The Above || Completed

14 Be Careful

Aeron and I set off down the hall towards the courtyard. He'd leave me to search the guards' meeting points and move on to the main gate from there.
"Try not to be seen, even if you are, don't make it obvious what you're searching for. Make an excuse if anyone asks questions," he told me as we took the stairs down.
"What are you going to do at the main gate?" I asked.
"Try not to be seen, just like you," he answered, smiling.
"And if you are?" I inquire further.
"In that case, I'll say the council sent me to get a copy of their schedule or something." He shrugged.
"Careful with the risks you take, Aeron. We can't afford getting caught before the Renewal," I warned him.

He held the door open for me to step out into the dark courtyard. Small lights illuminated some of the path but aside from that, the courtyard seemed ghostly and mysterious.
"The Renewal is all about taking risks, Maddison. But I'll be careful because you're so worried about me," Aeron said, attempting to tease me.
"I'm more worried about myself, actually." I remarked jokingly. "Go ahead and get caught if you'd like."
"Oh, I see. But don't think I won't take you down with me," he said deviously.
I chuckled. "Yeah, yeah. Do you know where the meeting points are?"
"They're not far from the courtyard. I know where you can start, just follow me." Aeron tried taking my hand. But with a silent gasp, I recoiled just in time.

Unfazed, Aeron led me down to the baobab tree and we took a left from there. We walked on the white, cloudy grass in the darkness for a few minutes until a small, dome-shaped building rose in the shadows. Light poured out of the door left ajar.
"Is that it?" I asked Aeron.
"Yeah. It looks like there's a meeting going on in there right now though," he answered, biting his lip.
I sighed. "Who would leave a door open during a meeting?"
"These guys," Aeron said quickly. "I'll stay with you for now; let's check for a notice board outside."

We moved forward and once we stood at the foot of the dome, we split up around either side. I came around the right hand side, where the door stood open. I leapt past the narrow doorway to find no notice board on the other side. There was no way for me to get inside the meeting so I stood and waited for Aeron. He met up with me and shook his head. I did the same. Then we paused to listen to the men's voices inside.
"Why would an angel come here of all places?" one man said.
"If Heaven's as good as they say it is, I'd stay for sure," another man with a deeper voice added.
A woman's voice interrupted the array of comments that threatened to follow. "Such speculations are irrelevant to the topic, gentlemen. Robertson, I suggest you refrain from asking questions that cannot be answered."
"Yes, ma'am -uh I mean..." Robertson stuttered.
"The issue here involves the possibility of the angel being able to infiltrate the council's headquarters," the woman said, ignoring Robertson. "I want our guards alert at all times. We don't know what this angel could be after and until we know, we must protect the Above's council."
What could an angel have against our council?
Then came the sound of a voice buzzing through a radio. I heard the woman inside let out a sigh.
"It appears two of the Renewal candidates are nowhere to be found. Guards Robertson and Stadler, you have orders to search the perimeter. You're all dismissed," the woman said.

Aeron tapped me on the shoulder hurriedly; a sign that we needed to go now. We ran off into the shadows behind a thicket of small trees. "Maddison, there's another meeting point behind the main building, go there and don't let anyone see you. I'll try going to the main gate and we'll meet at the baobab in the courtyard when we're done. Got it?" Aeron whispered, grasping my shoulders.
"Don't forget what I told you, Aeron. Be careful," I said as he stood up to leave.
Soon, he disappeared into the darkness and it was my turn to stand up.

^^^

!!Author's Note!!

I've got a lot in store for this story. I am so excited to share it all.

The picture is just an idea of Aeron. ☺️😏 I kind of like the idea I'm forming of him in my head. Hope you guys are crushing on him already, haha.