The Makings of Evil

Chapter Sixteen - Times Two

I couldn't sleep that night. I hadn't told Taylor that the war wasn't quite over yet. She was so happy; I didn't have the heart to down her. But why did my life have to be so sad?

Also, I had been the one to help carry Megan's bleeding body back to headquarters. By the time we arrived, her purple shirt was stained with blood and tears. Death is not my thing, and carcasses are even worse. Godwin had insisted on burying her himself, and thank God I wasn't assigned to help him. He had really meant "himself".

Today Taylor and I received a letter from Crowose.

"I'm sorry if it's a little too soon," it read, "But I need both of you on a data mission. Just you two and Dr. Gwen. See me in my office as soon as possible for more details."

Taylor and I quickly got dressed and headed up to Crowose's office. She was alone inside, typing at her computer.

"Ah, girls. You got my letter," she greeted. Taylor sat but I stood, my arms folded. "I'm not sure if I want to do this," I said, "I don't want any more death."

"There won't be," explained Crowose, "You are just going to guard Dr. Gwen when he hacks into the Rosary Palace's computer lab and steals information. In, steal, out."

"What about Minister Honeysuckle?" I questioned.

"Why are we on a mission? Why is there a Minister Honeysuckle? Hasn't the war been won?" Taylor asked.

Crowose looked at her, then at me questioningly. "Lilliana didn't tell you?" she said, "President Marigold's grandson, Minister Honeysuckle, has taken over as the new dictator of the Rosary Kingdom."

A shocked expression conquered Taylor's face. "NO!" she practically shouted.

"We can't tell the rest of the order, not yet," Crowose instructed, "We cannot sadden them."

"NO!" repeated Taylor as if she had not heard Crowose.

~

The days before the data mission flew by, then I found myself standing with Dr. Gwen and Taylor promptly at 10:45pm in the Dining Hall. Taylor and I held our spear and TurboWind, and Dr. Gwen a flash drive. Madame Lee had just been by to tell us that because Minister Honeysuckle was worried that the palace staff wasn't loyal, he had them build killer robots who then executed the staff.

"Oh, great," muttered Dr. Gwen sarcastically with a hint of fear. He kissed his wife goodbye, hugged her and almost didn't let go. I saw him crying heavily. "I'm scared, Crow," I heard him weep, "What if I don't come back? Should more people come?"

"Don't worry; you'll come back," Crowose sobbed backed into his shoulder. She was taller than him by many inches. "I have faith."

When they finally broke apart, we headed into the jungle. It was dark and eerie as we began our long hike to the Rosary Kingdom.

Don't ask me exactly how we got inside the castle. It was basically a miracle that the robots guarding the outside hadn't seen us. If it were just me, I would've screamed and then they'd have murdered us, they were so big and deadly looking. But I couldn't jeopardize my friends.

We slipped through each hallway, peering around each corner. Dr. Gwen was in the lead. Then he stopped and Taylor and I bumped into him. He slowly opened two double white doors, which didn't help with the noise. If he had opened them quicker, there probably would not have been a squeak. "Taylor, stay out here and guard. Let us know if someone – or something, I should say – is coming," he instructed quietly, "Lilliana, come inside with me."

Inside, there were large TV like computers and shiny keyboards, compared to our box computers and beaten up keyboards. "We need to improve our technology," I commented. Dr. Gwen nodded and sat in one of the spiny chairs. He began typing away as I paced around the circular room. What was it with this place and circles? Even with the bright walls and computer screen, it was still fairly dark.

Suddenly, a muffled whisper came from just outside the room. Then a high pitched scream could be heard from outside, along with a "pew-pew" of lasers. Dr. Gwen and I popped our heads up faster than lightning could strike. "Lilliana, hide," he demanded, "While I hold them off, flee and forget about Taylor and me."

"No way!" I retorted.

"There isn't enough time for this! We discussed this yesterday and you and Taylor agreed on escaping and leaving the other behind!" Dr. Gwen remarked, "So yes!"

"But that was before I knew it would actually happen," I said, remembering our very, very long discussion – which was really an argument – yesterday. I hadn't wanted to agree to the plan but I was outnumbered. Then I added, "What about Crowose? And besides, everyone at the O.W. would think you died a traitor."

"Don't remind me. Either way, that doesn't matter now," said Dr. Gwen, his eyes swelling with tears. A laser was shot through the door. Dr. Gwen shook his head and wiped his eyes. "Hide!" he demanded and I dove behind a desk just as the door was knocked down to reveal two robots. I caught a glimpse of a lifeless, mangled Taylor, horribly bruised and bloody. "NO!" I shouted inside my head, "Not my beloved sister!"

I filled my TurboWind as I ran out of the room, the robots vaguely noticing me. They were preoccupied with Dr. Gwen, who was painfully loosing. I attempted to take Taylor, but she was dead weight. Crowose had promised me no death!

I reluctantly left the castle, dashing out, with many robots on my tail. I threw wind at them numerous times but they were relentless. I burst into the sky and flew all the way back to headquarters, lasers following me as far as they could go. One hit my thigh but I barely felt it as I thought about the loss that I had suffered. I wished that I was the one to die instead of my happy, cheery sister. I did not want to meet everyone else's reactions when I showed up alone, in tears and blood stained. For now, I was a million miles beyond tears. But I knew that once I saw Crowose's expression when she learned about her husband's death, they would come pouring out.

Crowose was waiting for me in the empty Dining Hall when I arrived. By now, the tears had come sooner than expected and I did not make eye contact. She dashed forward and put her hands on my shoulders, crouching slightly to get a view of my face. "Lil-Lilliana?" she asked cautiously, her voice cracking; she was afraid to hear what I had to say.

Lucky for her, I did not speak. I stood motionless and stared blankly at the ground. Thoughts and images filled my head as I realized both Crowose and I had lost someone very near and dear to our hearts today.

Crowose's face was turning pale, her nose bright red, tears beginning to pour down her cheeks like mini waterfalls. I probably looked the same.

It is okay to cry. Crying is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign that people have a heart, emotion, and love. Crowose and I had plenty of it that night. We cried into the night because you know what, it is okay to cry sometimes.