The Devil's Crown

LIX Now Or Never.

“Cheap but efficient,” that’s what Samael stated.

That was the last thing that Eflric said in the room before they headed out to the hall to do that little demonstration. The result that it was a success could be read by all, the masks did the trick of hiding the smirks that plastered on the faces when they realized that not even one of the audience moved to take hold of the situation. A one in million chance to disarm all of the Rebels in the hall went down the drain all because of the daze that Elfric led them to.

Allen and the others had had their doubts but it was before long that saw the efficiency of the plan as it unfolds. Even though it was successful, Allen has got to admit that he felt the blood pump into him again as his hands came in contact with the cold metal of his rifle.

Scarlet on the other end, was no less shocked than the others. After she has left the room earlier, she has been ignorant of every step that came after that, West made sure to cut the contact with her. They have already risked it many times by meeting her all these times.

Elfric tried to match his breathing with the echoing of his footstep down the hallway. However, that seems to be a failure as he could no longer differentiate between his and West’s.

“You are yet to trust me?” Elfric broke the silence, he wanted something to take his mind off the fatigue that was eating his insides. He spared West a glance.

West was taken aback for a moment but he soon found his composure. “What makes you say that? After all that has happened,” he said after a minute of silence.

“You lead, that’s what the others stated,” said Elfric. “However you walk behind me. It can’t be out of habit so, the only logical explanation is that you prefer me to be within your eyesight. Did I get it right?” he smirked.

West stared blankly. Did he figure all that just be walking behind him? he thought, a chuckle escaping his mouth. “Habit you might say,” said West. “It’s going to take some time to get used to your presence.”

“Well said indeed,” Elfric murmured shifting his attention back to the echoing of their footsteps.

It should be happening by now. The prisoner transportation should have came to halt in front of the entrance. It was before long that Elfric and West found themselves in the reception hall. The once crowded hall was no empty except for those two. The chandelier looming on the ceiling was still brightly shining down on the marbled floor casting angular shapes beneath their feet.

Elfric would have loved to pick up the pace but he needed his energy out there, and something told him that West wasn’t in a fit position to hurry up either, his limp was getting worse despite his effects to hide it.

“We are here,” West pointed out, his eyes fixed on that door. “You sure they won’t kill us once we are out?”

“They won’t. They have seen what we could do,” said Elfric. “They won’t risk it again. Besides, the words came in from the Crown Prince, only an i***t would go against his words.”

West still didn’t know where this confidence was coming from. Elfric somehow has the power to remain calm and bluff like a pro in front of the whole world. No one would guess that it was only the two of them walking out with complete emptiness behind them, the others have already started moving out through the escape route one after the other. West and Elfric are supposed to be the last of them, including David and Mathews when they get them.

Elfric came to a halt a step away from the door. Shadows could be seen through the oblique glass dozen of them, all armed…West buried the thought deep. There was no room for panic now. It was now or never.

“Are you ready?” Elfric looked over his shoulder.

“No, are you?” West scoffed.

“I have never been more ready,” Elfric reassured him.

They shared a nod before Elfric grabbed the golden metallic handle and swung the door open. Guns were raised in a blink to point at them, the two Generals halted the soldiers as they brought forward two men in prison clothes. Obviously, they weren’t treated well. The prisoner struggled to walk with the shackles on their limbs and stopped midway between the Generals and Elfric.

Elfric couldn’t tell if it was them, but by the sudden tension in West’s body, he knew they got it right. They stood between Elfric and the General, there was no need to see to know the kind of look they had on their faces…the faces with a label ‘loser’ loaming over it.

The two prisoners were more curious about what was going on than any others. It was impossible to make out who the two before them were, their faces were completely hidden. West noticed the confusion on their faces as they stared at each other, but none dared to utter a word.

West however knew one thing that didn’t need words…He took a step forward, the limp in his left leg was visible as the sun. David and Mathews shared a look, it was none other than West and that confirmation gave them the trust that they needed. They nodded in unison at West in acknowledgment.

“Oh, how silly of me to forget to ask you to shackles them,” Elfric broke the silence. “Now if you would be so kind to get it done?!” His voice was firm.

“It will be done once we have the hostages,” Akimov replied with his eyes narrowed and filled with rage.

“The hostages are doing fine. If you dare go ahead and go inside,” Elfric scoffed, it was more of a threat than a confirmation.

Akimov tsked as he bit on his lower lip, catching up with the threat. He was still under restriction from the Prince’s order, there was nothing that he could do. Akimov gestured to a man on his left to get that chain done, he bowed and scattered to get it done.

“Your cooperation is appreciated,” said Elfric. “Once we are safe inside, the hostages will be released.”

West gratefully allowed Elfric to take care of all the talking while he kept his eyes on his comrades. The soldier swiftly got rid of their shackles and ran back to the General’s side, aware of the death glare from West.

David and Mathews both rubbed the bruises on their wrist before they started walking slowly to West’s side.

“Everything alright,” Elfric glanced over.

Despite questioning who this was, they nodded either way. The introduction will come later.

“Now, My Lords,” Elfric said. “We thank you for your patience. The hostages will be out shortly.”

West moved first, for the first time taking the lead. Elfric looked gaze with him with a nod, anticipating the worse. If anything was wrong, West had a feeling that Elfric will lead them out of it.

They all held their breaths as they headed to the door. The heartbeat was loud in West’s head, shaking his vision. The metallic feel of his rifle on his sweaty palm was much appreciated. The door swung open under his force and they were all inside.

“Holy s**t man,” Mathews cursed, taking the breath that he was holding. “What the hell was that?”

He was a tall man, almost the same height as Elfric. Dark skin that went well with the black of both his tightly curled hair and wide eyes. David had his eyes fixed on Elfric waiting for him to reveal his face.

“West, who is this guy?” David pointed.

West sighed. “It’s a long story,” he said. “We have got to get out of here.”

David barely gave a nod. Elfric was quiet, wanting the familiar faces to interact with each other. “Allen, we are on the move,” Elfric stated through the in-ear he got earlier. “Go ahead of us.”

“We have got to go,” Elfric barely said as he moved past the three and lead the way to where their exit.

“He leads?” Mathews puzzled, raising an eyebrow.

“Believe me,” West chuckled humorlessly. “You wouldn’t want this guy to be behind you.”

David and Mathew shared a glance before they followed West. The way back to the basement halls was silent, with nothing in the air but the sound of their footsteps echoing in the dimly lit halls.

Elfric had his eyes fixed on the walls, the exit is somewhere around here. A tunnel that leads to the outside where the others are waiting…which happens to be the same tunnel that Elfric wiped out a dozen men with West and Allen.

“Sweet Jesus!” Mathews stumbled back as he saw the horrifying sight before him, his hands held on his nose to block the deadly smell.

The smell of death was nothing less terrifying than the sight of the bodies. Blood still had spots that were yet to dry out. The walls were coated in blood and guts from the dead.

“Did…did he do that?” David found himself turning to West.

West barely nodded. David stared at the back figure of Elfric that didn’t seem to waver or shaken by the sight. So, that’s what he meant by having him behind us, David thought as he kept his pace, focusing on the shadow of Elfric ahead keeping his eyes away from the gory sight.

It resembled those that they had in the confinement building by the White Cross. Torturing rooms…the memory made the already healed wounds ache. The pain was still stuck in his brain, having it triggered here wasn’t the best of ideas. He took deep breaths, and before long…

Allen was waving in joy at them at the end of the tunnel.

He was finally home.