Chapter 12: Harmony Part 4

More time passes as the 2 boys sit there on the porch of their cabin. Easton stares blankly at every cabin and tree in front of him. 

"This is really. Really. Boring. There aren't even any lights here! I need to do something." 

Easton jumps off the railing. "Hey, red-rank. I'm going to go to the bathroom."

"Wait!" Kiran yells softly. He stands in front of Easton with his hands up. "You can't! Not only did that scary lady say we can't. But Emily also asked us to stay."

Easton smirks evilly inside his mind while keeping a stoic face in front of Kiran, showing no emotion.

"Well, she's been gone a while. Something could've happened. You want to help people right? Shouldn't we go help her?"

Kiran freezes. "He's right! Emily has been gone way too long! Also… will she think it's cool if I go to rescue her?" Kiran taps his chin. 

"All right! I agree. Let's go."

The 2 boys then rush out into the darkness of Harmony. They sneak past cabins, only seeing one or two people patrolling. They move behind a few more cabins before finding Emily – and the reason for her delay.

"AH! Namrah! That hurts!"

"Tell me why you are out after the Guild Leader commanded us to stay inside."

A black-haired, umber dark-skinned woman is holding Emily's arm behind her back. She is dressed the same way as Mehaki. Fully clad in black. 

"I told you! I was returning to tell a newborn the bathroom is safe!"

"No newborn will join Harmony. Stop lying. Then why did you run?" 

"I- OW! I ran cause you're terrifying! Did Mehaki not tell you about the new members?!"

"Lies. You ran because you are guilty. And Mehaki likes telling jokes. She was probably thinking of pranking me."

They bicker as Namrah still holds her against a barrel. Kiran takes a few steps closer to help and Namrah immediately turns around. 

"Hey- Huh-"

She lets go of Emily and takes Kiran down on the ground, trapping both his arms and leaving him defenceless. "How did I get on the ground?"

He stares at Namrah, an intimidating animalistic aura surrounds her. "Oh no! I'm going to die!"

"Who are you?! What are you doing here?!" Namrah growls the command. 

Easton laughs behind a cabin. "This is hilarious! He fell so quickly. She's swift."

Kiran, frozen in fear, stares at the beast.

"I-I-I-I-I-"

"Speak!"

"Namrah calm down! That's one of the new members!" Emily exclaims and runs towards them.

Namrah stares at the blue-eyed boy and stands up from him.

"Oh. He does smell like the others here."

"You also smell like that."

Emily says under her breath as she helps Kiran up.

"I escaped a monster again! How many more times?!"

Kiran is unable to speak as Emily helps him up. His pale skin is even paler, like a ghost. 

Easton comes from behind the cabin. "Guess coming to the bathroom was a good idea."

Namrah glares into Easton's brown eyes.

"Is this another new member?"

"Yes."

"I don't like him."

"Tch! This girl…" Easton takes a step back. 

 "Don't talk about me like that. You don't even know me."

"Joseff says he chops wood well."

"Then he is useful."

Namrah looks at the group in front of them.

"Go to the bathroom. And go to your cabins. There is a curfew. The order was given by Guild Leader Marie-Jane." 

"And why aren't you following this curfew? Seems unfair." Easton folds his arms. 

"I follow different orders the Board of Directors give me. And my order is to protect the residents from any animals that wander in while they have their meeting." 

"Yeah, like how you protected Emily, right?"

Namrah stays quiet for a bit. "This one looks like he needs the bathroom too."

Namrah points to Kiran. He's been looking at the darkness around them. The animal noises cause him to look in every direction.

"I… Uh, might need the bathroom." Kiran looks down, thinking, "I just want to get away from here! It's too dark. I hate it."

Emily sighs. "You too Kiran? Fine. You and Easton can go. It's just a bit further down." 

"And then all of you back to your cabins." Namrah stands with her arms folded. 

Easton grinds his teeth. "Fine. Can I go now? Or should I relieve myself in front of you?"

"… Please go to the bathroom." Namrah turns around. "Squeaky, you have to go back. You can't go with them. That would be strange."

"I just checked for safety! And don't call me that!" Emily's face burns red. "She always treats me like this!" 

Easton and Kiran walk towards the bathroom. There's a building with sections split into male and female.

Kiran finishes first.

"Okay, Easton. I'm going back."

"… Then why aren't you leaving?" Easton continues while Kiran waits outside his stall.

"Oh… uh… the darkness is kind of scary." 

"As someone who passed The Trials, you know you shouldn't be afraid of the dark, right?"

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing." Easton finishes. "Okay, we can head back." 

When they are outside the bathroom, Easton notices many Harmony members carrying bags. 

"I think it's this way."

"Are you sure?"

"It's pretty dark, but I'm pretty sure."

"All right!" 

They do not follow the path back to their cabin. Easton follows the people carrying bags. "It's a good thing they can't see us properly." 

"Are you sure we are on the right track Easton? Did we walk this long last time?"

"Keep quiet red-rank! We don't want to attract any animals."

"R-Right."

After more sneaking, Easton finds where the bags are carried – a cart with 2 horses in the front. Someone is petting the horses, the strawberry-blonde guild leader Marie-Jane. Consus is with her and Joseff is as well.

"A-Are you sure you need to go Marie?"

"I am Joseff. Do not worry. We will be back soon. Tomorrow even."

"But Sharmeija?" 

"Yes. We need strong members. The animals are too restless around us recently."

"I'm sure other Guilds near us have people."

"I can't trust them." 

"B-But… my cart…"

"Joseff."

"Okay…" Joseff walks away. Consus talks to Marie-Jane. 

Easton looks on behind a cabin. "I can't hear what they are saying. It looks like they want to leave somewhere… hmm."

"What are we looking at Easton?" Kiran stands behind him. He sees the horses. "OH N-"

Easton puts his hand over Kiran's mouth. "Shhh!" Easton scans and sees no one noticed them.

"You can't yell like that! You'll get us caught." 

"Why do we care about being caught?"

"Because… it seems like they are leaving somewhere. I'm going with them. If I get caught now, they'll send me back to the cabin, and that old man will probably never leave me alone!" 

Easton has snuck out of his cabin each night for the past week. "I haven't been able to locate a path out. This forest is too confusing." 

"I can't find a way out of here, so I must get onto that cart."

"Wait… so we aren't going to our cabin?"

"Are you even listening?!" Easton rubs his eyes and face. "Ugh, it doesn't matter. All that matters is getting onto that cart." Easton sees Marie-Jane and Consus walk away. "Now's our chance! Come! Help me in."

"What?! No! I won't be a part of your scheme." 

"Come on! You say you want to help people. So help me! I don't want to be here. Why force me?"

"No!"

"Tch! Why not." A light bulb suddenly turns on in Easton's head.

"If I don't get out of here tonight, I'm telling Emily you have a crush on her."

Kiran's face turns red. "I don't… That's not… You can't do that!"

"Help me in and then I can't."

"F-Fine! But we need to be quick."

"Let's go."

Kiran and Easton sneak close to the cart. Due to the large horses, the cart is much higher. The tarp is heavy.

"Lift me. I need help with the tarp." They both struggle, but eventually Easton wiggles in. 

"This thing is packed. But I'm in. If they see you, they'll know something is weird. Get out of here!"

"All right. Bye, Easton-" Kiran hears voices become louder.

"Someone's coming! Get in!" says Easton hastily. 

"No!"

"Quickly! You can get out later!"

Kiran looks back and forth and sees no clear hiding spot. "Fine!" 

Easton helps him and pulls him in. 

"Okay. This is tight!"

"Don't squeeze against me! Will you be able to get out?"

"I think so."

"Shh!"

The voices around them aren't clear, but they are loud. The tarp covers some of the sounds. The tarp gets tightened and the cart starts moving. 

Easton smiles.  "Yes! I'm out of here. Only one more thing…"

His eyes go to his accomplice. "Red-rank. Get out."

"I'm trying! I'm stuck. It's the tarp! It made some of the bags fall on me. They're heavier than the potatoes!"

"Come on! Get out!" Easton pushes Kiran. He tries to help Kiran remove the bags he is stuck under. They struggle for a bit.

"Just a bit more Easton!"

"Almost there!"

"Yes! We moved it!"

"Now get out-"

BONK!

They push a bag away which allows Kiran some space to move. The cart suddenly picks up speed which causes 2 bags to fall on Kiran and Easton's heads, knocking them out immediately.