As soon as he stepped outside, the first thing that greeted him was the bright light of the three moons, almost as if the light of the gods were bestowing their blessings to him. Or maybe they were showing Rui the light.
The wind kissed his cheek, almost like a kiss goodbye. The thought made his chest twitch, and he wrapped his arms around himself. He wished he could go back and get a warmer tunic, but going back now meant he would risk the chance of getting caught.
“By the way,” Korri said as soon as they started walking again. “How are we gonna get out? I don’t think I know where the orphanage is on the map, and none of us are even sure what’s outside the walls.”
Theo nodded. “And isn’t the tunnel locked? Do you really expect us to climb the wall?”
“We’re almost there, don’t worry.”
The rest of the walk was cold. The crickets chirped a tune, sounding like the instruments needed for the song Rui was humming. Even their footsteps sounded like soft beats accompanying his lullaby.
“Moons so full, so round, so bright
Shining high up in the darkest of skies
Lights, so pure, so blue, so soft
Showing the grace from high up above…”
Theo huffed as he looked down. “I didn’t think I’d hear you sing it again.”
“Well, it has been a while since I last sung it. I’m surprised I could still remember the song, even.” He flicked his eyes to him. “Do you still remember some of the words?”
“As the earth and the skies bid each other, ‘goodnight’,” Theo began, nearly flinching when his tone was offkey. “We whisper our songs near the candlelight.”
“Like the flow of the water so soft, yet so strong,” Rui continued. “Remember the bond we’ve had for so long.”
He continued singing the song under his breath. Rui probably forgot the words, as he started muttering gibberish afterwards. It almost made him laugh. Almost, because his energy to feel light seemed to have left him and was the one sleeping comfortably on his bed.
“Well, we’re here.”
The three of them finally stopped in the clearing where the tunnel stood. He could barely recognize it at first. Despite the fact that there were three moons in the sky, the trees still managed to cover the sky completely. Even so, the tiny shreds of light that did manage to enter shone on the tunnel, shoving it even more in Theo’s face about what was going to happen.
This time, however, the gate was opened. Mei stood by the entrance with a cloak over her body. Below her were two bags resting on the grass, with a lit lantern next to them.
A scoff left her lips as she walked towards them. With a blink, she kicked Rui’s leg. Rui yelled out in pain before kneeling down and rubbed his now-stained white pants.
“Took you long enough!” she whisper-yelled. “Gods above, stop overreacting! That kick probably meant nothing to you.”
“What the--ow!” Rui stood up and hissed. “You’re- you’re as cold as always. Do you still keep knives in your boots or something?”
“Get over it, you oversized tincan.” She sighed and turned around, facing the gate in front of them. “I can’t believe you managed to steal the keys to the gate. I thought you prepared an underground tunnel or forced these two to climb the wall.”
“I thought of that, but…” A laugh left him as he spun his finger in the air. “It might make things longer than needed.” He turned around and knelt down to Korri’s height. Rui placed his hands around his neck before stretching one hand out. “Here, before I forget.”
Rui held a cord necklace in his hand. The black leather cord almost blended perfectly with the black spider pendant that not even light managed to give it any highlight. He wrapped it around Korri’s neck twice, before securing it in the middle.
“Take it as a parti--as a gift of some sort.” A smile curved on his face as he stood up. “That way, even if you forget me, a piece of me is still with you.”
Theo’s eyes widened, and he felt his heart shatter into a million pieces. He already figured out at least half of what was going on--that Father planned something that included him and Yuan, that this was Rui helping them escape, and that they needed to get away from the orphanage as far as possible.
But…
“What- what do you mean ‘forget you’?” He flinched when his voice cracked, and he swore tears were almost falling down his face. “Hold- hold on. Why- why is it just us? Kuya- Kuya Rui don’t you think that this is stupid? Why do we have to leave but you guys are staying? What’s- what’s going to happen to you guys here?”
“Misaki.” Mei crossed her arms and scoffed. “Just tell him. There’s no point in you hiding secrets from them. Just tell the truth without any lies.”
Rui shot her a glare, in which Mei returned with an even harsher glare. “Don’t worry, I’ll make it quick.”
He turned his gaze to him and sighed.
“Konrard wants to use you.”
Theo crossed his arms. “That I figured out.”
“He thinks either you or Yuan are the key to finding something he needs.” He paused as he flicked his eyes down. “But you’re not, and I’m sure of that. He’s wrong.”
“Kuya Rui--”
“So you have to leave.”
“Hold on--”
“Theo please.”
“Kuya Rui, let us talk, please!”
Theo jumped up as he turned to his sister. Korri placed a hand over her mouth as she shrunk down. It felt like the temperature around them rose, and the once cold air turned into a warm, maybe even hot one.
Korri grabbed her hood and covered her head, almost making her blend with the shadows. “P- Please… let us talk.”
A sigh left Rui’s lips as he nodded. “I’m- I’m sorry, Korri. What do you want to know?”
“Why do we have to leave if we’re not what Father needs?”
“Because he thinks you have what he wants. Even though you don’t, he’ll stop at nothing to get it.” He clenched his hand into a fist. “K- Konrard might look like he’s a nice guy, but he’s not. He’s a liar.”
Theo turned to the gate in front of them, then shifted his gaze to Rui again. “But… but do we have to leave everyone? If we’re leaving, then what happens to you? T- To everyone? Won’t Father track us down?”
“He- he might, but I’ll do my best to make sure he won’t. Theo.” Rui knelt down, this time on his knees. Theo felt a sweat drop on his forehead, and his heart nearly jumped at the sight.
In front of them, Rui Misaki was kneeling down.
“Please, you need to leave. You need to be safe.”
“How are you even sure that the world outside is safer than the orphanage?” Theo turned around, turning back when he realized he couldn’t see the house. “Korri and I have everything we want here. And- and we would be safe here. How are you so sure that the outside is safer than the orphanage?”
“Because it isn’t!”
Theo flinched back from Rui’s tone, and he had to resist the urge to let a tear drop down from his eye. Still, he held his breath and literally bit down his tongue, just in case a sob would dare break from his lips.
“You think this place is safe? Well it’s not! If I’m being honest, every child sent here is either sent to die or sent to a worst life! I watched all of them come and go, and I know what happened to all of them. I’m trying to save you here, Theodore. Please understand that!”
He took a deep and long breath before letting out an even longer sigh. Slowly, Rui sat up and removed the tie behind his hair, letting his bangs fall down from his face. He was silent for a while, with the only thing that Theo could hear was his sharp inhales.
“I just”--he sighed and lowered his head--“The world outside is also dangerous, but it’s safer than being stuck here. I’m tired of sending kids to their death. I want to do something. And I- and I know that I’m doing something with this. Please, kids. Just- just please.”
Theo lowered his head. If he was honest, he didn’t know what to do. He wasn’t sure what the world outside was like. Even if he read a lot of books, he still didn’t know what to expect. It didn’t help that the orphanage wasn’t on the map, either.
Still… was he going to do something just because Rui said so?
Would he really leave his home, his family, just because of something he eavesdropped on?
He clenched his hand into a fist and shut his eyes. No, he wasn’t going to cry. Crying wouldn’t solve anything, there was no need for him to waste tears and time. He was already doing so by not answering to Rui.
It seemed like Korri read his thoughts. “But I don’t wanna leave. I’m happy with everyone here.”
“I understand that. I’m happy with you kids too, but…” He shifted his eyes away. “I don’t think you’ll be happy for long.”
Theo gritted his teeth. This time, he didn’t stop the tears that dropped from his eyes. He hesitated, though he let out a single sob.
Why did it have to be a façade? Why did he have to listen to the entire conversation? Why didn’t he just leave when he heard Father’s voice, something that he shouldn’t have because of how the parlor walls work?
“I’ll… I’ll do it.” He wrapped his arms around himself and nodded. “I’ll- I’ll leave with Korri.”
Rui nodded back. “Follow me.”
He turned around and walked towards the tunnel. Theo should have used the chance to turn around and run away. Yet, he found himself grabbing his sister’s hand and leading her towards the tunnel.
The tunnel, as always, looked dark. Not even the lantern’s light was able to fully show how massive it was. It even surprised him that there was a tunnel when he could clearly tell that the walls were too thin for a tunnel that long.
“Here,” Mei said as she passed them their bags and helped Korri to her own. “I’m… I’m sorry that this has to happen.”
Theo shook his head. “I’m… I’m sorry, too.”
Rui lifted his lantern up as well. “Here’s what you two are going to do. Follow the tunnel until you reach the end and don’t look back. Because if you do, then you won’t be able to get out of here. Remember, once you’re inside do not look back.
“I think there’s a forest outside of there, so find a temporary place to stay for the night. I placed a map in your bag, and I know you’ll know your way out there. Theodore, hold the lantern.”
Theo grabbed the lantern and twisted the knob, making the fire even brighter. Now that he was in front of the tunnel, the want to go back was even stronger than before. He didn’t even know where he got the energy to stay in his place and not move.
He was really going to do it. He was really going to leave the place he once called home for eight to nine years. All the memories, all the good and bad times, and even the people he called family. He was going to abandon them all just so he could leave.
How pathetic of him that the only thing he could do was cry.
“K- Kuya Rui.” He held Rui’s cloak and sniffed his nose. “Please, don’t let us leave without you all! Come with us, let everyone come with us!”
Rui sighed. He lowered himself down to Theo’s height and looked down.
Then, he opened his arms and wrapped him and Korri for a hug.
The sobs that Theo held back finally broke out, and he buried his face in Rui’s hair. He clutched onto Rui’s shirt and prayed to the gods that it wouldn’t be the last time he would hold Rui like this. That they would still see each other again.
Next to him, his sister broke into a quieter sob. “Is it- is this really goodbye?”
Rui shook his head and pushed them both away. “It- it isn’t. We’ll see each other on the side again.”
Theo wiped his eyes and held his hand. “P- Promise?”
“Promise.” He placed his thumb on Theo’s face, wiping the tear that fell on his cheeks. “Take care of you both, alright? Don’t- don’t do anything stupid. The world outside is exactly how you think it is, so please be careful.”
Theo nodded. As Rui stood up and walked behind the tunnel, he turned to face the trees again. He couldn’t see it, but he knew that the house was there, waving goodbye at him. Maybe it was just him, but he could feel everyone, too. Almost like the others decided to wake up just so they could wave goodbye.
It was unfair. He didn’t want to leave them all just because of him. He didn’t want them to suffer the consequences of him leaving.
Korri waved her hand before holding on to Theo’s wrist. “S- See you, everyone.”
“Yeah.”
Theo finally turned away from the forest before turning to Rui and Mei. With a wave of his hand, he closed his eyes and turned around.
“See you.”
Comments (0)
See all