After realising I have little to nothing left to say to Oscar to try and deter him from this plan, I decide to go through with my idea of talking to Crystal about it.
Mum has invited her round to talk about the progress on getting the current Prime Minister out, and I'm glad she did, because I think she could give me good advice, she seems to understand me a lot more than other people do, at least in our past interactions.
"Hey Mabel, you alright?" Crystal says, sitting down with me in the workshop. I figured that a one on one chat would fare better than having everyone listening in on what I'm discussing.
"" Yeah, well. I'm just a bit stressed, that's all." I say. "How's your campaign going?"
"Oh, it's going well, actually got a lot of people backing me. Anyway, why are you feeling stressed? The plan?"
"You put the words in my mouth, Crystal." I say. "Is it just me who thinks this whole plan is utterly stupid?" I say.
"How so?" Crystal enquires.
"Well, first off, there's only four of us going into a massive, high security compound with people who want and are willing to kill us!" I say. "Not to mention the fact that the prime minister herself doesn't want anything to do with us, and would kill us if she found out about this plan!"
"Yeah, I'll admit I don't think it's the smartest of plans." Crystal replies.
"Exactly! Why are we trusting Oscar with this? He's just a kid at the end of the day, he doesn't get how things work!" I argue.
"Yeah, I mean, I get where he's coming from, but he seems to be going about it very oddly, I must say." Crystal says.
"Anyway... it's happening tonight, and I don't know what I'm supposed to do about it because nobody is listening to me." I say, frustration and also a hint of fear filling my voice. "Do you have any advice?"
"Well... technically I'm not supposed to advise on this, as a member of Parliament and the fact that this is highly illegal... but." She hesitates. "If I were you, I'd go. I think it needs refining, and you need to work out what you need to do much better, but if you ever have any chance of ripping down the empire, it's now."
"Really?" I enquire.
"I mean, I can never be certain, as it's highly dangerous, and I agree that it's planned completely and utterly without consideration. But, if it does work, then you will free all of those innocent people from the evil hands of the King." Crystal says confidently. "I think you're strong enough for that."
"You think?" I chuckle, not taking her seriously.
"Yes." She insists. "I mean, look at this workshop, if only I could build stuff like this!"
"Ehh, it's only a pastime, I enjoy it though." I say, trying to sound humble. "My dad got that workbench for me years and years ago when I was young, always obsessed with engineering from when I could walk."
"Ahh, fair enough!" Crystal exclaims. "It's a cool hobby, isn't it?"
"Yep..." I sigh, still thinking about what's happening tonight.
"You'll do a good job." Crystal confidently says once more.
"Thanks, Crystal, I can only hope." I reply.
We sit in an awkward silence for what feels like forever.
"So! Sorry to cut this short, but I do have to run, I have another rally in half an hour downtown, you see." Crystal exclaims, getting up to leave.
"Oh! No problem, I'll see you to the door." I say.
We quickly step out into the corridor and to the front door.
"Lovely seeing you as always, Mabel, sorry I had to cut it short."
"It's fine, I'm sure we'll get to talk again!" I say confidently, masking my true feelings as James is in earshot in the living room.
"For sure! Take care!" Crystal says, walking down the cobbled plates and out onto the pavement.
I actually watch her rallies from time to time, they're quite inspiring.
I quickly return to the workshop, I'm trying to think of something to build, anything, but my mind is pulling a blank.
Loud knocks emit from the dusty old door linking to the corridor.
"Come in!" I yell out.
The door sheepishly cracks open as Mum stumbles in, closing the door behind her.
"Hiya, love. Can I talk to you for a second?" Mum asks.
"Oh, sure." I reply quickly.
Look, I know you're not a big fan of this whole plan." Mum says, pulling a chair out and sitting next to me. "Admittedly I'm not either, but we're outnumbered, and they do have a point of not having to lie low forever."
"Yeah, but, is it worth throwing ourselves head first and directly triggering conflict? At least if we lie low there's a chance nothing will happen."
"I know love, but. All three of you kids have your whole lives ahead of you. You can't stay inside, constantly on edge, forever." Mum tells me.
"I may be seventeen, but I assure you I am not a child." I say, sort of defensively.
"I know, I know. It's actually why I came to you." Mum says, surprisingly. "I need you to promise me something."
"Oh, what?" I question.
"I need you to keep James and Oscar safe, we both need to. Keep them out of harm's way. I won't be able to forgive myself if something happens."
"Don't worry, I will, I promise." I say.
Mum hugs me, which takes me by surprise.
"It's going to be alright." Mum tells me. "We've got this."
"I know, but, why do we have to take James? I mean Oscar planned the whole thing so he sort of has to go if we're doing this, but why James?" I ask.
"I don't want to leave him here alone, besides, I think he needs the closure." Mum realises.
"Yes, but, he's only ten, Mum. Not to mention all the shit he went through there, it's dangerous, for all of us it's very dangerous but especially for him." I argue.
"Don't worry love. Well, both keep everyone safe. I'm sure we'll look out for each other, and James and Oscar will have our backs too." Mum responds.
I truly hope so, but we all know the risks. To think, in a matter of hours we're going to be going there, and there's nothing I can do to stop it.
YOU ARE READING
Purple Roses
AksiyonStep inside a world where two sides are separated, one being a lot happier than the other. Look through the eyes of multiple different people from different backgrounds, a family forged not by blood but by love. It isn't all pretty though, sometime...
