Escape Artists

Chapter 8 • Blade bar

Lennon let go of her wrist and turned to look at the forest. Everything was burning. Evelyn didn't know if the people in Azalea would survive. A tear ran down her face. Lennon turned his head to Evelyn and saw her crying. He watched her for a moment before saying; "If it makes you any happier, your mother isn't in there." Lennon's voice was dry and unbothered, but Evelyn's eyes widened a little, in relief.

Lennon turned back to leave Azalea and the forest behind. Evelyn turned her head to look where he was going. He walked away from the forest. Should she follow him?

Evelyn hesitated for a moment but followed him with distance. Lennon had put his hands in his pockets and walked away from the village. Two minutes passed when he finally stopped and turned around. Evelyn stopped too, and waited for him to say literally anything. "Listen, Duster, I'm going to Death Blade. I'll tell them you're dead, understood?" Lennon's voice was still dry. He didn't wait for an answer and just continued walking. Evelyn followed him, making sure to keep distance.

They had walked for two hours without saying a word. The sun began to rise when Lennon stopped. Evelyn looked up. They stood infront of a bar. "Blade bar - bar and hotel" it said.

Lennon turned his head to look at Evelyn. He couldn't just leave her here. It would expose him. He took off his coat and threw it to Evelyn. It wasn't fully dry yet, but that didn't bother Lennon. "Put it on." he said with his cold eyes fixated on her. Evelyn hesitated for a short moment but put on his coat. She pulled the hood over her head too.

Lennon opened the door to the bar. He went inside and didn't bother to hold the door open for Evelyn. Almost everyone in this bar was either an old man or an assassin like Lennon was. Evelyn made sure to always turn hed face to the ground, so noone could see it. Lennon grabbed her wrist again and pulled her to the counter where the barman stood.

Everything was loud. "Room for two. One night." Lennon spoke. This was the first time Evelyn head him actually speak in a normal volume, and not just in a whisperlike tone. Although, it was loud, so she didn't really catch what he said.

After a moment Lennon pulled Evelyn through the bar, up some stairs and into a quiet room that laid on the third floor. He let go of her wrist and locked the door. Evelyn pulled the hood of Lennon's coat off her head, but didn't dare to look at Lennon. She thought about Azalea. Would every that lived there... just... die?

Lennon approached Evelyn and stood next to her. "Now, what should I do with you? Saved you even tho I was supposed to kill you." Lennon's voice hadn't softened at all. Infact, it seemed to become even drier. Evelyn didn't answer. Lennon didn't ask again. He sat down on the edge of the bed without saying a word. There was only one bed in the room, but it was big enough for two. The sun was almost fully visible. Lennon stood up. "You'll stay here, and don't let anybody in." he said in his dry tone. He unlocked the door and walked out without another word.