Chapter 39

Archer POV:

I was shocked too seeing Julian lying on the bed. Watching them reunite makes me emotional as well. I have a huge respect for that man in my heart because he is brave and selfless and because I know he is very much important a person to Dawn.

“He is a brave man” Elijah says “And it is good to see you both unite”

“How did you find him?” I ask the Monk.

“We found him in a pretty bad condition. He was shot at his shoulder and the bullet was lodged inside. Luckily, he managed to get out in time of the burning car and hide in the darkness behind the stone bench of the park. He was not spotted by anyone. When the field was clear Tristan and Jonas found him unconscious. They were my men until Madame Lorraine took them in her custody. They were lucky to be there and then they carried him here. We don’t believe in modern medical science here; all our processes are inspired by medieval to old era methods, but they are surprisingly effective. Healing is slower but it happens effectively without any side effects. Those monks in black clothes are our best medics here. We treated him, he is still weak, but the medics stated that he will live and cure eventually” He says

“Thank you” Dawn says tears still leaking from her eyes.

“I didn’t do anything. It seems like goddess Brigid is on your side. You can take some time with him but don’t spend too much. He needs to rest and so do you. We have early morning trainings, and I was specifically asked by Madame Lorraine to coach you. I shall take your excuse now and we will meet tomorrow at five in the morning.” He walks away and I watch him go feeling queasy. There is something about him that makes him out of place and to confirm my thoughts I understand his motto is to be out of place. He is the leader of a cult which feels, looks, and believes into everything back in time. While that is spooky considering how we are raised in our lives but right now everything is turning out to be in our favor. I watch them talk remembering their old jokes. After few minutes, a monk comes to the bed carrying a full of poultices and a bowl of soup.

“Dawn I think we should go. Let Julian rest” I say.

“Yes” she says rubbing her eyes a final time “I will come back and see you okay. Rest and heal and then you have to take me on a long drive”

“It will be my pleasure” Julian says with a smile. We are taken back to our dormitory by the guard which is okay by me because every pathway looks the same to me and the chance of getting lost is pretty high. I call for a meeting in our room and disclose that Julian is alive. Everyone is ecstatic by the news, everyone but June who has an attitude on her face. WE all ignore her.

“Monk Elijah said there will be training tomorrow morning at five. So take a good night’s rest and be present in the morning. I think it is good if we start practicing.” Everyone agrees.

“What about Damien? He can’t drill now” Krista says.

“I can at least watch or practice shooting if they allow me.” Damien protests.

“I will ask him about your wound. I think they can help you heal. Till then I think it is better that you be present there. Jenny you need not fight with us. It is not safe, and you voluntarily came to help us.”

“I want to help you very badly, but I am not a fighter, and I may hurt the mission rather than helping” she says timidly “I hope you all don’t think that I am coward”

“No” Dawn goes up to her and places her hand around Jenny’s shoulders “You don’t think that for one second. You can help us in lots of ways”

“But I want to learn to fight too” She says.

“That’s okay and probably you should learn basic fighting too. We start from tomorrow.” We talk for a while and then everyone retires to their respective rooms. I ask Jenny and Skye to be alert of June and Skye suggests to lock her without telling her. Although she has promised to behave she is not at all trustworthy. Dawn thinks for a while, and she tells us that she will handle it. When she comes back I know for sure that she is agitated and assume that they might have had a heated argument. I pull her on the bed, and we lie down for a while silently.

“Was it bad?” I ask.

“It is always bad with her. I try not to react, but she absolutely hates me, and it is hard not to project similar feelings.”

“I understand. She won’t run will she?”

“No. She is a coward, and I told her stories enough to keep her in her room” She says.

“Okay. Hey, come here” I nudge her closer to me and she scoots closer keeping her head on my chest. I brush her hair from her face and keep running my fingers through her hair.

“Archer?”

“Hmm?”

“Have you ever been in love before?”

“No. There was a girl I used to like back in the orphanage, but it was nothing and she moved out. Have you?” I ask hoping the answer will be no.

“No. I never talked with boys. I thought I was not capable of loving anyone if I can’t love my mother” She says.

“Then what changed?”

“Everything I guess. I think something broke inside me when I spent my days at the cabin. I had dreams of moving out and having a real life you know” she pauses for a while and then continues again “But I never got to ask my father. I was a prisoner there at my own house and I had no idea. All my life I have blamed myself to be the cause of my mother’s death and I thought that is why my father was cold towards me. But I was grateful and foolish I guess.” I can listen to the emotion in her voice. I know the hurt and it hurts me too. We could have a great life, but it got destroyed by a sick game played by a mentally sick man. I don’t know if we both can overcome our hurts and forget the pain, but I know she will make the bearing easier for me. I hope I can make it easier for her too.

“The way he was gloating of killing all those people and then regretting about not being able to kill me as a baby was disgusting. I wanted to kill him or die trying. I had so much respect for him, and everything shattered by his confession”

“Don’t cry Dawn” I say.

“No it’s all right, it better come out.” She says so I rub her back and try to soothe her. “You know what kept me together?”

“What?” I whisper.

“The memories of that night talking to you in front of the sea. I thought of the sea too, I took my strength from the waves, and I had Terry. I had to make sure that he was safe and that kept me going. But I was so scared, I couldn’t sleep.” She buries her face in the crook of my neck clutching my t-shirt.

“It’s okay.” I say holding her fragile form closer to my body. I get afraid too and I also couldn’t sleep when you were gone. You are very brave and what you did for Terry is something I couldn’t have thought of doing if I were at your place”

“I think about you too now. After I read that letter from your mom, I feel he shattered your life too because you had wonderful parents you know. I wish I had parents like yours” My throat chokes up too, but I gently lift her head up and kiss her wet lips softly.

“You don’t have to feel bad for anyone Dawn, never for me. You are the only source of peace in my life now. I was a mess, I was scared and annoyed and hurt too that I had so much burden put on me. I never wanted to be a killer but growing up I forgot to be anything but a killer. When you came, you brought out that side of me which I kept buried. I don’t know how it happened, but I fell for you, and it felt that I knew you all along. We could have been friends if everything had gone all right all those years back. But you know what? We are here together. I am holding you and you are keeping me together. I will be there for you all my life I promise. I won’t keep you caged, never. I will protect you and support you in everything you do. After this is all over I will take you anywhere you want to go.”

She smiles at me innocently and asks, “Will you take me to the sea again?”

“I will. You have a lot of making up to do with the sea”

“I know” she laughs lightly burying her face again.

“I love you Dawn” I say with all my heart and all my sincerity I feel in my blood.

“I love you too” she whispers back and slowly we both drift into sleep entangled in each other’s arms.