<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Stand down, Rakowsky.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Orsin\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s large fist caught Rakowsky\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s, stopping its path toward Bionca\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s face. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Our priority is to escape back to our village. Let them be.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
The slender man glared and wrested his limb back. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Whatever you say, boss.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d He shouldered his way past Drake, who yet refused to look at his son. Gaia\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s saddened, dulled eyes met with Oscar\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s. His were no longer wide-eyed and starry as they had been only a few short months ago; now they were passionless and devoid.<\/p>\n
Mina cleared her throat. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You are going to Vaslera, yes?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Orsin gazed at her stoically, his expression revealing nothing. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153What makes you assume that?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I have heard whispers of you.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d She faced the woman. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You are Dr. Paget\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s child, are you not?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Beside her, her twin inhaled sharply, repeating the name under her breath.<\/p>\n
Her face contorting into an infuriated grimace, she spat \u00e2\u20ac\u0153That man\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s no father to me! He abandoned me after mom died. He probably doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t even remember I exist!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00c2\u00a0 She ground her teeth. Orsin laid his hand gently upon her shoulder.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Sure you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re not just trying to sell people to the guilds for him to experiment on?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Bitterness sharpened Gaia\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s voice. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153That\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s what you Vaslerans have always done.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Cool off, lady. The times have changed.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Rakowsky rolled his eyes.<\/p>\n
Turning to her sister, Mina began, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Gaia, I realize you have been hurt. However, the Volarchy has been sending Vaslerans into the guilds as well for the past several years. This pair began a resistance movement.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d She waved her hand toward Paget and Orsin. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Let us accompany you to Vaslera. I believe it would be a balm for several of my sister\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s many wounds.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
The revolutionaries stared at each other. Paget\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s burning eyes found Mina\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s and she nodded tersely. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Make yourself useful. We may run into trouble after we get out of here.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d She spun on her heel. The ungainly octet groped its way through the darkness, searching for a way to re-enter what they hoped would be light.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Come this way,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Mina commanded. She led them to a grate and pushed part of it forward to reveal a ladder. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153This will lead to surface outside the city walls.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d One by one, they clambered up. The farther they ascended, the thicker the air became; eventually it caused Bionca to suffer an extended cough fit. Drake pulled her up after him onto the grassy fields around Taesh. Ash still clouded the sky.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153This way.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Orsin began trudging to the northeast. He left large, muddy footprints in his wake. The others followed single file.<\/p>\n
Three hours later, the earth began to tremble beneath their feet. All but Oscar and Rakowsky looked at the nearby volcano in alarm.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Run, NOW!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Orsin boomed at his companions. Though their feet were weary, they sprinted as long as they could. As they paused to catch their breath, the first spurts of lava erupted from the peak. Bionca stood transfixed. The red-orange of the molten rock against the dark grey of the ash was mesmerizingly terrifying. Once again, Drake dragged her behind him. They began to climb a hill, hoping the lava wouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be able to reach them.<\/p>\n
From the top, they watched a shallow, fiery moat form. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Well this\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll set us back just a couple minutes. Might as well enjoy the show.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Rakowsky sat down and held his head with his hands. He whistled off-key.<\/p>\n
Ending on a particularly shrill note, the slinky man stood up and began walking down the hill. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t worry. It should be cooled enough to walk on now. Just don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t step on the thick parts.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Rakowsky rattled off behind him. The air was sweltering.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Are we sure we can trust him?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Gaia whispered anxiously to her sister.<\/p>\n
The man smirked. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Lady,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he started. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153One of my past jobs involved taking loads of lava samples. Probably the least violent job I ever had.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d His eyes narrowed in haughty amusement. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Look, almost home free!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Next to him, Oscar spun suddenly, a flicker of awareness passing over his face. Rakowsky jumped aside, but lost his balance and fell near the advancing edge of the lava. He looked down in shock. The molten rock flattened like a cushion, then ignited on the man\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s leg. He remained motionless until Orsin dragged him up. His shin and knee were charred through their thin layers of fat and gave off the sickening scent of burnt flesh.<\/p>\n
Rakowsky looked down impassively at his injury. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Let\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s get to Vaslera quickly. This\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll need to be amputated.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Orsin carried him on his back as the travelers trudged on.<\/p>\n
Though the sun was still masked by ash, it became obvious that it had set. Sighing, Orsin suggested they camp for the night and tied a spare shirt around Rakowsky\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s burnt limb. Soon, soft snores rose into the air, though two remained awake.<\/p>\n
Bionca peered at her family\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s sword. It was packed snugly into a revolutionary\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s bag. She grabbed it and padded over to the burnt man\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s form lying far from the others, holding both the sword and her breath. Sweat beaded on her forehead as she reached the man.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Come to cut your losses?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Rakowsky whispered at the woman, a wry smirk tugging at his thin lips.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s no more than you deserve,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she responded savagely.<\/p>\n
He rolled over to look at his assailant. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re right. Go ahead. Avenge your fallen comrades.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d She swallowed nervously, her knuckles whitening on the sword\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s hilt. He felt its tip upon his chest. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153If it wasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t for me, they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d both still be alive,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he taunted.<\/p>\n
Tears welled in Bionca\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s eyes and she fell down. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t you regret it at all?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve killed too many to feel regret anymore. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m just a heartless bastard who got your daddy killed.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d The woman\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s brows knit together, a tear slipping down her cheek. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Now do it!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Faltering, she pulled back slightly before Rakowsky snatched her hand. She resisted, but his pull was insistent. The blade sunk into his heart. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153There. Now you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re a killer too\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Brittany Teodorski<\/p>\n
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