Traitor

V.

Erin ran from Thaddeus’ study back to her room. She hurriedly grabbed a cloak and long gloves, fastening her crystal holder and ensuring that her crystal was safe inside. She also pulled a long dagger from her drawer, more as a precaution than with the intent to use it, as she doubted she could ever bring herself to cause physical harm to another. She looked at the dagger and placed it in the sheath sewn inside her boot. Double-checking her readiness, she prepared to leave, in pursuit of Roxanne as she remembered the special light rocks she had for emergencies.  She retrieved them, planning on leaving a trail, so that if something were to happen to her, she would at least have led any well intended searchers in the right direction. Erin left, fully prepared to find and rescue Roxanne from whatever ill had or may soon befall her.

The rain continued to pour, a heavy drizzle. Erin left the Lighthouse through a private entrance known only to the Keepers, determined, dropping light rocks periodically and at any turns she took. She wandered, soaked and increasingly hopeless. There was no sign of Roxanne anywhere.

“Where could she be? Where would she go?” Erin mulled over the questions more or less silently, suddenly realizing that Roxanne would likely start from the square since that was where she thought she saw Patrick.

Erin rushed to the square, coming upon debris, shattered glass and scattered crystals strewn across it. She began to slowly look around her for signs of Roxanne or shadows and alleyways. Off to her right, she noticed a long, twisting alleyway that seemed promising. Heading that way, she dropped a rock and started down the alley. As she turned the corner and left sight, a gloved hand reached out and placed the rock into a pouch filled with the other crystals that Erin had been using to mark her path. The hand then arranged the crystals into a familiar shape- the mark of the Glare, leaving the square marked as territory now belonging to the Glare and none else, while serving as a monument to their involvement in the destruction. The gloved figure left, satisfied with his labor and the impending results, disappearing casually into the mist.

Erin continued her winding trail through the alley, plunging deeper and darker, farther and farther from the light. Beginning to be flustered and doubt the wisdom of her choice, Erin pulled out her crystal, holding it in her hand and pointing it forward, waiting for the glow to emanate and light her path, one footstep at a time. She pushed her way through the alley, eventually hearing something. Feet pounding and suddenly nothing. Up ahead the alley ended and the rain in the streetlamp’s beam was visible.

“At last, something. I best not be too cavalier- it may be someone I have no wish to see.”

Erin replaced her crystal in its holder and continued her march forward. Suddenly lightning struck and the outline of a tall, thin figure was clearly visible, standing at the end of the alleyway. And against the wall, a figure in a deep green cloak with red hair, turned to face the other.

“Roxanne,” Erin whispered, “it must be. Is that him?” Erin crept closer, in shadow, pulling her knife from her boot, prepared to use it at a moments notice. Thunder and lightning continued drowning the conversation, leaving Erin in the dark. Suddenly, lightning flashed from behind Erin, her eyes locking with the one eye of the tall dark figure. Without hesitation, he whipped something from within his coat and it flew towards Erin, glinting in the lamplight as it spun, hitting Erin in the stomach, causing her to scream in pain, and drop the knife, which clattered, before collapsing herself on the ground.

Roxanne turned, saw Erin crumple, and rushed to her side.

“Erin, why’d you come?”

“I couldn’t leave you.”

“Nevermind. Are you all right? This is all my fault, I can’t let anyone else get hurt because of me.”

Roxanne turns to look at The Glare, who is looking on unfeeling.

“She did nothing. You didn’t need to.”

“Living in the Lighthouse perpetuates the broken system. Her participation and association with the Keepers is guilt enough.”

“But Patrick…”

“Patrick died from blindness. He died a martyr to the cause of the Keepers, but in death gave birth to a revolution. The Light cannot be darkened, dear Roxanne. Join with me and we shall shower light across the land. The Glare is strong and only growing stronger. You belong with us. Finish the work of our father. The Lighthouse killed him and yet they have your loyalty.”

“My father betrayed me. Betrayed us, Patrick.”

“He fought for the Light, Roxanne. That was all he wanted. That’s all the League and The Glare want, to protect the Light in the best way we know how, giving it to all. The traitor here is you. Your misplaced loyalty in a broken system that you call home, yet rips families apart and shrouds unpleasantries in darkness, that is treachery.” Disgust filled The Glare’s voice as it came from his cold, hardened face.

“I’m no traitor. The Lighthouse is all I know and Tiesa is my home. I can’t turn my back on them, I’d lose myself in the darkness. Come back with me and Erin- oh, Erin.”

Erin moaned, clutching her stomach, blood soaking through and pouring over her fingers.

“No, Roxanne. I could never go back, not with the things I’ve seen, what I know. The Lighthouse hid too much, I thought you would see through their lies and continue your father’s legacy, but you’re as blind as the rest. Farewell, Roxanne.” The Glare turned, leaving Roxanne clutching Erin’s bleeding body.

“Patrick! They want what’s best for us all. The dirt and grime of Tiesa only drives people away, what good comes from seeing it? There is only chaos. People don’t know where to turn, it’s better to leave it in darkness, unseen.” Roxanne cried out, in desperation.

The Glare turned, “Peace needs opposition, Roxanne. Mingling light and dark, both necessary for harmony. Let the Light shine, bringing out the darkness.”   With that The Glare vanished into the misty, rainy night.

Roxanne looked down at Erin, where she was lying across her lap.

“We need to get you out of here. Can you walk?”

Erin weakly nodded, and Roxanne positioned herself to put Erin’s arm around her shoulder, so that they could walk supporting each other.

“He was right.” Erin said in a ghostly voice.

“What?” cried Roxanne in disbelief, “How can you say that?”

“He’s dead.”

Roxanne was silenced by Erin’s ghostly announcement, feeling the truth of it, but not wanting to accept it. She still hoped that a piece of the Patrick she knew was somewhere inside the cold, seemingly heartless husk known as The Glare.

“But he came to see me, so there must be something left of the old Patrick, right?”

Erin shrugged, too weak to engage in the conversation that Roxanne’s comment necessitated.

“Maybe not, maybe that part died when I refused to leave the Lighthouse. Maybe he’s more of a monster because of me?”

“No. Not. Your. Fault.” Erin gasped each word with significant space in between, needing to catch her breath.

“No more talking. We just need to get you home.”

Roxanne and Erin continued to trudge their way back to the Lighthouse, with Roxanne occasionally offering words of encouragement to Erin, not letting her stop, afraid that she wouldn’t be able to start again.

The pounding of footsteps echoed towards where Roxanne and Erin were working to reach the Lighthouse. Roxanne, stopped, petrified that The Glare would have returned to take his vengeance, showing her the power that he had and that she refused.

“Quick over here, against the wall.” Roxanne whispered as she and Erin worked their way over to the wall, hoping that there might be the slimmest chance that The Glare would pass by not noticing them. The footsteps grew closer and Roxanne’s heart began to race, she reached to find her crystal, her hand resting on it, ready to brandish it in her and Erin’s defense. The footsteps rounded the corner and Roxanne held her breath. As they came in sight, shouts rang out, “We’ve found them. Over here! Over here!”

The men rushed Roxanne and Erin, who both breathed a tremendous sigh of relief, safe in the company of Lighthouse guards. The men quickly noticed Erin’s injury and created a chair from their arms for her to use as they rushed her to the Lighthouse infirmary. The others escorted Roxanne back as quickly as possible.

They reached the Lighthouse and Roxanne was brought to the Chamber, where a council meeting was occurring.

“Welcome, Roxanne. We were worried for you, but we’ll discuss that later. Sit, please.” Bartholomew directed, not in a domineering way, but almost as a father would instruct his child.

“Today was a dark day. In the ten years since the Day of Resolution, we have not seen an attack so organized or directed. This group of traitors, corruptors, must be stopped. We cannot see our work destroyed. Their leaders must be found and brought to justice. A band like this will collapse with the death of the leadership, they have no fuel, only sparks.”

“Sir, if I may, I suggest a diplomatic alternative prior to the blind violence of justice. If we can reason with them, perhaps we can grow stronger and understand their hate. I’ve long thought that we need to open up discourse with the League…”

“Thaddeus, that’s enough. The League is a group of traitors. I have no doubt that these terrorists are connected to the League. Where else would hatred against the Lighthouse be bred?”

At this moment, Roxanne looked up, drawn from her introspection, and said quietly, “Within her walls.”