idk If this is meant to be the story or not but I’m putting it here either way so
Burning Plans
Sounds of arguments, light pen scratching, and Ezra’s quiet giggling from another one of Sarro’s dark yet humorous comments fills the Alastriona’s smallish hideout. The only over top light flickering occasionally, casting uneven shadows over the dark wooden walls.
“For the last time, Ezra…” Maylee in a controlled yet clearly pissed tone warned threateningly, her knuckles turning white from how tight she’s clutching her simple black pen. “Stop bumping into me when I’m marking the map so the plan doesn’t explode in our faces. Literally!”
Ezra takes a few steps back quietly into one of the corners of the hideout, sinking into a sitting position with her back to the wall, eyes down to the dark wooden floor that’d give splintering in your feet if you don't wear shoes. She had almost immediately stopped giggling when she heard Maylee’s barely controlled voice.
Kyren crosses his arms. “Can we just hurry up and pick a plan already?” Kyren tiredly asks, his legs starting to cramp from how long he’s been standing.
Sarro lets out a short laugh, turning his head slightly to look at Kyren. “Not until Maylee figures out a plan that won’t get us killed. Or ask Saoira when they finally get over here.” Sarro pauses for a moment before adding sarcastically. “Unless you want to die, which, well, free bait.”
Maylee rolls her eyes at Sarro’s usual dark humor, going back to making the map of the Cloulties, a group that has recently revealed themselves and gained an overwhelming amount of media attention for gifting and trying to get Saoira to join them repeatedly.
Then the Alastrionas’ hideout door knob turned. Everybody assumes the worst, except Kyren. “Oh, come on. It’s probably nothing.” Kyren’s voice falls on deaf ears as everyone else overreacts.
Sarro grabs one of his knives and moves near the door into a defensive position. Maylee’s eyes narrow as she holds out her pen in front of her, despite her knowing that a pen against an actually dangerous threat would do close to nothing. Ezra immediately springs up from her corner to behind a chair, using it as protection in case since everyone else seems to be freaking out.
The door opens and Saoira takes a step in. Sarro nearly stabs Saoira, but catches himself when he realizes it isn’t a threat. “Tense?” Saoira’s eyes flicker to Ezra’s spot behind her chair for a second, almost relievingly. “It’s cute.” They calmly sit down in Maylee’s chair where the map is on the worn down table.
“Speak of the devil, Kyren. It’s her, Sao.” Sarro feels Saoira’s piercing glare on his back and quickly corrects himself to avoid permanent bodily harm. “I mean Saoira, they’re a they, not a she… got it. I would never say Sao, pff, never… must’ve been that cheeky wind…!” Today was a particularly breezeless day. He then proceeds to awkwardly lean against the wall like he did nothing wrong.
Maylee drops her pen down next to the map when she assumes all is good, no threats, a minor lapse in her judgement. Ezra slowly rises and inches to a drawer where white out is, thinking hell is going to break if the ink isn’t gone. Despite not having done it, Ezra feels guilty. Saoira narrows their eyes, looking straight into Maylee’s bright green eyes with their own amber ones. Maylee’s expression changed from relaxed to immediate regret, picking up her pen and staring at the slight pen mark.
Ezra quickly hands the white out to Saoira and their eyes seem to soften the slightest, only noticeable to Maylee’s observant eyes. Saoira gently uses the white out on the map, though the white is too bright for the map, it feels more out of place. In a deathly calm tone Saoira murmurs, grabbing the map and ripping it in two, “You’re lucky I’m feeling generous today."
Maylee’s eyes widen as she looks at the now two piece map in Saoira’s hands, the action they took was completely useless in her eyes. “What was-?! …that for…?” Her tone rising but dropping quieter halfway through her outburst.
“We will go into their base and show that I will not join them without the map. Do you have a problem with that, Maylee?” They say, as if challenging her.
Tense silence.
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“Why is the Cloulties base so damn high? All that they’re hiding is gifts and praises to Say-or-uh to try and drag them into their little group, ugh” Kyren rolled his eyes, annoyed that he got dragged along on what’s turning into a hike more than anything. Kyren was right, for once. The thing that the Cloulties are mainly known for in Dandiflo is for appearing randomly in the city and trying to drag Saoira into the light once they heard of them. The Cloultie’s base was ridiculously high, trees scattered and dust getting kicked up by the Alastriona group’s well-worn footwear.
Saoira is walking slightly farther in the back than everyone else, on the farthest edge of the mountains. Ezra quietly inches next to Saoira, her light steps barely making a sound on the dusty, worn “path” uphill.
Finally after what feels like forever of going up silently, the Alastrionas make it up. “It looks like an ‘amazing’ base.” Sarro says sarcastically, staring at what looks like a cheap wannabe of Santa’s workshop without the Christmas decorations. He stops and turns to Maylee who’s been extra cautious of what he assumes of when Saoira ripped the plan map in two. She has been extra on edge and irritable since she saw the map though, checking everything more than usual. “Maylee, ya scared something gonna go wrong~?” Sarro teases.
She sharply turns away from Sarro to face the base, “I’m only being prepared, they must’ve chosen this spot for a reason and I doubt it was for the…-” pauses for a moment, taking in the height, her breath getting caught in her throat noticeably. She swallows the feeling away, “…view..” A cliff lies in front of them.
Saoira stares over the edge. “This would be a great place to jump off. It’d kill you almost instantly once you hit the ground.” They say, ignoring Maylee’s obvious discomfort with heights with their usual eerie bluntness.
Ezra is behind Saoira and she speaks up in a quiet, nervous voice. “I wouldn’t stand that close to the edge, Saoira…” she says while putting her hands gently and lightly on Saoira’s shoulders, the only person they allow to touch them for more than an accidental moment. Kyren rolls his eyes, walking forward to the Cloulties base, not waiting for anyone else as he wants this done and over with.
Maylee notices and she immediately shouts, momentarily forgetting about the height, “Don’t you dare go without us! I haven’t even checked if there’s weapons or bombs or-“
Sarro interrupts with his usual dark sarcastic tone “Oh, let him explode, it’d teach him well~” as he walks to where Kyren had stopped when Maylee shouted.
Kyren groans. “Then hurry up, this is a waste of time to just climb up here to prove a point that the ‘amazing Saoira’ won’t join them. Tell them over the phone or text them something!” He then continues walking up without further acknowledgment.
Ezra hesitantly pulls on Saoira’s arm lightly to get them to stop looking over the edge and to come with them. “Coming, coming…” Saoira mutters, glancing down one last time before striding ahead, leaving Ezra in the back, most definitely the safest position.
Sarro jokingly knocks on the door, the only thing that seems new as it’s bright red and not worn down to dust. Maylee’s eyes widened, “Sarro! What the heck?!” She hisses as she yanks his arm back, almost painfully. It’s definitely going to leave a red mark. “We STILL don’t know if there’s traps!” She turns around to face almost everyone. “Stop being naive for more than 5 minutes! That’s all I’m asking! Gosh…”
Saoira nods, as if they take orders from Maylee, which they never have. Maylee looks slightly shocked but Saoira, less than a second later, walks up and practically bangs on the door. She should’ve expected this. Maylee lets out a sigh.
Very soon after, maybe 30 seconds later, there’s a sound of light but controlled footsteps coming closer to the door. “Who is it?” A decently nice tone asked, maybe too nice.
Saoira rolls their eyes. “Your worst nightmare.” They reply dryly, their eyes narrowing. Ezra sinks further back than she already is in the group but Sarro holds onto her hand so she can’t go too far.
Surprisingly, the person immediately recognizes Saoira’s voice and she opens the door fast and wide, revealing herself and a glimpse of inside. The girl looks maybe a year or two older than Saoira, a very flowing yet mobile wardrobe choice with her long ash brown hair shaping her face. An approachable and bright presence practically radiates from her, causing Saoira to take a step back as if it physically hurt them.
Sarro lets go of Ezra, letting out a sarcastic remark. “So they also have a star on the Christmas tree, a perfect topper to this ‘Santa’s workshop’ vibe.”
The girl laughs as if it’s the funnest thing she’s ever heard. “Why thank you!” short momentary pause. “Assuming that you’re here, you must know my name so no need for an intro-“
Saoira cuts her off in a blank voice. “I could care less getting to know you.”
Maylee looks at Saoira like they’re crazy and steps forward, though not daring to touch them. “What they’re trying to say is that they’re not into formalities, nothing against you so don’t take it personally.”
The girl nods as if it’s the most important thing in the world to know. “Well then, I’m Avalon!” A quick glance at Saoira. “But you can call me Ava.” She smiles brightly while Saoira rolls their eyes at her. “Are you finally thinking of joining the Cloulties? I knew my bugging would reach you someday.”
Without waiting for an answer, interrupting Saoira before they can say anything, she gestures inside. “Come in! I insist, really.” She holds the door open.
Sarro strides in as if he owns the place while Maylee gives Avalon a mini smile before practically dragging Ezra in with her.
When Kyren walks inside after them, he says, “They just want to tell you to f- off.” He bluntly states. Avalon pretends to have not heard him and takes Saoira’s hand to pull them in excitedly.
“Get your hand off me, psycho.” Saoira yanks their hand away from Avalon’s. They look at their hand in disgust, wiping it on their pants. A few moments later, when Ezra is out of sight with the others, they slowly take a step in.
The inside is exactly what you’d expect for a non-Christmas, low budget version of Santa’s workshop except it seems almost homier.
Ezra quietly convinces Maylee to tell the others to wait up for Saoira, stopping in what seems to be a living room. There are four others sitting in different places around the living space. Two of them are on the floor next to each other. Another one sitting on the arm of one of those one-seater couches, not even the seat itself. The last person had now just left the room before they even saw the Alastriona’s come in.
Saoira reaches Ezra and the others with Avalon trailing behind like a persistent creature. “Oh, I see you've already seen my little group!” Avalon practically yells, from excitement of course. “Introduce yourselves to them, if you may.”
Saoira, in their usual dead tone, “No, do it first and maybe, only maybe, we’ll do the same.”
One of the people sitting on the floor stand, speaking up, “Mm, k. I go by Rylan. She.” He gestures to the other person that was sitting on the floor with him. “Her name is Cirelle.” He turns to the last one in the room. “The one on the chair is Travin.” He does a quick scan of the area. “Oh, Lioraen must’ve left to her- I mean his space.”
Avalon turns to the main center, looking at Saoira, not even waiting for Maylee to introduce the Alastrionas to her own group. “If you don’t mind, can I borrow Saoira for a moment? I won’t be long! The rest of the Cloutlies can stay here with you while you all wait.” She walks to the next room over, assuming Saoira will follow. Saoira sighs but follows.
Avalon dramatically clears her throat after she closes the door, “Now that we’re alone, you should join me and the rest of the Cloulties! We’re a nice group.”
“No.” Saoira blandly denies.
“Pretty please?”
“F- off.” They turn to leave back to the Alastrionas.
Avalon lets out a slightly frustrated sigh, but puts on a smile, tilting her head slightly, “I knew you’d say that, so I’ll do some… convincing.”
Saoira, already assuming what she’ll try, stares straight at her, their voice only reaching a threatening whisper. “Go ahead. Try and kill them. I dare you. They’ll bite your head off.” They pause a moment before adding. “I bet… no, I know how much the media would love that, wouldn’t they?”
Avalon’s smile falters, weighing her options. “No trustworthy witnesses. On your side at least. Do you think the people would believe you over me?”
Saoira laughs. Laughs. At a time like this. “You don’t get it, do you? I don’t care what the media thinks.” They take a step closer. “I just know that if you even try to do such, you and your people are dead. Do you understand me?”
Avalon turns around. “Let’s go outside, shall we? We don’t want the rest of your Alaistriona group to overhear our friendly… disagreement, do you?”
“Fine, make it quick.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ezra is sitting quietly, slightly curled up, next to Cirelle. She’s pretty with her dark updo hairstyle, thin-rimmed glasses, and long dress that goes down to her ankles. She whispers to her hesitantly, “What’s taking them so long…?”
Cirelle whispers back, almost inaudibly, "Probably nothing to worry about, Avalon has been really insistent on Saoira joining us, I’m not very sure why though.” She almost immediately changes the topic. “Can you hand me that book on the shelf?”
Ezra rises to get the book but her mind spins with possibilities on what’s taking so long despite Cirelle’s almost immediate change of conversion. “I’ll look in the room they went in, just a second…” The shelf is near the door they went through anyway, perfect. Ezra walks over there, just peeking in the room for a moment. They’re not there. Ezra hesitantly takes a step in when she sees a door that leads outside.
“What are you doing?!” Someone hisses. Ezra assumes it must be Lioraen.
“Nothing!” Ezra says louder than necessary, something that happens when she’s nervous. “I was just wondering why Saoira and Avalon are taking so long!”
“Get. Out.”
“Okay…” Ezra goes out but after only a few moments, quietly goes back in. It was just enough time to see Lioraen exit. “Why is he going out…? Maybe that’s where Avalon and Saoira is.” She mutters under her breath to herself. Ezra, her steps barely making a sound, goes out.
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Standing near the edge, too close, with Avalon is Saoira. Lioraen is quietly approaching from behind Saoira. It doesn’t seem like Saoira notices. “The arguing is useless. Kill one of my people, you're dead. Ask me to join one more time, you’re dead. I have more combat training than you do and I don’t hesitate."
Avalon gives Lioraen a barely noticeable glance, not seeing Ezra. “I know you do. I know that very well. But you don’t know me very well. Or my members. You barely even know their names and don’t get me started on one of them.”
Ezra realizes what Lioraen is going to do as he goes closer. She runs as quickly as she can to Saoira to stop Lioraen from pushing them off.
Saoira only hears frantic, quick footsteps. They turn and see Ezra fling herself as fast as she can at Lioraen, going off the edge. Ezra saved them for the cost of her life.
“Ezra…” They look over the edge where they had just hit the ground, a bloody mess though from the height Saoira is at it’s a strain to see the details. Grief fills their body.
Saoira slowly looks back at Avalon. “You’re dead.” Straight up and blunt, Avalon knows that they mean it.
Avalon smiles, accepting her fate. “It was so worth it to see that flicker of grief on your face.” Her last words. Saoira shoves her off the cliff where Ezra jumped.
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“If you’ll excuse us.” Maylee politely says, standing up. “I’ll be looking for Ezra. She probably went outside with Saoira so we’ll be saying our goodbyes. Saoira will probably call us out any second now anyway.” Everyone there quickly says bye flatly.
Kyren and the others exit the Cloulties base, unaware of what broke out in the span of only a few minutes.
Maylee spots Saoira first with a more serious face than they usually have. She then sees the lighter in their hand. Maylee jogs up to Saoira. “What are you doing? Where’s Avalon? Weren’t you talking to her?” Sarro, seeing the lighter, pulls out his box of matches just in case.
Ignoring her questions, “You’re leaving this country before dawn.” With a flick of their thumb, a small flame rose from a lighter. “Make sure no one leaves the building.” Saoira snatches one of Sarro’s matches, lighting it with the lighter, and tosses it.
Saoira falls to their knees near the flame. “Don’t cry for me, leave. Now.” The flames swallow them, no remorse. Kyren, Maylee, and Sarro watch in disbelief.
Saoira didn’t scream or fight it, simply accepting their end. “Fair trade.” They murmur, letting the flames do the rest.
(The end was clearly rushed because I had a maximum of 3000 words. Yes this was for school but I loved it sm)