And Then There Was Us

3 + The Ringmaster Said Bravo

"Cato!" she smiled so brightly after calling out my name. I could absolutely say that Francheska is the best out from all the fallen ones. Beautiful fallen ones. She enticed me to come follow behind her with a finger. So I followed the fair maiden with a crown of blue cornflowers on top of her head. She leaped and waltzed and pranced and frolicked as if she's never been in a tranquil meadow.

After a moment, she slowed down but still walking forward towards the sinking sun. "Out of any people, you know how much I disdain oblivion." she said with both hands behind her.

I answered nothing, just continued using the long dry branch to playfully swat the faunas around me. Then I heard her laugh gently. Francheska turned around and looked at me. "Cato, please don't follow me when I leave. Because no matter how far you think I am, I'm always beside you." 

Francheska told me she loves me more than anything in this world. She told me she's in love with me beyond any measure. But she was too obsessed with making me safe and making sure I will have an amazing future without her. She considered herself as a time bomb, ready to explode at any rate, at any millisecond. And oh I was patient and good to her not because I'm still waiting for her to reciprocate my love for her. I stayed because I learned that in life, you can choose to stay or go. Francheska believed that she could lessen the pain if she run away from what she feels for me. 

She had no idea. 

-

My family owns an undisputed lodge in Strasbourg. And as the eldest of their offsprings, I'm obliged to follow with the tradition of continuing the glory of the inn. I was never interested on owning the auberge although meeting new people inspired me to be proud of what my family has been doing for decades. There were other perks too, like broadening your connections and enjoying the second-hand mirth from all the people who checks in.

And that's where I met Devin Harper. He checked in last Christmas and quickly became an eye candy to my mother and my father said he looks very respectable. The one week he stayed in the inn, I'd always see him on trench coats, vests and large scarves. He has this pair of mysterious looking eyes, seemingly perfect nose bridge and a sleek hair with black fringes covering half of his forehead. My first impression was he's a total snub, an impression I hid until we became friends and he casually asked me about it. 

"So what's your story?" He asked me one Yule night. It was his fifth day and we were hanging out at the local bridge. Snow cascaded from above and grew an inch every other time. 

"I wash dirty towels, serve morning muffins and offer wine." my answer made Devin chortle.  

"No, I want to know your true story." he asked as he look at me over the rim of his coffee cup.

I leaned on the frosty hand rail and looked ahead. The river was far frozen. "I want to have my own cafe bookshoppe. I want to be a published author. I want to show my paintings to the people. I'm not good with art but I believe I'm good with expressing what I feel."

"You madly remind me of an old friend of mine." Devin said. "I think he'd appreciate you."

"A good friend?" 

"He was my best friend, together with his brother we were inseparable." 

"Where is he?"

Devin didn't answered. He looked away with a breaking smile.

I'm also good with connecting with other people. So I felt my tongue numb and never spoke anything. There are things in this world that are best left unspoken. There are emotions in this world that are best left untouched. 

"I could help you, you know. About being a published author." Devin said, breaking the figurative ice between us. "I know someone in London that owns a prominent publishing company. He's looking for an apprentice and I could recommend you to him."

"Really?" I almost dropped my coffee on the frozen river. 

"Let me read some of your work and if I like it, consider it a sure win. I mean, a beautiful soul like you could only make beautiful literature." He cooed the last words with saccharine melody.

"What company is it?"

"Do you know Eos Ltd.?" 

I looked at him with surprised eyes. "Eos? They always publish amazing books!  Would you really..."

Devin smiled after giving a firm nod. I would doubt him having a connection with Eos but he already told me before that he's from a wealthy English family so it's not a complete shocker.

"Hey, remember the lodge's motto. Everyone's a family." He quoted.

After Devin left Strasbourg, that was the last time I saw him. He promised me he will keep in touch, but he didn't. I was this close on being attached to him. But that was luxury no one can afford. My exact sentiments about attachment saved me from a lot of falsities. Devin's just another filler in my book. Amazing. 

-

"I hate Mondays." 

I looked up from my plate and I saw Mason buttoning his shirt up. We shared a gaze before he sighed. He sat some chairs away from me. Brunch with Tristan and Mason was never an avoidable thing. We're going to start looking for Cato and the book after eating, Tristan showed a tad of mercy for me and Mason.

But it was all useless for me. I mean, I didn't even get to bond with the fictional character that I longed to interact with for years. And the fact that things escalated rapidly agitated the heck out of me. I savoured nothing. I was given a small chance but I didn't took it. I behaved and I got this. 

After eating, I cleaned up and prepared my stuffs in a light baggage. Tristan made me hurry and Mason wasn't talking to me at all. He just told his uncle that he'll leave after 10 minutes. 

When I got down outside the building, I saw Mason standing next to a black Reventon. And in front of him was a guy, somehow smaller that him. The other guy was wearing sunglasses and black sleeves. They continued talking for a few more moments before the man left Mason. 

In the given distance, I could say that the other guy wasn't a stranger at all. If I didn't knew better, I wouldn't know it was him. Besides, he's the one who gave me the chance to be under Eos. In all honesty, I felt the rush inside my veins. I wouldn't deny it. 

I walked to the shot gun sit and sat quietly. I dare not to speak. But Mason stopped me and demanded that I should sit at the back row. After putting the seat belt around me, I covered my mouth from yawning. I'm still disoriented and hungry, I wish I ate more. Mason sat next down on the driver's seat while holding a huge map of England. 

"Where are we going?" I asked nicely, trying not to invoke anything bad.

"If I am given the chance to, I'd send you to the depths of this planet. But you're the only one who can put him back to the book and I only know the places where to look." He said, encircling a certain spot on the map before giving it to me. He started the car's engine and I heard it purr.

First stop: Ringstead, Norfolk.