The Great Fall

Chapter 3: Festivities

I part ways with Jake and make my way over to Jo’s house. I’m supposed to help her and a couple others cook for the festival. I would really rather be searching for clues, but… I don’t mind Jo’s company. She’s always felt very Maternal to me, whereas my Aunt felt more like an older sister.

“Well, look who finally decided to arrive!” Jo, bouts. “You almost had me believing that you had forgotten.” She smirks and shakes her head. “Welcome, any way. Go ahead and start peeling the potatoes.” She said, motioning toward several baskets full. “I’m sorry, Jo! I got caught up and lost track of time! But, I’m here now and I’m ready to work. I know our folks are a hungry people.”

I sit on a small, wooden stool and start peeling the potatoes, when someone suddenly knocks on the door. A loud, authoritative knock. Jo heads over and opens the door. “General, O’Connor! Sir, I wish there was something I could offer you. We’re busy cooking for the festival! What brings this honor to my door?” Jo asked, inquisitively. “Miss Blake, please don’t worry yourself with my presence. I’m here to speak with Miss Evander. (Me? What does he want with me?) “Grace, my son has spoken highly of you. He dotes on your intelligence and skill. I would like to invite you to have dinner with us this evening.” “Oh! I appreciate that, truly. But, I’m afraid I have my hands full, here. Jo needs me to help cook for the festival.” “Grace!” Jo, chimes. “No, Miss Blake, it’s okay. I understand. However, Grace, I’ve already sent for someone to come and help. You’re free to come with me, now.” The General speaks with such solidity in his voice, I’m sure I don’t actually have a choice but to go. “Well, if you insist! Who am I to turn down a free meal from the General himself. I’ll be happy to come.” Jo looks at me, holding back a laugh as she rolls her eyes. She knows I am hating this. “Wonderful, let’s go then! My son will be overjoyed to hold your company tonight.” I turn around and bulge my eyes out at Jo, begging her to save me. But, she just smiles and shoos me away.

Marching… I am marching straight into a boring and disturbing night with an over salacious slime ball who probably begged his father to have me over, just so he could stare at me while he breathes through his mouth. Who is this mouth breather, you might ask? His name is Damien O’Connor. He’s the biggest tool of all the tools. He bullied Jake, Cain and I when we were kids. But, as I got older… he stopped trying to pick fights with me. Because he knew that he would lose. I started to excel at everything. Hand to Hand, Archery, Knife Throwing, Hunting, etc. I became one of the best. And, I never let him forget it.

“Grace.” (Ugh… hearing his voice sends utter disgust through my body.) He speaks with this sickly, sweet tone of voice. I look up and his head is tilted to the side. He’s leaning against the stone wall, arms crossed, looking me up and down. “I’m so glad you could come.” He said, running his hand down my arm as I walk by him. I jerk my arm away, doing my best not to make eye contact.

We start to eat, then the General speaks up. “Grace, as you know the election of our new leaders is coming soon. Our people have come to love you and I agree! You are a wonderful candidate for leadership in our society. However, there is one thing that never came into place, since the disappearance of your parents. Your Aunt has refused to make the decision for you. So, I’m here to make a proposition. A place of leadership for you would be guaranteed, if you were to marry my son.” (Ew! What?!) I start choking mid bite. I drink some water and gather my composure. “Sir, you want me to marry Damien? How would that benefit my leadership role? Natasha never married and she is a strong leader.” The General scoffs and looks taken aback. “Sir, I mean no disrespect. I’m just trying to understand. Because, I was never told that in being put in place to fill a leadership role, that I would have to be married. Especially to someone that I don’t love.” “My dear,” The general’s wife Marissa pipes in. “Perhaps you could explain it to her in a more gentle way. It is her right to question this, you know.” The General sighs. “Okay, Grace. The reason for rallying behind this marriage is because it would give you a strong front. My son already has a majority vote for a leadership role. If the two of you were to become married, you would both become leaders and be able to bring unity to our people. There are some who have strayed from our ways and laws. The two of you can bring reform to our society and encourage our people to work together again. Please, consider this.” I take a deep breath… (I need to get out of here… this is too much) “Mrs. O’Connor, may I use your restroom please?” I scoot my chair back from the table. “Of course, dear girl. Help yourself.” She points me in the direction of the restroom. I start walking that way, waiting for her to sit back down. I hear her say, “Look what you’ve done, now… you’ve scared the poor girl.” Damien pipes up, “She doesn’t get scared, mom. She just got excited about the idea of having me all to herself.” (Don’t make me puke) “Oh, stop Damien. You know good and well you disgust that girl. Maybe if you were a decent boy who didn’t constantly run off, having trysts with the help… she might actually consider you.” She scoffs. “Marissa!” The General speaks up. “Don’t speak to our son that way. It’s not his fault. His needs are great. I can personally understand that. So should you. You know that even you aren’t enough to sate me. One woman is rarely enough to sate a real man.” “Ugh..” Marissa spews in disgust. “A real man? Don’t make me laugh.” (You tell him, Marissa. You poor woman… forced to live with such pigs. Okay, find a way out!) I turn into the nearest room and open the window on the far side. Quietly climbing out, I slip away into the darkness. (I have got to find Jake. We need to grab Cain and get out of here. It’s time for me to tell them the truth.)

“Jake! Psst! Over here!”

“Grace? What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be helping Jo?”

“Shh! There’s no time. Where is Cain. I need to talk to the both of you right away.”

“He is two doors down. Let me go grab him.”

“Okay! Do it quickly! Then meet me back at the old shed by the mill. It’s an emergency.”

“Alright, alright Grace! You’re scaring me!”

“Hurry! Just go. And, try to stay hidden. I don’t want anyone following you. Someone might be looking for me.”

“What the heck, Grace?!”

“Just go!!”

I run away toward my secret place before Jake can say anything else. I’m running out of time. Literally. I need answers and I need them fast. Before I’m forced to become “Mrs. Mouth Breather O’Connor.

“Grace?”… I hear Jake and Cain outside the door. “Do you see anyone else around?” I whisper through the door. “No, I don’t think so.” Cain said. “Are you sure?” I prompt. “Yes, Grace! Hurry and let us in!” Jake pushes.

I open the door and the boys stumble into the shed. I shut the door behind them and push a small table in front of the door.

“What is all of this about?” Cain bouts.

“Yeah, Grace… I’m worried. What’s going on?” Jake says.

“Okay, guys… I need you to listen to me. I don’t want you to speak until I’m done. I’ll answer your questions after I’m done.”

I reach down into my leather bag and I pull out the things I found from the house. And I start to explain everything that happened.

“Let me get this straight” Jake, started. “You ran off outside the compound by yourself… almost got caught by three people?! And, now the General wants you to marry Damien?! Oh man… I don’t know if I can handle this.” Jake sighs, putting a hand to his head, looking around before he sits on the ground. “Pull yourself together, man…”Cain bouts. “Obviously she needs our help with something… and (why is he elbowing Jake?) she obviously doesn’t want to marry that jerk.” Jake shoves Cain off, looks up at me and then stares at the ground.

“Wait, this paper…” Cain started. “Grace, this circle… it looks like that marking you have on the back of your neck.” Jake grabs the paper from Cain, looks it over and hands it to me. “I agree. It does look like your mark. You said you got this from that house you found?”

(My mark? Why hadn’t I thought of that?) Honestly, I’d almost forgotten it was there. Aunt Max used to trace it with her finger while she sang me to sleep when I was little.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right. That is weird.” (Huh… just when I thought things couldn’t be more curious. I’ve gotta find out what that paper says.) “Hey, Jake. I need your help to decipher this paper. Aren’t you still aiding Natasha in the archives? Do you think you could figure out what language this is and tell us what it says?” Jake sighs… “I guess I can. I’ll have to be careful, though.” Jake looks at me and I smile at him reassuringly. “Cain, I also need your help. After Jake gets back… we all need to get back into that house. There is a drawer that’s locked. I need to know what’s in it. It’s gotta be important.” Cain rolls his eyes at me… “Leave it to Grace to invade the privacy of others.” Cain laughs, shaking his head.

I turn to Jake. “Okay, so here’s the plan. You go and decipher that paper. See if you can also find out what that circle means. It can’t be a coincidence that it’s the same marking as my own. I just always had it. I didn’t think it was anything more. Now, I’m not so sure. It could help me find answers to what happened to my parents! Cain and I will gather supplies and get ready to leave for the house. We will meet back here at first light.”

“Grace, what about the festival. People are going to notice you’re missing.” Jake goads.

“Don’t worry about that. They’ll chock it up to me having cold feet about marrying Damien.” I say mockingly as I roll my eyes. Jake smiles and laughs softly as he watches my annoyance at the idea.

Cain, leans his head back… watching Jake and I interact. He starts shaking his head again, muttering to himself.

“What was that, Cain?” I ask.

“Adventures with the two of you, means third wheeling for me.” He says, throwing his hands up in the air. Jake and I start laughing. I gently push Cain on the arm… “Oh, stop. You know I love you both equally.” I say, with extra honey in my voice.

“Okay, boys! That’s the plan. It’s time for adventure and it’s definitely time to ditch lame “responsibilities”.”

“Be careful, Grace.” Jake says, grabbing my arm as we start walking away. “I want you to be happy and I hope you learn the truth. But, I just want you to guard your heart. You never know what you’ll find out there. You may never learn what really happened to your mom and dad.”

I look at Jake… I soften my eyes and squeeze his hand. “I know. I’ll be okay. I promise. I’ll see you soon! YOU be careful around Natasha.”

“Come on, Grace! I’ve gotta pick up some supplies from my dad’s workshop. He’ll be back soon.” Cain, goads.

Jake waves goodbye, puts his hands in his pockets and starts walking toward the archives. I jog to catch up with Cain. When I look back, Jake is gone. I can’t help but to feel excited!! There is so much to do. So much to learn! And, my best friends are going to be with me.

What could possibly go wrong?