The Angels are Weeping

Not So Safe

The sun slowly rose over the horizon. The only way this was noticeable was the change in colour coming from above. A blanket of dark clouds spread across the sky, going from a dark night to a foggy, grey early sunrise.

"I haven't seen the sun in forever.." Victoria sighed.

"You still can't see it," Oliver said, looking up.

"I know," she said. "It would be nice to see it again."

Raoul turned to them with a hopeful grin on his face. "I'm sure we'll make it to freedom."

"What if we don't?" Linda asked, frowning.

The boy stopped in his tracks. The thought had occurred to him previously. This would be a bit of a problem.. His automatic reaction was to not let it get to him, but now he wasn't so sure.

"Of course we will," he said in a monotonous voice. "Don't worry. I promise we'll make it."

Linda looked down at her feet as they continued through the empty sidewalks of the dilapidated city.

A crack of thunder was heard, followed by light raindrops falling from the sky.

"It's raining.." Victoria frowned. "Are we going to stop somewhere?"

Before Raoul could rebuff the idea, Oliver answered the question. "It would be a good idea, since we have been walking for a long time."

"Where would we go?" Raoul asked and glanced at the cracked doors of abandoned buildings. The idea wasn't necessarily bad, but it worried him. Anybody who got caught in a home other than their own would be accused of theft and repossession. Vacant homes belonged to the emperor, but nobody looked over them unless suspicious activity was seen in the area.

"I'm sure we can get away with hiding in there," Linda said, pointing to the building.

Raoul bit his lip. It wouldn't hurt to try..

"Sure, we can do that."

He slowly approached the door and checked their surroundings. The only ones around were the ones expected to be here. He pushed open the door, peeked inside and scanned the small room. Nobody inside. They were safe.

With one single hand gesture, Raoul motioned Victoria, Oliver and Linda to follow him inside. The area had walls made of dull brick with a dirt floor. It wasn't the best compared to their own home, but it was what they had to go with at the time.

They didn't unpack too much, but enough for them to make a place to rest on the rough floor.

"Somebody will have to keep watch," Raoul said.

Victoria lifted her arm. "I'll do it."

"Are you sure..?" Oliver asked, concerned.

"I'm sure." She sat down on the corner of the sheets, placing her hands in her lap.

"It's better than risking anything... Besides, I'll take over if you get tired. Just wake me up." Raoul rested on the other edge of the sheets and laid on his side, closing his eyes.

Linda moved next to Raoul, while Oliver stayed close to Victoria.

"Like I said, wake me up if anything happens," Raoul reminded Victoria.

"I will," she responded. "Don't worry."