Chapter 1 - O Death
By inuyashafan213
"Conspirator sentenced to death."
These words were plastered in bold letters in the main headlines of the front page of the Orly Sunday Review.
So it begins, thought Cille as she rolled the newspaper up and secured it into her hand while pressing the door open to the Café de Lune with her other hand. The enticing aroma of sweet baked goods and various coffees heightened her senses that dark morning. The bell above the door rang, and immediately all eyes in the place were on her. The whispering and gossip begain. She didn't bother to look or listen, though. She was used to it. She just smiled and tried to ignore what people were saying about her.
The owner of the store, Luna Monegossde, who was standing happily at the main counter ready for Cille, was the only person in the café that she made eye contact with. However, this was not because she needed to order from her, but because Luna and Cille were longtime friends ever since Luna immigrated to Actonia from her homeland and the sister nation of Actonia, Comedia.
"Ah, Miss Lucille Compton, such a wonderful smile you're wearing this morning!" said Luna happily in her thick foreign accent. "How may I help you this morning?"
Cille chuckled. "Luna, you know you only have to call me Cille. You've known this for how long?"
"Oh, I forget how many years it has been since I first met you," said Luna. "It's been too long!"
Cille nodded in agreement. "So, I guess today I'll just have the usual."
Luna smiled. "One blueberry muffin and a tea? Sure thing!" She sped off to work behind the counter while simultaneously starting a new conversation with Cille. "So, did you hear about the conspirator? They didn't release the name yet, but I can't help but think-"
"I know, Luna," Cille interrupted. "But I don't want to think it was him."
Luna chuckled nervously, knowing she had struck somewhat of a nerve in her friend. "I am sorry, Cille, I didn't mean to."
Cille quickly smiled at her friend. "No, it's not your fault. It's my fault that I fell in love with him." She slowly and deeply inhaled.
Sensing the conversation was about to turn into an awkward area for her friend, Luna hastened to finish the order, quickly placing the muffin and teacup on the counter.
"Oh, I forgot to get my money out for you. How much is it again--"
"No, you needn't worry this time. This breakfast is on your friend!" said Luna with a smile. "Now you enjoy your breakfast, and try not to think too much!"
Cille smiled back. "Thank you, Luna."
As she held the muffin and tea in her hands, the newspaper tucked under her shoulder, she turned around to see the many pairs of eyes in the place dart away from looking at her. Apparently, they were watching her the entire time while her back was turned. But once again, Cille ignored them as she walked to the door and left to sit outside at one of the restaurant's porch tables.
She picked the table furthest away from the café's windows so that her spectators couldn't watch her as she tried to enjoy her meal. As she placed the newspaper on the table, she tried to avoid looking at the headline, but it was hard to miss.
"I won't think about you anymore," she said as she nervously sat in her seat. She quickly grabbed the paper and folded the first page back so that she didn't look at it anymore. As if to block her face off from the rest of the world, Cille held the paper up high and tried hard to focus on the stories. But it was to no avail.
It seemed that only the preview to the story about the death-sentenced conspirator was on the front page, and Cille opened the paper right up to the actual story. But she couldn't turn away from it. She needed to know if the conspirator was him.
"While attempting to incapacitate Head Governor Michelle Ozzal, a member of the Blacken Syndicate whose name is not available to the public at this time was captured and taken into custody on Monday," read Cille to herself. "The attempt to incapacitate Head Governor Ozzal is suspected to be part of a series of terror attacks planned against the head figures in Ozzal's cabinet, whom the Syndicate labeled as the 'Advocates of Unjust Moderation.' The conspirator was attempting to attack the Head Governor in her sleep at Comdot Estate when one of her security officers discovered the intruder." Cille took a deep breath and began reading again.
"'It's baffling how the intruder made it that far into her castle,' Major Tom Taredan, Chief of Security at Comdot Estate, said. 'We still don't know what entrance he used.'"
It was a he. That narrows it down, thought Cille nervously.
"Currently, the conspirator is still undergoing interrogation, but he remains 'tight-lipped.' according to official reports released from the Actonia-Comedia National Police Force. The execution of the conspirator is scheduled this Friday."
Today's Wednesday, thought Cille. What if it was him? Then he only had two days to live.
"In related news, Major Taredan announced his return to active service in the Army today, commenting that the war against the Blacken Syndicate had escalated to an unfavorable level of severity. 'The Syndicate represents what the people of Lower Actonia want, and I fear it is only imminent that a union between the two will exist in the futre. Word of rebellion is in the air, and we cannot refute that.'"
Cille released a heavy sigh as she shook nervously. Please don't let it be him, she thought. The table shook slightly.
"What are you doing hiding back there?" said a voice from the other side of the paper.
Cille jumped and took the paper down from her face. "Eric?"
It was Eric Ominae, one of Cille's longtime friends as well, but longer than Luna. Eric and Cille had been friends since childhood. He owned a weapons store in Orly, which was the capital of Actonia and incidentally the only dominantly upper-class city in the whole country. He was also a naval officer who retired after several long years of dedicated and diligent service.
"Are you trying to hide from me?" he joked.
She smiled at him. "Oh, no, I 'm just getting a little too involved with the paper."
"A newspaper?" said Eric. "You never have a newspaper. Hell, you never read the news. I never thought you cared that much for political matters and whatnot. So, what's the occasion?"
She shrugged. She knew the answer but was reluctant to confess. Then, she realized that he had noticed the front page which was facing him directly.
"'Conspirator sentenced to death.'" An idea sparked in his head, and his eyes shifted to Cille's face. "Wait, you don't think--"
"Of course not!" she yelled defensively. "Why would I be thinking about him?"
Eric almost fell out of his seat after she yelled at him. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize that was a touchy subject still."
She was unresponsive and quickly had her head turned from him. Instead, she was now directing her attention to trying to watch the sunrise in an attempt to ignore the stress of the world, including Eric. And then Eric joined her, watching the sunrise as well.
**********
At one time, Cille planned on her full name being "Lucille Blaken." About a year ago, she was engaged to a soldier whom she met in Luna's restaurant. He was only visiting the city of Orly as a passerby because he lived in an outside town, not nearly as wealthy as Orly. His name was Landon Blaken.
It was before the uneasy emotions started emerging from the lower class throughout Actonia. It was before Ozzal had taken control of the country. Ozzal was depriving the poor of certain liberties and crucial necessities to their lives because the Head Governor was not receiving taxes from the poor cities of Actonia. She restricted exports from the lower cities and made it mandatory that all trade be regulated through the capital so that Orly would prosper. She also forbade emigration from Actonia to Comedia as a means to escape her laws.
And her plan was working. Orly had prospered so much from the new trade regulation standards that it had evolved into a super-city. Eventually, Ozzal's plan was for Orly to continually grow so that it became a city which could financially support the whole country, meanwhile killing off the smaller, poorer cities by ultimately ignoring them.
However, the lower class wasn't ready to let their cities die. Riots and fighting broke out in the smaller cities, and eventually, everywhere outside Orly was a war zone. Militant groups formed as a result of Ozzal's tyranny, performing various acts of terror to make a statement to their unwanted ruler.
Landon and Cille were engaged to be married before Ozzal was brought to power. When the fighting began, Landon showed obvious discernment, living with Cille in Orly when his family was suffering in poverty. Then one day, Landon's whole family--his mother, father, two brothers, and a sister--were all killed by the military while protesting the unfair laws. On that day, full of righteous anger, he left Orly, vowing to kill Ozzal and liberate her country.
Cille didn't know how serious her fiancé was until one day, his face was plastered all over the newspapers as being the leader of a new terrorist group against Ozzal--the "Blacken Syndicate."
**********
"Has the sun ever looked so beautiful?" said Eric as he gazed with Cille out toward the sun.
It really was a beautiful scene. Practically all of Orly was made of marble and valuable stones and painted wood, and every window was either stained glass or capable of reflecting the sun's light with some unexplainable splendor.
On one end of Orly, the end opposite the sun, was the Comdot Estate, a massive castle which was the largest thing in the town and by far the most elevated too, seeing as how it was on a very large hill. Behind it was the ocean and a watery world to explore.
On the other side of the city, there was a massive cathedral, St. Maria's Cathedral. It was covered by beautiful and colorful windows depicting scenes of biblical wonders, and around the church was a massive garden with plants of every hue all about the ground. The sun was right behind the cathedral, over the valley which separated Orly from the rest of the country. The light shone through the massive windows of the building, reflecting greatly across the city.
In between these massive and glorious buildings was a world of stone and wood and a labyrinth of roads and alleys and thousands of people.
Eric and Cille were about three blocks away from the cathedral while they witnessed the site.
"I've...never really taken the time to do this," said Cille, forgetting her pains. "I wish I had."
Eric smiled. "So you're speaking to me?"
She looked at him and gave him a gentle laugh. "Eric, I could never be mad at you. You're one of the only friends I have left."
He was happy with her response, and his smile grew bigger. But as he watched the sun, he grew more contemplative. "Y'know, I wonder how long it's been since the lower class was able to enjoy a sunrise like this. It must be pretty bad having to deal with war over your head all the time."
"Eric--"
"I have to go, Cille. But you take care. And don't let these things get to you. It's not him, I know it isn't." And then he smiled and left her to enjoy the sunrise.
But Cille had a double-take for a moment. Did he just wink at me? she thought.
Then, Luna burst from the café. "Cille!" she screamed, bawling her eyes out. She ran over to Cille and embraced her, as if preparing her for terrible news.
"What is it, Luna?" she asked.
Luna waited for her breath and then quickly grabbed Cille by the shoulders. "Cille..." she panted. "It's your son."
Cille's heart dropped as soon as she said that. She had an adopted son named Raef, sixteen years old now.
"He's been kidnapped."
**********
Character/Name References:
Cille Compton = Cille (obviously)
Eric Ominae = OMNI-Enforcer
Landon Blaken = Blah_canbespanish
Luna Monegossde = Moon_Goddess17
Raef Compton = Maenos
Tom Taredan = Metatronda
Michelle Ozzal = Mike Lazzo :D
Comdot Estate = a reference to the .Com folder
"Conspirator sentenced to death."
These words were plastered in bold letters in the main headlines of the front page of the Orly Sunday Review.
So it begins, thought Cille as she rolled the newspaper up and secured it into her hand while pressing the door open to the Café de Lune with her other hand. The enticing aroma of sweet baked goods and various coffees heightened her senses that dark morning. The bell above the door rang, and immediately all eyes in the place were on her. The whispering and gossip begain. She didn't bother to look or listen, though. She was used to it. She just smiled and tried to ignore what people were saying about her.
The owner of the store, Luna Monegossde, who was standing happily at the main counter ready for Cille, was the only person in the café that she made eye contact with. However, this was not because she needed to order from her, but because Luna and Cille were longtime friends ever since Luna immigrated to Actonia from her homeland and the sister nation of Actonia, Comedia.
"Ah, Miss Lucille Compton, such a wonderful smile you're wearing this morning!" said Luna happily in her thick foreign accent. "How may I help you this morning?"
Cille chuckled. "Luna, you know you only have to call me Cille. You've known this for how long?"
"Oh, I forget how many years it has been since I first met you," said Luna. "It's been too long!"
Cille nodded in agreement. "So, I guess today I'll just have the usual."
Luna smiled. "One blueberry muffin and a tea? Sure thing!" She sped off to work behind the counter while simultaneously starting a new conversation with Cille. "So, did you hear about the conspirator? They didn't release the name yet, but I can't help but think-"
"I know, Luna," Cille interrupted. "But I don't want to think it was him."
Luna chuckled nervously, knowing she had struck somewhat of a nerve in her friend. "I am sorry, Cille, I didn't mean to."
Cille quickly smiled at her friend. "No, it's not your fault. It's my fault that I fell in love with him." She slowly and deeply inhaled.
Sensing the conversation was about to turn into an awkward area for her friend, Luna hastened to finish the order, quickly placing the muffin and teacup on the counter.
"Oh, I forgot to get my money out for you. How much is it again--"
"No, you needn't worry this time. This breakfast is on your friend!" said Luna with a smile. "Now you enjoy your breakfast, and try not to think too much!"
Cille smiled back. "Thank you, Luna."
As she held the muffin and tea in her hands, the newspaper tucked under her shoulder, she turned around to see the many pairs of eyes in the place dart away from looking at her. Apparently, they were watching her the entire time while her back was turned. But once again, Cille ignored them as she walked to the door and left to sit outside at one of the restaurant's porch tables.
She picked the table furthest away from the café's windows so that her spectators couldn't watch her as she tried to enjoy her meal. As she placed the newspaper on the table, she tried to avoid looking at the headline, but it was hard to miss.
"I won't think about you anymore," she said as she nervously sat in her seat. She quickly grabbed the paper and folded the first page back so that she didn't look at it anymore. As if to block her face off from the rest of the world, Cille held the paper up high and tried hard to focus on the stories. But it was to no avail.
It seemed that only the preview to the story about the death-sentenced conspirator was on the front page, and Cille opened the paper right up to the actual story. But she couldn't turn away from it. She needed to know if the conspirator was him.
"While attempting to incapacitate Head Governor Michelle Ozzal, a member of the Blacken Syndicate whose name is not available to the public at this time was captured and taken into custody on Monday," read Cille to herself. "The attempt to incapacitate Head Governor Ozzal is suspected to be part of a series of terror attacks planned against the head figures in Ozzal's cabinet, whom the Syndicate labeled as the 'Advocates of Unjust Moderation.' The conspirator was attempting to attack the Head Governor in her sleep at Comdot Estate when one of her security officers discovered the intruder." Cille took a deep breath and began reading again.
"'It's baffling how the intruder made it that far into her castle,' Major Tom Taredan, Chief of Security at Comdot Estate, said. 'We still don't know what entrance he used.'"
It was a he. That narrows it down, thought Cille nervously.
"Currently, the conspirator is still undergoing interrogation, but he remains 'tight-lipped.' according to official reports released from the Actonia-Comedia National Police Force. The execution of the conspirator is scheduled this Friday."
Today's Wednesday, thought Cille. What if it was him? Then he only had two days to live.
"In related news, Major Taredan announced his return to active service in the Army today, commenting that the war against the Blacken Syndicate had escalated to an unfavorable level of severity. 'The Syndicate represents what the people of Lower Actonia want, and I fear it is only imminent that a union between the two will exist in the futre. Word of rebellion is in the air, and we cannot refute that.'"
Cille released a heavy sigh as she shook nervously. Please don't let it be him, she thought. The table shook slightly.
"What are you doing hiding back there?" said a voice from the other side of the paper.
Cille jumped and took the paper down from her face. "Eric?"
It was Eric Ominae, one of Cille's longtime friends as well, but longer than Luna. Eric and Cille had been friends since childhood. He owned a weapons store in Orly, which was the capital of Actonia and incidentally the only dominantly upper-class city in the whole country. He was also a naval officer who retired after several long years of dedicated and diligent service.
"Are you trying to hide from me?" he joked.
She smiled at him. "Oh, no, I 'm just getting a little too involved with the paper."
"A newspaper?" said Eric. "You never have a newspaper. Hell, you never read the news. I never thought you cared that much for political matters and whatnot. So, what's the occasion?"
She shrugged. She knew the answer but was reluctant to confess. Then, she realized that he had noticed the front page which was facing him directly.
"'Conspirator sentenced to death.'" An idea sparked in his head, and his eyes shifted to Cille's face. "Wait, you don't think--"
"Of course not!" she yelled defensively. "Why would I be thinking about him?"
Eric almost fell out of his seat after she yelled at him. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize that was a touchy subject still."
She was unresponsive and quickly had her head turned from him. Instead, she was now directing her attention to trying to watch the sunrise in an attempt to ignore the stress of the world, including Eric. And then Eric joined her, watching the sunrise as well.
**********
At one time, Cille planned on her full name being "Lucille Blaken." About a year ago, she was engaged to a soldier whom she met in Luna's restaurant. He was only visiting the city of Orly as a passerby because he lived in an outside town, not nearly as wealthy as Orly. His name was Landon Blaken.
It was before the uneasy emotions started emerging from the lower class throughout Actonia. It was before Ozzal had taken control of the country. Ozzal was depriving the poor of certain liberties and crucial necessities to their lives because the Head Governor was not receiving taxes from the poor cities of Actonia. She restricted exports from the lower cities and made it mandatory that all trade be regulated through the capital so that Orly would prosper. She also forbade emigration from Actonia to Comedia as a means to escape her laws.
And her plan was working. Orly had prospered so much from the new trade regulation standards that it had evolved into a super-city. Eventually, Ozzal's plan was for Orly to continually grow so that it became a city which could financially support the whole country, meanwhile killing off the smaller, poorer cities by ultimately ignoring them.
However, the lower class wasn't ready to let their cities die. Riots and fighting broke out in the smaller cities, and eventually, everywhere outside Orly was a war zone. Militant groups formed as a result of Ozzal's tyranny, performing various acts of terror to make a statement to their unwanted ruler.
Landon and Cille were engaged to be married before Ozzal was brought to power. When the fighting began, Landon showed obvious discernment, living with Cille in Orly when his family was suffering in poverty. Then one day, Landon's whole family--his mother, father, two brothers, and a sister--were all killed by the military while protesting the unfair laws. On that day, full of righteous anger, he left Orly, vowing to kill Ozzal and liberate her country.
Cille didn't know how serious her fiancé was until one day, his face was plastered all over the newspapers as being the leader of a new terrorist group against Ozzal--the "Blacken Syndicate."
**********
"Has the sun ever looked so beautiful?" said Eric as he gazed with Cille out toward the sun.
It really was a beautiful scene. Practically all of Orly was made of marble and valuable stones and painted wood, and every window was either stained glass or capable of reflecting the sun's light with some unexplainable splendor.
On one end of Orly, the end opposite the sun, was the Comdot Estate, a massive castle which was the largest thing in the town and by far the most elevated too, seeing as how it was on a very large hill. Behind it was the ocean and a watery world to explore.
On the other side of the city, there was a massive cathedral, St. Maria's Cathedral. It was covered by beautiful and colorful windows depicting scenes of biblical wonders, and around the church was a massive garden with plants of every hue all about the ground. The sun was right behind the cathedral, over the valley which separated Orly from the rest of the country. The light shone through the massive windows of the building, reflecting greatly across the city.
In between these massive and glorious buildings was a world of stone and wood and a labyrinth of roads and alleys and thousands of people.
Eric and Cille were about three blocks away from the cathedral while they witnessed the site.
"I've...never really taken the time to do this," said Cille, forgetting her pains. "I wish I had."
Eric smiled. "So you're speaking to me?"
She looked at him and gave him a gentle laugh. "Eric, I could never be mad at you. You're one of the only friends I have left."
He was happy with her response, and his smile grew bigger. But as he watched the sun, he grew more contemplative. "Y'know, I wonder how long it's been since the lower class was able to enjoy a sunrise like this. It must be pretty bad having to deal with war over your head all the time."
"Eric--"
"I have to go, Cille. But you take care. And don't let these things get to you. It's not him, I know it isn't." And then he smiled and left her to enjoy the sunrise.
But Cille had a double-take for a moment. Did he just wink at me? she thought.
Then, Luna burst from the café. "Cille!" she screamed, bawling her eyes out. She ran over to Cille and embraced her, as if preparing her for terrible news.
"What is it, Luna?" she asked.
Luna waited for her breath and then quickly grabbed Cille by the shoulders. "Cille..." she panted. "It's your son."
Cille's heart dropped as soon as she said that. She had an adopted son named Raef, sixteen years old now.
"He's been kidnapped."
**********
Character/Name References:
Cille Compton = Cille (obviously)
Eric Ominae = OMNI-Enforcer
Landon Blaken = Blah_canbespanish
Luna Monegossde = Moon_Goddess17
Raef Compton = Maenos
Tom Taredan = Metatronda
Michelle Ozzal = Mike Lazzo :D
Comdot Estate = a reference to the .Com folder