Chapter 72 - One Moment, One life (1/2)
For a moment, the world seemed to stand still. The birds froze mid-song, the winds stopped dancing, and the roar of life paused. All for one moment. For one moment in which fate intertwined two separate destinies together only to mercilessly shred them apart later.
All for the meeting and parting of him and her. Of them and us. Of the world and a brilliant light.
.
.
”As we hereby announce, the traitor Henny Bellor shall now be arrested on the claims that she failed her duty as a teacher of the academy, as a soldier, and as a guardian! Seventeen innocent and young children were murdered in cold blood under her care. The eighteenth found barely alive nearby. Even then, she failed to apprehend the killer while losing consciousness, truly a pathetic teacher. As punishment her original sentence was prison for life yet, Central is benevolent and considerate of the people,” The man on the screen raised his arms in front of him, gesturing to the mob of people below him.
”You, as citizens and people of this prosperous Empire, have demanded death for the one at fault! Central shall answers your wishes! Having pushed for the death penalty, Henny Bellor will now be executed in two days' time!”
The cheers from the crowd sickened Hal. Angrily, he turned off the communicator on his wrist. It'd been two hours since Central took Haven away and they already held a trial? What original punishment? It was obvious they had already decided on what to do even before arresting Haven.
”Those bastards…” The disgust and hatred evident in his tone, Hal furrowed his brows.
Sighing once again, Hal tried to contact the other staff, but none answered his call. He couldn't break his way out either. The walls had been enhanced to withstand slyphir up to the light purple rank. Since he was only around light green it would be like an ant trying to fight a turtle.
Hal hung his head in his hands. After everything, would it really end like this? Greed triumphing over the injustice about to happen? In reality was it not 'good vs evil' but 'profits vs loses'? He'd already developed an animosity towards Central when he was younger but this, this turned it into a deep sense of hatred. A rage so crazed it clouded his reasoning.
”What do I do? What 'should' I do?”
Stirring slightly, Lydis shifted on her bed. Noticing her, Hal turned around and gently placed a hand on her forehead.
”How are you feeling? Pain anywhere? Soreness?”
Lydis shook her head side to side but instantly regretted the quick movements.
*whew* ”Seems like you're doing better. Here, I'll help you sit up, it might clear your head.”
Hal gently picked up Lydis's head, rising the bed to match her back.
Lydis stared around the room for a moment before opening her mouth.
”Hal, where's Haven?”
Hal's lips tightened into a thin line, his hidden fists clenched tightly.
”Haven was arrested by Central. They took her about two hours ago, the sentence has already been set and announced. She'll be executed in two days. There's nothing we can do…”
Almost as if he was telling himself, Hal's last words were directed at his own weakness.
”Haven…” Lydis tightened her hand slightly. If Haven had agreed to take the fall for the incident and claimed guilty to the charges, there really wasn't anything that could be done. Although Lydis didn't know Haven long, it still stung to know that through Haven's misfortune and death, her cover wouldn't be in danger. Her slip up with Edith and the slyphir, covered. Forever hidden in blood.