Chapter 24: Announcemnt

The day opens with guards going around town, asking for an audience for the king. Just what is he going to say?

              The next morning comes and immediately the bells were ringing, horses were roaming the streets, with knights announcing to the people of the town. Cacyie wakes up to the commotion from the outside, running to the window and opening it to hear what the men are saying.” Citizens of Gerik, the king wishes for an audience, meet in the plaza for the announcement.” The people below were scrambling to get to the plaza. Cacyie closes her window and runs to the door. She opens it to Angela, getting the kids out in a hurry. Angela spots Cacyie, “Come, we got to get there.” Cacyie wasted no time to get ready.

               The king sits in his room, happy about today, he receives great news first thing in the morning. It was enough for the whole town to know as well. He prepares his outfit, tiding it up, singing a song to himself. The door knocks a few times. “Yes?”

               “We’re ready for you your highness.” He puts the crown on top of his brown, almost black hair, glancing at the mirror one last time. “Ok” He opens the door to find Charles and a few guards that are with him, “Follow me sire.” Charles bows down to him, as he leads the way to the balcony that overlooks the plaza.

               Cacyie, Angela, and the others just made it to the plaza, where all the town is, Cacyie was out of breath. The crowd cheers, Cacyie looks up to see the king, standing gloriously before everyone. Everyone simmers down, as they wait for his words. Russel clears out his throat. “Townsfolk of Gerik, Today I bring you great news. A few days ago, two people from the outside came into our little paradise, threatening our very peace, the army apprehend them, throw them to the dungeons and interrogated them.” Cacyie immediately realizes what he was talking about, fear was setting down on her.

               “We were forced to release them on the town, but deep down, all of us feared of what they will do, as you all know, crime hasn’t touched this paradise in forever. It could have been a start of one. NOT ANYMORE, I have received news this morning that one of the two intruders have perished within these walls of Gerik.” The crowd cheers for the amazing news, Cacyie stared at his words, the king who said it all. Jack has perished!? She couldn’t believe it, she didn’t want to believe it, Tears were forming under her eyes, there was no way Jack died. The king puts his hands inside the robe and pulled it out to show the crowd. “Here lies the victim’s finger, proof of his demise.”

               The townspeople applaud at the speech the king gave upon them. The memories she has of Jack runs through her mind, as his words penetrate her very soul, ringing every second. Angela notices this, pulling away from the cheering, kneeling close to her. “Hey Cacyie, you ok?” She places her hand on her, Cacyie couldn’t handle it anymore. She screams to the limit to her little lungs could handle, runs away, not a consideration of where, just not there. Angela quickly lifts her hand to avoid being dragged, calling out for Cacyie. “Cacyie!” She runs as fast as she could to the other direction.

              

               The body feels numb as he wakes up from his slumber, He slightly open his eyes to the lightbulb in the room, and a ceiling he is unfamiliar with. Jack slowly rose from the bed under him, he stretches out his arms to shake the numbness off it. While shaking, he notices on his right hand that one of his fingers is missing, it’s what they called the ring finger. He looked at both of his hands, it was only that finger that is missing. He questions about what happen and how he got into this room? He hears lots of cheering coming from outside, he sees out the window, a crowd of people gathering, and the king above them. Something must have happened for this to occur, he wonders. He sees someone screaming, coming closer to him, he recognizes that person. It was Cacyie, her face full of tears, running past the building Jack was at. And not far behind her is a woman, blue hair, following her, screaming her name.

               Jack better get back to her, he prepares to go through the window. “I see your awake now.” Jack turns to see someone at the door. The bartender from last night, greeting Jack a good morning. He enters the room with a tray with cups and a kettle. He places it down at the table near him, singling Jack to come over, “Would you care for some tea?” The bartender said.  Jack turned off his phaser and sits down at the table with the bartender. He prepares the tea for both him and Jack, he carefully sits down in the chair opposite of Jack and asked him a question. “Are you feeling alright?” Jack answer him and he finishes taking his first sip, “Feeling great now with this tea.”

               The bartender chuckles, “That’s funny, before you were in pieces in an alleyway behind my bar.” Jack nearly spits out his tea he was drinking, now he remembers, three guys, killing him. He became afraid, the bartender knows about him, Jack slowly shifts to one side of the chair, avoiding him at all cost.

               “Last night, I overheard the conversation with patrons planning to kill you. After it happened, I plan to pay respects to you, cleaning up the body and burying you somewhere. What struck me was that you were regenerating.” Jack was afraid of something like this happening, guess he has no choice but to go along with it. “Are you an immortal like I am?” The bartender proclaims. “What is an immortal?”

               The bartender was surprise of the question, he coughs before telling Jack, “An immortal is when a person doesn’t die like any other person. I am one like you, I cannot succumb to old age. Did you ever hear of a society of immortals?” Jack is avoiding eye contact with him. “No, I haven’t”

               “Its existence is a secret, but its is a place for immortals, it was founded by a blonde vampire, A safe place for all of us to be in.” Jack put down his cup of tea, “Then are you trying to recruit me?”

               “You catch up quickly, what do you say, would you like to join?” Jack got up from his chair, “I’m sorry, but I have to refuse your offer, now if you will excuse me, I got to get going.” Jack went to open the door, “You know, some people have seen you dead, you can’t just go out there now.” Jack turn his head to him, “Thank you for the tip, I’ll be fine.”

               Jack left the bartender’s home. The streets were quiet, not a single soul in sight, this makes it easier he said to himself. As he walks down the path, he thought what he should do next. He seen Cacyie crying earlier, maybe he should go back to her. He remembers the missing finger on his hand. I should get that first before I meet Cacyie.  Jack notices a crowd farther up ahead; their energy is loud and echoes. Jack investigates and sees the king up to his balcony, holding a finger in his hands. Jack looks back at his hands and sees that it was his missing finger. Guess I must meet the king now.