Arianna did not expect to find a whole troupe of the Genesis already parked on Gwynedd when she visited. She had been told that they were already running, that they would arrive sooner rather than later, but the little nun had hoped it would take them a day or maybe two, with some luck. And yet, there they were! Spending time in a local tavern, practically waiting for her to come in…
She had no plan and no ideas yet, no time to tell Alejandra to start preparing or to get Gabrielle and Baraqiel safe… she was ready to give up.
But then, when asked to come to the table the Soldiers of the Church were occupying, the captain among them would lead the conversation with a very clear question:
“How is the situation? Are we ready to strike?”
The sister took a slow breath, blinking and looking around herself. This was the first time she worked with any of these black-capped people, the first time she had laid eyes on them and the first time she had even called upon the help of the Genesis, and yet she knew they never asked that. Everyone knew they never asked that. Asking about readiness gave a chance to say “no”, to make them wait, and the Genesis never waited, they simply acted.
Her eyes found the Captain’s. Under the black cape she could see a mature man with short, black hair, with many wrinkles around his eyes signifying the age and experience. She saw enough power and determination to know that this Captain needed no confirmation or authorization to do a thing. And yet here he was, asking away.
Arianna felt kinship coming from this man, a little wink, the faintest smile of confidence… Giovanni had probably already talked to this man. Relief washed over the nun’s mind.
I guess I owe that old man an apology.
After sighing, she took a moment to think. She couldn’t simply shoo them away now that the people were ready and eager to act, but she did need time… how much could she get without finding the ire of these maniacs…?
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“Things are almost in place.” Arianna was quick to assure, pretending to be on board with the excessive violence that was to come. “Tomorrow, when the sun rises once more, the Demiurge will be right where we need him.”
Using this sort of dramatic timing seemed to ease the eagerness of the soldiers, while the captain nodded approvingly.
“Thank you, sister. We will be there right with the first rays of the breaking dawn.”
—
Arianna was running as fast as she could, cursing her short legs as she dashed through the forest trail and felt her mind racing. A day, that was all she could get from these people! If this Captain truly was on their side, some blood on the Demiurge’s laboratory would be enough to convince him the kids were dead.
All right, step one is to grab the pig and stain everything with it. Then to grab the kids and run like Hell! There has to be a nice place we can get them, maybe with some help from that old man we can—
“BARAQIEL, GET OUT OF THERE THIS INSTANT! YOU TOO, GABRIELLE!!”
Arianna froze in place right there, her eyes widening, her lungs burning down. They mentioned Gabrielle, and they were awfully close. Also very, very close to the Mine… had they been discovered!?
No, no no no!
Shaking her head, Arianna turned around and changed course. There was no time for lists or doubts.
Things were about to go down the drain.
—
Three nuns and a towering man were standing right in front of an old, decrepit shed. It was the only one that was fully closed, the only one they could hear breathing from… so it had to be the one they were looking for. Tasce and Corinthia were already walking around it, waiting for an order to walk in, while Enrico and Marina simply stood right in front of the door.
Tension was in the air, a curious eye peeked from between the cracks in the door and then pushed away. Gabrielle could feel her heart racing, pounding against her chest, as she rushed to pick Baraqiel up again and carry them on her back.
“They are here.” She finally whispered, as if admitting it gave it some finality.
Baraqiel clung tighter to the girl’s shoulders, trying to steady their panicking breath as Gabi looked around herself, trying to find a different exit or some sort of idea. To no avail, all they had to work with were a few sticks and old, wet pieces of cloth; they were trapped and surrounded from all sides.
“I don’t see sister Arianna here, or sister Alejandra… we are alone.”
“Put me down, let them take me…” Baraqiel gave up almost instantly, letting out a deep sigh. “I was a fool to try and run from him.”
“Can you use the Rune?” Gabi asked without really acknowledging the kid’s mood.
“No.” The child had a feeling deep in their heart, an exhaustion they simply couldn’t shake, a certainty that the miracle wouldn’t strike again so quickly after last time. “Just let me go, Gabi…”
“Not yet.”
Gabrielle’s eyes were staring at the figure of the Demiurge, tall and strong, approaching slowly and casting a shadow over the shed’s door.
Almost… almost…!
She waited patiently, letting the man grow more and more anxious and reaching for the door’s broken handle. And only then, just as he was about to open–
“NOW!”
Gabi wasn’t sure of her plan, but she was sure of having no more options than running. With all the power her legs could muster she kicked the door open, letting the wooden planks smack the Demiurge’s face with a loud “thonk!” before running straight forward, faster than she ever had run in her life.