Chapter 20

Michael shifted on his feet.

Before him loomed a great wall.

A small opening in the wall was the only entrance to the city.

Michael took a breath. He looked at the group that he was assigned to. They were all looking up at the wall as well.

Michael felt a drop of sweat go down his back.

Julius stepped forward first.

One of the guard members came out to speak with him. Michael couldn’t hear what they were saying.

A few moments later, Julius signaled for the rest to follow.

Michael composed himself. He glanced over to Julie. She seemed to be talking to her group.

Michael blinked. He shook his head. Then he turned over to his group.

Michael: “So, have any of you been in Lord Byorn’s domain before?”

The four looked at each other.

Frank was the first to speak up.

Frank: “To be completely honest, I got my demon not that long ago. I’m still a little confused about what's happening.”

Rosie turned to Michael as well.

Rosie: “I haven’t officially been here, but I’ve ran into Byorn’s minions more times than I can count at this point.”

Michael grinned.

Michael: “That’s the truth.”
Michael turned to Sam and Clark.

Michael: “What about you two?”

They both looked at each other.

Sam rubbed his arm.

Clark: “I don’t really agree with this ‘mission’ at all. I mean we’re doing this because of your mistake, right? So why should we have to risk our lives.”

Michael flinched.

He swallowed.

Michael: “That’s a fair point, but—”

Sam interrupted him.

Sam: “Don’t mind my brother. He tends to speak out of turn sometimes.”

Frank looked between them.

Frank: “What even is the point of this mission? Who are we supposed to be rescuing?”

Michael opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off by Julius.

Julius had returned from the guard and shouted to both teams.

Julius: “They are allowing us safe passage to Lord Byorn’s palace in order to speak with him!”

Michael narrowed his eyes.

Michael: “Safe passage? They don’t honestly expect us to believe that, right?”

Julius noticed that everyone had started to murmur. He faltered for a moment. Gabby noticed his hesitation.

Gabby: “While I’m sure this may be some of your first time dealing with Lord Byorn, I can assure you that he is, without a doubt, a man of his word. Also, in an all out attack his forces would more than likely defeat ours. That is why a diplomatic approach is our best option. Do you all understand?”

The groups went silent.

Gabby nodded to Julius. He cleared his throat.

Julius: “With that being said, I’m not asking everyone to come into the city. If you choose to stay outside, Lord Byorn has guaranteed your safety.”

Everyone looked at each other.

Julius: “However, I want this to be a whole group decision. So, converse among yourselves and decide whether or not you are going to come with us.”

Everyone burst into chatter.

Clark: “No way are we going in there.”

Sam: “Sorry, but I’m siding with Clark on this.”

Frank: “I don’t think I could be of much help anyways.”

Rosie: “The mission comes first. I say we go in.”

They all turned to her.

Clark: “Are you crazy? I don’t trust this ‘Lord Byorn’ guy at all.”

Sam: “Yeah, this is just suicide. Plain and simple.”

Rosie turned to Michael.

Rosie: “You’re the leader, right. Julius must have assigned you for a reason. What do you think?”

Michael didn’t speak for a moment. He looked around at everyone.

He pursed his lips.

Clark: “Well?”

Michael sighed. He looked at Clark.

Michael: “I get it. There’s no point in risking your life, especially for someone you don’t know.”

Clark: “Exactly.”

Michael: “But, to be honest, this is more than you or me. I know you didn’t know Gabe. And he can be a bit of a wild card.”

Michael smiled to himself for a moment.

Then he shook his head.

He looked up at everyone. They were staring at him, expectantly.

Michael: “But he might have the most potential of anyone I’ve ever met. If you saw what he could do with his demon, then you would feel the same as me.”

No one said anything for a moment.

Michael cleared his throat.

Michael: “That’s all to say that if Lord Byorn does manage to get his hands on him, it wouldn’t end well. If we sit and do nothing–”

He looked at everyone in the eye, individually.

Michael: “I don’t know what could happen.”

The silence continued a moment longer.

Sam broke it.

Sam: “There’s no way he’s actually that strong.”

Clark: “Yeah, you have to be making it up because he’s your friend.”

Rosie frowned.

Rosie: “That actually makes a lot of sense. I wondered why they would scramble these teams together so last minute like this. They must have been really desperate.”

The silence returned.

Frank looked around at everyone.

Frank: “Wait, so basically if we go in there, then we could die. But if we don’t do anything then we could die later. Is that what you’re saying?”

Michael grimaced.

Michael: “Kind of a blunt way to put it.”

Frank took a step back.

He crouched down and wrapped his arms around his legs.

Frank: “I had no idea it would be like this. Why did no one tell me?”

Clark looked down at him. He clenched his fists.

Clark: “This is stupid. You’re saying that no matter what we decide to do, it’s going to be the wrong choice?”

Sam: “So we’re just dead either way?”

Sam shook his head.

Sam: “That can’t be right. You’re lying about your friend, aren’t you? You're lying so that we’ll go in and save him! You think we can’t see through you, but we can!”

Sam jabbed his finger into Michael’s chest.

Sam: “Admit it! Admit that you’re lying!”

Michael didn’t respond. He opened his mouth. Then he closed it and looked away.

Sam’s eyes widened.

Sam: “Why aren’t you responding.”

Rosie went behind him and grabbed his shoulder.

Rosie: “He’s not lying, Sam.”

Rosie turned to Michael. Then the rest of the group.

Rosie: “My vote’s the same. We should go in.”

No one met her gaze.

Rosie: “Think about it this way: if we go in, then we at least have a chance. Besides, I’m not the type to just sit and do nothing. Even if you guys are.”

Clark bit his lip.

Frank put his hands over his ears.

He sunk farther down

Frank: “I’m sorry, but there’s just no way I’m going in there. I don’t want to die.”

Michael pulled at his pants with his hand.

He looked up at everyone. They were all looking down at the ground. Except for Rosie.

She nodded at Michael.

He took a breath.

Michael: “Look, I know you’re scared. I am too. To tell you the truth, I’m not actually that strong. And this whole thing is my fault.”

The group slowly turned to look at him.

Michael: “But none of that matters now. What matters is what we do next. What we decide right now. I’m not going to force you to come with me. But, I’m going in no matter what you say. Because I have to. I have my pride to blame for that.”

Michael exhaled.

Michael: “I guess what I’m trying to say is that I would really appreciate your help. So please, help me get my friend back.”

Michael bowed.

He closed his eyes and held them shut.

The members looked around at each other.

Then Clark sighed.

Clark: “Let’s take a vote. If the majority says that we go, then we go.”

Sam looked at him.

Sam: “Clark, what are you doing?”

Clark took a breath.

Clark: “All those in favor of going, raise your hand.”

Michael slowly raised himself from his bow. He put his hand in the air.

He counted. There were two other hands raised.

Rosie smiled slightly. Her hand was raised.

Clark stood with his eyes closed.

One of his hands was shaking at his side.

The other was raised high in the air.

No one spoke for a moment.

Rosie: “I guess that settles it. We’re going, then.”

Frank’s eyes widened. He looked around at everyone.

He clenched his jaw. Then he rose to his feet.

Sam shook his head.

Sam: “This is a bad idea. Clark, why would you do that?”

Clark didn’t open his eyes.

Clark: “I don’t know.”

He finally opened them and looked at Michael.

Clark: “I guess I have my pride as well.”

Julius announced from up front.

Julius: “All groups that decided to come, please step forward.”

Michael stepped forward. His group followed.

He turned to his left.

Two other groups stepped forward.

Julie’s group and Phillip’s group.

The other groups’ eyes widened.

“They actually decided to go?”
“What were they thinking?”

“Are they suicidal?”

Michael looked forward. He realized that his lip was trembling.

He glanced back at his group. They were all shaking as well.

Michael faced forward. He steeled himself.

Julius smiled slightly.

Julius: “Alright, then. Everyone who decided to stay behind can wait here. As for the rest of you bastards—”

Julius turned around.

Julius: “Follow me.”