Chapter 52: C236: Slow Down (Part 2)

Chapter 236: Slow Down (Part 2) 

General Sarah Hatano's perspective
(Real Rank: Private First Class)
Krieg 2 - 1 Fireteam
United States Army
7:34 PM, December 17th, 1173
Imperial Palace - Keris Capital - Warsaw Kingdom

After arresting the Prime Minister and other traitors in the court, His Majesty retook his throne. We stayed with him till this time, and new things happened during the time we stayed in the Palace.

From what I heard. The 150.000 Attenta troops that were marching toward the Capital, had withdrawn. It happened recently, we were scared that we would have to fight against their invasion.

But no, they left the chance to attack Keris. And currently, everything seems to be clear and under control of the King.

But... not yet. Those who are arrested, are waiting to be executed by His Majesty. Puppet officials are being tied and left outside of the Palace's entrance. From what I heard, they will be executed by angry crowds of civilians.

Currently, I'm standing beside my sis. Behind us is Rivia's group, they follow us to the Palace's prison house. The Prime Minister is jailed in there, and Hoster wants to say something to that old man.

Hoster is standing before us. Next to him is Baston - the jailkeeper... they are standing in front of the jailroom which is holding the old man Alt Toten.

"Open the door". - Hoster coldly ordered Baston to open the jailroom

Baston slightly nods to Hoster, later brings out a pack of metal keys from his belt. He unlocks the wooden lock of the door, and slowly opens it.

"Follow me". - Hoster looked behind, glancing at us to tell us to follow him. "Others stay here... do not come in without having my order". - He glanced at every person. "Remember... my "father" and I don't want to be disturbed". - Done saying, he stepped inside the jailroom silently

"Understood, Your Majesty". - Baston bowed to his liege when he walked into the room

I'm a bit hesitated to go inside, so I look back to see Rivia and her men. They see me, later give me a thumb up, telling me they'll wait outside.

"Get in, Ladies". - Baston reminded us, he raised his hand toward the open door

Despite having a bit anxious, finally I see my sis step inside the jailroom. I also follow my sis, getting in there and ignoring my high nervousness...

"Slams...". - The door of the jailroom was closed silently

"You two are late...". - His Majesty said to us by glancing behind. "Father, you awake?". - Then he crouched down, cuddling the old man's face

Seeing the Prime Minister hasn't woken up, he keeps cuddling the man. About us, we look around the jailroom, feeling its gloomy... dark atmosphere, and its coldness.

Holes as windows on the wall can be seen having lights from outside. Those are dying lights from outside, they make the jailroom look scarier... and spookier.

I pretend to ignore the scary atmosphere in the jailroom. Therefore, I point my eyes to Alt Toten - who is now tied up from his hands to his legs. Now he's lying on a small wooden guillotine. The blade is above his head, waiting for its rope to be pulled or cut down to chop the man's head.

After capturing the Prime Minister and his men, His Majesty immediately planned for the mass execution. That's why puppet officials are now tied and left on the streets, outside of the Palace.

About this man, His Majesty jailed him in the largest jailroom. By that, he added a small guillotine in the room and made Alt Toten faint. He was placed on the guillotine, locking his head in the hole, waiting for the old man to wake up... to behead him.

Where the Prime Minister's head is locked, there's a small crate placed on the floor. When the old man is beheaded... his head... will bloodily fall there. To say honestly, I don't want to see this scene, it's very terrible!

"Urrrghhh...?". - After a long time calling, the old man finally woke up

He looks around, reacting to things around him weakly. This man has been left starved and dehydrated for hours, that's why he reacted previously. Reacting to His Majesty's sounds for a while, Alt Toten slowly looks at him.

"Heh heh heh..". - The man laughed, or sobbed, or both. "Heh heh heh...". - He kept lowering his face while doing that action, looked so hopeless

"Father...". - His Majesty said coldly to his "adoptive father". "I came to visit you". - He crouched down, staring at the tied old man, with his smug face, like a victor

"My time... has gone". "Heh... heh... heh... heh". - Alt Toten acted that strangely once again. "30 years, sacrificing my youth... my homeland... just to build the throne for another". - He gazed at Hoster. "A bad son... you betrayed your own... nation".

"I'm just a Warsaw... I have no blood and flesh with my parentsland's mortal enemy". - Hoster stood up, turning around while speaking with the Prime Minister

"But you cannot deny that you have that blood in your veins...". - Although his health was very weak, Alt Toten tried to break His Majesty's words. "My plan was so perfect... it was so perfect until you cheated death... right in front of me!". "And I was so careless to leave you there without checking again...". - He had some remorse in his words. "If I knew you would disobey me, I would've killed you that so long". "Everything I built... finally taken by another...". - The old man only knew to lower his head, regretting his mistakes

"I have many things to learn from you, father". - His Majesty returned to look at the about-to-die old man. "However, our play ends here... it's over, it's over". - Speaking to the Prime Minister, he approached him

"Nothing... is over yet...". - The old man glared at Hoster. "That was so perfect...". "I raped her, thinking to make a sprout to manipulate this Kingdom". - The man looked at a space, thinking very far. "Going through 3 times of Monarchs... killing your mom and your father". "And you took all from me, everything". - Done regretting, he lowered his face once again. "You dare to betray your father and your nation... your fate will be ruined! I curse you, die!". - However, he later roared as loud as possible

"Alt Toten...". - Hoster crouched down, grabbing the old man's face. He gazed at the Prime Minister deeply. "From now on, I'll take over this continent". "This is just a beginning... Warsaw will make all of you kneel before our feet, in no time to come". - He came closer. "Your nation will be annihilated... your children will be forever slaves, living under all of us". - Done talking, His Majesty stepped back, going backward till he got to my big sis

Two tyrants staring at each other, furiously. One is old and powerless, while one another is young and has power in his hands.

"I'll tell you a truth before you die...". "Remember to thank the Goddess when you see her...". - His Majesty later turned around. "But I hope that will be the first and the last time you see her... hope you not have an afterlife". - Hearing Hoster's story, Alt Toten felt curious

"I had truly died... once". - He slowly approached the old man. "But little did you know.... my fate, is blessed". - He smiled monstrously. "Goddess... she saved Sherry and me...". "I'm... a living God... I'm blessed, by the Goddess". "Try it... kill me... I can't die...". - Hearing the story, the Prime Minister seemed to be speechless, and very shocked

"I'm the chosen one!!!!!". - All of sudden, His Majesty roared while snatching my sis's Katana, pulling it out of the scabbard furiously

"Bup!!!". - The blade hit the rope which was holding the guillotine's mounted blade, it was cut off!

"Slams!!!!!". - All of sudden, the giant mounted blade fell and the beheading sound could be heard

I'm speechless... while looking at the wooden guillotine. Alt Toten's body, now is just a tied body whose head was chopped off. His headless body keeps convulsing, dying slowly while the blood from the neck keeps draining out.

The blood drains to dense drops down on the basket which is used to hold the old man's chopped head. Thanks to my luck, I hadn't seen the beheading scene completely. That time, I was surprised and focused on the way Hoster cut the rope. I was lucky.

After beheading the Prime Minister, Hoster lowers the bloody Katana. The blade which has blood, is now falling drops on the floor. That tyrant's face is still there, thinking unpredictably... he looks so scary.

"Ahhhh!". - I was a bit panicked when my sis suddenly kicked my back

She kicked my back to make me fall forward. Luckily, I manage to grab the head top of the guillotine, which helped me not to fall down.

However, I immediately startled when I accidentally look down. Under my face is the basket, I can see Alt Toten's head on it, bloodily covered in blood, darkly. Urrrrrgggghh... I try not to vomit. But as I look closer, his dying eyeballs can be seen still looking at me, now glancing at me scarily.

He still has consciousness despite getting beheaded?!!!!

"Urrrrrgggghh!". - I immediately fell away from the basket, holding the floor while trying to breathe normally... also trying not to vomit

"Keng!". - All of sudden, something metal could be heard falling on the floor

I looked in that direction, realizing that was my sis's Katana which was dropped on the floor. His Majesty can be seen staring at the roof, his body seems to be soft this time... without a reason.

"You two can go now...". - He talked to us lowly.  "Leave me alone... meet me again when I give you the new order...". - Done speaking, he kept staring at the roof

Both of us stay silent, letting him have his own privacy. My sis approaches her Katana and picks it up, putting it back on its scabbard. Later, she leans her arm through my armpit, pulling me up because I was kneeling on the floor.

Both of us silently move out of the door and it's later opened by Sir Baston. We step out... but my eyes keep looking behind to see His Majesty.

"Mother!!!!!!!!". - He called his late mother.  "Father!!!!!!!!!". - After calling his late father, His Majesty kneeled on the floor, and seemed to be crying and yelling very loudly. His hands lowered widely, releasing his palms freely

"Slams...". - When he was still crying, the door was shut off

I return to look at the scene forward to me. I look at the things around me with a dull thought, many emotions have mixed into my mind after getting in the jailroom.

This time, the Knight Ranger squad can be seen approaching us. Lieutenant Rivia taps my shoulder, showing her understanding face as if to comfort me.

However, I gently put her hand off my shoulder. I walk forward, heading to the staircase which leads up the jailhouse, to get out of here. Walking in my dullness, I try to calm down my mind from thinking. And when I make another, I realize that I've already at the exit door.

I was about to open the door, but my sis did that for me instead. I walk out without saying anything... later I see myself standing in the Palace's backyard, where the jailhouse is also located.

"Sarah...". - My SA called me

"Control your emotions... I'll help ya".  "Sit somewhere, relax... your mind... alright?".

I don't reply to SA's suggestion at all. However, I walk in the middle of the backyard, later lying on the grass, depressingly. The moon tonight... seems to be so bright, and big... it's also shining gloriously. But... the dark clouds are covering the moon, as if to turn it off.

Not so long later, my sis can be seen appear on the left side of my vision. She sits down, staring at me with her emotionless face, but I don't feel scared while beside her.

"Sis...?". - She later kneeled, and also put my head on her thighs as if to make me feel more comfortable

"Life, Sarah...". - My sis said, looking at me deeply.  "Everything can happen in life... you must get used to that kind of pain". - She patted my head, looking to the right.  "No matter how you sad, happy or anything... this world is always busy". - Done saying, she stared at me

"Why we can't live in a more peaceful world, sis?". - My mouth unintendedly asked my big sis

"Where there are humans,  there are wars...".  "Most of us... still live... with our instinct...".  "It... changes to adapt us, not vanished". - She looked to the right side, a bit silent.  "There's no happy world...".  "Will never have".

"But I believe it has one, sis".

"Then go on and create it...". - My sis replied, looking at me.  "There's no good world... but we can create it... if we want".

"You're too tired now...". - She looked at me once again.  "Sleep... you can only do the best when you recover all...".

"But I can't...". - Yesterday was a bad day, today is very bad. How can I sleep when those innocents call me for help in my sleep?

"I'll sing for you... to make you more easy to sleep...". - Later, she patted my head while staring at me

"Close your eyes...".

Hearing my sis, I close my eyes, trying to sleep.

"A real bad world... appears before me... and makes me cry loudly...".

"Then I realize... that is just a dream, it makes me so happy...".

"Being brought to life... is a blessing... that God kindly, gifts... to us".

"There is no need... to create more wars... this world has had it enough".  "Opening your eyes... and see people dying... it is the true, horror of war". 

"When there are more wars... more men will be suffered... end all wars right now... and make a better world".

"Looking around... and see what we did... that made this world go worse".

"We can change it... right now and away... create a peaceful world...".

Then my sis stops singing, slowly going silent. However, I know she's thinking about the lyrics. Lying on her thighs, while having the cool wind of the night blowing on me. Somehow... I feel that I can calm down a little bit now.

"God creates the earth... he adds colors... and next is the livings".

"From nothingness... he creates humans, we build and change the earth".

"From a wasteland, we step on the place... making it relive, and destroy it".

"We don't precious, until it is too late... everything right now... is destroyed".

"But time keeps going... nothing waits for us... we precious... when we realize". 

"But we should not do... in the very first place... but we can't regret... time doesn't wait".

"Protect a life... is protect the world... the entire earth".

"A peaceful world... is rare to find... but we can create it...".

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"Urgh...?". - All of sudden, I opened my eyes and felt a little bit sleepy

I just dozed off? While hearing my sis singing for me...?

At least, sleeping has made me feel better a lot by now.

The first thing when I wake up, I realize where I'm lying is not on the grass. Not like in the Palace's backyard at all. Instead, I feel like I'm lying on the floor, the brick ones...

Surrounded by my curiosity, I slowly get up while thinking about finding my sis. However, she isn't here. I see an M4 carbine with a Holographic sight on the floor... I pick it up to arm.

"Sis...?". - I called my big sis while looking around

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However, there's no reply. Seeing myself alone, I use my brainwave to order SA to let me see the map. I look at her screen, she shows me that I'm standing at the Imperial Palace's front doors.

Not yet. There are many green dots beyond the front doors and the Palace's front yard. Out of there are many green dots surrounding red dots, which seem to be located out of the Palace's entrance... it looks like they're in the street.

"This door...? Behind me?", I wonder, later approaching it.

But it's quite strange when I slept in the backyard, but woke up in the doorway.

I immediately open the Palace's front doors slowly. When I come out, in front of me are bunches of Warsaw guards standing with their backs opposite me. I feel it a bit odd when they're whispering to each other.

"Oh?". - One guard accidentally saw me from behind.  "Hey hey". - He tapped his comrades, later pointed me to let them see.  "Come, my Lord". - All of 'em stepped away, giving me a long path to go forward

"Thanks...". - I slightly bowed to the guards, later moved up

Walking forward for a short moment, I see my sis standing alongside others. That's her with the Knight Ranger squad. Some KR operatives can be seen holding tiny sticks that have lines of white smokes popping out from their tops.

Those things look like cigarettes or tobacco.

"Oh, Sir". - Lt. Rivia was smoking with her soldiers, later she greeted me as she saw me approaching the team

"What are you doing here?". - Asking Rivia, I looked around

"Watching some gorgeous scenes, Sir". - Rivia said, later putting the smoke in her mouth.  "Blows...". - After smoking, her mouth flew out white smokes.  "I'm sorry, it has been a long time since I last used this one". - She looked to the left, outside of the Palace's entrance for no reason

"Gorgeous?". - I asked Rivia, wondering what did she mean

All of sudden, my sis shows up and pats my head. Later she hugs me tightly, closer my face to her breasts gently.

"What are you doing, sis?". - She kept patting my head although I was asking her

"Should not... see it...". - My sis only said that, later returning to watch something beyond the Palace's entrance

"Sir...". - All of sudden, I spotted Pvt. Scanra lying on the ground, feeling exhausted while calling his Commander

"Hahaha...". - Rivia laughed slightly while crouching, before the man.  "Thanks for the ride, Private... first time is always that hard, keep up". - Then she pulled him up, and the guy did his best although he was tired

"You bet, Sir?". - Sgt. Hawrus asked Rivia while looking at something beyond the Palace's entrance

"And the reward?". - Rivia asked him, while tapping Scanra's shoulder as if to comfort him

"I ran out of smoke".

"Hahahaha...". - She smiled slightly once again, while pulling out a stick of cigarette.  "Here". - She threw a stick of cigarette into his hand.  "The hanging one, that guy go first". 

"Which side, Sir?".

"The closest to us one".  "You win, they're yours...". - She showed him a pack of cigarettes in her pocket.  "Otherwise... "fight" with me... through the night".

"Hahahaha!". - Hawrus laughed loudly, he walked away while holding his belly.  "Alright, Sir! I lose, I lose!". - He talked while laughing, later he tried to calm down

"Ummm...". - I pulled my sis away from me a little bit.  "What were you talking about?".

I asked Rivia but she didn't reply anything. Instead, she points her finger to the outside of the Palace's entrance, pointing to the street at night. I look at the direction she's pointing, and the thing that spreads before my eyes, makes me nervous.

From my view, looking at the far sight on the streets.  Many people look like civilians surrounding a long wooden stage that has people tied in there. I move out of the Palace's entrance for the better view, I feel nervous.

Later I look at the wooden stage once again. Dozens of people who are tied up from their hands to their feet, are standing on the mini chairs on the stage. They look like people who are waiting to be executed, from my thought.

They stand close to each other, in a horizontal line. Their necks have tied ropes, and the ropes themselves are being set to a long bar above their heads. Behind them, are people in black armors who look like Warsaw guards, they hold the ropes while standing still.

Looking closely, the about-to-be-hung people seem to be very battered. They must've been beaten before that. These people were the puppet officials in the court... and they're about to be executed.

I approach the wooden stage from afar while looking at things ahead. When I come closer, I also see the officials who are tied under the stage. Their bodies are tied up, and placed on the guillotines. Their heads are locked, and they cannot move or anything... just waiting to die hopelessly since their mouths are locked by cloths.

"Ladies and gentlemen!". - A huge armored man who stood in the middle of the stage yelled.  "Look at them! Look at these animals! They killed our countrymen!". - He pointed to the tied officials, scolding them so hard that his saliva fly around

"Kill 'em all! Kill 'em all!". - The crowd of angry civilians yelling together, raising tools in their hands

I look at the civilians carefully. They're raging, glaring at the officials as if they're worthless animals. Not yet, their hands also hold things like hammers, household tools... knives and also bowls, as real weapons.

"Hang 'em! Hang 'em!". - Many men yelled.  "They killed my sons! They killed my husbands! Kill them! Kill!".  "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!". - These civilians were very mad. They kept hustling, thinking about rushing to the stage to beat those men to death

Luckily, there's a large circle line of Warsaw guards to protect the stage. The civilians cannot pass the line, so they can only get mad while yelling at those criminals. Guards are struggling... they seem to want to join the people too. However, they're ordered to keep the execution ceremony to be stable, so they decided to follow the rules.

"Order, people!".  "It will soon occur! Order is needed!". - The armored man yelled, asking the angry crowd to stay quiet

"Alright...". - He seemed to be a bit pleased when the yellings lowered a bit.  "When they're executed, you can do everything you want to 'em". - The man walked around the wooden stage a few times while explaining to the people below

"Alright...". - He turned around and looked at the executioners who were holding the ropes to hang people.  "Procee-".

"Wait wait wait wait wait!!!!". - I yelled loudly, while rushing to the crowd of people

"What the?!".  "What the hell are you doing?!". - Some men civilians questioned me as I tried to pull 'em away

"Please let me come up!". - I managed to pull some out, and joined the cramped crowd, trying to move forward to reach the stage

"Are you crazy?!".  "Order, lady!". - Some people blocked my way, but some let me pass.  "What a strange woman...".  "Here, come up". - Some people let me pass, despite having their curiosity toward my purpose.  "Wait wait wait". - All of sudden, some people blocked my way

"Please let me come up!".

"You lady over there!". - All of sudden, the huge armored man on the stage asked me.  "Yeah, you". - He pointed his finger at me, telling me that he was aiming at me to question me

"Please let me get in there!". - I rushed, trying to hustle and pull the people away but I couldn't do that

"Hey, don't!".  "What are you minding up there, crazy?!". - These people kept resisting me.  "Want to beat those guys, huh? Wait till we can do it!". - Not good at all, I couldn't push through this cramped and dense crowd

"Let her pass!". - The huge armored man let me pass

The people immediately stay away to let me pass. Luckily, the Warsaw guards who make the circle line also let me get through them gradually. When I get out, I run up the wooden stage. Seeing myself in there, I run to the middle and stand before the executioner leader, later looking at the crowd below.

"Please listen to me, people!".

"What?!". - Some civilians were bewildered.  "You get up there just to speech, huh?!".  "Get down! Get down here and now!". - They started fussing.  "Let the justice be served! Down here and join us!". - Some were mad, but some were asking me to get down to watch the execution scene

"Please listen to me! Please!!!". - I roared as loud as possible

The people later go silent. They seem to be a bit mad, but try to calm down their emotions. All of sudden, the huge armored man taps my shoulder a few times, and points his thumb behind.

"Okay, I mean alright... give me a few moments". - Maybe he was asking me to hurry, to let him execute the prisoners faster

"Listen to me!". - I stood opposite the people below, saying loudly

"People... I know your loss... and I can feel your anger". - I lowered my voice.  "However... courts like this should be ended! Right now!". - I raised my hand behind, showing them the prisoners who were about to be hung

"Hah?!!!". - Some of them were surprised.  "What the fuck?! Are you crazy?!!!". - They scolded me, trying to reach me but could not.  "They dirtied our government! Making us miserable!".  "These men belong to those who killed our kids and our loved ones!". - The angry crowd kept hustling, as if they wanted to tear me apart.  "Now you try to protect 'em, huh?! Stop being a hero and stop being that fake!".  "A woman like you don't know anything! Down to your home and stay in there!". - Seemed like my words were useless to convince these people

"But those are lives! We don't have the right to take others' lives that freely!". - I tried to stop the crowd's yellings, so I roared at them loudly

The crowd later stops yelling. The people glare at me, trying to calm down their emotions even though their look makes me feel like they want to rip me off. Alright... I must... must do something to convince them till they understand.

"Gulp...". - I gulped, trying to grind my voice

"We cannot execute a person that freely without the law!".  "We cannot solve everything by using violence! It's bad!". - This time, I made the sharpest words toward the people, asking 'em to calm down for a fair trial

"We must jail these people, and wait for the court to judge them". - I widened my hands, trying to convince 'em.  "If we execute someone by using our emotions but not our minds... we're just like criminals...". - Done explaining, I saw the crowd stay silent... they were calming down. It's a good sign

"Please calm down, people...". - I gently spoke to them.  "When time comes, justice will be served".  "Your families will rest in peace...".  "If we kill someone casually because that person is guilty... then what's the law created for?".

"Miss, you've misunderstood". - All of sudden, the leader of the executioners spoke to me

"His Majesty ordered us to make this execution before the people". - He said while looking at the executioners.  "They're free to do what they want to these animals... they must suffer". - Then he tapped me after explaining to me.  "Get down... you're in danger".

Hearing those words, I'm shocked to the bones. But... now I know it's pointless to convince the angry crowd and the executioners, so I lower my face to think, depressed.

Lowering my head for a while, I turn around and walk down the stage. Later I join the angry crowd line, some people glare at me, some even push me when I'm walking past them. Everything is so bad... I thought I could've done something good...

"Proceed!". - When I was walking away to return to the Palace, the execution order sounded from behind

"Urrrrrgggggghhhhhhhhh!!!". - Mass sounds of dying people could be heard, they came from the ones who were being hung on the stage

"Slams!!! Slams!!! Slams!!!".  "Slams!!! Slams!!! Slams!!!".  "Slams!!! Slams!!! Slams!!!". - Mounted blades from the guillotines fell down, chopping down the heads of the criminals terribly

"Yarrrrghhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!". - The angry crowd immediately rushed to the execution stage, thinking about torturing the dead criminals

They're angry, hustling and stepping on each other to get on the stage. I walk forward, being pushed by incoming people several times without caring about that problem. My eyes and my mind go dull again, worse. I keep walking without minding anything... and somehow I manage to get back to the Palace rightly.

When I come back, I tilt my body to a pillar for a break after a short go. Warsaw guards can be seen running from the Palace, with their spears and swords in hands. As if these soldiers are also wanting to revenge for their dead families.

Looking at their faces when they're running, I only see their hatefulness, their anger, their madness and their excitement for having a chance to revenge for their loved ones.

"Haaahhhh... haaahhhh...". - Gasping in the air, I opened my tired eyes.  "Sis...?". - Somehow my sis showed up in front of me

However, she doesn't say anything at all. I can't see the KR operatives or Lt. Rivia anywhere... they must've rested in the Palace, or... out there, right?

I sadly sit down on the ground, turning my body to the street. I look at the scene, the people and soldiers are screaming, roaring in the madness of the night street. Some torches can also be seen lighting up the wooden stage.

Looking at the scene before my eyes, I wish I could do something. My eyes get dull every time I look at the angry crowd and guards. Should I... have sympathetic to these people's angry feelings? Their point of view, seemed to be a bit... right.

"That's how life works, Sarah". - All of sudden, my sis wrapped my neck from behind, hugging me lightly.  "You cannot do anything alone...".  "Those people... could be evil to us".  "But...". - She stopped a little bit.  "To their homeland's people, they were the heroes... and we are the invaders".  "Life is long... and slow...".  "Get used to it". - Done speaking to me, my sis walked away

I don't want to see that painful scene anymore, so I follow my sis. Both of us fastly come inside the Palace, and walk along the hallway while feeling the place's silence. Since the servants and guards are away from the Palace, this place is silent. We keep walking through many hallway routes, and I'm wondering where we are going from this time.

"Sis". - I called my sis while walking behind her.  "Where we are going to?". - I kept up with her, asking her tiredly

"Rivia and her men... informed me". - My sis glanced at me.  "That... their Bird was coming back to pick 'em up, John also followed". - Done saying, she focused on the hallway

It's strange when Commander decided to return here without informing us. Maybe he didn't do that for a reason. I hope John's alright by now.

We keep on walking through the hallways and zones of different social statuses in the Palace to reach the backyard. Every time we walk, the echoes keep sounding, returning to us. We're likely the only ones in the Palace, people have gone out to join the angry crowd in the previous execution.

We later reach the backyard and see John. The DH - 1 Helicopter is still rotating its blade and blowing the air, as if it had just recently landed. Rivia and her Ranger squad stand before the helicopter from afar. They're feeling the blowing wind while waiting for their turn to get back on the chopper or something.

John and the others step out of the chopper slowly. Reimi's walking next to Princess, and she's holding her because Reimi seems to be hasn't been recovered completely. Getting down from the chopper, Rivia suddenly approaches John and says something in his ear.

Instead of waiting for her husband, Shera grabs Reimi and walks away. Two ladies later walk away from the chopper till they reach a certain distance, and sit down on the grass, for a break.

"Princess...?". - I waved at Princess to greet her, also approached her and crouched down, questioning her

"Ah, Sarah".  "Nod". - Shera also greeted me, she held Reimi in her hands lightly

"Sorry". - She glanced at Reimi for a short moment, later looked at me.  "Reimi was recovering, but it ended up badly".  "But she's better now, but needs to rest more...".

"Lady Sarah...". - Reimi weakly greeted me, she lowered and upped her head a few times as if to greet me

"Where's my brother now?". - Shera suddenly asked me, so I got my eyes off Reimi to reply to Princess

"Ummm... still in the jailhouse, I think".

"What's he doing in there?".

"Ummm... it's hard... to say". - Speaking to Shera, I only knew to lower my face

"But what happened to her?". - I asked Princess about Reimi's conditions

"It's a long story...". - While speaking to me, Princess glanced at her husband.  "Sigh...". - She sighed, while looking at me.  "Will tell you later, but now".  "We need a good room for Reimi, she needs to recover well".

"I'll... take it...". - My sis suddenly replied to Princess, she later walked inside the Palace instead of staying in the backyard

The chopper's sounds suddenly blow strong, and the DH - 1 Helicopter flies up the sky, vanishing in the darkness a short time later. I later glance at John, noticing that Lieutenant Rivia and her KR operatives have gone away.

They must've returned to Zaira by the chopper, I think.

"Is she alright?". - John immediately rushed to Reimi, he crouched down and grabbed her hand... as if to check her temperature

"She can walk a bit now... but needs more time to recover". - Shera replied to her husband, she looked at him deeply

"She looks worse than the time we found her, Commander".  "What happened?". - I asked John, staring at his eyes straightly

"That was my fault... I should not do it in the beginning". - John replied with a worried feeling

"John... please calm down... I don't hate you".  "Please...". - His wife reached her hand to him, as if to hold his hand

"No no no no...". - John pulled his hand away from his wife.  "I'm sorry, I'm sorry...".  "Now all I want is her to be safe". - John talked with a lot of remorseful in his eyes, his face and his voice

"My sis's preparing a room".  "I'll lead the way". - Done saying, I got up

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry". - John kept apologizing to Reimi repeatedly.  "Lead the way, Sarah... go!". - He carried Reimi on his back, and his wife held the girl from behind to make sure she wouldn't fall

"Lead the way, SA". - I ordered SA to show my sis's location

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