Allan came home that night disappointed and almost unable to sleep. Unlike him, Gary was less worried. For him, he had done the right thing by selling out his childhood friend. Catharina had threatened to have his blind father killed if he disobeys her order. It was something he couldn't back down from, given the fact that he lost his mother when he was twelve years old. The absence of his mother played out on him over years. Therefore, losing his father to the Witch Queen is like doubling his sorrows. He had thought about it for a long before agreeing to betray his friend, Olivia.
All of a sudden Allan jumped up from his bed after battling sleeplessness the previous night. He has waiting for this moment. He had wished morning would come so quickly. He skipped breakfast just to catch up with Gary. Garry was having breakfast with his blind father in the dining room when he arrived.
"Allan, so good to see you!" Exclaimed Garry upon seeing his best friend arrive. "What brings you here this early morning, permit me for asking that question."
"There is no problem at all," he forced a smile across his face as he replied to Gary.
"Allan, is that you? You are here?" Gary's father asked. He seemed a bit surprised to have his son's best friend around, at that time of the day.
"Yes, Mr Rosenberg. I'm the one. Good morning and how was your night?" Said, Allan.
"I tell you what son, my night as good too," he forced a smile on his face. "You came at the right time, would you mind joining us for breakfast?"
"Yes, Allan. Come on join us, there is plenty to eat," Gary motioned to Allan with his right hand, showing him an empty chair to sit near them.
"Thank you so much," Allan wasted no time in going over to the dining table. He sat and ate with them.
When breakfast was over, he did take a walk with Gary in the garden. The walk flicks stones at some colorful birds seeking nectar from beautiful flowers of short trees in the garden.
"So, what brings you here this early morning? I believe you are up to something this time?" Began Garry. The worrying look on Allan's face made it obvious to him that all was not well.
"I assume you already know why I'm here?" Allan looked up at him as he spoke.
"No, I have no idea why you are here but, I know it's not good news. So, if you wouldn't mind spill them out."
Allan went dumb for a few seconds before finally breaking his silence. "Can I ask you something?"
Garry seemed interested in whatever his friend had to tell him. "Yes, Allan. Go ahead and tell me anything you have in mind."
"How have you been feeling ever since we sold out our childhood friend, Olivia to the wolves?" His question came swiftly.
"How do I feel?" Garry repeated Allan's words as if he was trying to process what his friend had said. "What a stupid question you asked me! How do you expect me to feel? Where are you driving to?"
"Very well Garry. I want to ask you something, don't to you feel remorseful over our actions? Do you know the evil we have done? This is our childhood friend for goodness sake! I regret agreeing to do that. I shouldn't have done it."
"You never cease to amaze me, Allan. Do you seem to have forgotten the consequences of not complying with Catharina? You and I know no one will save us from her, not even the king of this land; by the way who is also under her control. Think about that Allan and you will see you have nothing to regret. And oh, by the way, would you rather choose the life of your best friend instead of your parents? We both have one-half of our parents left--you and your mother and me; my father. Do you want us to lose all in the name of saving our best friend? Lest I forget, you have also ignored the fact that Catharina will murder us and our remaining parents, and still go ahead with her plans?"
"Stop! Stop Garry!" Allan shouted in rebuke. "What nonsense are you talking about? Your words are irritating to my ear. I hate every word you have said. No matter the excuses you may put forth to justify our actions, we are wrong and that's the bottom line. Let me ask you, have you no heart? Have you no compassion? Have you no regrets? As far as I'm concerned, I have committed a terrible crime against Olivia. There is nothing I will do about this but live with this regret for the rest of my life."
"Fear not Allan," he placed his right hand on Allan's shoulders as he spoke. "I'm sure the wolves will nothing to harm her. I'm confident, she will be released in a few days. She will probably come back and then, we can apologize to her. She will forgive us and our lives will go on," even as he spoke, he knew what he had said was not feasible. However, he needed to assure his friend not to be worried.
"You have no idea the trouble we have caused. you know nothing about safety. There is no coming back, Garry. Olivia Will be sacrificed to the moon goddess of the wolves. That's her final destination before she meets her sudden death. This is the point of events where we have found ourselves, all because of our wickedness."
"Remember dear friend, we didn't set the conditions ourselves? We were held at knife-point, either we cooperate or we lose the most important things in our lives."
"Olivia was one of them!" Allan countered. His eyes were beginning to flood with tears. It was only a matter before he pour them out, Garry could see the level of torment he was passing through. "Olivia was one of the most important persons in my life. I don't care what you may think of her but, this is how I feel about her."
Garry had no idea of what his friend will suggest they do to make up for the so-called terrible sin against Olivia. "Now, what are you suggesting we should do then? I have no idea of what you want from me regarding this problem?"
"We should rescue her!" Allan's tears, at last, dropped to the ground continuously. "We should rescue before it becomes too late!"
Appearing puzzled Garry replied, "and how do you plan on doing that?"