Escape Artists

Chapter 13 • Evelyn's return

Once he wasn't in sight anymore, Lennon returned to Evelyn's body. He wanted to help her earlier, but if he would've seen his face, he would have killed him. He wasn't far from the Assassin Temple, and the man's loud laugh had alarmed him instantly.

Lennon crouched down to look at Evelyn more closely. She was unconscious. He saw the blood coming from Evelyn's neck. "Fuck..." Lennon quietly cursed and stood up straight again. He looked around to make sure the man that cut her was really gone, then picked up Evelyn's unconscious body and carried it to a different place. It wasn't safe at the Assassin's Temple anymore, he'd had to take her someone else if he wanted both of them to survive.

Lennon would take her back to Azalea. The fire was probably extinguished by now. It's called "Rainlands" for a reason.

He was right. Azalea Forest wasn't burning anymore. It was as green as always, life-rich and beautiful. Azalea Forest could heal by itself, that's why Azalea was built. The forest protected the village. Lennon had loved learning about the Rainlands before he got into Death Blade.

Lennon walked along the path that led to the village. He knew damn well that everyone would see him, but he also knew that nobody would dare to come near him. He wasn't known, but the people in the village know that there are assassins wandering around in the forests.

Lennon finally reached the end of the path. He didn't show himself yet, he was waiting for the perfect moment. He watched the kids chase each other, run around and laugh. One of them sat on the ground, away from the others. The child looked into the forest and saw Lennon lean against a tree. It looked scared, but for some reason it looked even more scared when it recognized Evelyn's unconscious body.

Lennon pushed himself off the tree. He had been seen, so there was no need to wait any longer. He walked out of the forest, into Azalea. A different kid saw him and screamed. A moment later all the kids were screaming, running into their houses. Although, the child sitting on the ground, didn't move at all. It watched as Lennon carried Evelyn's body through the village, tears flowing down its cheeks.

Lennon soon reached Evelyn's house. The door wasn't locked. He went inside the shut the door behind him. "Fuck, why me!?" he cursed and walked up the stairs to reach Evelyn's room. Once there, he just threw her on the bed and sat down on the floor in a corner.

Lennon watched Evelyn sleep from the corner he sat in, waiting for her to wake up. Soon tho, he got up and went downstairs. He had saved her way too often, he would leave and never return. Not to Azalea, not to Blade Bar, not to Death Blade. He would hide somewhere where noone would find him.

He pushed open the door, not bothering to close it and walked away from the house in big steps. When he approached the pathway out of the forest, he saw the child still sitting on the ground. He ignored it, but didn't get any further.

"Wait!"