The Bloom Titan (1/2)

CH.60: Outside the Walls

We start running up the stairs full speed. Once we reached the top, we walked over the path and stopped just before the grass. And I couldn't believe my eyes.

A massive plains spread out before us, a small pond not far from where we stood. The grass was lush and had multiple flowers covering it in small patches. The smell of freshness kicking in. The sky was a great blue with a fair amount of fluffy clouds in it.

It was beautiful.

To the left of the plains you could see the airdock with the Blimp sticking out of it.

"It's so big...!" Faye smiles, a sense of euphoria in her tone. I look down at her. Her eyes had a sparkle in them, reflecting her happiness.

"Have you come to see the airship, too?" A masculine voice asks out of nowhere. I jump out of my skin as I see three officers sitting down on the grass. One was a lady with ebony hair with sharp blue eyes that look like the ocean. There was no whisp of emotion in them, making it seem like you could drown in them. Her skin was ivory with light freckles over her cheeks and forearms.

Another was a man with dirty blonde hair and lightly tanned skin. His eyes blue like the lady's but not as dead.

"Huh? Uh, yes..." Grisha stammers, taking a step back as Faye grabs his arm. I stand my ground.

"You from the Liberio Internment Zone? Let's see your exit permit." A lady asks, standing up and putting her cap on. I go into my blazer pocket searching for my permit I got from Uncle Xavi. My breath catches in my throat. It wasn't there.

I glance over to Grisha who was also searching for his permit frantically. But he also freezes when he takes out his hand.

"I don't have one." I stutter. "B-But, I'm an Honorary Marleyan!" I grip my armband in my hand. The lady walks up to me and bends down, taking the band in her hand.

She glances up at the other two officers. "She's telling the truth. But, it doesn't seem like the other two are related to her though." She stands up and walks over to a man with dirty blonde hair.

"So the other two entered the city without permission? You know what that means, right?" The blonde man walks over to Grisha and kneels down. "Labor or punishment. Which is it?"

Grisha gulps and looks the man in the eyes. "Punishment." My eyes widen.

"Grisha!" Faye cry's out. The man looks surprised.

"Oh? You don't want to trouble you parents?" He asks, sounding amused

"Yes. I forced my sister to come with me! Please give her punishment to me, too!" Grisha shouts sheepishly. I start shaking my head.

No, no, no! I forced you to come with me! I should be getting the-" Grisha turns round and looks me in the eye. He looked confident and his expression told me 'I'll be alright. Let me do this'.

"Very well." The blonde man stands up and grabs Grisha's collar and knee's him in the stomach.

"Grisha!" I cry out. The black haired lady wraps her arm round my shoulders to stop me from stopping him.

"Man, go easy on him, Kruger" A short, fat man chuckles walking past them. He sits a hand on Faye's shoulder and guides her down the stairs. "Come on, let's get you on your way home."

I claw at the lady's arm as I watch Grisha get another blow to the stomach. "Grisha!" I wail, tears pricking the edge of my eyes. "Please let me go!"

The lady lifts me up in the air and I kick my legs. "Please calm down." She says sternly. The man stops and lets Grisha go. The lady does the same and I sprint over to Grisha who was clutching his stomach.

I reach my friend and I sit my hand on his back. "Are you alright?!" I question. I start rubbing his back, trying to sooth the pain. He slowly lifts his head to face me and a brave smile is painted over his lips.

"I'm okay." He smiles, his voice was strained. My eyebrows knit together as I didn't believe him.

The pretty lady and the man that was called 'Kruger', sit side-by-side on the grass.

"It was smart not to take off your armbands. Eldians without one are sent to Paradise, even if they're kids." The lady says, taking a long puff of a cigar.

"We'll go home." I take Grisha's hand in mine and pull him up onto his feet.

"Wait." The Kruger man stops us. "Didn't you two come to see the blimp? Might as well see it." I glance over at Grisha who nods. I sigh and take a seat on the grass, a meters length away from the officers. I done that on purpose though. They hurt Grisha.

"So, little girl. What's your name?" The lady asks looking over in my direction.

"Arielle. Arielle Harper, from the noble family." I reply, keeping up my brave act although I was quaking on the inside. I notice the officers stiffen.

"Excuse me. What?" Kruger asks, clearly shaken. His actions give me fuel to keep up my act.

"Yep. I'm Arielle Harper, I'm Xavi Tyber's niece." I say almost smugly. The female officer looks my way with a surprised look on her features.

"Shouldn't you start going home then? I heard they were having a family meeting about who's gonna inherit the War Hammer next." She asks, quirking one of her eyebrows.

I freeze. That's right, I need to hurry home. I remember mother telling me to come home before dinner time in the strictest tone ever. "What time is it?" I ask, sitting up. The lady reaches into her jacket and pulls out a pocketwatch. She flicks it open and looks at the time.

"It's twenty past four." She flips it back into her pocket. "You should get going, Miss Harper."

I nod and stand up, offering a hand to Grisha. He takes it and I pull him to his feet. "I shall. Now, goodbye." I reply, not letting go of Grisha's hand as I was too scared to let go. I didn't want them to try anything again. Crap. I hope Faye is alright.

I walk down the steps, still clinging to Grisha as if it was a choice between life or death. Grisha and Faye have been my good friends since I bumped into them on my way to school. I had fortuitously knocked Faye over as I was walking and felt horrible immediately after and as a result I offered that I could make it up to them by being their friend. That happened four months ago, not long ago but it feels as if I've known them my whole life.

Grisha suddenly freezes and I lose my grip on him. I turn round to face him and a look of panic is evident over his features. "Arielle. Where's Faye?" He asks with a look of sheer terror.

I swallow a lump in my throat. "The third officer offered to take her home." I reply, reaching forward to grab his hand with mine again. He lets me take it and softens a bit, but not enough to hide his worry.

"I hope he actually took her home." Grisha utters under his breath. A knot forms in my stomach, a bad feeling kicking in.

So do I, Grisha.

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OMG, I've not spoke of this yet but- This book has over 2.5k reads?! That's like almost five thousand eyeballs reading this book!

I would like to thank you all for reading his book as you've kept my urge to continue writing this book. I had writers block until I got a heart-warming comment from one of my readers that cleared my clouded thoughts and helped me finish this chapter. So, a massive thank you to, Blessing244603 as you've aided me big time. I was even thinking of not continuing this book. But, again thank you and have a good day/night and I hope to see you again soon in the next chapter, 'Malice'

Sayonara