The Decoder - Chapter 16

Edith

“When I’m assigned to an assignment, I’m dead serious.”

Edith was seething with anger and frustration. She couldn’t believe Avery’s words. There was no way he would kill the refugees. But, the look on his face and the determination in his eyes had told her otherwise. He had mentioned he could not go against the High Commander and there are spies everywhere. For some unknown reason, her intuition was telling her that there was more to his words, words that he was not disclosing to her.

Either way, she was not only boiling and frustrated at her childhood best friend, she had been flabbergasted by last night’s revelation at the purportedly “Agent A” she remembered from a decoded message. Agent A was no other than Lady Ada. The revelation had left Edith speechless and betrayed. It had taken all her efforts to control herself from lunging from her hidden spot behind a bush and pummel Lady Ada, whom she had taken the liberty to follow stealthily after leaving Caden and Merille some time to themselves. She headed to Kyron House and had spotted Lady Ada leaving the apartment. Still highly suspicious of her, Edith hadn’t hesitated to follow after her with the goal to shed some light on her suspicions and that had proved fruitful. Adding to that, of all people she had a meeting with was none other than Avery Kainz.

She recalled all their prior conversations from the fact she knew Sir Alcoft, the lie about High Commander Ekker’s death and the codes. The codes. Edith fingered the pendant lying on her chest. Why had Lady Ada urged her to decipher the codes? She was a spy for the Militia, for the High Commander. The High Commander had been good friends with Sir Alcoft and the late Lord Sykes. Then, she remembered Mr. Roan’s words whom her father had told him, “…but he does not trust High Commander Ekker. He had suspected that he was up to something. Sir Alcoft has never told me the details, but he told me to keep an eye on him.” And he had mentioned that the Militia was the last place she should be at. This mystery was beginning to nip at her.

This concluded that the High Commander Ekker was up to something. Something Edith had yet to piece together unless…

She fingered her pendant once more and shuttered her eyes, bringing her steps to a halt down the street and taking several deep breaths. You can’t run away from your fears forever, Edith. Sometimes the only way to overcome your fears is to face them.

“This set of binary numbers is a combination of four alphabets, which translates to ‘L O V E’.”

“’L O V E’”

“Yes, I love you, my dearest daughter.”

Before Edith realised it, a stray tear slipped down her right cheek and she quickly swiped it away with the back of her hand. She sniffled against the cold and shook her head. Before she could think of the codes her father had placed in the pendant, she needed to warn Mr. Roan about the impending fate happening tonight. Edith had awakened at dawn and quietly slipped out of her bed and past the iron gates. It was the 6th day of the week, so employees are free to leave the Militia. Before Avery could find her and stop her, which she had a very strong feeling he would, she took the opportunity to escape. She will inform Mr. Roan and help the refugees escape to Falborg Forest before nightfall.

In the wee hours of the day, the street was deserted and quiet. The cold air bit at her bare hands and she placed them into her overcoat pockets. There was nothing she could to do to protect her face from the freezing cold, so she hurried own the streets, glancing over her shoulders once in a while to ensure she was not being followed.

When she arrived and stood at the stairs which led into Kyron House, she stopped herself. Taking several deep breaths to calm her nerves and thinking of ways to break the news to Mr. Roan. After several moments, she straightened to her full height, confident, she raised her hand to knock the door. However, her movements were interrupted when an arm snaked around her waist and a leather gloved hand clamped over her mouth. No! Fear coiled her insides and she struggled to set herself free, but her assaulter’s grip was powerful. He pulled her backwards down the steps and across the street as if she weighted nothing more than a sack of potatoes. She struggled harder and her heel connected with his shin. The assaulter grunted, but he continued moving, half lifting her off the ground and half walking to wherever he intended to bring her to. Edith struggled and kicked harder with all her might. The man swore under his breath and before she knew it, darkness consumed her.

* * *

Edith regained her consciousness and squinted against the orange glow of sunlight pouring into the room through the window to her right. Her head throbbed and glanced about, taking in her surroundings. She knew she was in a small room, furnished to the bare minimum. Trying to gather her bearings again, she closed her eyes for a moment before opening them again when a familiar voice spoke to her left.

“Awake?”

She had half-expected the deep baritone to belong to Avery, but there was a lighter feel to it. She turned to face her left where a man in Elite uniform was sitting on a wooden chair next to the simple single bed she was lying on.

“Lucien.” She muttered and jerked upright when she remembered the events and her purpose. She scrambled out of the bed, but Lucien was quicker. In a moment, he stood before her, one hand on her left shoulder in an iron-grip.

“You can’t leave, Edith.” Lucien said sternly though there was a hint of softness in his voice.

“Where am I? Why did you bring me here?” Edith asked, frowning at him. She was beginning to suspect this was Avery’s idea.

“You’re in my rented apartment in Eder Street. As for the reason…” His free hand reached up to rub his neck, thinking of ways to explain the situation to her. Edith said nothing, waiting for his explanation. Her gaze went to the window and she realised a horizon was lining the grey skies. It was already evening. “Mr. Roan!” she unconsciously said his name aloud. Edith made to stand, but Lucien held her to the bed.

“Please let me go, Lucien.” Edith pleaded. She needed to get to Mr. Roan before nightfall and she doesn’t have much time left.

“I can’t.”

“Why not?”

When Lucien averted his gaze and sighed, Edith knew.

“It’s Avery’s idea, isn’t it?” She eyed him.

“Damn. Excuse my language.”

Edith should have known Avery would take precautions to ensure she does not interfere with his plans. He was ahead of her. Always ahead of her. Anger brew in her and she fisted her palms till her left palm hurt, reminding her of her injury. She didn’t care if the wound reopened, didn’t care if blood soaked the bandage. How could he do this?

“I’m sorry, Edith. I’m told to watch over you. I can’t let you leave this room just yet.”

“Mr. Roan…I need to see him. Please.” Edith whispered. She was ready to fight Lucien, push him away with all her might and aim for the door situation behind her.

“Mr. Roan is safe.” Lucien said.

“What?” Edith raised her eyebrows at him, confusion marred her features.

“I allow his escape at dawn. Brought him to Falborg Forest and told him he could go, far away from this city.”

“But, why…?”

“Avery’s request.” Lucien said simply, his gaze not leaving hers.

It took Edith a while to register Lucien’s words and pieced everything together, recalling her conversation with Avery last night. Before she could form her questions, she heard voices and several footsteps outside the apartment. Lucien released her shoulder and reached for her right hand. He pulled her gently to her feet and smiled, a sad smile, one filled with guilt.

Without a word, she allowed herself to be pulled to the window and she realised they were at the second floor of the apartment. Below them, she spotted Avery and an older man who looked to be his superior from the number of badges on his uniform. Lucien slid the windowpane slightly upwards to allow the flow of the conversation to reach them. To her right, several metres ahead of the two men, were several soldiers standing guard in front of Kyron House. Lady Ada was nowhere to be found. The scene itself made her stomach knotted and she felt as if she herself will be shot anytime. The image alone forced memories from that night to resurface, consuming her with dread and into the darkness. She shook her head, not allowing her trauma to consume her now. She can’t afford it. Not now. Thankfully, Lucien’s voice brought her back to the present.

“That’s Major Wright.” Lucien said. Edith only nodded as they focused on the conversation below them. The residents of Eder Street had retreated to their apartments and Edith noticed several of them watched the ordeal from their windows as well.

“Avery, my sources informed me one of the refugees has escaped. How did this happen?” Major Wright spoke, his voice devoid of emotions. Edith imagined the steel man was…well, like a steel, hard and cold. That’s what most Elites were. More than anything, his words confirmed Lucien’s words earlier. Source…There were indeed spies around. As Avery had mentioned. Edith realised.

Beside her, she heard Lucien swore under his breath.

“Never running away from these blackguards.”

“Blackguards?” Edith wondered.

“A term we use to refer to the High Commander’s spies. Only between me and Avery.”

The dread that was already swelling in her stomach, increased tenfold. Her worry for Avery intensified as she watched him. His head hung low and hands clasped behind him.

“It was a slip, a mistake on my part. My apologies, Sir.” She heard Avery said. Suddenly, he was backhanded across the cheek by the Major. It happened lightning fast and Edith nearly gasped. The impact and sound of skin connect with skin was sickeningly loud. Rage burned in her, a burning so great that she fisted her left palm again. Lucien tightened his grip on her hand, and she winced in pain. She knew it was not intended for her, but it was a reaction for having to witness a close friend suffer at the mercy of the Major. Edith herself couldn’t bare to watch the scene and she longed to rush to Avery’s aid, but she couldn’t afford the risk. She knew the last thing Avery and Lucien wanted was her interference.

“You do know how serious this matter is, do you?” Major Wright bellowed.

“My apologies, Sir.” Avery said, his hands remained clasped tightly behind him, his back ramrod straight as he looked straight at the Major, their heights matching each other.

Guilt gnawed at her insides from watching the consequences Avery had to bear for allowing Mr. Roan’s escape. She finally understood the enormity of the situation he had been trying to explain to her last night. There were spies everywhere and Avery knew. She imagined if he had allowed all the refugees to escape…She did not wish to think of the obvious consequences. And, she was certain this will be reported to the High Commander as well. The Militia was not for the faint hearted. Avery had obviously seen the worse of it, the politics and power play involved, the ugly truths behind the façade of ‘providing protection for the citizens.’ The High Commander… Edith thought bitterly. Her father’s codes flashed in her mind. The workings of the Militia were far from the truth that was laid out to the public. The ever-brewing feud between Rayard and Hathage was worsening. What is the High Commander’s true motive?

“Let’s get this through and done with.” Major Wright turned and strode to the waiting soldiers. Avery remained rooted at his position for a minute before stepping forward and Edith wondered what went through his mind at that moment. The sun was already setting.

“You do not want to watch this.” Lucien said and slid the windowpane down and secured the latch. He pulled her away from the window to the bed. Edith obediently lowered herself onto the edge of the soft bedding and Lucien sat beside her. He released her hand and she placed both of her hands on her lap. It was then Lucien pointed out her bloodied bandage on her left palm. The blood had soaked through almost the entire bandage, turning the white cloth to red. The wound must’ve reopened when she had gripped her palms in a death grip, her fingernails biting into the cloth.

“We need to get you back to the Militia.” Lucien rose to his feet, but Edith placed her hand on his arm.

“It’s alright…Besides, we can’t leave now. The soldiers might see us.” Edith said.

“But we can’t leave your injury as it is.” Lucien insisted.

“It’s fine, really.” Edith forced a smile.

She tried not to imagine the fates of the Hathagian refugees, innocent and young. Though Mr. Roan had escaped, the rest wasn’t spared. And, there was nothing they could do. Not when there are spies everywhere, the High Commander Ekker’s spies, the blackguards. And, she owed Avery an apology.

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