Leoh was still awake past the twelfth bell fidgeting in his chair. Finally, his ear began to ring and he raised his fingers.
“Rilo?”
“Whoa, I didn’t think you’d still be awake.”
“Did you find out anything from Lolorito?”
“Yeah… he said someone was throwing your name around in the Saltery, wanted to see what I knew.”
“And what did you tell him?”
“I told him the truth, that it was you!”
“Very funny… what was she thinking?”
“She was probably thinking she could come back and everything would be just as it was. In any case, I just told him you were cleaning up an old mess and he didn’t have anything to worry about. We probably should do something though, just like the good days?”
Leoh stood up and walked over to his terminal in a dusty room and fished a key out from under his coat. “Yeah, this is an old mess to clean up.” He inserts the key and turns it.
– The Night Of - Sea of Jade –
Rhemi was still half asleep when she started hearing voices outside the door.
“In here?”
“Yeah.”
“Do it.”
Suddenly the door was kicked in and two large workers entered the room. Raidah curled into the fetal position while Rhemi scrambled to her feet to face the strangers but they quickly overtook both women, covering their noses and mouths with a piece of cloth. Rhemi’s senses grew dark.
– The Night After - Rhotano Sea –
Rilo sat silently watching Rhemi as she finally came to. She moved sluggishly at first but stirred suddenly once she realized what had happened.
“Hello, Rhemi.”
“You? But… Raidah! What happened to Raidah?!”
“Don’t worry, she’s safe now. Soon enough, she’ll be with her family.”
Rhemi’s eyes widened as her heart sank. “You didn’t!”
“I did; she was fast asleep at the doorstep of the place you were trying to keep her from when I left her. I’m sure by now she’s happily been reunited with her sister.”
Rhemi’s eyes started to well up. “Why? How could you? She’ll never be free there.”
Rilo shook his head. “There wasn’t any other choice. You were about to be found, and there was nowhere else to run. This really was the best possible outcome.”
Rhemi turned to the cabin window sulking, and knowing full well what must have been done to get here. “What’s to become of me now?”
“I’m taking you to Koshu, Leoh and I both think you’ll be happier there: a fresh start.”
Rhemi gave Rilo a look, she wasn’t thrilled to be on the other side of this conversation.
“Hey! You can’t blame me, can you? I’ve wanted to do what you did for so long. And I must admit, it feels really good to be holding all of the cards.”
Rhemi didn’t say a word and turned back toward the cabin window, resting her head on her arms.
LeoEmpire Member replied
349 weeks ago