In the Willows

Chapter Fourty-Six: Group Effort

Multiple footsteps are heard around you. You shield your eyes from the blinding lights.

"Is that him?" You hear someone say.

"Who the hell-"

"Where is Marshall, we are here to see Promise's leader." Says Emory.

The lights dim and you see soldiers of Promise surrounding the three of you.

"Seraphina is looking for you, and you decided to show up at our front door?" Says one of the soldiers.

"That was the plan, how the fuck else was I gonna get in contact?"

The soldier looks around, "We need to move, eyes are everywhere."

The soldiers start escorting the three of you into the woods. You can hear them murmuring to each other, mentioning you.

"Is it true?" One of the soldiers asks, "Lust was a monster?"

You ignore them.

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You make it to a cave opening and the soldiers stop, "Enter here."

"So you lead us to this random cave and expect us to get in there?" Says Emory.

"Zip tie his hands and I'll go in." You say pointing at Alec.

The soldiers zip tie Alec's hands.

"You know this will stop nothing right?"

"Shut up." You say grabbing Alec.

You begin to enter the cave when Emory stops you, "Are you serious right now?"

"Emory, you think this is a trap?"

"Yeah? You don't?"

You turn to one of the soldiers, "Did you take us to a trap?"

"Uh-"

You unsheathe your sword, "Did you?"

"We-"

You point your sword at the soldiers, "You have about five seconds before I kill you like I did Gluttony and Lust."

"Enough." Marshall steps out of the cave, "Get in here before Sreaphina finds out where we are."

You sheathe your sword again and push Alec into the cave.

"Going straight for Promise, are you serious Emory?"

"What other options did I have Marshall. Plan was fucked when we were grabbed at Sacramento."

You sit on a wooden bench as Emory and Marshall argue with each other.

"Seraphina is looking for the three of you, the last thing to do is come to our front door. She can massacre us Emory."

"Why are we here then?" You interject.

They both look at you.

"We're just gonna hide? Is that it?"

"No, we need an army. That's why you're here." Says Marshall.

"How are we going to do that."

"How are YOU going to do that." He waives you over, "Follow me."

You grab Alec and follow Marshall towards a cave wall. He moves a false piece of rock out of the way. He types a number combination and the cave wall begins to open.

"We need Kai the Conqueror, do you understand what I mean?"

He takes Alec and walks into the G.R.A.D.E bunker. You don't follow him.

"Kai, follow me."

"We just met, then you open up a cave wall leading into another G.R.A.D.E bunker? I've been in three of these already and nothing good has happened in one of these."

"We have someone here that can help."

"Fuck you, how about that."

Another man around your age with dark skin comes around the corner.

"We need you for this Kai."

"Jesus Christ, who are you now?"

"Foxtrot, but you can call me Fox."

"You a demon too?" You say taking out your sword.

"Unlike Alec here, I got out before they screwed me."

You turn around and start walking away.

"Delta and Echo took you from Richmond, Virginia."

You stop, vague memories begin cropping your thoughts.

"You were a soldier Kai, before you were brought to California."

"Show me proof."

Fox walks off and returns with a folder.

"Here." He says tossing the file towards you

You pick it up andflip through the mostly blacked out papers seeing what Fox said was true.

"We good?" Fox asks.

You nod.

"Kai, if I knew more I would tell you."

You ignore him, your memories are blurry still.

"Can I please be free?" Asks Alec.

"I want him in a cell." You say.

"Done." Says Fox.

"You're kidding." Says Alec.

"No."

You follow Fox and put Alec in a chamber. As the door closes Alec breaks out of the zip ties.

He looks out the chamber window at you, "This make you happy Kai? You still don't trust me, do you?"

You ignore him and walk towards an office and take a seat. Your hands shake, Fox hands you a cigarette and lights it.

You take a drag, "What do I need to do?"

"Since we lost Serenity and Curtain Falls, we need more groups to fight against Misery." Says Marshall.

"And the only places left are Felicity and Gambit Cross." Adds Fox.

"Felicity would never join, especially with Gambit Cross." Says Emory.

"What's wrong with Felicity?" You ask.

"Felicity is a community with women only, they don't accept men except for slave labor." Says Fox.

"If we get Felicity on board, Gambit Cross will definitely join our cause." Says Marshall.

"So get Felicity and we move onto Misery, sounds easy." You say.

"No, not easy. Did you not hear that Felicity enslave men?" Says Emory.

"The legend of Kai the Conqueror has spread, he might have a shot getting them on board." Says Marshall.

"It's our only shot, we have to lay low for a bit." Says Fox.

"I'll be ready."