Elodie's POV
A single word, that's all it took for our entire group to turn and look towards her. Watching in horror as the intruder drove the blade into her from behind.
"NO!" I screamed, running towards her and firing my crossbow. Rendering the intruder helpless but caring so little to make sure.
I collapsed down next to Cara, everyone gathering around us.
"Is anyone a medic?!" I yelled; panic laced in my voice as Cara's eyes started to flutter shut.
Kieran crumpled down next to us too, holding one of Cara's hands in his own.
"Please, anyone!" We both shouted, knowing full well that there were no hospitals anymore, no medics or ambulances. We had to hope somebody in first aid had ended up here.
Finally, a small voice spoke up.
"I do." They whispered.
It was a girl, around 5'2 with short black hair just up to her shoulders. She had ocean-blue eyes and was wearing just a small amount of winged eyeliner that highlighted her face.
She was from the other side. But honestly, I didn't care.
"Please help her." I whispered, tears filling my eyes, holding one of Cara's hands and the other had found itself to Kieran.
The girl nodded and rushed over, pulling off her jacket and tying it tightly around the wound in Cara's shoulder.
"You need to help me pick her up. I think I know how to help but we have to be quick."
***
I've always loved rain. The pitter-patters on the roof at night when you're sleeping and watching it dance on the street like little fairies. It filled the void of silence we're surrounded with when we're alone. But I had no such thing the night Cara's life was on the line, I'd never seen weather so clear.
I didn't like the silence.
Because, truly, the world is never really that silent. It speaks constantly, the people occupying it simply add another layer. We are the accompaniment to the earth's melody.
But our accompaniment is corrupted in comparison to the earth's beautiful melody. It started deteriorating the minute we arrived until our harmonies overpowered it and only our angry, violent song could be heard.
I was pulled out of my thoughts with a tap on my shoulder.
"Hi, Elodie right? Are you the sort of, leader of the group?"
I hesitated for a second but composed myself.
"Yes."
She took a deep breath before smiling. "Cara is going to be okay. I managed to patch up the wound and stop any blood loss she was having. She's going to be okay."
I let out a sigh of relief, curling a piece of the shirt I was wearing in my hand.
"Who are you?" I whispered, crossing my arms over themselves defensively, "you're from Aretti, correct?"
She nodded and avoided eye contact. "I'm Arya. And yes, I'm not technically on your side. But I don't want to live in that kind of nation anymore, I was simply useful to them."
"Arya…?"
"Arya Moretti." She sighed.
Her eyes stayed on mine as my jaw dropped and I threw a hand over my mouth. "Like, royalty Arya Moretti? What the hell are you doing in a refugee camp in the countryside?"
She laughed. "You don't think the people in charge exclude their own daughter from their anarchy? They had me tied up against a wall with a knife against my neck, it was just my luck one of the servants snuck out with a knife and struck one of them down. I've been running since."
"Your parents are Beatrice and Axel Moretti?"
She nodded again, grimacing. "My mother is the one who's been sending orders out on you, actually. How do you think I knew your name? You're quite well known in the kingdom. You're the first one that fought back against one of them."
At this point I was in a state of complete shock. I didn't trust the princess, but part of me felt like she was less of a princess and more of a survivor. She might be useful in the future to take down the people in charge of destroying mine and my friend's lives.
"I thought it was some kind of police after me, some form of government."
"We haven't had government in three years, Elodie. Not after the rebellion in 2022 where everyone lost their sanity. They killed my brother in one of the riots and any presidency that remained crumbled to the ground. My parents took power like kings and queens used to do and vowed to destroy anyone that fought back against the hierarchy system. Just like my brother fought back against his murderers."
She paused and made eye contact with me, smiling slightly.
"They told me I had to go. My eyes looked too similar to his."
My heart panged at that thought and all of a sudden, I had the urge to hug her, so I did.
"I'm really sorry, Arya." I spoke. "Listen, you're fully welcome to join us in the fight. We'd be happy to have you."
She grinned at that. "I'd like that."
We walked out of the side room together, talking about everything and nothing at the same time. Making our way back into the main room where my best friends in the entire world were.
"Guys, I have someone I'd like to join us. This is-"
Suddenly a voice spoke up and I watched all the colour drain from their face.
"Arya?" Kieran whispered.