Dance of the Damned

Hide and Sneak

A boy stood in the shadows, wrapping himself in the darkest clothing possible while trying to steady his breath.

His head spun while he tried to keep his stance steady.

Why now? Of all times, why now?

Only the day before, he received a letter to come to the meeting place of Division Five, an old abandoned building in the corner of the town.

Excitement dance in him as he waited impatiently for the appointed him and rushed there as quickly as possible.

In the abandoned building were about sixty-four people all gathered and eagerly talking with each other about what might be happening now.

"Heris!" Another boy called him to a small crowd of people as he made his way to them. "How was the mission?"

"I think it was a success." He said, not entirely sure. "After I separated with the master, I rode around, before 'disappearing'. I haven't heard anything since."

______________________

As he was wearing a mask, it was easy for Heris to 'disappear'.

Heris was given spare clothes that he changed into while the other three waiting for him took the bodies in other sacks while they are dressed as peddlers.

Once he changed, someone else took his clothes from before and horse, and they all went their separate ways, not saying one word to the other.

He walked home without a hitch and that was the end of it. He was not called or informed of anything else that might have happened after that so, when he got this letter, he was happy beyond belief.

.

No one knows what this meeting might be about but everyone that was able to make it, made it. Now they are in the building, waiting for Teri to arrive.

___________________

“Well, you were able to go there.” His friend laughed, patting him on the shoulder. “So … how was he?”

“He still looked the same as when I saw him earlier this year,” Heris said, looking starry-eyed again. “But he is glowing, even more, this time and he was so quick, so elegant, so-“

“Ok, we get it.” A girl huffed, blowing her hair out of the front of the mask. “You were some of the luckiest people to be able to meet him. Great.”

“Awww~. Is little Clover upset that she was not able to meet Roshi?” The other boy asked, mocking the girl.

“Shut up, Flooch.” She hissed, frowning at him. “If we are to select a new one this time, it will be me.”

“Of course, Clo.” Heris said, “But I am still going to do my best.”

“And I expect you to.” She said smugly when the noise died down immediately.

The three turned and saw Teri finally entered with a man beside her, the two whispered to each other before going to the front.

“Doesn’t she look majestic?” Flooch asked, hands on his cheeks. “She is the only reason I joined the Lion in the first place.”

“That is …” Heris began.

“… petty.” Clover continued, looking at him judgmentally.

“You two have to right to say anything.” He complained and pointed to Heris. “You joined because of your crush on Roshi and you are no different from this boy here.”

“Most of the people are here for Roshi. Not all, but most.” The girl shrugged. “He is well known where I was from. I heard rumours and wanted to see if he was real, apparently, he was.”

“He looks fragile but is anything but that,” Heris said, smiling. “I can see why he is called the Angel of Death now. Hey, do you know about the game he likes to play? It’s hide and seek. We played it with the men we were after.”

“You played a game?” Frooch asked skeptical.

“How did you play it?” Clover asked, trying not to show interest.

“Well, there were three men and there were three of us. Each of us took one man and ran in the opposite direction. Roshi counted until ten and came to find us.” He said, sighing at the memory.

“I was so quiet, not even my hose made a noise who I heard a whisper in my ears and turned to see him standing in front of the frightened man screaming his lungs out.

“I don’t know how he found us but was stuck in my spot. Especially when he said, ‘good job’ to me and ‘come’.”

By now, Clover was seething with jealousy and Frooch had to stand in between the two to try and stop her from attacking him when they heard someone clearing their throat.

All their attention turned to the front as Teri finally spoke.

“As you all know, we were part of the First Phase of Operation Eggs.” She announced. “And I am pleased to tell you all that Phase One and Two are successful!”

Cheers broke out all over the place as Heris released a sigh of relief, turning to his friends who beamed at him.

“I would like to congratulate Heris as well.” Everyone instantly turned to Heris who was happy he had a mask on otherwise they would spot his red face. “Carvill is impressed with you, kid.”

More cheers filled the room as Frooch hugged his friend happily. “Congratulations!”

“Thank you.” He said, nodding at Teri who nodded back. “Now, we are preparing for Phase Three which will happen in a week’s time. I will be bringing one person with me tomorrow. So, we will have a competition right now with you all. Bruce?”

The man beside the woman walked forward, holding a piece of paper in his hands. “Carvill gave this to us to determine the winner. I will explain it now!”

A good couple of hours later, only two people are yet to be found.

Heris and Clover, but there is only a few seconds left to the game and sixty- two people were keeping an eye out for them.

Heris fought hard to the end, but Clover was able to win and was chosen to come to the competition.

But something happened only that morning that threw Division Five off almost instantly.

________________________

"Hello." A girl suddenly appeared in front of Heris, startling him.

"Who-?"

"Do you remember me?" She asked, pointing to herself, wisps of her brown hair falling to her face covered in a mask. "We met before this started."

"Oh, you. You were the one with the Third Division Madam." He said, looking at her closely while trying to steady his breathing, "What are you doing here?"

"You were with Division Five, right? What's your name? I am Juliet." The girl announced, keeping her voice below a whisper.

"I don't have the time to introduce myself to you." He said, peeking out of the cloth and barely missing Dorit's gaze.

That was a close one.

"You sure are uptight." The girl chuckled. "Well, we are in a competition, after all. But why are you here? Didn't you join them for phase one?"

"How did you know that?" Haris asked, frowning. "No one except the masters knows who was there in the missions."

"Maybe I am just great at getting information." She shrugged. "Well, I wish you the best. But I am going to win."

With that, she pulled back the covers, moving away with the cloth as Heris suddenly was in plain view of everyone in the room.

"Division Five! Heris is out!" Moru shouted, pointing to the man standing there, back to the wall looking as confused as almost everyone was.

Huh? What the hell just happened?

"Heris," Carvill called to the boy, bringing him back to the present.

"Yes." He said, walking to them in the middle. He turned to Teri who was watching from the balcony. "I am sorry, Fifth Division Master!"

He bowed to her direction, lowering his head as low as possible, if he could go lower, he would have done it.

But he heard a clap, making him look up to see Teri clapping for him. "Great job, Heris! Very good job."

“Thank you!” he shouted, bowing at her though he could not help being disappointed in himself as they tried to find the last person.

Will anyone even be able to do this? In the end?

A whistle brought their attention back to them to their left and there was the last person with her object in its place as the time ran out.

"The winner for tonight is Juliet, Division Three!" Carvill announced as Heris stared at her blankly, disappointment growing in him.

I am so sorry, Clover.