The Decoder - Chapter 35

Edith

“Edith, listen to me.” Sir Alcoft gripped her at her shoulders tightly, his expression twisted into worry and fear.

“I want you to stay here. Do not make a single sound and hold your breath.”

“What are you going to do, Father?” Edith asked, her voice shaking and her body trembling from head to toe.

“Don’t worry about me. Now, promise me you will stay very still. Do not ever leave this bush until daylight arrives and do not come looking for me. Promise me now, Edith.”

“I promise…”

“Good. I love you, Edith. Stay strong.” Sir Alcoft kissed her forehead and squeezed her hands. Then, he let go and before Edith could say another word, Sir Alcoft dashed out of the bush they had been hiding in and shouted at the top of his lungs, “over here!”, and her father disappeared from where he stood, running through the night forest. Edith desperately wanted to go after her father, but she had promised.

Bang!

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Edith awoke with a jolt. Her eyes fluttered and she struggled to compose herself for a moment as she groaned softly and lifted her head. The nape of her neck hurts terribly that she was certain there was a bruise. She glanced around her, taking in the surroundings. The room was sparsely furnished with a simple table at one corner, a chair and an empty cupboard. Late afternoon sunlight filtered into the room through the window ahead of her. She could see apartment blocks outside, which means she was within the city, and not in some God forsaken cabin in the forest. It took her a moment to realise that she was tied to a wooden chair, her wrists were tightly bound with a rope, and so were her legs bound to the leg of the chair. The late afternoon sunlight indicated that she was unconscious for at least two hours. She had left the Militia at half past ten. Her scheduled meeting with Sera had passed an hour ago.

Just how many times am I getting kidnapped? Edith wondered bitterly as she twisted her wrists slightly, the rope digging into her skin. She did not have a single weapon on her person to cut the ropes, and she was beginning to contemplate the idea of carrying a knife in a sleeve the next time she venture out, if she even had that opportunity.

“You’re awake.” A masculine voice said behind her and Edith stiffened, senses on full alert. She did not hear the door opening or closing, which means he must have been in the room all this time, behind somewhere.

“Who are you?” Edith asked, unable to turn due to the throbbing pain at the nape of her neck. The stranger stepped into her view, and she glanced up at him, her gaze taking up his tall boots and the long leather coat that fell to his ankles before rowing upwards to his leather breeches to the familiar black leather jacket all Elites wore to the Elite insignia sewn into the collar and finally his face. His expression was one that caused a chill ran down her spine. She did not recognise him other than the knowledge he was from the Militia.

“So, you’re the famous Sir Alcoft’s daughter.” The stranger said, a corner of his mouth curved upwards, his tone dripping with mockery.

“Who are you?” Edith repeated, grimacing at him.

“I’m Captain Lynch.”

“What do you want?” Edith was not familiar the name. In fact, she rarely knew the soldiers and higher-ups’ names. He was of the same rank as Avery, which means he was not sent by Avery. Who then?

“Your father’s coded message.”

Edith nibbled on her bottom lip. She was getting sick of various people wanting to know of her father’s coded message. Just who is behind all these? She could literally smell desperation. She thought hard and the only person who wanted the message so badly at this point was the High Commander. She had told Sera of its contents, so it couldn’t be Sera.

“The High Commander sent you, didn’t he?” Edith said, annoyance lacing her tone.

“It’s none of your concern. Just hand me the coded message.” Captain Lynch’s brow furrowed.

“And what if I refuse?”

“Then you’re making a choice that you will regret.”

“No.” Edith said flatly. The last person she will give the coded message to was the High Commander. Besides, she did not have the message on her person now. It was in Avery’s hands.

“No?”

“No, I’m not handing you the coded message and never will.” She glared at him. Suddenly, catching herself off guard, Edith felt a stinging pain across her right cheek and her head whipped to the left from the blow from Captain Lynch’s hand. She barely heard a crack from her neck, and she winced from the pain shooting from her neck all the way to her spine. Worse, she could feel blood welling on her right cheek, staining the bandage red. The backhanded slap from the Captain must have opened the wound. Oh, God.

“You will hand me the coded message. I will not go easy on you.” Captain Lynch leaned down and whispered into her right ear.

“Never.” Edith whispered, the throbbing pain still blinding her vision.

“So be it.” Another backhand slap, this time on Edith’s left cheek, nearly toppling her to the side, but Captain Lynch immediately righted her. The impact of the slap made her see stars and her head swirl and her entire body ached.

It took her a while to gain her momentum again, and when she did, another backhand slap met her right cheek and she screamed, the pain was overwhelming. She was certain the wound on her right cheek was open as she can feel warm blood trickling to her jaw. She struggled to gain her focus as her vision blurred. However, she will not yield to the Captain’s torture. She will not yield to the High Commander. Not when her father had tried to keep Avery safe from him and to prevent his plans to conquer the land.

“You will not give in, would you?” Captain Lynch asked.

“No.” Edith answered firmly and was met with another slap to her left cheek. The impact caused her to accidentally bit the corner of her lips, causing the skin to tear and bleed. At this rate, she wondered if she could last through this torture. There were no means for her to free herself. Her entire body trembled with pain and fear. She felt weak and helpless. She was slowly losing her consciousness again.

A gasp escaped from her when the blade of a knife rested on her throat, the steel biting into her skin a little, blood trickled down to the collar of her blouse.

“I’m giving you one last chance. Where is the coded message?” Captain Lynch said in a menacing tone. She could tell he was losing his patience with her.

“Why would you want…the message…so badly?” Edith asked weakly.

“I’m just following orders. Now, where is it?” Captain Lynch applied a little more pressure on the knife and Edith flinched, the steel biting deeper into her flesh. Would Captain Lynch dare to kill her? She doubted it. She was certain if she was killed, the High Commander will never know where the coded message was. What if she was wrong? The High Commander wasn’t stupid. He would find alternatives.

“I…will…never tell.”

“Damn you!” Captain Lynch swore and backhanded her across the cheek so hard that she was beginning to see black spots.

* * * * *

Sera LeMay looked around Dastren Street, hoping for the familiar figure of Edith Alcoft, her childhood friend to materialise. She had been waiting for an hour past their scheduled meeting time, and there was no sign of Edith. Concern began to ebb, and her stomach knotted with worry. It was unlike Edith to be late, especially when she wished to discuss her father’s message.

When she’d received the letter, Sera had been shocked beyond words. Though there was a small part of her that believed Edith would convey her father’s coded message to her, there was also doubt and uncertainties in her. Since the day she delivered the letter to the Militia’s guard, she couldn’t stop herself from wondering if Edith would open up to her, trust in her again. She had come to view Edith as an ally in their course.

From Sir Alcoft’s message, her suspicions had been right all along. The only question now was how to bring down the High Commander? Sera had conveyed news of Lord Avery’s well-being to His Majesty, Lord Noel, whom he had believed his actions had caused Lord Avery’s death. He had been overcome with guilt for years and knew deep down that what he had done eleven years ago was rash and wrong.

She scanned the streets again, but there was not a single sight of Edith. What happen to her? Then, out of the corner of her eyes, she noticed a familiar figure with chocolate brown hair dressed in the Militia’s uniform, heading her direction. Where did she see him? She searched through her memory drawer and found her answer. He was the officer who protected Edith from her on the night of their meeting, and she remembered Edith calling him Teo.

Her legs turned, itching to step into a shop, so as not to draw attention and hide behind public civilians. But she halted. She hadn’t done anything wrong of late, hadn’t gone in search for Edith, hadn’t stepped anywhere near the imposing building known as the Militia. Bracing herself, she faced the onslaught in the form of a beautiful man, whose hand had leeched onto her upper hand in a very tight grip. Nate was not with her at this moment as he was tasked to deliver the message of Lord Avery’s well-being to Lord Noel. Not that she needed his protection, but she felt safer with him around.

“You.” Teo said in an icy tone. He seemed to be out of breath as if he’d run a few miles.

“Yes, me.”

“Where is Miss Edith?” He asked, and the worry in his tone told her that her childhood friend was in trouble.

“I have no idea. What happen to her?”

“Don’t lie.”

“I’m supposed to meet her an hour ago at this spot, but she hasn’t show up. I’m beginning to wonder if something happened to her. Do you have any idea?” Sera glared at Teo.

“How do I know you are not lying? Given your history with her.” Teo narrowed his obsidian eyes.

“Look, if I have abducted her again, I wouldn’t be standing here in the open, would I? Just what happened to Edith?” Sera said in annoyance.

Teo gritted his teeth and his mouth set in a hard line, his gaze never leaving hers.

“We are wasting time standing here while we glare at each other. Just. What. Happen. To. Edith?” Sera repeated with emphasis, her patience was growing thin.

“She’s missing. Lucien believes she is abducted.” Teo finally confessed.

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