Ruling the Impossible

4. Clara? Is that you?

"Clara!? Is that you!?", I hear as I sit in the waiting room of my parents old office. It's Gabriel! Gabriel! I thought she got caught with the other group in the flames! I just assumed they would have killed her! She is being led, with her arms restrained behind her back. Walking towards the restrained waiting room. Should I yell out to her? No, no I won't. I could just get her in more trouble. What if she came in here to find me? I'm different now. I look down ashamed of myself.

She half whispers, sadness, anger and confusion flashing over her face. "Have you left us? Have you really betrayed us? Tears start falling from her face and she crumbles to the ground. I have never seen her cry like this, it brings me close to tears. Gabriel has been the most loyal and amazing friend to me ever since my parents died. She was with the armour, that's how I met her. As she weeps on the floor I jump up and run to her. I hug her and cradle her as the guards glare at me. I don't say anything Incase I get us both in worse trouble.

The guards don't know what to do. They are different from the guards in the hospital. They know I am the highest authority. They stop and look, stunned for a while. then one says, "Miss, I don't believe you should be embracing this young lady... She's a traitor."

I hug Gabriel tighter and ask, "And I'm not!? What do the leaders want with her? That I have no knowledge of?"

"They were just going to question her miss... I believe you were waiting to be in the same meeting. They want, and they want you to, understand exactly what's happened lately."

"Hahahaha" I laugh, tears falling from my face. "I know exactly what been going on lately!" I hear the office door open and think nothing of it.

"I'm so sorry for everything" I whisper into Gabriel's ear.

Next thing I know I am on my feet, dragged under the arms by two men. I look up into Martin's face. His face is full of anger and embarrassment. Oh no, what have I done. One of my parent's most loyal friends and one of the leaders. He's like an uncle to me. What have I done? Would my parents be proud of my behaviour? Tears poor down my face. I see the person on my other side is Jarrod. I am shocked as I realise how he has grown, physically as well as in placement and power in this place. His face is kinder although worried as he glances every now and then at Gabriel. I am so ashamed yet so torn and sad. Why would they place me in this position straight out of the hospital program? I feel sick as Jarrod and Martin lead me away from Gabriel. My heart wants to stay with her. I don't know what they will do to her. But I can't physically move, I'm limp. My emotions have disabled me as I sob uncontrollably. Jarrod goes to comfort me and Martin gives him a look of, 'don't make things worse, it's not acceptable right now.' They place me into a chair and I sit there sobbing, every inch of me wanting to be by Gabriel's side. Martin paces in front of me and the injustice I feel over rides me. I stifle my tears, stand up and storm through the door to my left into the office. My face red with anger and tears. Jarrod is lost in thought and doesn't see me go till I'm halfway there. Martin yells out my name, but nothing can stop me now. I shove away the hand grappling for my arm to spin me around. I burst though the doors not stopping until I'm right up against the large conference table. I see a woman there that I have never seen before. Her hair is red and her face is excessively painted. The other leaders sit around the table. They stare at me as I stand there fuming. "Nothing is to be done to Gabriel and other traitors without my permission! They are to be held in the retainment centre until I decide what is to happen. This is a royal order." Everyone then stands and nods, showing my order has been heard and is official. A gun shot sounds from the foyer and my face turns white with fear. I run out into the foyer. What I see before me is a mess. People as swarming everywhere. I search for Gabriel in the crowd. There is blood on the carpet and I see Gabriel lying on the floor her leg bleeding. I scream and rush towards her. The guard that shot her has been restrained and office staff are still rushing around frantic. I yell at the top of my lungs. "STOP!" The commotion slows as people realise their ruler is actually in the room. "Calmly return back to your desks, we will have medical staff come around and assist everyone immediately." I go towards Gabriel. Her face is white from pain. "You betrayed us... " She whispers. "How could you? How could you do that to us? Take your 'rightful' place as leader." She scoffs and then starts coughing.

"I need head Med right now!" I yell.

People in uniform rush around her and when the commotion disappears so does she. I sigh and look around me. What has come of this place. I turn to the guard and say "come into my office just you and martin please". I hear a cough and turn to the source. It is the Lady with the very over done face a red hair. I don't like her. Already I don't friggin' like her.

"Umm... I must disagree with you Miss. You need more then one witness." She says as respectfully as she can with the arrogant authority I know she seems to hold. Her voice is strangely familiar.

"Who exactly are you, may I ask?!" with more authority then her and a slight tinge of disrespect. "I must say I have never seen you before".

The others look at her and then at me, seeing tension.

"I, Miss Clara, am Mrs Delacore. Nice to finally meet you."

I sink into sadness as I recognise her name. Mr Delacore was a leader that died with my parents when the homestead was bombed.

"I apologise, Mrs Delacore, a lot has happened lately. Nice to meet you too." I smile as best I can with the sad thoughts in my head. She smiles back, genuinely. I completely misjudged her. I want to beat myself up and I am so overwhelmed by everything that I have become so arrogant as to not realise who I was speaking to and judge her so unjustly. I sigh. I don't know who to trust anymore.

"Alright, Martin, Geoffrey and Mrs Delacore, please join me inside. Other leaders please put together a file on exactly the events I have missed in this position, what happened and how they were dealt with. Thank you."

I start walling into the office with Martin guiding the guard and Geoffrey and Mrs Delacore following.