene feels really blurry but it fills the area with a red hue and the familiar girl who keeps appearing on Gem's mind is located in front of Gem. The girl is really pitch black, it doesn't show much of her, but you can feel that something's off about her.

"Don't go..." The girl says to herself and you can visibly see tears coming off from her pitch black figure.

"This isn't worth it anymore, Gem." A gun appeared out of the pitch black coloration of the girl and she points the gun at Gem.

"The risk is just too high. I can't let you go."

"But if you still want to pursue this mission of yours..."

"You will have no one to come back to."

"So choose..." Not long after her words have been spoken, a strange fissure happened at the scene and reverts back to her black figure.

"I see..." The scene just focused only on her face. You can now see the pitch black color on her face starting to fade away, specifically on her lower face. A disappointing smile with tears dripping at the side of her face is shown.

After a small glimpse of her face and the ominous bloody scene being shown, everything immediately went black. A few moments later, a gunshot was heard. With the sound of a gunshot, a follow-up sound emerges, sounds of thumping. But in Gem's mind it feels like the gunshot is being replayed again and again in his mind, until someone finally talks.

"Andito na tayo! Gising na kayo!" One of the assassins thumps outside the carriage that Gem is in. The words is spoken in their language, but it seems to signify that the carriages have reached their destination. Also, nightfall has started by the time they reached the encampment.

The people inside the carriage wakes up and so is Gem, in a more intense manner. His feeling after waking up in his dream was like reaching the surface from the deepest part of the ocean. Shortness of breath and sweat is present on Gem's face. Finally, he comes back to reality.

"Ahhhh! Sarap panaman matulog." Sir. Elleanor says after he wakes up. He yawns and does a little arm stretch after taking a nap.

"Andito na pala tayo. Oh!" The knight checks his surroundings and sees Gem who looks terrified.

"Uhm... Gem? Are you okay?"

"Gem?"

"H~Huh? Oh, y~yeah I'm alright." Gem replies.