When the Safe Castle Falls, part II.

The castles we build are based on safety. some based on control. most likely based on our understanding of what a home is. and there would be some twisted minds that build their castles out of chaos or destruction. there are castles so strong is impossible to see them fall and castles so fragile you can't imagine how long they can last. and even so under the strangest of situations the big castles fall under the touch of a leaf. and some fragile castles can tolerate the harshest of winter storms as if it was nothing.

and when a castle falls.

a castle falls. and there is nothing can do about it.

Anton is completely on the nude observing the beauty of the darkness as he stares at the outside through a delicate glass window. someone knocks on the door. Anton dresses up in the question of seconds without breaking a sweat. he asks them to open the door.

Albert opens the door. he is well dressed wearing a butler's uniform with golden details. he combs his silver hair back. Albert asks if he is ready. Anton nods silently. the two men walk out of the room as they walk in the corridor. Albert asks if he is not going to carry a suitcase or any single useful object with him. 

"Nothing is worth saving more than lives. so, I can ignore all the objects in here. because what I am taking with me is your safety, and the safety of everyone here." answered Anton.

the hotel starts to tremble. Olga and Catherynne come out carrying suitcases. Anton tells them to run to the first floor. he walks around every room making sure no one stays behind. Anton starts to tremble and then he stares at the space that used to be the entrance to Jessica's room. a space that now is completely empty.

"Everyone else is already at the first floor." screams Beth full of hope.

Anton turns around with a smile. he thanks her. the two of them walk towards the stairs. a sinister voice gets their attention. they turn around to see August who winks at them. Mayor Fisherman has nothing to say. there was only a dreadful smile. Anton trembles as he knows the mayor is saying his goodbyes with a warning. the question is what is the warning? who among them is in danger? something feels so wrong.

the two of them keep going downstairs. they run as fast as they can. the hotel trembles violently as parts of it start to fall apart. Anton is sweating. he finally gets to the first floor. Anton is in front of everyone as he does a head count. there are two people missing. Marcelo is nowhere to be found. Olga isn't there either. Anton asks them to leave the place at once. he is going to search for them and won't leave until he finds them. 

"Stop right there. you can't sink with the ship. they need you. you are not just a leader. you are the emotional glue keeping us sane and together. go with them. I will stay behind searching for my lady, and the troublesome writer." said Albert as he fixes his collar.

"Are you sure about this?" asks Anton feeling incompetent, useless.

"I am an old school man. I won't allow another man to save my lady. and they need you. we are old. we can take care of our own selves. we are no kids. go Mr. shepherd. and I hope God has mercy on your tormented soul." said Albert forcing a smile.

Anton Borisov, Caroline Potts, Ingrid Berg, Antonio Bianchi, Beth Whose-last-name-I-had-forgotten, and Catherynne. they all leave without looking back. they had a responsibility towards themselves and their loved ones to stay alive.

Albert only stayed behind because he has no future, no present. there is no life for a man with so much blood on his hands. there is not tomorrow for a man who gave up on his humanity in the road of infamy he chose to take on his early days.

"What is a rusty kitchen knife like me doing here? if this is purgatory, then they made the wrong call. because I clearly belong somewhere else. I am part of the collection of infamy. a collection card alongside Capone or Stalin perhaps. I am that kind of evil." whispers Albert to himself as he walks around the falling castle.

there are parts of the hotel falling. there are parts in flames. there are parts new and old denying the existence of safety. Albert walks around without fear. there is no doubt. there is nothing to question beyond those walls. finding Olga is the only concern.

what nobody knew is that Olga is stuck in the library. she was about to leave when she heard the voice of Marcelo calling her a killer. she followed the voice trying to silence the source of the truth she has kept hidden. and the voice took her right inside of the library. the library was closed by Mayor Fisherman himself.

"Is this some sort of trap or game? let me out at once." Olga demands.

"No. you foolish parrot. you should not kill in the safe zone. there lies my one and true rule. and you had broken the rule. you took a life. then the safe zone will take yours as your punishment. I hope you find thy tomb of thy liking." condemned her a vengeful voice.

the library started to fall apart. there was nowhere to run. and eventually Olga lost her life with no escape buried alive by heavy books and parts of the ceiling. the screams of her agony were not enough to bring forth her salvation. she had condemned her own soul. and even in the agony of her final hours there was no remorse.

under the heavy rain of a rageful sky bathed in darkness. an old man stands alive on the ruins of the castle that once was his safety. a place that once demonstrated false hope for salvation to a soul unworthy of redemption.

Albert cries overwhelmed by rage. it is obvious that the two people he tried to find are no longer among the living. it is clear that the maiden who stole his heart is gone. Albert cries with such rage that his tears become tears of blood.