ACT ONE: EUROPA

ORIGINS: Me Voy (Sofía)

The sky above Spain was a beautiful sapphire blue that day. People walked down the warm sunny streets and talked in shop fronts. Children laughed while playing football in the middle of the square and I sat alone at a cafe. I watched the people go by and smiled when one of the children scored a goal between two lampposts and jumped with excitement. His team circled and praised him.

I ordered another latte. I heard footsteps and look up to see my dearest friend "Rosa, it's great to see you're well".

"Likewise", Rosa sat down "About this attack on Monday". She began in a hushed voice. "Are you sure you can beat him?"

"It's worth a try, no?" I smirl. Confidently taking a sip of my fresh coffee. I use a spoon to stir the foam into the milky drink.

"I don't want you getting hurt or worse. You're my friend Elsa. I want you to be okay".

"Don't worry about me. I know how to fight, I'll be fine".

"The king controls gods, Elsa. He's powerful. If you're caught-"

"If I'm caught - which I won't be - then you'll be in charge of Libertad. You're a good leader, I'm sure you'll do great things".

God, how over confident I was back then. I got what I deserved for it. A body covered in burns. Each one a reminder that I failed, that I lost, that I'm the reason my comrades died, that my family died. I thought, I really thought I was better than anyone else. I went, I fought, I lost. Hate me all you want for having an ego, I even hate myself for it.

As I stood there, hands behind me tied to a pole. I stood and recounted my life. When my family heard the news about the king we were furious but too scared to do anything. My graduation from highschool allowed me the freedom to join Libertad; a group set on taking down the king. It was there where I met Rosa. Where I fought for Spanish independence. Where I died.

I awoke with a sharp pain throughout my body. I couldn't move. So I lay there in the dark room until the door opened. A petite and strained woman came in, she adjusted her glasses. She was young, and her hair was a minty green colour, her roots were coming in a dark brown.

"You're awake! That's good. I'll go call on my master" she disappeared out the room. My neck was in too much pain for me to try to move it. I just stared at the dark ceiling. In the silence I tried to speak but my throat was too dry and achy to do much but let out a whisper.

A man with dark hair and dark clothes stood over me. I felt so pathetic and confused and weak. "You're Elsa Diaz, correct?" I nodded ever so slightly "You're not anymore. Everyone thinks your dead. This is a good opportunity. Maryland go get her a drink," as the woman scuttled off the man sat down next to me. "You're badly injured, only reason you're not a pile of ash is because I risked my neck for you and Maryland's a good healer. It will take time - probably months - until you're able to live on your own again. For the time being you'll stay here. Don't make a sound. Don't make a scene. Don't touch anything and don't, ever, go into my study while you're here" his eyes glowed a hellish red that scared me to the bone "I'll leave you to rest now" he stood up and walked away, brushing past Maryland.

Maryland helped me sit up. It was painful and it felt like a hot iron had pierced my lower spine. I could see now that my hands were bandaged. I wore an oversized and unfitted shirt that I presumed belonged to my supposed saviour. The healer held the glass up to my mouth. "I know you must be going through a lot right now but me and my master are here to help. If you ever need anything don't hesitate to ask...of course, you're vocal cords were damaged and need some time to repair so you can't exactly shout for me never the less whisper. I'll be in here a lot anyway, attending to your wounds and such, keeping you company, spreading gossip".

The man was right of course. It took months for me to recover and even then I still needed help with certain things. He left Europa one night, without ever telling me, I inherited his company however and was thrown into the world of business overnight. Maryland taught me the basics, she took care of me, ran errands for me. Eventually two years had past. Maryland came into the home and brought me the day's newspaper. On the front I saw a terrifying sight. Rosa.

The article was full of propaganda, lying to the people of Europa and telling them Libertad was a group that was jealous of the king's power and wanted it for themselves. Of course no one would believe it and even if they did the chances of them caring were minimal. But seeing Rosa again sparked something inside of me.

"I have to go" I told Maryland.

"Where to? Do you need me to come?" The young woman said, chasing me up to the front door.

"España. Do you...want to come?" I turned back to recieve her answer. She had backed away and shook her head.

"It's too hot. What if you get burned?"

"You're...really asking me that? It's not that warm, not up north anyway".

"Are we going up north?"

"No, we're going to Madrid".

"Then I'm not going! And you shouldn't either".

"I have to go. I need to go. Look after this place while I'm gone. I'll bring you back something" I waved as I left. Getting a ride to Spain wasn't the problem, the time it would take to get there was.

I woke up and looked outside to see the streets of Madrid come into view. I smiled. It was nice being back home, as close I could probably get anyway. I'm not from Madrid but the familiar sights washed a wave a nostalgia over me. I thanked the driver, making sure to pay him more than what he asked for and set off towards an old bank. A building Libertad used when I was still in charge. I knocked on the back door and a window opened.

"What's the password?"

"Antoni Gaudí" A famous Spanish architect although the background isn't important.

The window shut and there was whispering behind it. Then Rosa came to the window. I seen her again for the first time in two years and my heart was aflutter. She didn't appear to recognise me "That's the old password. Who are you?"

"You don't seem to recognise me but I'm Elsa, Elsa Diaz. It's good to see you again Rosa."

The window snapped shut. "You're disgusting. You can just use her name like that".

"Rosa please, it's really me".

"No it's not. Elsa..died...two years ago". I heard her slide down to the floor.

"Rosa, do you remember when we went to the beach? It was your first time at one. The sand was too hot and you had to run to the ocean to cool down. We brought sandwiches and juice? You were pinched by a crab?" I heard her stand back up. I heard chains and keys turning and then the door flew open and Rosa wrapped her arms around me.

"Elsa, god, I thought you were dead. Don't even do that again!" She threw a sandal at me.

"So did I" I joked. She led my inside the bank.

"I didn't think I'd ever see you again. What happened to you?" she pushed down my cravat to see the large mark on my neck. "How did you even survive?"

"It's a long story" we sat down and talked for hours. About the state of Europa, about we're we had been, about Libertad, about everything. I felt myself at ease for the first time in two years, Rosa had this aura about her, one that would calm the most tremendous rain and storm that which would settle an erupting volcano, that which made me feel at home.

"I'm sorry I cannot stay Rosa" I said as she led me towards the door. "I'll make sure to visit".

"No worries. Just be safe. Sofía Suarez".

"I think I prefer it to Elsa".

She giggled "Sofía, Elsa, I don't care what name you go under. I love you" she kissed me on the cheek.

"I love you too".