Elliott: "Surprise!" He said, sounding overjoyed to be revealed.
Dusan: "E-Elliott? What are you doing..."
Elliott O'Neill, Class 3-A (Year 3, Class 1), was not a face you would remember if you just passed him in the hall. His average height and common short haircut made him blend in with those around him. However, if you took a closer look, you could see that his pale blue eyes held the passion of someone who was ready to be discovered.
Dawn: "You've got to be kidding me, right? Why are you in a raider cloak?" He took a step back, scanning Elliott.
Elliott: "Is it not obvious? I am a part of the raider group, Kowai." He said with a grin.
Rhys: "But why?" He said as he moved closer to Elliott.
Elliott: "So people would start seeing me, like all of you are right now!"
Dusan: "This guy is insane." He glared at Elliott.
Dawn: "Why are you here?" He changed the subject, beginning to get more serious.
Elliott: "Why do you think? To kill the Chief of course." There was a glimmer in his eyes as he said this.
Dusan: "You should ask questions quickly, Dawn. I'm losing my patience with him." Dusan said as he took a step away from Elliott.
Elliott: "Oh yes, get the information you need before Dusan kills me!" He started to laugh.
As Elliott was laughing, Rhys stepped closer to Elliott, picking him up by his shirt.
Rhys: "Where are the rest of you?" His face was inches away from Elliott's
Elliott: "You know I can't tell you-"
Before Elliott could finish his sentence, Rhys threw him to the ground. Rhys then took a step forward, planting his foot down on Elliott's chest.
Rhys: "Answer me."
Elliott looked up at Rhys, smiling at him.
Elliott: "Even if I told you, you are not going to be able to do anything against them. They outnumber you and have much more combat experience. They sent me because I'm weak. This job was not too important to the boss."
Rhys: "I don't care." He pushed down harder with his foot, Elliott clearly struggling to breathe.
Elliott: "T-The.." he grabbed Rhys' leg, trying to take it off.
Dawn: "Let him talk, Rhys."
Rhys then took his foot off of Elliott.
Margit looked at her brother, confused. Was this really her brother?
Rhys: "Talk. If not, I will kill you instead." His tone was something different from what any of the group had heard from him.
Elliott: "Monday morning at eight-o-clock, Kowai will be at the supply port. If you truly wish to find them, go there." He smirked at Rhys. "Not like you can win if you try to fight them."
Rhys then nodded before he turned around, walking away.
Rhys: "Dusan."
Dawn followed Rhys, giving Dusan a nod. As he walked, he motioned the others to follow.
Elliott: "You are all hopeless against them! I hope you know I am trying to warn you!" He started laughing hysterically, knowing this was his end.
Dusan approached Elliott, looking him directly in the face. While Elliott was laughing, Dusan lowered his eyebrows as they pulled close together. He thrusted Elliott's dagger straight through his heart before turning around to follow the others.
Dusan, the Golden Boy, had become a killer.
Late Afternoon: Kauko estate courtyard
The group had now gathered outside of the large house to regroup. All of them were clearly affected by the events that took place inside. Margit could not look her brother in the eyes. Elias was clearly frustrated. Warin looked as if he was going to faint. Rhys was not trying to hide his anger at all. Dawn was looking around at his friends as if he was trying to think of something to say, and Dusan who had just joined them, looked as if he was ready to kill the rest of Kowai all by himself.
Dusan: "Don't worry about things inside. Nobody is going to enter."
Rhys: "We are going to the supply port. Margit, you are staying home as well as Elias." He blurted out.
Elias: "What the hell are you talking about?" He walked up to Rhys, clearly pissed off by what Rhys said.
Margit stood close to Dawn, looking at her feet. Dawn noticed she had chosen to stand next to him for comfort, leading him to continue standing with her.
Rhys: "You heard what I said, you are not going. It will be too dangerous."
Elias: "I can fight though! I'm not helpless, and without me you'll only be at a greater disadvantage!" He protested.
Warin: "Elias." He said as he stood next to both Rhys and Elias. "He is looking out for you, and I agree with him. Since you are the youngest one here, I think it is best if you stay at home."
Elias: "And get the news that all of you die when I could have been there helping?! You must be crazy!" He exclaimed.
Margit: "Don't say that." She said in a low voice.
Rhys: "Better us die than you, Elias."
Dusan: "I agree. We have had more time in life than you, granted it isn't much, but still."
Elias: "I have to help! You don't understand.." His voice started to choke up.
Rhys: "I get it, you think they are the reason that your parents are dead, but if we end up dying then you will only have more time to get stronger." He retorted.
Margit: "JUST SHUT UP!" She shouted at the four.
All of them now directed their gaze to Margit, who was now crying.
Margit: "Nobody is going to die! And I am sure as hell not sitting at home while all of you risk your lives, fighting against the people who killed not one, not two, but THREE of your families!"
Rhys: "Margit.."
Margit: "No, Rhys. I am going."
Dawn: "Listen up." He raised his voice to get everyone's attention. "Go home tonight and spend your time however it needs to be spent. On Monday morning, eight-o-clock, we will intercept Kowai at the supply port. Whoever shows up will fight, end of story. There is no use in arguing." His white hair picking up in the slight breeze. "We are going to survive, and we are going to rid the city of Kowai, just like we planned, Rhys." He smiled, a real smile.
Margit looked up at Dawn, her vision distorted by tears.
Rhys: "Yeah... exactly like we planned." His tone came back to his usual optimistic tone as a smile came across his face.
Elias looked at Dawn as if he had gained a new found respect for him.
Warin: "We will survive." He smiled back at Dawn.
Dusan: "Well, there you have it." The group now looked at him. "Let us all meet by the river, Monday at seven. The port is a good thirty minute walk, and we will need to scope it out before Kowai gets there."
Dawn: "Sounds like it has been decided. See you all on Monday." He spoke like a leader for the first time in his life.
The group began to disperse, and Dawn walked back with Rhys and Margit.
Lower Third: Sharpe Residence
After Margit walked inside, Dawn and Rhys stood outside.
Rhys: "Looks like Monday is our time to shine, huh?" He chuckled.
Dawn: "Think of it as our tryout." He chuckled back.
Rhys: "About that exam, I guess it doesn't matter anymore.."
Dawn: "Not in the slightest. On Monday, we will fight for real. Maybe the defense force will see it and recruit us on the spot. No test scores, no nothing. Just our pure talent."
With that, Dawn and Rhys parted for the day. Dawn now walked back to the Cusnir residence, preparing to see them for the last time before his life would change forever, for the second time.