A Matter Of Choice

Chapter 17: Going Against

At last, I’ve finally made a decision.

I’m going against them. I’ll do things my way. I definitely do not want people to change me. In Darius’ case, he has changed me, planned my life and made me his slave.

It won’t be my loss. It will surely be theirs. I’m not the one who needs them anyway. They need me. They will never find anyone foolish enough to accept Darius’ game. I was stupid enough to have accepted it before.

I sneaked the small black luggage from the attic and covered it with a huge white blanket last night after Fiona and I had a conversation. Unfortunately, before I could even haul it inside my closet, someone knocked on the door. I had to look for a sheet of cloth and cover the luggage with it. I was relieved when I saw Natalia until she told me that she has to sleep in my room since she had a very bad nightmare. With that, I had to postpone my breakaway.

“Since when did you start planning for this?” A voice said, startling me. I was sitting on my bed, staring at the maple tree by my window, when he interrupted. I looked at him and found out that he had already discovered what was concealed by the sheet of cloth.

“W-what do you mean? I…”

“Quit lying, Heather. You aren’t good at it.” He said. I was dumbfounded. After all these time that I though he forgot about what used to be us, he was still with me.

“If you’re planning to escape…” He continued. “…I’m coming with you. Do you think there is another luggage hiding somewhere in the attic?”

I smiled. Kyle was still Kyle. He wasn’t Edward.

We hauled another luggage from the attic and started filling it with our things. Natalia, Lucas and Fiona went outside which means that we can pack in peace. If fate won’t forbid, maybe we could even leave this place now.

“You ready?” Kyle asked me after he place the final piece of clothing into his luggage. I nodded in response. I am ready. I was born ready. If not now, when could we possibly get away from this freaking place?

We sneaked out of the house through the backdoor. After we made sure that there was not one soul who could witness our departure, we ran towards the woods. We went deeper and deeper into the woods until buildings cannot be seen anymore. When I was sure that we will not be seen by anyone anymore, I looked at Kyle and found him looking at me, too.

“Do you think you could run away from me?” I heard Darius’ voice from behind us. I began to tremble. I haven’t thought about getting caught at all. As far as I’ve known him, Darius is the kind of person who does everything in advance and knows everything even before they actually happen. “Heather, I trusted you. The future of the entire Ciel is in your hands, but what did you do? You must suffer the consequences of what you had just done, Heather.”

-

I sat up and put my hand against my head, for I think my head is going to burst. Everything I see around me is spinning. I remember fainting. I just down know the reason why I fainted. Maybe nervousness got into me real bad. Perhaps Darius drugged me. I am now at the headquarters back at the camp, having no idea how and when I got here. I looked around and saw Kyle, who was holding a bagful of ice over his bleeding forehead.

“Do you…?” I was about to ask him if he remembers what happened but he cut me off.

“I don’t have the slightest idea.” He said. With the tone of his voice, he looked sad. It was as if he failed someone, he failed me.

Darius then walked inside the headquarters, startling me. With him were the members of the Core, Cicero, Ola, Faris, Ruby and Demitri. Seeing them, I sat perfectly still, not knowing what to do or what to say.

“You know what happen to traitors, don’t you?” He asked, eyeing at me and Kyle. They sat on a semicircle before us. I feel smaller and smaller as they continue to glare at us, at me.

No, I don’t. Rebels that belong to our camp are too afraid of Darius that they don’t even dare to go against his will. He dictates what everyone does. Campers, on the other hand, believe in him. They always think that Darius is so great, that Darius always has a plan in his head. They respect him. They trust him. Throughout their lives, they serve him, only because they hope that Darius will get them what they want. Freedom.

Normal Cielans would think that we have no rules. They would think that we are freer than they are, but in reality, we aren’t. We are slaves. Darius’ slaves. I don’t think he wants us to be freed. I think he’s a mean heartless monster who wants to be served. This isn’t a give and take realtionship anymore. Darius is the only one who gets what he wants— power. I don’t think he works with the Core at all.

 “What do you want us to do for you, Darius?” I asked, hardheartedly.

We, the rebels, are born to be bound. If there are really gods, maybe they cursed our ancestors to be slaves forever.  They, perhaps, started an undying race of duds who cannot fight for themselves. We are nothing but dirt in Darius’ eyes. Most of us believe that we cannot do anything all because Darius foresees everything we do. But we can do something if we really want to.

“I want you to continue luring Daniel Beron.” He said. The Core members nodded all at once. It has been set. And again, I am Isabella Julienne Collins. But this time, I will add a great twist to Darius’ magnificent story plot.