Eyes To See (Not Continuing)

The Fountain

~Balance~

20 minutes pass...

My eyes search the block, looking for an opportunity to break from the bushes and make it to the cover of the fountain. The same fountain that centres the property I now live on. My plan; to reach my apartment and hide in a room until the troops move on from the area. Then, I will try to escape the city, when their guard is down. I know I will take Ember with me...if I ever see her again.

Ember works further into the city, so she would definitely have a warning that troops were closing in. I only hope she thought to return here.

"It is clear, lead us to your place of sanctuary." Elizabeth nudges me.

"Run across the tracks, and take cover behind the fountain! Go!" I hoarsely whisper to the group. Barney has been carrying Austin for a while, I wonder if he can run. Too late to ask.

My heart pounds as I lose my cover, but I had to do this. Hopefully I will reach the running water before I am spotted by someone. My legs burn, but it will be over soon.

The first to the fountain is Auber, followed by Donny. I take my place behind the fountain's beauty and wait for the others.

Safe. I am safe.

Elizabeth comes panting in last. She sits on the ground with a thump, only to have her attention drawn by the carvings I noticed before.

"The carvings for the parties." She speaks in between pants. "Symbols of different faiths." I listen, and take her seriously for the first time. "Why would someone put all of them? Why not the one they prefer?"

"It's just decoration." Donny answers.

"No, it can't be." Elizabeth raises her finger to trace the symbol of Wisdom. She touches it for a single moment, and the carving begins to glow a light blue. I almost choke on the air.

"How?" I ask, intrigued.

"I do not know. Could the gods have crafted this, or is it a fancy decoration?" The girl worshiping Wisdom places her other hand over the Hate symbol, only to get a not pleasing result. No light. "You," Elizabeth points to Auber. "Place your finger."

"I am not devoted to Hate, I do not believe in his ways." Auber refuses.

"Your eye colour might be enough, give it a try."

The next thing you know, a dark red light shines in the grooves of the carving. Donny clues in and adds pink to his symbol, and Meredith does the honours for Kindness. All that is left is the Balance scales on the end of the row. I look down at my hand before I place it on the fountain.

What happened to reaching my apartment? What will this do? Should I test my luck.

Don't look back, Ju. Don't look back at all.

Purple.

Not just from the glow.

"Ember!"