Hidden World

Chapter XXVIII - Losing a Friend

The silence grew heavier as none of them talked after Eliseea and Fenrir left. The streets outside were quiet even if the spring was in full force. The days were longer now and the nights shorter. While summer was right across the corner, none of them had that thought in mind. Each was battling their own worries.

Leo was worried about what might happen after Sebastian's death and the retrieval of the book. Isis went from time to time to check on Malwin while Rose remained in her seat staring at nothing. Everyone was tensed but none dare to speak first.

After a while, Rose looked at Leo and broke the silence. She needed him to complete a task for her and she needed it soon.

"I will need you to run to the store in town and buy eight floodlights that can be mounted on walls and four that can be placed on the ground."

Leo looked at her confused. "Why would you need that?"

"Sebastian is part shadow demon, and for my plan to work we need to eliminate the possibility of him creating shadows, therefore placing lights all around him might give us an advantage."

"And where might your plan take place?" he asked as his curiosity grew.

"The old church ruins." She responded and walked out of the room only to come back moments later with a paper and a pen. She drew a shape similar to that of the church and placed circles on it. "We can place the lights in every corner and in the middle of each wall. But we have to make sure that we get it right so we will also place four on the ground, one near the door, one under the stained glass and the remaining ones near the South and North walls."

"How will we power them?"

"Simple, we can connect the cables here." She said and made a sign near the spot where the entrance to the tunnel should be. "We can place two gasoline run generators here. If I remember well, father had two of those stored in the hotel in case of emergency."

Leo chuckled "Is funny that you still call him father."

"I don't remember his name yet, so it is easier this way." She said and she walked back to her sit. She clenched her fist out of sight. For some reason now she could feel the patterns grown on her body slowly and painfully, but at least now she knew that they made their way to her back.

"You should leave as well before the stores close but make sure to be safe. I am sure that maniac might try to lure the rest of you one by one."

Leo did not hesitate and left, leaving Rose alone in the dining room.

She waited for him to leave before walking upstairs and stopping in front of what was supposed to be Leo's room. She knocked and opened the door only to see Isis making her a sign to be quiet. She slowly approached the bed and looked at Mal that was peacefully sleeping. She could see that the wounds on his arms and face were nearly healed but she could not help but feel an amount of guilt at this sight.

Isis took Rose and they both left the room. Once the door was closed they stood there in silence for a little. "He needs to rest." Isis said before dragging the other back downstairs.

Isis sat on the couch in the Living Room and watched Rose pace around the room. "You always do this." She remarked, making the latter stop and look at her confused.

"I do what?"

"Pace around when you think. What is your plan anyway?"

"I am not one hundred percent sure to be honest. I keep trying to find the best way but only one scenario seems to be doable."

"And what is that?"

"I need someone to bait him. If he is as desperate as I think... he will come no matter what."