High Tide

8

We waited for the night, when we finally headed to the alderman's mansion, the air was filled with tension. The girls in the raid were ready to fight. The time had come to confront the power that had done so much damage to us.

-I am going for Susan and Saúl - I whispered to Bastian - stay here, as soon as I get you out, we can attack.

He nodded and I went into the house, I wasn't the first bird to do it, I knew where to go, I explained to Susan everything that had happened as quickly and briefly as possible, she supported me without thinking and we went to get Saúl, since we were out of the three of us left the house and headed towards the others. Susan stopped short; I was surprised.

-Hey, what's up Susan? – I asked her, but she was still looking straight ahead, I saw how the tears were rolling down her face – Susan, what is happening?

-There they are the men who attacked me – it cannot be – there they are.

She started shaking and crying, I tried to calm her down so the guards would not hear us, but Bastian saw us.

- Are you okay? What is happening? – he asked me while looking at us confused?

-Don't come closer, I don't want you to touch her, I don't want you to touch me - I was furious, I felt like I could vomit from anger, from helplessness, the men who attacked Susan were on Bastian's ship the entire time, I lived with them , they are part of your family.

-Lena, what is wrong? – He tried to get closer, but I stopped him.

- Your men raped Susan! – Bastian stepped back, looking upset.

- Lena, please – I did not let him finish.

- We came to do a job, it will be done and then you can leave with your ball of beasts - I took Susan and took her to the girls, she calmed down a little.

- Susan, you must tell me who they were - still crying, she pointed to two of them.

- Gray pants and red scarf – I identified them and returned to her.

- You told me there had been three, where is the other one? – She started crying again – Susan, I need you to tell me please – I begged her on the verge of tears.

- The third was... - he paused to cry; he could not stand seeing her like that - it was León

The world seemed to collapse around me. I felt as if the earth was opening beneath my feet, swallowing me into a dark pit. My brother... Leon? It could not be. But Susan's look, desperate and broken, confirmed it. He had betrayed me in a way I could never have imagined.

Before he could process what was happening, the council member emerged surrounded by his most loyal men. The hatred I felt for that man grew when I saw him smile, as if he already knew everything that was about to happen.

- Lena, dear - he said with an unctuous voice that made me nauseous. - I was wondering when you would arrive - the councilor applauded, enjoying the spectacle of our emotional fracture. "How touching," he said, his voice tinged with mockery.

-I have people all over town waiting for the signal to attack, the target is you and your entire network of corruption - I said trying to sound as confident as possible, however, fear was eating away at me - there is nothing moving about that.

- But unfortunately, Lena, you have arrived too late. Your family is already in my custody. What are you going to do now? Fight me while yours suffer?

My heart stopped. I knew that León had been the one who had warned him, that he had betrayed our plan. The councilor was prepared, and now he had my family as hostages. Desperation enveloped me. Suddenly, a cloud of smoke enveloped us all, this had started, and I lost the councilor.

There was chaos, there was confusion, I did not know where everyone was, but I knew I was going to fight, and we were going to win.

-Lena! - Was that Max? How did he know about our plan? – Lena I am here!

I tried to follow the voice, but the fog and smoke was very dense, until I found him. I saw him, and I pounced on him, I had never felt so much happiness, his warmth gave me peace during so much chaos. His appearance was a jolt of energy. Max, with the same intensity as always, had decided to help us. Although I could not fully understand his motivations, at that moment, the only thing that mattered was that he was on our side.

-Let's get them - Max said, approaching me. - Together. We will make it, Lena. I am not going to leave you.

I nodded, swallowing back tears. There was no time for pain. Regardless, now was the time for action.

War broke out throughout the town. The girls from my town, the ones I had trained for this moment, attacked the councilor's men with fury. Susan, despite her revelation, was fighting with the same suppressed rage that we all carried inside. Bastian and Max were fighting their way with their swords, while I tried to find a way to reach my family.

Everything was a chaos of screams, blows, and the metallic sound of clashing swords. The council member was sneaking through a secret passage when I saw him, but he was not alone. At his side, he dragged my mother and my little sister, with ropes tied to their hands.

- No! - I shouted, running after him.

My feet hit the ground hard, my mind clouded with rage and fear. I managed to catch up with him at the threshold of the back door of the mansion. The councilor looked at me with contempt.

-You have no idea what you are doing, Lena - he hissed, pulling out a dagger and putting it to my sister's neck.

I stopped dead, my heart hammering in my chest. He knew he could not risk his life. But before I could do anything, Max appeared out of nowhere, throwing himself at the council member and pushing him away from my sister.

- Run, Lena! - he shouted while struggling with the councilor.

I took advantage of the moment. I cut the ropes that tied my mother and sister and pushed them toward the exit.

- Get out! Do not stop for anything!

The councilor, furious, managed to push Max and raised his dagger to attack me. But before he could reach me, Bastian, with a speed I had never seen in him, stepped in and plunged his own dagger into the alderman's chest, watching him fall to the ground, dead.

It was all over in an instant. The mansion fell into a strange silence, only broken by the gasps and heavy breathing of those of us who were still standing.

Max approached me, breathing heavily.

- Are you ok? - asked.

I nodded, looking at the body of the councilor at our feet. We had won. But victory tasted bitter.