A Matter Of Choice

Chapter 3: Daniel

I ran after Kyle, panting. Does he really think I can run wearing high-heels? How inconsiderate! I stopped running walked the rest of the way to him.

“What took you so long?” Kyle asked. His hands were on his hips and he had a frown on his face.

“My gorgeous heels.” I said, ironically. “Why are you in such a rush?”

“It’s almost midnight. Darius must be worried sick about us by now.” He replied.

We walked into the fields, into the woods and then crossed the wire fence. We had to fide from a few peacekeepers who were patrolling around. It was long after midnight when we reached the camp. There, we saw Darius, Fiona and the rest of the camp, throwing their own ‘gala’. There was a huge bonfire at the center. I wonder if Darius agreed to make the massive bonfire. He never did agree in making a bonfire. He often said it was too dangerous or the peacemakers might notice the smoke it emits. Darius must be worried sick about us by now…

“Worried sick, huh?” I grinned. Kyle approached Darius and gave him the blank piece of paper. I followed them as they entered the headquarters.

“Emily handed Heather this. I don’t know why it’s, um, empty.” Kyle told Darius.

Darius grinned. “You need to learn a lot of things, Kyle.”

He carefully placed the blank piece of paper in a basin of water. Soon after, words began to reveal.

‘FORUM IN VERONA, THIRTIETH’ It said. Huh?

“Uh, what does it mean?” Kyle asked.

“There’s going to be a forum in Verona on the thirtieth.” Darius answered. “We’ll go and see what would happen.”

Darius left Kyle and me curious. He headed back to the party and told the rest about Emily’s report.

“What do you think was Darius talking about?”

“I dunno. We’ll see.” I said, leaving him alone to join the others.

“You said you we’re tired, Daniel!” Selena bragged. “How come you managed to dance with a stranger?”

“Um, I’m sorry, Selena.” I uttered. Uh-oh.

“You need to make up for what you did.” She said. “Dance with me.”

I was about to say something, but a hand pulled Selena away. It was Roxie Rowe.

“Shut up, Selena. Daniel Beron will dance with me tonight.” Said Roxie, a friend.

She pulled me into the dance floor as Selena ran off, stomping her feet.

“So, how is the great prince?” Roxie asked. She looked elegant in her black dress tonight. Her red hair shone like rubies under the twinkling of the stars.

“Um, I’m good.” I said.

She smiled. “I noticed that Prince Daniel Beron has a peculiar sparkle in his eyes. Did you finally realize that you like me?”

What? I stopped from dancing. What does she mean?

“I was just kidding!” She exclaimed. “Who’s the lucky girl? Sel?”

“No!”

“Kidding!” She said again. “Then who?”

She stared at me as if waiting for an answer. What should I say? Should I tell her about the girl I met a while ago?

“What?” She said.

“No one.” I uttered.

“I don’t believe you, Daniel Beron.”

I smiled. “You really are my friend.”

“Um, Daniel, I think you should hide. Sel’s back. With her parents.” She said. True enough, Selena was back. She walked hand in hand with her parents, flashing smiles at the paparazzi.

We escaped from the crowd and went to the mansion’s back garden. It is our usual hiding place, though it is not that surreptitious to the people in the mansion.

“That was close.” She said. “Does she really need to bring her parents with her just to have a dance with you?”

I smirked. “Probably, yes.”

“Tell me, Daniel. Who’s the lucky girl?” She questioned me.

“All right. Her name is Isabella.” I told her.

I’m not really sure if that is her real name. But I’m pretty sure she was the one that the tall guy called Isabella. Or was it really Isabella?

“Isabella, huh? Nice name. She must be really pretty.” Roxie said. “Did you unmask her?”

“Um, no.” I said, shaking my head. I knew I forgot something. I forgot to unmask her!

“Then how come you liked her?”

“I don’t know. Just a slight crush, anyway. Nothing serious.” I said as I stood up from the staircase and headed back to the hall. Slight crush… Not unmasked…

“Wake up! It’s the thirtieth!” Kyle’s voice woke me up from my sleep. He was shaking my whole tent and scared me to the wits. Darn.

I got up from my sleeping bag and unzipped my tent. I looked at him with fury.

“What’s the matter with you?” I confronted Kyle. Sheesh!

“Everybody’s going.” He said. “You better fix yourself too.”

I looked around. Everybody was busy covering there tattoos with makeup and trying to make themselves look like normal Cielans. But why would they all go? IS DARIUS PLANNING TO START  A REVOLUTION NOW?