Chapter 22: Chapter 22: Of a Covenant

As Gabrielle gently played with her hair, taking her sweet time to dry it all out, Baraqiel simply closed their eyes and rested their back. It felt so different, being able to be quiet but not to avoid the gaze of someone: it was a choice, not a need! Most of this whole deal was a choice, really; and despite their original fear, the kid was feeling more and more like this had been the correct one.

 

The girl soon broke the silence though.

 

“Before we sleep, there is something that I want to do. I think.”

 

Baraqiel opened a single eye. Now that had them curious. “Go ahead then, what do you have in mind?”

 

Gabi picked up the lantern, dramatically setting it between them. Her movements were suddenly theatrical, slow and gentle, as if she wanted to imbue the whole moment with some strange sense of meaning. 

 

“We will make a Covenant.”

 

The words floated between them, lingering as Baraqiel really tried to wrap their mind around the whole ordeal. They had no idea what Covenant was, why it sounded so important and why would Gabrielle even want to make one. Was it a religious thing? It most probably was, because it always was!

 

So, they just stared deeply as Gabrielle continued to explain, setting the candle inside of the lantern.

 

“In the Prologues of the Saints, when heroes had to face impossible odds, they made Covenants. Pacts that aren't made between the people, but between their souls…”

 

She picked up something else from her little stash of secrets: a piece of quartz she found in a river, and a flint that had been abandoned in the mine. Just like everything else, she twirled them around in the air as she had seen Father do so many times during Goodday. 

 

“It’s like the pacts people used to make with Angels and Gods, back in the day.”

 

“Not an Angel!!”

 

“Be quiet and let me finish.”

 

Gabrielle’s confidence soared higher than ever when she recited the Prologues; she was very fond of some of them, stories she had memorized and thought of very often, little pieces of knowledge that brought peace to her mind and life.

 

“This is not about Gods or Angels anymore. There are no more of those, Father Enrico always says so: they are gone.”

 

Baraqiel flinched just by hearing that name: they still didn’t forget the look in those deranged eyes, their trembling and powerful hands, the Spire and its infernal song.

 

He always talked about that, the Gods being gone, Angels having to return, magic to be once again in the hands of the mortals, or something.

 

Ramblings from a demented Demiurge.

 

“Angels are not here anymore.” Declared Gabrielle, again. “And people… they are just terrible. You can’t trust them. Dangerous.”

 

She sighed, taking a good moment before actually continuing.

 

“So this is not about them. It’s about us. About trusting each other, knowing we won’t lie to the other. Knowing that we are on the same side of things.”

 

Baraqiel could notice very easily that this girl was heavily projecting her needs into things, but honestly, some certainty really did sound good for them as well. They felt the weight of Gabrielle’s words, even if she didn’t herself.

 

She just felt like this was an important step, a way to make the “not-angel” feel her determination. Besides, she had no reference point for friendships or relationships of any kind, so really this was as normal as it could get for her.

 

“I feel responsible for this now.” Gabi continued. “I took you out of the Chapel so, now if they find us, we will be in big trouble.”

 

“We will be dead.”

 

Both children shivered at the possibility, because it was a real one now. Even with their different experiences, both of them know the kind of person the Father was when angry. 

 

Death was always a possibility, but if they were caught in this? It would be a certainty.

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Of course, Gabrielle could always try to lie about it to save her own skin, but there was something deep in her core that shook its head just at the thought. No. No betrayals, no more lies! It would only make things more complicated anyways. 

 

But of course, this is what she said now. It was always easy to swear upon one’s death before ever experiencing true danger.

 

“So, let’s make a Covenant.”

 

Let there be Light.

 

With a quick, practiced motion, Gabrielle made some sparks with the flint and quartz, igniting the candle and finally giving some warmth to the room. Very, very small warmth, but it was much better than nothing, really.

 

“I will help you recover.”

 

That’s as much as she had thought up, and yet, more words escaped her mouth.

 

“And then, we will let the rest of the kids out of the Basement together.”

 

Why did she even go that way? She was not obligated at all! And yet, once the words were out and the lantern was closed, Gabrielle didn’t feel like stepping back from that at all. It was done now, a part of the promise of their Covenant.

 

And she had no option but to persevere and see that promise through.

 

Maybe she just wanted to feel like a Hero. A Saint. A Good Witch?

 

Or maybe I just don’t know when to shut up.

 

Gabrielle rose a hand above the lantern and held it there while her elbow rested on the floor. And she stared at Baraqiel, waiting for their own hand. She couldn't do this alone. It pained her to admit it, as she always found herself in that situation of powerlessness... but now, she had a chance. An ally she could trust. Maybe.

 

“I will cover you, so you will cover me… What do you say?”

 

You’re completely insane. That’s what Baraqiel’s mind said, but for some reason it wasn’t in any demeaning, cruel way. It almost sounded endearing when thinking it more loudly. The girl was taking things way too lightly and the “not-angel” knew it very well, and yet there was something very calming to it.

 

It was the fact that they knew, one hundred percent, that Gabrielle meant every little word she said. Childish or not, this was a promise she intended to keep.

 

Gabi didn’t have a single clue of what it was to live in that Basement, the cruelty of that man, the insanity of the Demiurge… and yet she was putting her life on the line. That took guts.

 

Or incredible stupidity.

 

This kid will end up dead if she goes in on her own, thought Baraqiel while meditating on their answer. They couldn’t simply let her get hurt all on her own!

 

So, their hand slowly met Gabrielle’s, squeezing as hard as they could. Which admittedly wasn’t very hard– Gabi’s hand squeezed a bit too hard in comparison, forcing poor Baraqiel to lose their solemnity for a second before they said.

 

“O-Ouch! Alright, I get it! We’re together in this!!”

They remained like that for a moment, looking into each other’s eyes and then nodding firmly, determined, bound by their words now.

 

And after that… no more. They simply let go of their hands, and laid down by the sides of that lantern. Exhaustion finally overcame their emotion, their excitement and the adrenaline of the moment, so both children could feel the sleepiness set in.

 

The night continued, the weak fire of that candle unable to really warm up the shed, but none of the children were really feeling cold anymore. The cold and the fear were now outside, deep in the forest, all around them. But not in the shed.

 

Even if it lacked spectacle, or if it wasn't official by anybody of the Church... a Covenant was made that night. A pact. A promise of trust. And for the two children, this was the first night in so long that they really, truly felt safe.

 

For now, that was more than enough for them to sleep soundly.

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