The Emissary of the Flame

The Twelfth Chapter: The Hidden Society

Bradley could not explain what emotions were now overwhelming his body. Confusion, distraught, and doubt; these words were not even enough how he would define what he was feeling right at this moment. The only obvious right now, is that his long companion, and a man who treated him as his own son was now dead.

He wanted to speak but there was no words that were coming out of his lips. His eyes tried to speculate his surroundings; everyone was either shock or confused because of the sudden announcement by one of the kitchen servants of the Ainsworth's Cafeteria. He wanted to walk but he could feel his legs were wobly.

There were too much emotions that wanted to come-out of him. He wanted to scream out of anger and despair. Why? What happened? Why would a very kind man like Mr. Thompson died in very tragic ending?

Ugh, why the hell did those rebel included innocent in their plans to destroy the Empire of Great Britain?

Mr. Thompson is an innocent civilian to die in the hands of those rebels!

He wanted to shout to release how painful this death is but then he noticed even more confusing. He was about to take a step when his attention was caught by a more surprised person inside their workplace.

He did not expect for her reaction to be like this. Though he knows that she has a close tie with Mr. Thompson, knowing he was her coachmen, yet he could not understand that the lady beside him, reflect not only confusion, rather a greater remorse.

Her orbs were reflecting fear, terror and horror. He could see how she was fighting to properly breath, but she was too struggling. She was almost crying and screaming in anxiety.

But why? He knew death is an unexpected phenomenon that anyone could experience, but her emotions do not only show how horrified it was because of Mr. Thompson's death. He could see how afraid she was, and it automatically gave him the desire to comfort the said lady.

I can manage myself, but ain't Julia.

The young man was about to help the lady, when he noticed Zen was also in trance while looking to the poor lady in front of then. It was like he was also observing what was happening to her, but his gaze was unreadable.

Well, if he was not planning to help her then he would be the one to do it. "Julia, are you alright? Can you stand-up---"

"Oh my dear Julia! What happened to you? Are you feeling sick?!" He heard Mrs. Clara approached them. "Mr. Bradford, could you please help me to bring Julia in her room?"

His words were interrupted when the newly hired kitchen servant suddenly held her on his arm and assisted him to stand-up. "I will lead the way, Mr. Bradford. Please do follow me!"

Bradley could feel that Julia's aunt was also in distress. Well, who would not be? He was also confused and afraid at the same time because of this sudden turn of events, but the panick attacks of the lady was not ordinary. It was like she was suffering, but from what? This was the very first time they saw the lady in such situation.

His eyes followed the image of the young lady as she was being held by another man on his arms.

Well, Bradley only wished this view was not a metaphor of the conclusion of his story with Julia.

I am not going to see him being held by another man, rather than me, right?

---

When they reached the lady's room, Mrs. Clara immediately assisted Lory Zen in lying her niece on her bed. "Thank you Mr. Bradford in helping her." Her voice was wary, "Could you look for her for a minute? I will just get a paper bag to help her exercise proper breathing."

When the said aunt had left the room, the young man abruptly scrutinized the lady that was now lying unpeacefully on her comforter. "Julia Ainsworth..."

The lady did not respond from his call. He could not stop asking himself, is it her? Is she the very reason of this mission? Is she the person the White Order has been looking for, for thousands of year?

But is it possible for an innocent civilian who does not have any idea about the world unknown to her, is the weilder of such power?

His eyes reflected what occured a while ago, when the other servant announced the coachmen's death to them. Everyone was shocked and it was just customary to feel horrify because he was their companion, but this lady... Julia showed an even queer reaction when she heard of this news.

"No, this is not happening...My visions... they became real..." These were the words she was saying while she was manifesting greater remorse because of the said circumastance.

He had observed how terrified she was. And from her words, he guessed that she had already predicted what was going to happen to Mr. Thompson. Ah, no, that was an understatement, rather she was able to witness what was going to happen to him.

If his hypothesis is true, then how in the world was she able to vision such undesirable scene?

Could she see the future? But how?

No, that isn't the question he wanted to ask himself right now. If his hypothesis is true, then how could her eyes see that vision?

Could she be the---

"You can leave and please tell the other kitchen servants if they can continue to do their tasks, then let them continue, but if they were too surprised because of Mr. Thompson's sudden death, they can ponder first, and leave for their own safety." He heard Mrs. Clara's voice. "They can return after Mr. Thompson's mourning."

Zen's deep trance was disrupted because of the restaurateur. He wanted to further contemplate Julia's peculiarity but he needs to submit to Mrs. Clara's commands. He sighed.

He is losing so much time to finish his mission in this place. He should find what the White Order had told him to reclaim before a possible greater collision happen in this place because of those eerie creatures, who are also seeking for the same reason, he was here.

For now, he should pause for a second, before these people become suspicious of him, and discover his true intention as to why did he apply in this cafeteria.

He nodded, "Alright Mrs. Clara, I will leave now."

"Thank you Mr. Bradford for helping my niece." Mrs. Clara tried to pull a smile but her worry was still visible from the form of her lips.

"Mrs. Ainsworth, Mr. Campbell called me. He told me that you want me to examine your niece." Suddenly, a man who was wearing a long black coat and whose age was near to the older woman entered the room.

"Ah yes, would you please examine Julia? I cannot understand why was she experiencing too much panick attack because of the news a while ago." He guessed he is a doctor.

He pulled the doorknob and went outside. He was about to close the door when he suddenly felt a sinister atmosphere inside the room.

His gaze returned to the very man who was now examining Julia using a stethoscope. He could not understand what he discerned but he knew the room had this eerie atmosphere. He was not able to identify it a while ago, but why now?

"Mr. Bradford, could you please close the door?" Before he could even ponder what was happening inside the said room, the doctor faced him.

"Please give us some privacy, little knight and shinning armor." It was the doctor's last words, before he pushed the door to close.

---

"Julia..."

"Mr. Thompson?" She could not see the owner of the voice but she was sure, it was him.

"Why didn't you tell that I am going to die?" Those words were enough to wake her from her deep sleep.

"No!" She immediately lifted her torso when her thoughts were awakened because of her nightmare.

She was panting for air. It was not too hard for her to even comprehend what was now happening around her. Every bit of the incident from a while ago was still registered inside her mind. The very moment how the older man had died was still fresh inside her.

"Mr. Thompson is already dead..." Words came out from her lips. "And I was not able to warn him about it."

Anxiety once again overcame her whole system. The young lady wanted to believe that she was innocent of this occurence, that she was not informed that her vision was the coachman's doom. But then, she could not stop condeming herself.

Am I to be condemned because I chose to distance myself from Mr. Thompson, rather than to tell him about my vision?

She did not know that what she had witnessed would become reality. She could feel how heavy her heart was, and tears were flowing out of her orbs.

Ugh, why did she even had such a vision?! Why?! What is going on with her?!

She closed her knees and laid her head on it, while she was weeping. Now she was beginning to believe that she might be different which was why her parents had left her in the orphanage.

Had they known that I have such peculiarity in me?

Julia was still on the verge of breaking down, when she heard a fainted sound of knock from her balcony. She glanced at the clock at the top of her bedside table. The young lady realized it was already 11:48, in the evening.

Who would cause such noise at this time of the night?

Her tears halted and wary became visible on her orbs. She could not stop herself from thinking, what if there is a burglar in front of her window? Ugh, yes she might not be okay because of the incident a while ago, but she had to straightened up her thoughts and ponder properly.

She slowly stood up and walked towards the doors of the balcony. She was not feeling good about it, but the noise was not stopping at all. The only choice to know who was the reason behind this ruckus, was to face whoever was knocking on her window, right now.

This is all or nothing.

Julia unlocked the window, and immediately a small stone had entered her room. She wanted to scream because she had proved someone was trying to catch her attention, but when she stooped down to see who was the culprit for this mystery, she realized it was the very young man whom her fondness was too obvious to her own likeness.

Her eyes blinked when she realized the very person who was trying to catch her attention was none other than Bradley.

The young man she was wishing to see at this most confusing and doubting moment of her life.