Глава 13

There is nowhere else that needs hope now more than Brentwood.

I can't leave.

His tent should be in this direction... I have to take the flowers there as soon as I can.

What's that?

What are you doing here?

Magdelene!

Where are you going with those flowers past curfew?

That's the direction of the barracks you're going. Hurry up and leave!

I... It's fine. I just wanted to come outside for a walk.

Right, I heard from Henk that it's your birthday today. Happy birthday! Will ordered some flowers for you, but he never came for them.

If you see Will, please remind him.

Freda?

Why aren't you saying anything?

Come with me. It's not safe here.

Huh... These flowers...

Will left them here to mourn my father. I've been keeping the warehouse locked, only occasionally lending him the key when he wants a sip of alcohol.

The cannons here, did Mr. West prepare them for the festival? How magnificent...

It's all my fault...

Did something happen to him?

He was stopped by the devils at the Sarkaz barracks just now.

He came to me earlier than usual for some sort of surprise, but when he found out I was going to the barracks to report on our progress, and he said he'd escort me there...

But the Sarkaz shouldn't have any reason to stop Will... They've never done that before.

I don't know... I'm scared. I didn't have it in me to say no when they asked to take Will in...

I've been following their every word. I gave them everything they asked for. Why did they want to take him?

Why... Did I do something wrong...?

Maybe they only had a few questions for him.

Look on the bright side. They still need him to work for them!

Right... That bloody thing isn't completed just yet. I am sure they still need Will.

I have to stay here at the barracks' entrance and wait for him.

Freda smiles.

But I'm not happy about this one bit.

I know I'm lying to her. I'm sure she knows that as well. However, this is all that we can do right now.

These days, we all need that tiny shred of hope to poison our minds.

'Hope.'

Freda... Did you see that?

There's a strange creature climbing on a house's beams.

I don't know if 'creature' is exactly the right word for it.

It's staring at me with its black body.

The terrifying being's feeble limbs are no longer attached to the beams.

Finally, it lands on the flowers used to mourn the mayor before it dissipates, turning into a drop of blood, and dyes the flower buds.

Was it... looking at us just now?

Yes. It was looking right at us.