Bleed till sunrise

The meeting

chapter one

As i sat at the large rounded table i couldn't help but wonder,why am i here? if i left, nobody would cry because of my absence. This whole meeting was pointless. suddenly my train of thought was broken by the clearing of the leaders throat. As he stood, the hairs on my neck stood on end, im not sure what it was. But he was able to have that effect on anybody he came in contact with. His long robe touched the floor, he grinned and raised his glass of crimson liquid.

"This has been a fine night gentlemen,I'm glad you all could make it" he said powerfully, he then continued. "as you all know we have a traitor among us" the room filled with an outburst of chatter among the men. He waited and stared in till the room returned to silence. He then continued. " it has sickened me to my very core, when i found out the news... i immediately began finding a suitable method of punishment" 

Worried glances scanned the room. I stayed calm, why should i be scared? i haven't done anything? But never the less the atmosphere in the small darkened room was unsettling. My mind refuses to think what awful punishment he had lined up for this unlucky chap. Talking about the group with an outsider was dangerous, but now it has become deadly for this unlucky soul. I wonder who it could be? i scanned the room.

My eyes met with Drew's, he looked relaxed as usual, his dark eyeliner making him look ever more mysterious. Surley not drew? No, he wouldn't be that careless despite how childish he could be sometimes. A boy opposite looked nervous. Was it him? Oh god the poor child, he looked no older than eighteen. I felt for him, his fate was surley death and he hadn't even lived his life.I sipped at the wine as the leader talked. 

'The leader' what a grand title to give yourself. But of course the leader has a name. Laurence, how do i know this? Because 'the leader' and i used to be friends, quite close friends actually. But like all great leaders, too much power leads to a psychotic mind. Laurence would kill anyone in his way, nobody dared question his authority.

The boy opposite grew ever more nervous, his fingers interlocking with one another and then separating and then interlocking again, his eyes focused on the table. I had never really noticed this boy before, i liked how he looked, his red fringe was quite different from the usual hairstyles.It gave him a unique edge but that 'unique edge' that he had wasn't going to save him from his fate.

My train of thought was interrupted by the sound of the leaders wine glass being placed on the smooth surface of the varnished table. "you" the leader stared at the nervous looking boy who sat in front of me, he clicked his fingers and soon two guards grabbed him by each arm and dragged him with force from his seat. A small yelp escaped his lips when the guards pulled at his limbs, he tried to break free but his efforts were useless. He wasn't strong enough.The rest of use watched the boy being dragged away, the double doors swinged open and he was taken through. I took another sip of wine, well that definitely livened up the night a Little.

"anyway" the leader carried on "I'm sorry you all had to see that but young Keir had it coming from the start he was aware of the rules and when rules are broken there are consequences" whispers filled the room."gentlemen if you would excuse me" the leader gave a slight grin and swiftly moved through the double doors with his robe following him.

"well that was exciting" a voice from my left said, it was Luke he always liked a good show, he liked to cause trouble when he could and ruffle a few feathers when we went out at night.

"hardly, heavens knows what laur- i mean the leader is going to do to him" i said taking another sip of wine.

"oh Jesus yes, bless him he looked the youngest of us all" luke said while glancing at the faces around the table.

Suddenly the calm atmosphere of the darkened room was broken by the loud voice of the leader

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE HAS ESCAPED?! HOW?! HES OUT THERE?!"

smashing of glasses filled the next room, all men sitting around the table were stunned to silence.

"HE KNOWS TOO MUCH, HES OUT THERE WITH ALL THAT INFORMATION,HE NEEDED TO BE KILLED.TODAY" the leader screamed at the guards.

The double doors swinged open and the leader quickly walked his face full of fury and his eyes filled with madness only god knew what was going on in his head, you could see the cogs turning, thinking what to do next.

"you" he extended his finger and leaned over the table to face me

"m-me?" i stuttered

"yes you, that boy, you know what he looks like right?" the leader asked his eyes widening

"e-erm yes, i think so"

"then you will go find him, he will see my guards coming from a mile off, but you. Oh you, you have the certain edge Barrone, a face that is trusting. You will gain his trust and bring him back to me do you hear me? And when you do, you will get that very much needed promotion you were after. But if you don't the consequences will be fatal. Do you understand? You have two days" he said while pacing the room and getting ever more pleased with himself

"w-what me? i cant" i stood up confused at what had just been asked

"YOU CAN AND YOU WILL" the leader closed his eyes and exhaled "and Barrone, take Luke with you"

i looked down at Luke to be greeted by a startled look, Luke wasn't going to challenge the leader he knew it was easier to just do as he said.

But why me? My trusting face? What?

"You should go now boys, he might not be far if you hurry" the leader smiled and gracefully glided out of the room leaving Luke and myself stunned at the events that had just occurred.