Lucas stood in the kitchen of their cottage, methodically slicing a carrot into tiny pieces. His movements were precise, and the soft sunlight streaming through the window bathed the kitchen in a golden warmth, creating a peaceful atmosphere.
Thalia sat quietly at the table; her gaze fixed on Lucas as he prepared soup for them.
Eric walked in; his face etched with fatigue. He dropped into a chair beside Thalia with a weary sigh. "Aren't you supposed to be in school?" he asked, looking at Thalia.
Thalia gave a dismissive scoff, her eyes never leaving Lucas. "With Emily in the Castle, maybe school isn't our top priority right now."
Eric frowned, sensing her tension. "The letter says she's being treated well. She seems to be okay."
Lucas, still focused on his task, added as he poured the chopped vegetables into the pot, "She seems important to Trevon, so he'll probably take good care of her."
Eric, trying to shift the mood, asked, "Since when did you start cooking?"
Lucas closed the pot and turned to them with a smile. "I picked up a few things from Emily," he said, his tone light and warm.
"I hope it tastes, just like Emily's cooking," Eric remarked, abruptly standing up and moving towards the pot.
As Eric approached, he noticed a letter lying on the table. His brow furrowed in confusion as he reached for it. "Did Emily send another letter?" he asked, picking it up.
Lucas's eyes widened in alarm at Eric's question. He quickly snatched the letter from Eric's hand, his face turning red. Thalia and Eric exchanged puzzled glances, watching Lucas's reaction.
"Huh?" Thalia asked, her tone curious.
"Sorry," Lucas stammered, avoiding eye contact. "T-This isn't from Emily. I wrote a letter to send to her," he explained, his voice faltering.
Eric blinked at Lucas's comments, a teasing smile curling at his lips. "Aw," Thalia remarked, her expression softening.
"I don't think this is the right time to be confessing your feelings, though," Eric said, his tone playful.
"I-I'm not confessing," Lucas stammered, his gaze shifting away from Eric.
Just as Eric was about to respond with a teasing remark, a knock echoed from the door.
"Oh, I should get that," Lucas said, his voice betraying an unexpected excitement.
'Nice timing,' Lucas thought, relieved by the distraction. He quickly moved towards the door, eager to avoid revealing the letter's contents.
Lucas opened the door gently, revealing Sarah standing there with a letter in her hand.
"Good day, Lucas," Sarah greeted with a warm smile. "I have another letter from Emily."
Sarah handed the letter to Lucas eagerly and prepared to turn back towards the wagon parked in front of the cottage.
"Wait, I have something for Emily," Lucas said, his voice carrying a hint of urgency.
Sarah paused, glancing back at him. "I'm not sure if I'm supposed to take anything else," she said, her voice tinged with nervousness.
"Please," Lucas pleaded, his tone earnest. "I want to send a letter and a gift to her."
Sarah's resolve softened at his request. "Okay, give it to me," she agreed, her voice gentle.
Lucas's smile widened with relief. He handed her the letter and hurried up the stairs to fetch the gift, eager to ensure his gesture reached Emily.
✨🌙✨
Lucas entered the kitchen, holding the letter in his hand. As he stepped inside, he noticed Eric and Thalia already seated at the table, enjoying the soup he had prepared.
"Another letter from Emily," Lucas announced, taking a seat with them at the table.
"Great! Read it," Eric said eagerly, leaning forward in anticipation.
Lucas carefully opened the letter, his eyes scanning the contents. As he read, his brows knitted together in concern.
"What's that look?" Thalia asked, her voice tinged with worry. "Is she hurt?"
"No, she's fine... I think," Lucas replied, his voice uncertain. "But she says she knows their next plan and that we should start looking for an escape route off these islands."
"She knows their plan?" Eric repeated, a grin spreading across his face. "Did she say what it is?"
"No," Lucas replied, his tone more serious. "The letter is short, almost like she was in a rush to send it. Something feels off."
His eyes narrowed as he folded the letter, deep in thought. The urgency in Emily's words hung heavy in the air.
"Okay... An escape route," Eric mused. "That's not going to be easy."
"The only way off these islands is by ship, and the docks are heavily guarded," Lucas said, recalling how they had arrived.
"Guards are everywhere—in the market stalls, on the streets, and especially at the dock," Eric added, concern evident in his voice. "How are we going to slip past them?"
Thalia suddenly gasped as an idea struck her, drawing the attention of both men.
"What is it?" Eric asked, his curiosity piqued.
"I have a friend at school who grew up with guards," Thalia explained, recalling her friend Alice's background. "She might know the guards' patrol routes and routines."
"I doubt she'll know everything," Lucas replied, considering the possibility. "But she could be useful."
"You'll need to get close to the guard or find a way into her house," Lucas suggested his voice firm. "If it requires you to steal from them, then do it."
"Which means you have to go to school tomorrow," Eric added, his tone leaving little room for argument.
Thalia hesitated, then voiced her concern. "Is it really smart to try and steal or gather information from them this early? What if we get caught?"
"We don't have to act immediately," Lucas reassured her. "We'll wait for another letter from Emily. But in the meantime, we need to gather as much information as we can. At least knowing how the guards do their patrols will give us a better chance."
Thalia nodded, understanding the necessity. "Okay. I get it. I'll do what I can."
✨🌙✨
Thalia sat down by a tree, watching the students around her as they chatted and laughed. She spotted Alice and Ivor, waving to get their attention.
"Hello," Alice greeted, taking a seat in front of Thalia. "You didn't come to school yesterday?" she asked, concern evident in her voice.
"I wasn't feeling too well," Thalia replied, forcing a smile to mask the lie.
"You seem fine to me," Ivor said, leaning casually against the tree.
"Aren't you usually in trouble or something?" Thalia remarked, her tone laced with irritation.
"Hm," Ivor hummed nonchalantly before his eyes widened in sudden realization. "Oh, crap! I'm supposed to be in Mrs. Lawson's office!" he exclaimed, quickly dashing away from them.
Alice chuckled as she watched Ivor sprinting toward the school building in a panic. "Oh, Ivor," Alice muttered with a smile.
Thalia rolled her eyes at the sight of Ivor running off, a small part of her relieved that he was gone, knowing it would be easier to gather information from Alice now.
"It's not like you to snap at Ivor," Alice said, surprised, though a small smile played on her lips.
"I guess Ivor's just good at annoying everyone," Thalia replied with a shrug, her mind preoccupied with how to steer the conversation in the right direction.
Alice noticed Thalia's serious expression, her gaze avoiding direct eye contact. "Thalia? Are you—"
"I remember you saying you were raised by guards?" Thalia blurted out, her words coming out faster than she intended.
Thalia could feel the tension rising as Alice's expression shifted from casual to concerned. Alice chuckled awkwardly at first but quickly became more serious.
"Yes, I am," Alice replied, still smiling, though there was a hint of unease in her voice.
"You still live with them?" Thalia pressed on, trying to keep her tone light, though she could feel her own nerves fraying.
"I do," Alice said, her surprise evident. "They are my only family."
Thalia nodded, forcing herself to maintain eye contact. "You must follow them during their guard duties, right? Being like their daughter and all."
Alice's brows furrowed as she stared at Thalia, her concern deepening. "What's with the questions, Thalia? You don't seem like yourself."
Thalia took a deep breath, trying to steady her voice. "Sorry, Alice. I was just curious. I'm interested in guard duties and how it works in this kind of Islands.."
Alice's suspicion didn't fully dissipate, but she seemed to soften a bit. "Well, I suppose it's not unusual to be curious. Yes, I do accompany them sometimes."
Thalia leaned in slightly, trying to appear casual. "Do you know their patrol schedules or if there are any areas where they're less strict?"
Alice's eyes widened in surprise. "Why do you need to know that? Is something happening that I should be aware of?"
Thalia hesitated, her mind racing for a convincing answer. "I'm interested in how security works in different areas of the Islands," she said, trying to sound casual.
Alice's eyes narrowed, her skepticism evident. "Alright. I'm not fully aware of their schedules, but I can find out."
Thalia's curiosity piqued. "How will you do that?"
"Simple," Alice replied, her tone serious. "I'll check the security towers. But I need one thing from you."
Thalia stiffened at the shift in Alice's demeanor, feeling the weight of the moment. "What do you need?"
Alice leaned in slightly, her gaze intense. "I need to know what you're planning and why. If you're not honest with me, I won't hesitate to report it."
The gravity of Alice's words made Thalia's heart race. She took a deep breath, trying to keep her voice steady. "It's important for understanding security measures across the Islands."
Alice's eyes remained sharp, searching Thalia's face for any sign of deception. "If you're hiding something, I will report it."
Thalia, feeling the pressure, met Alice's gaze with her own, her tone tinged with annoyance. "Why are you so scared? The island is safe and great, isn't it? Nothing bad can happen here—just sunshine and rainbows," she added with a wide, forced smile.
Alice sighed, standing up with a mix of frustration and resignation. "Whatever. My guidance is in charge of the docks here. They oversee the cargo goods and new arrivals, checking everything thoroughly. At night, they patrol for any unwanted guests, since we're essentially outcasts."
Thalia's forced smile faded, replaced by a more genuine look of gratitude. "Thank you, Alice. I really appreciate your help."
Alice's expression shifted to one of sadness and resignation. "I know you're hiding something," she said, her voice flat. "You seem on edge. I guess we're not close enough for you to tell me the truth. Just using me for information, are you?"
Before Thalia could respond, Alice turned and walked away, leaving Thalia in stunned silence. The sting of Alice's words lingered, and Thalia was left grappling with a mix of guilt and frustration.