Chapter 40 A Lie

Ray started breathing rapidly, the other knights crowded over Brandon dead body, as one of them covered his body with the kitchen table white sheet, Vincent walked to Ray putting his hand on his shoulder.

“It’s ok, it's over , they won’t be here anymore.” Vincent said with a smile.

Ray looked at Vincent dumbfounded at his words, Ray steady himself, and headed upstairs, but was stopped by one of the knights.

“Sam, wait!”

“What!” Ray yelled.

“We need to know what happened.”

“He accuse me of being the damn hybrid that attacked the village two days ago, he’s gone insane!” Ray yelled.

“....I. I understand.”

“Is that it! I need to be in my room. The last thing I needed to see today was another friend of mine dying in front of me, while calling me a monster.”

The knight became uncomfortable as Ray made his way to his room, slamming the door shut. Ray got on his bed, trying his best to control his breathing.

A few minutes later someone was knocking on Ray's door.

“Go away!” Ray screamed.

The door opened, and Vincent came in, sitting on the desk chair, looking at Ray. “They are about to leave with the body, I need you to tell me exactly what happened, when I left.”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“This is an order, tell me what happened.” Vincent demanded.

Ray sat up, and looked at Vincent with anger in his eyes, Vincent looked confused for a moment, then he switched to being amused. “Do I need to remind you, who is in charge here?” Vincent said.

“No.” Ray calmed down. Ray explains what happened when Brandon came to the house, and the conversation they had.

‘Hmm, I see, he must have gone desperate, the other knights informed me that they just received a letter from the church, telling them to go back to the holy city Adruil.”

“Desperate?”

“The other knights told me how he gone unhinged ever since the attack, apparently losing Roger took a lot out of him.” Vincent said.

“I don’t understand, Brandon wouldn’t do something this dumb.”

“He must have thought no one would believe him, and figured out that we are hybrids, but with no evidence no one would believe him.”

Vincent, and Ray heard footsteps coming closer, Vincent got up, and went to the door. He had a small talk with someone who was at the door, and quickly closed it. Vincent sat back down.

“They are leaving already. They got most of the blood out, but there is still going to be some stain, I might have to remove it another day. I’ll be right back, I’m going to walk them out.”

Vincent walks out the door, while Ray looks out the window in his room.

{Monster huh? I guess at the end of the day I will always be that.}

Soon Vincnt came back into the room, and sat on the desk chair.

“You said they have to leave the village, do you know when exactly?” Ray asked.

“Today actually, the letter they got told them to pack everything they can, and head back, when I was around the village, and couldn’t find Brandon, I knew he was most likely here.”

Ray sighed.

“It's a good thing you came when you did, otherwise we would have to explain another missing knight.” Ray said.

“Ahh, with this I will finally be able to control the village how I see fit, can’t wait.” Vincent said happily.

“What will you do now that the village belongs to you?” Ray asked.

“I’m going to fully take advantage of this, and have more hybrids come to the village.”

“Is that safe, won’t the church just kill everyone if they find out a lot of hybrids are here?” Ray question.

“Oh right, I forgot, isn’t that the reason you were recruited?”

“...Yes.” Ray admitted.

“Well don’t worry about it, I know how to keep things under wraps.” Vincent assured

“So what should we do now?”

“We need to head to the village, word already spreaded that the knights are leaving. So I need to be there when the knights tell the villagers announce that, and with Brandon gone it’s going to be even more fun to watch.” Vincent laughed.

Ray got up from his bed, and started getting ready, Vincent told him he would wait for him by the front door.

{To think everything went according to plan, Vincent is going to run this village from now on, and turn it into a hybrid hot zone, hopefully the villagers don’t suffer because of it.}

Ray went to meet Vincent, quickly glazing at the spot where Brandon died, and headed out the door. As they reached the village, they saw some of the villagers heading towards where the church used to be. Some of them come up to Vincent and confirm what Vincent knew.

“Mister Vincent, did you hear the knights are going to leave the village!?” The villager stammered.

“Yes, I am aware.” Vincent confirmed.

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“What will we do?”

“We will do our best to protect the village, the knights have proven themselves ineffective, we have to take matters in our hands.” Vincent stated.

“How, we can’t face the hybrid that attacked the village that night. The only option we have is to head to the holy cities.” The villager complained.

“We each will do what we think is right, now let's head to where the knights are.” Vincent advised.

The villager hung his head and followed them. Soon they arrived at the destroyed church, everyone in the village had attended. The villagers open a path for Vincent, and Ray. Soon Vincent was in front of the crowd with the knight who was appointed in command of the knights after the deaths of Sierra, and Brandon.

“Hello everyone my name is Lex. I am sure you all aware of the news that we are leaving, unfortunately it is true, we must leave as soon as possible.” Lex announced.

The villagers started screaming, and yelling insults. They demanded to know why the church was abandoning them to the hybrids, and where Brandon is. Vincent stepped forward, and held up his hand until the villagers got quiet.

“I need you all to hear me.” Vincent announced.

“I believe this is the right choice, the knight have done nothing but bring trouble to this village, first when they were spying on me, second when more of the knights came to the village, we had our first hybrid attacked, and then the attack on the village, by that monster that took too many lives from us. Especially now, some of you have noticed that Brandon isn’t here, well that is because he is dead!” Vincent screamed.

They were confused, and the villagers looked shocked from what Vincent just told them, and Vincent continued to speak. Most of the knight look uncomfortable, ignoring the gazed of the villagers

“Brandon attacked my nephew a couple of hours ago, thankfully the knights, and I made it in time, before my nephew got hurt.”

The villagers were looking at the knights with anger in their eyes. Most of the knights look towards the ground unable to meet their gaze, which confirm what Vincent just told them.

“I am rightfully angry, but these knights are not to blame for their captain's foolishness, so I say we let them leave right away in peace.” Vincent declared.

Most of the villagers were still in shock hearing about Brandon's actions, others were nodding their heads in agreement to Vincent's suggestion.

Ray heard Lex take a deep breath, and saw him take a step forward and spoke a few words.

"It is true that Brandon attacked Mister Vincent nephew Sam, but he only did so because he had gone mad, with the loss of his dear comrades.” Lex explained.

The villagers were screaming in anger, on how a knight is supposed to protect them, and now they are attacking the people who could help the most. How are they supposed to trust the church now?

Lex tried his best to calm down the crowd, but his words couldn’t be heard over the screaming, the knight looked defeated, looking at Vincent. Vincent nodded his head. The knight left to join the other knights, and said something to them. The knight came back and whispered something in Vincent's ear, and left afterwards.

Vincent looked back at the crowd holding up his hand until it was completely silent. Vincent had a proud look on his face.

“My friends please let them leave in peace, we have much work to do, and I have great news, we will be able to completely rebuild everything we have lost. So none of you worry, by the end of this we will come out stronger.” Vincent stated.

Most of the crowd look uneasy while other seem to agree with Vincent, and some were already leaving. Vincent look at Ray with a smile on his face, and walk towards the knights. Ray look at the crowd who was aleady dispearsing.

Some of the villagers came up to Ray, and wanted to know if he was truly ok, and what happened to Brandon. Ray explained what happened to him, when Brandon attacked. Some of them had a look of grief and shook their heads.

“To think he would lose his edge.”

“He most likely snapped, from all the pressure, the hybrid that kills all his comrades, is still roaming free out there.”

“I don’t understand why he would think you, and Mister Vincent would be hybrids. Your uncle has done nothing but help us ever since he arrived all those years ago.”

“Yeah, I remembered how back then we used to have a high crime rate, but ever since Vincent took the shops they have stopped.”

“Wait, what do you mean they stop?” Ray asked.

“Well we don’t know for sure but soon after Vincent came most of the crime went down, and Vincent bought the stores that nobody wanted and turned them around. Giving us jobs, we are really grateful he came when he did.”

“Sam do you know what Mister Vincent is going to do concerning the church, I would have thought he would be furious, since that time he caught them spying on him, he threatened to leave the village, with all his business?” The villager pondered.

“I thought he would leave as well, but since they are leaving the village, he is more than happy with that, he is most likely want a notice if they are coming back.” Ray replied.

The villager mostly look convinced, Ray excuse himself and headed towards Vincent who was waving the knights goodbye, Vincent turn to look at Ray.

“Now then, Sam I need to finalize some papers, and we will watch the knights lead, and head home, today has been a great day!” Vincent Boasted.

As Ray, and Vincent started going around the stores they saw a few villagers packing their things, and joining the knights before they left.

“Soon we will announce that you will be leaving too, hopefully no one tries to throw a going away party, that is going to be annoying to deal with. Looking at the villagers despite everything the knights did, I am surprised some of the villagers are still trusting of them. Vincent barked.

“They probably just want some protection, it is going to be a long ride back to the holy city.”

Some of the villagers who were leaving gave their thanks to Vincent, hopeful they might come back someday. Vincent reassured them they will always have a home here. As night approaches Vincent, and Ray headed back to where the destroyed church was, and Ray noticed a new gravestone was placed next to Sierra.

{Why couldn’t you just quit instead Brandon, so stupid.}

As they went around the destroyed church, they saw most of the knights on horseback, some of the horses were tied to carts carrying what remains the knights could find in the rubble. The villagers who joined them, were going to have to walk it.

Vincent called out Lex, who dismounted his horse and went towards them.

“So this is it.” Vincent asked.

“Yes, we should have enough food, and supplies to last us the journey, to be honest I wanted to stay another day to get more supplies, but with what happen with Brandon, I think it would be best if we just leave already.” Lex stated.

“Yes, I am just glad Sam is well.” Vincent agreed.

“Well I am not sure what the church is going to do regarding your village, but I will let them know what Brandon did, since they are going to be asking for him, if I know anything I’ll be sure to let you know.” Lex replied.

“Yes, please do.”

“Also Sam?” Lex appealed.

“Yes?”

“Please accept my apology regarding Brandon disrespect, if I knew what he was planning I would never would have let gone to your house.” Lex apologized, while bowing his head.

“No! no please it’s alright-”

Vincent quickly nudged him.

“... Thank you, Lex. Take care of yourself.” Ray said, while extending his hand.

Lex saw Ray's hand, and shook it, Lex waved the both of them goodbye, while telling the knights they were leaving. Vincent turned around, and started heading home.

“Hey Vincent?”

“What happened?”

“Can I go visit the graves, real quick?” Ray requested.

“Ok, head straight back home after you're done.”

“Thanks.”

Vincent left Ray alone, Ray made sure he was gone before he went to the cemetery, Ray slowly inspected the graves, and finally sat down at the freshly new one.

{They only carve your name, huh Brandon. Did they even do a service for you, or just buried you and just left? If only you kept that to yourself, who knows what might have happened. I wonder what kind of life you would have lived if you didn’t become a knight. Even though you called me a monster in the end. In the beginning you were a friend. Maybe in another life we could have… Rest in peace Brandon, and goodbye.}