Head in the Clouds

Chapter 14: Follow These Instructions

Deidre sat at her table with her eyes focused on the page in front of her. With her father's handwriting, there were five instructions written in front of her. 

She could barely believe it at first. Sparrow did believe her. 

Deidre, I wish you were a lot less like me and more like your mother, so you would stop letting your emotions mask the bigger picture. 

I began suspecting you were being watched when you first came back to the city. When you were walking to our house, I saw the glint of the glass of a pair of binoculars through the second-story window across the street. When you left, the glint was gone.

When your mother told me you were invited to that party, I became suspicious, and I was right to be. While you were here today, I saw the glint come back through the window. It was then I knew for sure. I couldn't be sure no one was around listening to us, so I pretended not to know anything. Well, Deidre, I know something.

Deidre was more focused on those words than anything. Her eyes were glued to the page.

A few thousand years ago, there was a war that went on between the demon, and celestial races, and it even ended up including the fairy, giant, and other mythical races. 

Though the war was devastating, the humans got the worst of it. Our cities were destroyed, and our people were killed off just for being around the two races. 

The major governments of the human world came together and tried to figure out a way to get rid of the threat of the creatures. They found a doctor, Dr. Apollo, who figured out a way to trap all magic users, as well as magical creatures away somehow. 

There has always been a looming threat that magic would seep back into this world again, and the magical races would be awakened again. Well, here you are.

Deidre could feel her jaw clench.

You're right. If the king figures out what happened to you, he'll most definitely execute you, and that goes for all world leaders, so going to them won't help. Deidre, it may feel like the world is against you at this point, but that's because it is.

"Gee, thanks, Dad," she thought.

I can't help you, Darling, but I think I know someone who can.

Deep in the pits of Jericho prison is a special prisoner. They say, he's the last magical being alive, and he's one of the most powerful of all. He's been trapped in that prison for a thousand years now, so he may not even be alive anymore, but it's worth a try. If anyone can help you, he can.

Deidre nodded as though her father could see.

Deidre, I need you to read these instructions. Internalize them. Understand them. Memorize them. Then, throw this paper away, and make sure no one knows what's going on.

1. He's kept in the farthest room at the bottom floor of Jericho Prison. This is one of the most heavily guarded prisons in the world because of his presence, so you'll need to be careful. I suggest you pay it a visit at noon every night for at least a week. Take note of when shifts change and which guards come in and out.

2. Spend a good amount of time finding a way in. You have to make sure it's just as easy to get out as it is to get out. Make sure that no one sees you. If they do, you might as well have just signed your death certificate.

"Damn," she muttered.

If what you said about the thief was correct, I suggest you reach out to him. He seems like he'd be one of those guys who can slip in and out of certain situations pretty smoothly, but be careful around him. He doesn't sound like someone who would stick his neck out for a stranger. He's definitely just trying to save his own ass.

"You can say that again."

3. You need to find the bottom floor. The farther down you go, the harsher the security becomes. By the time you get to the bottom, there may be more guards than you can handle. DO NOT FIGHT THEM. Anything that can give away who you are is going to harm you.

4. Distract the guards in any way you can. Deidre, this is important. Make sure they don't even notice you're there.

5. When you finally get there, talk to him. Don't give away any important information, not even your name. Do not let him get anything over your head. Do not make any deals with him.

Deidre, I don't want you to get hurt, or endanger your own life. I want you to be safe and happy, but what you've gotten yourself into is a disaster of epic proportions. You're under suspicion by the king, his men, and that asshole, Carter. As much as this pains me to say, you will need to leave this city until you get yourself under control.

Darling, I love you, and I want what's best for you. Two and a half weeks from today, I need you to come to visit us. There's something that you have to know.

"Dad?" She thought.

Be strong, Darling. I love you with all of my strength.

"With all of my strength."

When you greet him, it must be by his name

***

Deidre spent her weekdays as usual. She'd get up at dawn and go for a run around town. Then, she'd go to training. She'd mostly work on technique with Henry and lift weights on her own.

She'd see Clyde working out with Paul every one in a while, but they never said more than a pleasant hello to one another. As much as it pained her, she preferred it this way. Now she could keep her mind solely on the plan.

Every night that week, she rode Nadja all the way to the prison making sure to take a route where they wouldn't be seen. For the first three nights, she'd wait there all night. She decided that the best window would be during eleven and two-thirty PM when there were only three guards at the door. 

On the fourth night, she snuck around the building and found a gate to the east of the building. She tried various methods of lock picking and finally got it open on her seventh try. She then closed it but noticed it made a very loud 'clanking' sound when she did.

On the fifth night, she realized that all the guards inside were replaced. This took two minutes. By the seventh night, she had hatched a plan she thought was very doable. There was just one thing left to do: find Ko.