After the Storm

15. The barbaric intervention

Jargon: Hybrid language/gibberish.

Soiree: party/celebration

Herald: Guy who announces titles/names at a ball (correct me if I'm wrong).

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"What are you looking for, Lil?"

I flung a dress out of the closet and almost hit Ella.

"Do you need help?" She sounded worried. I really couldn't understand why she would sound so concerned at how I was disembowelling my wardrobe while yelling a profanity jargon.

"Where is it?" I growled and chucked out a pair of trousers. Ella who had already found out about my suspicious stash of male clothing, didn't bother to ask why I had pants hidden in the depth of the cupboard.

"Where is what?"

"I swore I put it somewhere in here!"

"What is it? Maybe I can help."

I ignored her and continued my frantic search. "Aha!" I whipped out a long rope. Finally! Who knew my closet could hide items so well?

Ella stared wide eyed at the rope. "May I ask what that is for?"

"You may not."

"Lil!"

Realising that I probably sounded too mean to my poor, sensitive sister, I tried to share information with her as kindly as possible. "To make a noose of course."

"A noose?!" Her mouth hung agape. "Please don't tell me that you plan to kill a man!"

"Of course not!" I replied, miffed at how poorly she thought of me. "If I were to kill a man, I would use a dagger. Hanging is too quick and painless a death."

She placed her hand on her mouth and gasped. Ella really was as melodramatic as a theatrical actress. "Then what is the noose for?"

"Not what but who."

"You said you wouldn't kill a man with it!"

"No." I said grimly. "Unless you want to classify me under the male species."

It took her a moment to process my words. When she finally did so ― bless her slow mind ― all the blood rushed from her face, leaving her pale as a ghost. Her voice trembled. "Please do not tell me that you intend to..."

"I do not plan to tell you anything, don't worry," I assured.

"Lil! This is serious! Do you mean to say that you want to..." She placed a hand around her neck. "ha-hang yourself?"

I nodded ominously.

"Oh Lil!" She flung herself at me. "Tell me which trecherous rake has driven you to take your own life? As your sister, I-I will defend yo-your honour!"

I was touched. She looked petrified, but was still willing to attempt at protecting me.

"No man has done anything to me."

"Then what is it? How can I help?" Tears pooled in her large blue eyes. She looked like a terrified doe that was being forced to confront a hunter. "What is it that has enervated your soul and triggered this dreadful response?"

I sighed. Ella cried too easily. It wasn't even a big deal.

"Tell me Lil!"

"The ball."

"The what?"

"The ball Aunt is trying to force me to attend!" I replied impatiently.

Her morose expression immediately morphed into one of confusion and utter disbelief. "You want to hang yourself from a noose because of that?"