__________ POV Ashton__________
Pariston told me a bit more about their plan to rescue Beyond.
Apparently, the guy is guarded by 3 members of the Zodiacs at all times. Well, one of them happens to be their mole.
The guards are permanently inside Beyond's cell. I guess they changed places with a few trusted hunters during the meeting.
The plan is that the mole is going to attack the other two, their mole will hopefully take one of the guards out by surprise.
Golem and Marione will enter the room and keep the other busy.
Another team will rush the cells, ignore the fighting happening inside Beyond's cell and free him.
A simple plan, shouldn't really go all that wrong. Well, technically anyway.
There are quite a few ways this can go badly. For example, if they know about the mole. Kurapika should have a lie detection ability.
He should be able to spot out the mole with some interrogation. And I think Cheadle would've thought to question her allies first.
Somehow, I think this operation will be a bit bumpier than they first expected. Golem and Marione should be able to handle two zodiac members by themselves though.
I am sure they'll manage. But I'll wait in this meeting room of theirs. Just in case.
If the operation isn't going to go perfectly, they might get found and they would be forced to separate from the fake expedition faster.
Otherwise, they run the risk of getting caught. Even if they are individually stronger than the guards, they would still be overwhelmed if 300 of them started beating down the door.
So, I went to my room while the others were preparing for the rescue. I neatly packed whatever I still had left in there. (including the bed and some free towels)
Now. I could just go and wait for them in the meeting room. But it would be a bit rude to just vanish like this.
I think I will pay Momoze one last visit... Well, scratch that. I'll just write her a note and send it to her discreetly.
I don't think she'd appreciate a cordial visit after the fiasco that was our last talk.
Ok, I am not really great at writing formal letters. But I should at least try. Also, I've just realised how old fashioned this is, but I guess I am an old man...
Well, I will be a bit more honest in this letter. I hope she reads it eventually.
To be honest, I expect her to throw away the letter or tear it to pieces. But I will still give it my best.
It's quite amusing when I think about it... I was never a good friend to anyone. I was the recluse that needed a push to spend time with people that were important to me.
It was my way of coping with the fact that I would outlive everyone in my life.
Yet, here I am, putting effort into something for someone that likely hates me.
Why exactly I was lacking the insight to spend this effort on my friends when the time was right?
Well, I better stop lamenting my mistakes. I won't manage to get anything done if I get distracted so often...
But writing didn't take long. It was done just like that. A heartfelt letter. The type that would make Netero laugh at me. (maybe)
I walked towards her room, it's not like I have to hurry all that much. The rescue operation will likely take an hour or two.
Still, I made sure to remain invisible. Don't really want to be seen around these parts.
I simply entered her room and slid the letter under the door. There's no way for her bodyguards to notice me.
After that, I just left. No need to further complicate things.
And just like that, I ran out of things to do. I guess I will wait for them in the meeting room...
__________ POV Narration__________
Whilst Ashton was heading back to finish wasting his time, Momoze was still busy crying in self-pity and looking at the ceiling of her room.
She had thought she had gotten over how she had ruined her relationship with Ashton.
But, just as she was about to leave her room and start looking for him, she found a letter on the floor in front of it.
She opened it up cautiously, eyeing it up with a raised eyebrow. But then her eyes widened as she realised who the sender was.
She quickly started reading the letter.
'Dear Princess,
I am writing this letter to inform you of my departure from the Expedition. I am sure you are already aware that I was going to depart from the expedition upon reaching land.
It felt appropriate for me to inform you of it. There are many words that I can use to describe our last meeting, cordial is not one of them.
I didn't want to leave it off at that, I am well aware of the chances that you will just ignore this letter after realising it's from me. But I hope you can one day forgive me.
Please take care of yourself. I will always protect you, there's no need to worry about that. I made sure no one in Lake Mobius (or The Dark Continent) will be able to harm you.
I apologise for not being the man you thought me to be.
Kind regards,
Ashton, Your bodyguard.'
The letter was not long, it also wasn't short. But it made the girl even more regretful.
The last part felt like a dagger stabbing through her heart. She knew Ashton didn't blame her, but the knowledge that he blamed himself was even worse for her.
She was both flattered by the fact that he was still protecting her and saddened that he had not stopped by to at least hand the letter personally...
She understood that, at least from his perspective, she hated him. And that was painful to read. Calling their last interaction 'less than cordial' was being very generous.
She had said really bad things, things that she wished she could take back. Calling him a 'Shameless Murderer' and an 'Emotionless Monster' was not something she was proud of...
She wanted to speak to him and, worse than anything, she wanted to apologize to him.
But there was nothing she could do now. Nothing other than wiping her tears and going back to sit on her bed.
Staring at the walls in a daze. And re-reading the letter time and time again.
She wished she was a stronger person, that she could run out and look for Ashton herself...
But there she was, not even able to compose herself at the feeling of guilt.
Her regret would only grow as time passed by.
This letter gave Momoze two possible paths in life. Ashton had unknowingly written a letter that became a crossroad in her life.
She could drown in a spiral of neverending guilt and self-pity, one that would one day bring her inescapable doom.
Or, she could pick herself up. Become a stronger person, one that could walk on her own proudly, and search for the person she loved.
The choice was now in her hands.
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