Chapter 45: The Cold Hearth

In the dark of the night a hooded figure walked down the halls of a large building on the outskirts of Fontaine.

The wooden halls were smooth and clean of any dust. Candle lamps that hung from the walls flickered, their wavering light casting strange shadows along the length of the corridor.

The hooded person, now in the confines of their house, pulled down their hood, revealing a young girl with white hair with black streaks. Her eyes, like her hair, were also strange, black irises and pupils covered with large red "X"es.

She walked slowly and silently down the hallway, a surprisingly difficult task given the number of loosened floorboards indistinguishable from the secured ones until you stepped onto one with your weight and caused it to squeak.

The children of this house were expected to learn to walk silently using the halls as training. Anyone who made a sound would be punished by "Mother." While most were convinced it was a training method being used to show them the importance of knowing how to walk silently, the young girl, Peruere, knew better.

As a member of the House of the hearth that had been on multiple missions, Peruere had learned that their targets typically had the most sturdy and silent floors. She also knew that it was easier to mask one's footsteps and breathing with other sounds. A person may be alerted by the sound of soft footsteps, but an unnatural silence would raise suspicion more. Being able to pace your steps regularly, and pausing frequently lead to individuals suspecting that they are either hearing their own heartbeat, or imagining things.

Peruere through this experience had come to the conclusion that the one she referred to as "Mother" simply had this rule to allow her to vent her sadistic tendencies on the sleepy and untrained children.

Having been on the receiving end of Mother's punishments after accidentally making a noise in the hall on a nighttime trip to the bathroom, Peruere had learned to either to always go before going to bed, or learning to hold it until morning.

Peruere had just gotten back from reporting a successful mission to Mother and presenting to her a report on the target in question. Now she was heading back to room after making a quick stop.

Silently moving towards a particular room, stopping in front of the door, she took a moment to look at the various locks that had been secured onto it. Each one had been installed and replaced after an incident with the occupant on the other side of the door.

It was mind boggling to Peruere the amount of patience and dedication the person on the other side of the door had. She wasn't sure if she could keep the same level of determination that the other had to escape despite the many hurdles they had to face.

Quietly scrawling a note, Peruere slipped it under the gap between the door and the floor.

I'm back

After a few moments, Peruere heard quiet scratching noises in the near dead silence.

The same piece of paper was slid out of the door with an new message.

I'm glad, I was worried, you were out longer than normal, is everything ok?

Unbeknownst to her, for a moment, a faint smile made itself known on Peruere's face as she read the note. Despite everything that she had seen and been made to do the girl on the other side of the door still had the capacity to care for others besides herself.

Yes, I'm fine, the mission was a success, the target was just slow and took their time getting to the designated point.

Peruere, waited for the person to respond, feeling slightly nervous about standing in this hallway for so long.

..Do you ever wonder if what we are doing is right? So many of the others who leave on Mother's missions never come back. The ones that do, change, and for what? Proving our worth to Mother? What is her goal?

Frowning for a moment Peruere considered for a moment before writing a short reply.

No, I haven't doing so would only hinder my effectiveness. Just because you managed to get the others to agree to stop killing each other in Mother's duels doesn't mean we should let our guard down.

After slipping the message under the door, Peruere heard a soft sigh come from the other side.

Perrie you need to trust people more, I can't be your only friend. Also did you get what I asked? Mother's restrictions should end near my birthday, and I want to make another attempt around then.

It was Peruere's turn to sigh.

Yes, but you know she will likely find you again right? And she will be even more angry that you chose to defy her after her last "warning."

A moment passed.

Yes, but I could also escape this time. And if I do, think of the message it will send to others? I'll have shown that she isn't all powerful, that we can eacape her without going with that creepy man.

Peruere shock her head, she had lost track of the number of times she'd had this conversation with the room's occupant. She swore that the girl was downtown delusional at times, but then again, maybe this hopeless optimism is what drew her towards her in the first place, the girl was like a beacon of light in the gloomy darkness of the house.

Looking around Peruere wrote one last sentence.

It's late, I need to go, don't want to get caught. Good night Clervie.

The paper was sent back quickly.

Good night Perrie, be safe.

Peruere took the note and crumpled it before hiding it in one of her pockets to dispose of later.

A prickly sensation was on the back of Peruere's neck as she walked down the hallway to her room. Though she suspected the source, she did not do anything about it, some situations called for feigned ignorance, and this was one of them.

-to be contiued