Part 3

You follow a dark stairwell down-- to a scene that makes you shiver.

"Hey-- your'e scared, aren't you?"

(Of this world. And of you, Ray.)

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Chapter 1

I pushed open the door nearest to me, and found another dark stairwell, leading downward.

The familiar voice sounded louder, almost like an invitation, and I quickly followed the stairs down.

But I caught my breath in shock at what I found at the bottom.

Ray: There's no escape for you now.

Ray, Sirius and Luka were standing in a row, their expressions grim.

In front of them were several men with their hands tied behind their backs, wearing uniforms that marked them as members of the Red Army.

(What in the world is going on?)

Sirius: Why did you raid our headquarters?

Red Soldiers: ...

Sirius: On whose orders?

Red Soldiers: ...

Sirius: Playing dumb, huh?

As Sirius questioned the men, Ray and Luka stood silently on either side of him.

Their glowering silence was almost as scary as Sirius's flat, relentless questions.

The expression on all three of their faces sent a shiver of fear down my spine.

(You don't look like the people I chatted so happily with over dinner.)

(Who are you? I don't even know you!)

A part of my mind was clamoring in panic, telling me I shouldn't be there, and that I needed to leave immediately.

Yet it was as if I was rooted to the spot, and all I could do was stand there and watch.

Luka: This is going nowhere.

Sirius: Luka--

Luka: They're not going to talk, no matter what you say.

Luka: Which means--

(Wait, what are you saying?)

I watched in growing horror as Luka reached for the large sword strapped to his back.

He gazed at the men in front of him, his eyes like a hunter staring down his prey.

Luka: Our only option is to make them talk.

I clapped my hands to my mouth as Luka began to slide his sword free of his sheath.

Ray: Luka.

Ray: Stand down. This is my job.

Ray's voice was listless, but there was nothing listless about the sudden metallic whine that shook the air.

(Oh no!)

Red Soldiers: Geh--

The tip of Ray's blade was pressed directly against the throat of the soldier in the middle.

I was suddenly glad I had my hands over my mouth or I would've shrieked.

Ray: Listen up.

Ray: If you don't start talking soon--

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Chapter 2

Ray: If you don't start talking soon--

Ray: I'll kill you here and now, as payback for the crimes you committed against my men.

Ray: I won't leave a single one of you alive.

Red Soldiers: Waah!

(That's not just an idle threat, either.)

(You're really going to hurt them-- no, not just hurt them, kill them.)

Ray: I'll ask one more time. Who ordered this? No, wait.

Ray: Was this ordered by the King of Hearts, Lancelot?

The silence dragged out long enough that I feared for their lives, but at last the man with the sword to his throat began to talk.

Red Soldier 1: There were no orders. We did this to prove our worth.

Red Soldier 1: We only wanted one thing-- and that was your head, Ray Blackwell.

Ray frowned slightly, but he said nothing, and the tip of his sword never wavered.

Red Soldier 1: King Lancelot would no doubt be delighted if we took your head home with us.

Red Soldier 1: And then we'd climb all the way to the top of the ranks!

Ray: I see. I finally understand your true intentions.

Ray's voice was deeper than I'd ever heard it as he raised the sword above his head.

I heard Sirius make a faint noise, and I glanced over to see that his eyes were wide.

Ray's sword came down suddenly, slashing the rope that bound the man's hands together.

Then he tossed his sword down in front of the man, and sat down on the ground.

Ray: Then take it and go.

Red Soldiers: Wha--?!

Ray: Cut off my head. That's what you want, isn't it?

Ray: Do as you wish. However-- think hard about what will happen once you've cut off my head.

Red Soldier 1: Well--

Ray: The entirety of the Black Army will raid the Red Army within the night.

Ray: Any idea what will happen to Cradle when both armies collide in full force?

Ray: Towns and cities will crumble; the casualties will be too many to count.

Ray: If you want to achieve what you came to do, you'd better be prepared to take responsibility for every single victim.

All of the Red Army soldiers continued to stand where they were, silent, unmoving.

They were staring down at the fallen sword, but not a single one of them moved to take it.

Ray: What's the matter?

Ray stared up at the men, his eyes blazing with a light I'd never seen before.

Ray: Do it!

The Red Army soldiers began to tremble, and I saw them glancing at each other.

But still not a one of them would step forward.

At long last Ray stood up again, still staring intently at them.

Ray: You can't do it, can you?

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Chapter 3

Ray: Listen then, and remember this well.

Ray: Wielding a sword, and fighting in battle-- these are things that involve people's lives. This isn't just some kid's game.

Ray: I won't be killed by some half-hearted kids. And I won't kill them, either.

Red Soldiers: Guh--

Sirius: Ray, what should we do with them?

Ray: Ask the Red Army to come and collect them.

Luka: Understood.

Sirius: All right, then--

Sirius: Kiera?

Luka: What?

Kiera: Oh!

Sirius turned toward the doorway, and his eyes met mine.

The sound of my name on his lips startled me out of my daze at last, and I dashed back up the stairwell.

Ray: Was she--

Ray: Hey, wait.

Kiera: Eek!

Ray: I said wait!

Ray caught hold of my wrist, and I stumbled to a stop.

(Why didn't I just turn around and walk away?)

(Why can't I stop shaking?)

Ray: So you heard everything.

-

Im so sorry.

-

Kiera: Im so sorry.

Ray: Why are you apologizing?

Ray: Your hands are as cold as ice.

Ray shifted his grip from my wrist to my hand, squeezing it softly.

Ray: Hey-- you're scared, aren't you?

Kiera: What?

Ray: Of me, and-- of this world, where war could happen at any moment.

Kiera: Oh--

I caught my breath, and he let go of my hand as quickly as if I'd said 'yes'.

Ray: If you're scared, then just look away.

Ray: Do that, and the full moon will come again soon enough.

His words seemed to echo in my head, but I couldn't bear to meet his gaze, so I turned and entered my room instead.

I barely heard the sound of the door shutting behind me as I sank to the floor.

I reached down, hesitantly stroking my wrist where Ray had grabbed me so tightly.

(Everything you said was true.)

(I'm scared-- of this world, and of you, Ray.)

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Chapter 4

The next morning--

The atmosphere at the Red Army's headquarters was as frosty as ever.

Jonah: Excuse us, King Lancelot.

Edgar: Excuse us.

Lancelot: What is it?

Jonah: We received a message from the Black Army this morning.

Jonah: They said that several of our soldiers raided the Black Army last night.

Lancelot: I gave no such order.

Jonah: Yes. Apparently our foolish soldiers acted independently.

Jonah: Perhaps they wanted a medal.

The Queen of Hearts, Jonah's expression was twisted in clear annoyance.

But the Jack of Hearts, Edgar only snickered softly.

Jonah: Edgar. Does something amuse you?

Edgar: Not exactly. It's just--

Edgar: even if they got some sort of medal, they'd still be punished, since they acted independently.

Edgar: I'm just surprised we actually have soldiers who still don't understand that.

Jonah: You stand before your king. Stop talking nonsense.

Edgar: Yes, you're right. My apologies.

Lancelot: And what does the Black Army want?

Jonah: They simply told us to come and collect our men.

Edgar: I suppose they're saying they'll accept this as just a small skirmish.

Lancelot: An assiduous decision.

Lancelot slowly narrowed his eyes, his gaze moving beyond the two men in front of him.

Lancelot: If war breaks out with the Black Army, they're liable to destroy the whole of Cradle.

Jonah: The sooner we get them to surrender and fall in with us, the sooner we can end this ridiculous fighting.

Jonah: King Lancelot, we will leave immediately to retrieve our men.

Jonah: Let's go, Edgar.

Edgar: Very well.

Lancelot: Make sure you don't make things worse.

Edgar: Of course, my king.

Jonah: Edgar, don't leave my side. Got it?

Edgar: You're so funny sometimes. It's almost like you don't trust me.

The two men stepped out of the room, and Lancelot turned his gaze to the window.

There was a weary look in his eyes as he stared listlessly at the scenery.

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Chapter 5

Morning had dawned bright and fresh, but I couldn't stop thinking about what I'd seen the night before.

I was eating breakfast with the others, but there was no way I could just smile and chat like I had the night before.

Luka: Don't you like it?

Kiera: Oh! It's not that.

Kiera: I just-- I didn't get enough sleep.

Luka: I see.

Ray: Thanks for breakfast, Luka.

Ray stood up abruptly, his chair clattering as he turned and quickly left.

Fenrir: Hey, Ray! Wait up!

Fenrir: Yo, are you even listening to me? Hey! Ray!

Fenrir shook his head slightly as he went running after Ray.

(Ray-- I want to talk to you about this. Properly. But--)

(I don't know how to start the conversation, or what I want to say.)

As I set my fork down against my plate, I felt a gentle hand ruffling my hair.

Kiera: Huh?

I looked up in surprise to find Sirius studying me, his expression unusually gentle.

Sirius: You've finished eating, haven't you?

Sirius: Can I ask you to do a bit of work for me?

Kiera: You just want me to wash the dishes? Does that count as work?

Sirius: Sure it does! Look at how many there are. That's some serious work right there.

I took another look at the huge pile of plates stacked up in the sink, and I couldn't help smiling ruefully.

Kiera: Well, you're not wrong about that.

I began to wash the dishes, and Sirius took each clean plate from me, dying it and putting it away.

Sirius: Did Ray say something to you last night?

Kiera: What makes you say that?

Sirius: Well, it's just that Ray went chasing after you last night.

Sirius: And this morning you were both avoiding each other's gazes, all breakfast long.

Instead of pressing me further, Sirius just took another plate from me and began to dry it.

A comfortable silence surrounded us as I continued to wash the plates, and at last I found myself talking.

Kiera: Ray asked me if I was afraid of him.

Kiera: And if I was afraid of this world where war could break out at any time.

Sirius: I see.

Kiera: I wanted to say no. But-- the words wouldn't come.

Sirius just nodded silently, his eyes on the plate in his hands.

Kiera: I think-- I think Ray was right. I'm scared.

Kiera: Sirius, will you please tell me something?

Kiera: Why is the Black Army fighting with the Red Army?

Sirius: You're right, we haven't really explained anything.

Sirius: Okay then. Let me tell you a little more about our country.