Spades and Angels

An Enlightened Return To The Moors

Lolita

In the days following the burning message on the north quad, we're all on edge. Looking to see if more warnings like that one were coming. On edge and waiting to see what if anything else will happen. But nothing does. Something that has the others surprised but me...I'm more worried than anything.

"I just don't get it," Mal mumbles that day at lunch, her face set in a contemplative scowl slash frown. "Why have us on edge from what Lo's dad threatened - cruel by the way - and then nothing? Making us wait until a few days ago with the unsigned message set fire to the quad? And then...and then nothing again. What's the point of waiting."

"The waiting is the point, Mal," I murmur, seeing Mads shoot me a concerned look. "It's how they play." I hate knowing I'm right but I won't lie either. Not to the people who, despite my background, have become my family. Mal gives me a look to then where she sits with Pey. "The waiting is the point of all this. Part of the game they play with victims. People singled out as traitors."

"Just like the message said," Ash speaks then and I give him a nod, "it would tie in with the message. What was the rest of it?"

"Time will reveal the hidden truths and justice exacted on the traitors. I shall either find a way or make one. Those guilty found and justly punished. The truth will set you free. Traitor or patriot. Hunted or free. The truth will set you free, our question to you and those you chose to stand with our marked sister is: which one will you be?" I rattle off the words like a learned fact but my voice catches and I sigh. "Look, the marked sister is clearly me. Well, me or Riv since we're the only ones who would have been a sister. As the message said."

"Ok, so what about the rest of it? The...the idea that revealing hidden truths will set who free? And...and the rest of it. What does the rest of it mean?"

"I think it's to do with our story," I looked at Mads then since the kidnap idea had been his, or so he said. "I think the ideas around hidden truths have to do with the story we came up with for my switchover. One I don't know how much longer will hold if this is only the beginning." I hate saying that but I know I'm not wrong. Not if what I'm feeling is true. "I think that's what the hidden truths coming to light was talking about."

"Ok, so what about the rest of it? 'If I can't find a way I'll make one?' I mean what the fuck is that about? Some sort of way of saying he'll find out what happened about Lo? About her switching over?"

"Not the worst suggestion in the world," Mads mumbles, looking afraid. "I hope to god you're wrong Mal but what if you're not? What then? Does that tie in with the rest of the threat?"

"I-I think so," I mumble, seeing his eyes flash to mine. Worried. "Look the justice exacted on traitors would and will be people like me. Like Riv. People who ran and thought they could escape. Could get free. I hate to say this but that could be for anyone who disrespected Ivar and his family. Since it would be seen as making an example of them."

"And that links up to the ideas of those guilty being found and justly punished I guess," Pey replies, eyes on mine as I nod. "Ok, so that combined with what we think the whole hidden truths being revealed means ties into the idea of the truth setting you free. Setting all the people involved free of all the shit that gets covered up. The people hidden. How anyone involved in either Operation Silver or just with helping to hide Riv - and you to Lo since I doubt we can hope to be lucky enough to think we'll be able to hide you and what we did for you forever."

"The reckoning. Judgement is night," I mumble, trying to get a little humour in the situation. Seeing Mads crack a small smile and roll his eyes at my incredibly shitty comedic timing. "So that takes care of half of the message - assuming we're all right that is - so what about the rest of it? What was it again?"