When The Night Falls Book 2 of When Good Things End trilogy

CHAPTER 5

(lol finally posting one more, I'm getting excited to write the next chapters since there's a few scenes Im just begging to write at this point!!)

"You sure are a firecracker," the grandma laughed as the other counsel members made there way out of the court room.
"Thanks I guess," I sighed. Feeling drained from the long meeting, it drew out for hours once I dropped that bomb. The room was about to go dark since the sun was about to set.
I stood still as the room descended into a golden green glow with the last touches of the sun. I can't get myself to tear my eyes away even as that woman came over and stood with me.
"I wanted to say thank you, for helping me," I stated as I closed my eyes with change to darkness. She was the only person who advocated for me and practically fought all the others that tried to rewrite our arranged agreement.
She smiled once I looked back at her. Her braided gray hair glinted with what light remained filtered in the room. "You remind me of someone," she said as we both made our ways out into the courtyard.
"Who would that be?" I asked, feeling as if i was about to be compared to someone with a bad reputation.
"My grandfather."
I paused, knowing that there must be something hidden in that statement.
"You have his eyes," she said.
I shook my head. "There plain blue eyes. Don't try to tie something special into it." It's late. I still need to walk home and I don't want to drag out the time I have left before the moons falls overhead.
"I hope to see you again," she said as she gently bowed and turned.
"Wait— I- I'm curious. Why are the east lands named the fire forest?" I scrambled to stop her before she left.
She didn't mind my small outburst as she answered, "there's lots of history tied into the region but the simplest explanation are the trees. There color turns into a burning flame red in the springtime."
"Oh, I guess it's a simpler reason than what I was thinking," I admitted, bowing before we parted ways.
Sighing I started me long trek back to my place. If Laurent were here he would be able to call one of those huge birds to fly us back quickly. It's no wonder this forest is huge, they are perfect for the animals living here.
"Oh right," I looked back. What about those beasts? Do they still come out near the houses?
I made quick work of finding my way back. Laurent was already waiting for me from above as I grabbed the rope from the base of the tree. I wrapped it like the way I saw him do and jerked it, my shoulder shifted uncomfortably as I was jerked upward.
"Let go!" He yelled as I flew along the trunk.
What?
"Let it go!" He yelled as I was pulled past him and higher up.
"Damn it!" I seethed, realizing the rope wouldn't just stop a the platform like I expected. My elbow scraped against the bark of the wood as I shut my eyes and let go of the rope.
This time I wasn't as surprised by the feather like flipping sensation in my stomach. I reached out my arms and turned my back to the sky. Fluffy feathers greeted my fingers and I grabbed onto them as wings were stretched out underneath me.
"You could have warned me sooner about that!" I shouted as I slipped down the birds wing and down on solid ground.
"I didn't think you'd have gone up the rope without my help so soon. Your practically a natural with this place," he complemented with a small smirk.
I pursed my lips, still feeling like he could have told me about that sooner. "How does that rope pulley even work?" I asked as I followed him back into the house.
I could tell he was grimacing under his hood from the tone of his voice, "best you don't know. I honestly wish my dad didn't explain it to me when I asked."
He's finally talking about his family. "I'm lucky I got you to keep me from knowing. Sounds gross," I wrinkled my nose and he laughed.
"Your going to take your words back once I do tell you. Anyways are you ready for tomorrow?" He asked as I pulled out what was left of dinner any put it one the counter before bring out two forks.
"I don't know," I sighed and sat down next to him. My feet hurt- my brain feels like it was fried.
How can anyone be prepared to go into a graveyard just to check if each corpse is truly dead?
"How many of the other do you think are still there?" I asked, wondering what happened to all the other that ran after the bunker was bombed. I'm pretty sure some of them could have made it out of the capital alive.
He didn't eat anything. "We can hope," he stated as I yawned. "Court's got you tired?"
"I spent way to long trying to get sir Assher to calm down," I explained. The man almost burst a vein once I revealed who I was and my plans.
"You don't need to address him in such a serious manner, he's a douche." Laurent smiled up at me as I pulled back the hood overshadowing his eyes.
There just as green as when the courtroom was glowing. "What's wrong with them?" I asked, feeling confused as to why he kept saying things like that about the higher-ups.
"I met a sweet old woman there. There's was a quiet man that didn't even do anything. The only person I didn't like from the court was Assher so why are you so upset about them?" I asked.
I let him pull me closer and rest his head against my heartbeat. "There the reason my family couldn't stay here," he whispered honestly.
"What did they do?"
"Ever and I are the only one's left with my mother's bloodline now," he said as he closed his eyes. "Now it's just me. I don't want to be here— even if they try to convince me otherwise don't let them."
Is it okay if I keep asking more? Is it wrong that I want to know why it's bothering me that his past is tied into this place?
"Let's get some rest before tomorrow comes." He needs rest not a breakdown and intrusion into his families life and past. I gently pulled him with me upstairs.
I'm not going to force him to explain something when he can do it in his own time.
Laurent groaned as I tapped as his shoulder. "Get off me, we need to get up," I said.
He stretched closer to me before wrapping me up in his arms. "How's your bruise?" H e changed the subject with his muffled question.
I tried not to blush as I asked, "Say that again."
"How's your bruise?" He repeated as I turned to look at him.
"What's my name?" I asked, trying to get him to call my name.
He looked confused. "Is everything okay in that head of yours?" He asked softly.
"Just call my name in that voice," I asked quietly. Relishing the slight rumble in his tone as he chuckled.
"Come on lovely, let's get this day started." His laugh made my heart melt into a gooey mess as he got up.
I changed into my scouting gear in the bathroom as Doyle and the rest of my group gathered in the kitchen. It's strange how comfortable I feel with them all even though we could still be considered strangers.
"Morning," Doyle greeted as he tossed me my bag and a few snacks.
I piled everything into my bag and slung it over my shoulder as the other two guys finished there breakfast. "Did Zina agree with out transport request?" I asked as I watched Laurent and his group make there way out the door. Laurent didn't miss a beat as he gave me a quick solute before disappearing.
"The birds are waiting for us, she said she'll send them back for us and any survivors before sun fall so that's our time limit," Doyle explained as his hand spasmed.
I can't if he's nervous or sinking himself up for a long day of dead bodies and bloodied hands.
"We'll do what we usually do for camouflage," I stated as I led them outside. I don't know is I'm ready to voluntarily smear dirt all over myself. It was easier to play dead and hide in plain sight then run from every soldier we might encounter.
We were flown to the boarders of the forest before making our way to the outskirts of the capital city on foot.
"Let's get this day over with quickly," I said scooping up a handful of mud before throwing it at the back of Doyle's head. It made a nauseating splotchy sounds and quickly soaked into his ash blonde hair. I smiled as his fingers twitched— annoyed.
It didn't take long for the four of us to get down, dirty, and bloodied up.
I could feel the slimy mix of blood and mud all over the back of my neck and shoulders. If I laid down it would look like my head was almost blown off by a bomb. But the rest of my skin and clothes were either dusted or dirt packed.
The scabs at the base of my neck pulled as I stretched my head, warming up my body and mind as we headed toward a neighborhood.
It's cold up until midday— the sun coming out of the clouds and drying the grimy streets as we searched each house.
The school was the worst part of the scouting session. I tried not no vomit as the smell of burned skin sank it's way into my soul. The halls were broken with chunks of debris lodged in the walls. It's terrifying how I could walk by lifeless faces without flinching anymore.
"Get down," Doyle whispered as echoing footsteps fluttered there way into the dead silent building.
The others were quick to follow his lead but all I did was squat down and listen. "There's more than three," I whispered as the sounds faded away from us. There's no point in hiding. "It might be survivors, we got to go after them," I stated as my heart picked up it's pace.
"Don't-" Doyle quickly caught my hand before I could even fully stand.
I rolled my eyes as the two others hesitated. "I'm not running off," I reassured as his head twitched.
Excitement rolled under my skin as if I was getting charged up by lightning. There's others. "Come on," I urged, trying to get them to hurry up as they cautiously checked the halls.
My feet hurt from how slow I felt they were moving. Were wasting so much time when there could be people looking for help. I can't let them run into the soldiers when were so close. I can't let them die like that.
Hushed voices slowed our pace even more. I could hear people talking in groaned breaths.
There hurt.
"Think it might be wounded soldiers?" Gens question spiked a jerk from Doyle as he stopped me from rounding the corner to check. All I got was a peek at the small group of people and my blood boiled.
He's annoying me.
"Doyle," I said trying to calm down and breath. "Who's the one in charge here?" I asked.
"You."
"Then let me go and let's go help those people. You two check how many people there are," I said motioning for the Gen and Will to get on with our usual routine.
Doyle stopped me before I went after them. What's his problem now? He was fine all the other times I led a scout group, he knows I like things done fast. Why is he trying to stop me?
"Come on!" I said, ripping away from his grasp and making my way into the hall. He's confusing me and I don't have the time to punch him for it right now.
Gen helped one of the survivors up and as Will scooped up a little boy. I could see Doyle linger at the door as I quickly instruct a woman on what to do with the older man bleeding out on the floor.
I ignored him as I quickly patched up the major damage on the poor guy and heaved him up. "Let's get out of here."
The woman was able to follow me quietly while the others in my group helped get the others move. I could feel something in my stomach twist as the mans weight shifted even further from my shoulders.
Doyle was able to bump the man back into place as the man felll out of consciousness. "Your doing to much—"
"Shut up," I ordered. Feeling sick of his strange behavior. We don't have time to be acting up. I don't have the time to have him explain what's wrong with himself.
He did as he was told. Keeping his mouth shut as we slowly made our way out of the school grounds. I stuck close to Will instead of him. I could tell my cloudy mood made him uncomfortable.
"Everything okay?" He whispered as we made it to the edge of the neighborhood.
"I think I'm going to have a fight with Doyle," I admitted openly.
I laid the old man on his side and pulled out a water bottle for the woman as we stopped to rest. Doyle sent me wary look but all I did was glare back. Something is up with him today.
"Let me do it," Doyle said, taking the bandages from my hand before I could pull them out of my bag.
Will gave me a confused shrug when I tried to check if I was the only one Doyle was acting weird towards. "You can just give out the water, I'm just going to bandage her hand," I pointed to the sleeping woman.
Her left eye was infected and I wouldn't be able to do much about it until I get her to the nurse station.
"I can do—"
"Let her do it," Gen interrupted. "She's the nurse Doyle." He sat down and crossed his arms, while Doyle's jaw ticked.
"She's already been doing enough," Doyle tried to explain.
"Since when did you start caring?" I asked, taking back the bandages and getting to work.
"We all care," Will stated. "We just know not to try and stop you most times. You can handle yourself just like the rest of us."
"That's— no" Doyle groaned in frustration as I sat down with the others.
"Are you saying I can't take care of myself?"
"You should do a better job at it," Doyle sparked up. "You don't want him angry, it's not like your the one who'll get in trouble if your hurt."
I dropped my confused smile at his words. "Who?" Was someone threatening him? When did this even happen? Him— so it's a guy.
"Did Assher say something to you about me?" I asked, feeling guilty now that I realized why he was acting so strangely.
Doyle seemed confused by my question. "Don't you know? He's a smiling green eyed demon in disguise.
"What?" I snapped.
What the hell is he even saying? Is he talking about Laurent?
"Woah! Calm down," Will stepped in between us as I got up.
I am calm. "What the hell is that supposed to mean? You don't even know him," I stated as I tapped Wills hand so he would pull it back.
I'm not going to physically hurt someone I'm supposed to be leading.
He just has the wrong idea— or maybe he's talking about someone else.
"Explain," I said as even Gen got up.
Doyle's spasms started to act up as the silence drew out. "He's not a good person." His voice cracked as he tried to explain.
"Laurent?" I pushed, trying to understand who he was talking about.
"Him, his family— all of them," Doyle grit out through clenched teeth. "Who's fault do you think all this is anyways? All they bring is ruin!" He said almost sounding hysterical.
The words you don't know him kept repeating in my head as I let go of my fists. It was obvious that Doyle wasn't in any stable emotional state to talk about this. I hate it but I'm going to have to wait.
"Ok," I sighed. "Your going to go take a nap an d I'm going to patch up what people Laurent found. Then your going to have to grow, sit down, and talk this though until I'm not confused."
"Fine."
"Fine."
I pulled my hair up and twisted it into a bun before I stretched my hands. It took me hours to clean and sanitize each persons wounds once we were flown to the nursing unit were the new arrivals would be stay at.
I wiped the sore skin on my hands— I practically scraped my hands clean each time I got them dirty and now there were red blisters forming on them. It hurts.
"We got injured people!" Laurent yelled as he and his crew stumbled into the hall. I rushed over as he set down the little boy he was carrying. His leg was severed off, a short numb bound tightly with a piece of fabric.
"I need a fire and a knife," I panicked— knowing that if I turned to tend to the others being brought in he would bleed out in seconds.
There's more people than I can handle.
"What can I do to help?" Laurent asked.
I shook my head and stopped him from touching much else. "Get cleaned. Tie off as much blood circulation from his leg. I need to— I need the others to wait. I can't focus," I bit the inside of my cheeks.
"Is there any one here who's has any medical experience? Anything at all could help," Laurent shouted as the room was quickly filled up.
I saw a hand shoot up from the dirty mess of heads and before I could even see who it was I giving out instructions. Laurent was quick to come to my side after getting cleaned and even some of his team was asking for ways they could help.
People were quickly situated in different areas of the room depending on the severity of there wounds and I was quickly put back to motion. The time went by like a blurred vision.
I can both feel my feet growing heavier and lighter at the same time as the faces I see flash by. The room is hot with echoing groans of pain.
"Were done now," Laurent whispered as he took laid a cold bottle of water into my hands.
I blinked, trying to focus my eyes on just one thing in the room. "What?" I asked, feeling as though he was saying something else.
He stepped in front of me blocking me from the clamor of the room as I leaned my back on the wall. "Let's skip tomorrow," he said.
Now I was even more confused as I looked up into those flaming green eyes. "What?" I repeated.
"Go out with me tomorrow, let's skip our plans and make better ones. Let's skip out of what we think we should do and go do something we want to," he smiled.
"But the— what about-"
"I'll introduce you to my old friends," he offered.
"Deal," I stated, my heart pounding with excitement at the though. His past friends— I want to know what there like. "Oh, I just remembered. I need to go find Doyle," I realized.
"Why him?" Laurent asked as he followed my out of the room.
I didn't expect the sudden sway on my head as I turned a bit to quickly for my feet to catch up. "Sorry about that," I apologized to the boy I bumped into.
"Don't worry about it," the boy slowed his words as the both of us got a good look at each other.
Damn it.
Not now.
"Anna? It's you right?" He asked as I glared at the rust colored eyes of my past. I want to grab Laurent's hand and make a run for it.
"Wrong person pal," Laurent stated as he led me out of the hall. I couldn't help but look back at Ein as he went back to whatever he was doing.
I paused, feeling uncomfortable as he went into the the room were all the wounded were. He looked fine— healthy even. He wouldn't try to do anything, there's to many people there. He wouldn't.
"Why do we not like him?" Laurent whispered as I focused back onto our conversation.
"I'd rather we ignore him right now. He's not anyone important," I stated.
Not anymore.