The Decoder - Chapter 21

Avery

Where is Edie? Why is she taking so long?

No…No…Please, no…

At the realisation of Edith’s sudden disappearance, fear and dread wrapped around him like a blanket, engulfing him deep in darkness, bringing him back to the night eleven years ago. The fear he once felt at the brink of death and when he had witnessed Edith with a cutter in her hand, came crashing like tidal waves.

Ira is missing…Not Edie, too. Please no. Dear God, please.

And when his wishes were not answered, he broke into a panic that he never once had, not since eleven years ago. He had enough. He was not going to listen to the High Commander’s command this time. He will assemble his troop and search the entire city, the entire forest. His patience was already thinning as the days passed with no news of Ira’s whereabout. Now, with Edith’s sudden disappearance, he can no longer sit idle. It was an hour and a half ride to Yvyle Forest by carriage, his first suspected spot. He had placed half of his men to search the city as well, and in the event if any of them had found Edith and Ira, he had instructed his men to bring them straight to the Militia.

Please, let her be safe. Let them be safe, he continued to pray as he led his troop into Yvyle Forest. If only his mind wasn’t entirely occupied on Ira’s disappearance and whereabouts, he could keep an eye on Edith, and she wouldn’t have gone missing. When one of his soldiers returned to him with a report of a distant screaming, Avery almost lost himself. He had gathered all his men and allowed the soldier to lead them to the source of the screaming, all the while plotting an ambush plan.

When they arrived not far from the small secluded cabin, Avery’s senses were heightened. Lucien and Caden who was by his side awaited his command. They hid in the trees and bushes, and when two unidentifiable persons appeared, a tall man and a woman, Avery had given the signal to ambush and attack. Fighting ensued and the tall man was an obstacle, but the woman soon gave a command to fall back. Wise move. Avery had thought, because he was not going to give in. Never. When the tall man and the woman ran in the opposite direction, Avery had instructed three of his men to give chase while he, Lucien, Caden and two other men entered the cabin.

When he saw Ira lying unconscious on the floorboards, Avery bit the inside of his cheek so hard that he tasted blood. And, when he saw Edith next to Ira, half-conscious and her final words to save Ira, it nearly broke his heart. The mysterious tall man and the woman will pay dearly for this. It took all his strength not to dove back into the forest and search for the duo.

On their journey back, he had cradled Edith in his arms possessively, refusing to leave her side while he watched Lucien caring for Ira on the bench opposite of them in the carriage. Her arm was broken, and Edith had tended to it despite her own condition. Lucien had questioned his choice. Avery had responded with a “I’m not good at handling a broken arm.” When the truth was, he just wanted to be by Edith’s side, the need to feel her warmth, to ensure that she was alive. Lucien did not question further, and Avery was thankful for it, though Lucien had eyed him skeptically.

Avery had been sitting by Edith’s bedside for two hours before he had been called to his duty as a fiancé. He was equally worried for Ira as well, so he ought to check on her. Now that they were found and safe, he was relieved. He allowed himself to relax a little though the identity of the tall man and the woman kept niggling at the back of his mind. The lady whom he recognised as Lady Ada had committed suicide by swallowing cyanide pill. How did she even procure the pill, he had no idea. He will question Edith and Ira when they awake. For now, he allowed himself some peace.

After spending hours with Ira till she decided to retire for the night. It was a quarter to nine when he left the ward. It was time to head back to Edith’s side when suddenly a nurse approached him.

“I have a message for you from Sir Lucien, Captain.” Her voice was soft and timid.

“What is it?”

“He said to pass this message to you when you’re away from Miss Ira’s side. He mentioned that you were invited to a dinner at Uncle Vern’s clinic.” The nurse said.

“Oh…Thank you.” Avery nodded and immediately walked to Ward A where Edith was and the bed she had occupied was empty.

“Miss Edith has left the ward if you are looking for her.” The nurse had followed him.

“Thank you.” He nodded. The nurse smiled sheepishly in return and turned to walk down the hallway. Avery had been by Ira’s side for a long time, of course, Edith will have regained consciousness and he guessed Caden and Merille must’ve whisked her away to her uncle’s clinic. A puzzling thought drifted into his mind, how is Lucien invited, too?

Avery made his way to his dorm to grab his double-breasted overcoat, scarf and gloves before heading out of the Militia, making his way down the street to Dastren Street in the freezing cold night. He wanted to see Edith, needed to see her, needed to make sure she was well with his own eyes. He quickened his pace with determination.

He stopped and stood before the glass door of Uncle Vern’s clinic. He could hear laughter and joy coming from the clinic. They had been enjoying without his presence and Avery felt some kind of hollowness, a hollowness that made him felt left out. You have been spending time by Ira’s side for a long amount of time, he told himself.

Straightening to his full height, he knocked on the door. No point in sulking out here in the cold night when Lucien had mentioned he was invited. After a while, the door swung inward and Caden welcomed him with joy.

“Do come in, Captain! We have been wondering when you will arrive.”

Caden stepped aside to allow Avery to enter. He shrugged out of his double-breasted overcoat and scarf and hung them at the coat hanger placed at the side of the door.

“I’m sorry, I’m late.” Avery said.

“Don’t worry about it. We are currently engaged in a card game.” Caden closed the door and ushered Avery to the living room. He was going to see Edith and he was suddenly nervous. He could hear her laughter from the living room, it was like a bird chirping in the morning, a sound that he enjoyed very much.

“Edith and Lucien lost the game and we are currently punishing them.” Caden said with mirth. As they neared the living room, Caden announced Avery’s arrival. He stepped into the living room and Avery himself found himself standing at the entryway, eyes widened at the sight of Edith and Lucien side by side, arms around each other’s waist at the front of the living room. They seemed to be in the middle of dancing when their eyes fixated on him. Edith’s laughter faded and Lucien immediately released her waist.

“You’re finally here, Avery.” Lucien said tersely, as if caught red-handed.

“Do come in, Avery.” Uncle Vern smiled warmly and stood. He gestured to a vacant spot on the couch next to Uncle Vern, seeming unaware of the sudden tension in the atmosphere.

Avery obeyed and tried his very best to smile despite the raging jealousy surging through him and the overwhelming urge to pull Edith and Lucien apart. However, he knew it was inappropriate of him to do such a thing in front of an audience, especially with Uncle Vern present. So, he made his way around the living room to the couch Uncle Vern had motioned to with a friendly greeting and smile to everyone.

“Thank you, Uncle Vern. It’s nice to see you again.” He smiled.

As if sensing the uncomfortableness, Caden said to the crowd, “let’s play a game of hide-and-seek.”

“That would be a splendid idea.” Merille agreed and pulled Edith away from Lucien to join her side at the couch.

“This game will take place outside of the clinic. The rule is to hide within Dastren Street and not beyond.” Caden explained.

“That sounds fun, but…the weather is freezing cold outside.” Lucien said.

“That’s the challenge. Now, let’s all bundle up and head out.” Caden winked.

Everyone but Uncle Vern made their way to the entrance of the clinic and donned their overcoats, scarfs and gloves before heading out. Though Avery was late and had missed dinner, he was secretly glad that he could see Edith. Standing beside her, his first instinct was to hold her hand in his, but her bare hands were hidden in her overcoat pockets. The urge to pull them out of the pockets seized him when Edith spoke to him, her voice was soft, only for his ears.

“Uncle Vern left some portion of dinner for you.”

“Thank you.” He replied. Avery wanted to ask about her well-being, but Caden’s voice boomed over them.

“Let’s draw our lucks.” Caden held up a small bottle -Avery hadn’t realised he carried along with him- with small pieces of folded paper in it. Everyone took turns pulling out a piece of paper and unfolded them.

“Now, who is the ‘lucky’ one?” Caden asked.

“Me.” Lucien raised his gloved hand and flailed the paper with a grimace.

“Well, turn around, close your eyes and count to hundred.” Caden grinned and took Merille’s hand in his.

Without waiting, Lucien did as he was told and started counting. Caden and Merille rushed on ahead, not waiting for Avery and Edith. Avery reached for Edith’s hand, but she was already ahead of him, heading up the street in search of a hiding spot. He followed after her, not willing to let her out of his sight, not after the incident. Besides, his attention wasn’t entirely focused on the game of hide-and-seek.

He saw her turned into an alleyway and hid in a narrow space, which seemed to be an entryway of a back door. Avery followed suit and felt slightly playful when Edith noticed him approaching her, her eyes wide with surprise.

“What are you doing here, Avery?” She asked.

“Hiding.” He said simply.

“But…There’s no space here.”

Avery smirked and without another word, he squeezed his bulk into the narrow space, forcing Edith to give some space by pressing herself against the wall. He chose to face her, and they were mere inches away from each other and he could feel the warmth radiating from her body, though there were layers of clothes between them.

“What are you—"

“Let me hide here. I…I want to talk to you.” He whispered; his breath rose into puffs as he spoke. He gazed down at her hazel eyes, big round eyes gazing into his emerald ones in return. He searched for words, wondering where to begin as he had so much to say to her.

“How are you feeling?” Avery settled for the simplest question of all.

“I’m doing good.”

There was silence for a length of three heartbeats before he spoke again.

“I’m sorry…For that night.”

“It’s not your fault. Don’t apologise. In fact, I should be thanking you instead for saving us.” The corners of Edith’s mouth lifted into a smile. Before he could reply, she continued.

“Shouldn’t you be by Miss Ira’s side tonight?”

That caught him off guard. He blinked, “what makes you say so?”

“She’s injured and is recovering from the incident. I’m sure she needs you by her side more than anything.” Edith shrugged. Her tone was casual as if it was a normalcy for Avery to stay by Ira’s side. Well, she was his fiancée afterall. Naturally, people will perceive that he stayed by Ira’s side while she was recuperating. However, he didn’t like this perception coming from Edith. It unsettled him.

“But I choose to be by your side tonight,” his whisper was so soft that he wondered if Edith heard him. Her silence indicated she had heard him. He could feel the tension between them growing and shifting to something of desire and longing. His heartbeat pounded in his chest and suddenly, he longed to taste her lips, just like that night a week ago. Had it really been a week ago? He wondered if she felt the same, too. He lowered his gaze to her lips and instinctively, she licked her lips and parted her lips slightly. He took that as an invitation.

Avery leaned in and captured her mouth in his, soft and light at first, before it turned hungry and intense. He savoured her every being, his tongue teased her lips, probing her to open for him. And when she did, he tasted every part of her at his leisure. He placed a gloved hand at the nape of her neck and another around her waist, pulling her closer to him, closing the gap between them. She came willingly and leaned against him, her arms came around his neck and she was kissing him in return. Their bodies molding to each other perfectly as if they were made for each other. After a while, Avery tore his mouth away from hers for air. Edith let out a soft protest and he pressed his lips to hers again with a small growl. Kissing her with fervour as if no one else existed in their little bubble. His fingers at her nape sank into her soft hair, pulling and twirling lightly while her own fingers caressed his hair, gently ruffling them. He particularly enjoyed it when she ruffled his thick hair.

Edith made a feminine throaty sound and he pulled away to look at her. Her lips were swollen from his kisses, her cheeks were tinged in pink and her eyes were glazed with desire.

“Edie.” He murmured as he rested his brow on hers and wanted to kiss her all over again, but he heard a distinct call that belonged to Lucien. He was nearby.

“I’m glad you’re safe, Edie. And, thank you for helping Ira.” Avery said gently. His hand at the nape of her neck moved to caress her right cheek. Edith smiled in return, a sweet and genuine smile that warmed his heart.

“I see someone there.” Lucien called out from the alleyway entrance, excitement in his tone.

“We’re found.” Edith chuckled lightly and before they step out from their hiding spot, Avery kissed her again, quick and gentle, before releasing her. He just couldn’t resist it. When she left their hiding spot, he immediately missed her warmth which was replaced with a chill from the cold air.

“You found us.” He heard Edith said. Avery stepped out from the narrow doorway, feeling happy and light all over. If only he could find a way for them to be together forever.

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