Ch 79 (I really hope you guys like this one)

With the Goblins handled Jordans faction began the clean-up and looting. My contributions had been small and Ellison’s had been nothing so when we both were awarded 100 UBC’s it felt like a win still. 

Jordan approached at an eager jog, flashing a grin as he looked over his people’s work. 

“So, not too bad huh?” Jordan sniffed looking over his people's work. “Sorry we didn’t give you more work to do, Layton.”

Oh Jordan had already given me plenty of work to do. But as far as this fight went I was basically moral support, even the dome I had cast wasn’t tested. Just another helpless faction throwing themselves against the rocks. The thought of it made my stomach turn.

“That’s alright.” I shrugged. “I actually prefer when I don’t have to use my healing skills, it means no one was hurt enough to need healing.”

Jordan just smiled. “I couldn’t have said it better myself.” He made a show of looking about. 

“Where is your archer friend, Nick?”

My skin crawled at Jordan speaking my friend's name, but I kept my voice level.

“You know–I am not really sure. I saw him chatting over there with Tom as things calmed down a bit.” I nodded in the direction of where I had last seen Nick. Obviously I knew he was long gone by now. 

He glanced where I indicated. 

“Hmm… any idea where they were heading?” 

Jordan was just so good at acting. He probably assumed that Tom had decided to lure Nick away to accomplish his dark deed. Little did he know we had caught wind of it and countered his plans. The fact that Jordan had been under the impression Tom had any hope of overcoming Nick on his own was laughable. 

I just shrugged it away. “I thought you might know why they had left together. Should we be concerned?”

Jordan gave a comforting smile. “No! Not at all, I’m not sure what they're up to but I trust Tom completely.”

Sure he did. He trusts Tom to kill Nick. The manipulation this man could weave was terrifying. Jordan was setting the table perfectly–if only he had all the pieces. It was chilling. There was a part of me that wanted to condemn the people in this faction for allowing such corruption to happen right under their noses. 

And certainly there was blame to place. But on the other hand they were facing a master. It was time to put an end to this. 

My eyes narrowed. “So should we wait for them to get back before you meet with your faction?”

“I don’t think we have to wait.” He surveyed what was left of goblins. “We are pretty much wrapped up here and I’m sure they will show up sooner or later.”

Yes they would. 

“People are probably already gathering to hear an update on the monster. There is no point keeping them all waiting.”

Jordan turned to leave. “What are you going to tell them?” I shout after him. 

He didn’t turn just shouted back. “The truth.” 

He waved for me to follow. 

I didn’t know what he planned to tell his faction, but there was one thing that I knew for sure. Whatever he was about to say–it was not going to be the truth. 

-

The group of fighters trudged back into town and we followed suit. 

Jordan was right, the faction had gathered. Thousands of people milled around in the dirt streets, some avoiding the crowd by sitting on top of the makeshift cabins. 

In the center of it all was a small raised platform that rose to Layton’s shoulders–around five feet high and fifteen by fifteen feet wide. 

There were stairs leading to the top but Jordan ignored them, choosing to easily leap onto the platform. 

Ellison and I made our way to the front of the crowd where we could easily watch the proceedings. My palms were sweaty. I still hadn’t really figured out how I was going to intervene on Jordans speech, I just figured I would know when the time was right. 

Jordan paced the stage taking in the crowd of people. He plastered on a huge smile. 

“Another raid successfully defended!” He raised his hands. “Can we get a cheer for our brave militia?”

The crowd obliged, clapping and shouting praise to the faction's militia. I eyed the crowd and noticed that although there were many who cheered loudly, there were still many who didn’t applaud. It gave me some hope that not everyone here was under Jordans thumb. 

“With each victory we get another step closer to connecting with civilization. Each monster we kill is a building block toward our growth!”

More applause.  

Jordan waved his hands to calm the cheers. “Yes. YES!” he continued to wave the crowd silent. 

“It feels good to have another victory.” He nodded at the crowd and his face grew solemn. 

“But as good as this victory feels, I can’t celebrate fully–how can I? When we have all faced and continue to face so much loss?”

He let his words settle onto the crowd.

“I think it would be appropriate now to take a moment of silence to the victims of the disappearances. Let’s all bow our heads in respect for those who are lost or who have lost.”

My fists clench as I listen to this man work his web of lies. My fists clench even harder as I watch the crowd bow their heads. I console myself with the fact that they don’t know the truth. Jordan waits for a few seconds then continues on. 

“It’s for those people that I have brought everyone together today. Some of you might already know this, but before the world changed I spent my life as a social worker.”

“I spent my days in the service of those who couldn’t protect themselves.” His voice quivered and tears slowly began to fall down his cheeks. 

“You can imagine how I might feel when–despite my best efforts–I continue to fail to protect the people I’ve promised to keep safe.”

He dabbed his eyes softly. Then his face turns hard.

“But that is all about to change.” Just like that his voice shifts from charismatic to serious. “For months we have been plagued with disappearance after disappearance.”

The crowd shuffles at the mention of the disappearances. 

“Many of you have faced sleepless nights worrying for your loved ones–I have as well! Yet it felt as though there might be no end in sight.” He looked over the crowd, his words calculated. 

“Then a few weeks ago, there was a breakthrough. Some of our militia caught sight of a dark monster prowling hungrily through our streets. They gave chase but the creature ran.”

This caught the crowd by surprise and people spoke with hushed whispers. 

“We spent the next week searching for the monster, we felt we were close and I hoped to resolve the issue before we revealed the truth.”

I bristled at the lie Jordan was now adopting with his people. But I forced myself to be patient. Nick wasn’t back yet with Tom, Jordan's time would come. 

“Obviously that secret is out now.” Jordan shrugged. “It’s time to come clean.”

Come clean? Hadn’t he just come clean?

“The truth is, me and some of my trusted militia have been conducting an investigation for weeks.”

An investigation?

“We knew the monster prowled our streets. But we didn’t know how it acted so efficiently. We know it couldn’t be a monster. Those were locked away in dungeons.”

Jordan’s eyes dropped to me, just briefly before he continued. 

“That really only left one option. The monster couldn’t be working alone.”

My heart sank. I had a bad feeling about where this was going. 

“But who could be helping the beast? And to what end?”

The crowd listened in baited breath. 

“We were as stumped as you were. That is until three strangers arrived at our doorsteps under the guise of friendship.”

No.

“Just below are two of the strangers, some of you may recognize them. They have spent time wandering our village.”

No.

“One is just a boy, Layton–a young faction leader. The other? Well you can see for yourself. A monster no doubt from one of the very raids we have already faced.”

Strong hands grabbed at me from behind. I began to pull away, yanking my arms free. I lowered into a stance preparing for a fight when I caught a look from Ellison. Just briefly. 

He shook his hands and whispered just a single word.

Wait.

That was all I needed. I exhaled slowly as four militia half-guided, half-dragged me onto the stage.

They pulled me forward to stand facing Jordan on the stage. I glared daggers. His eyes twinkled barely hiding a smirk. 

“We have been watching Layton and his friends since he arrived. I even invited him into my home.”

Gasps rippled through the crowd. Jordan looked at me then winked before moving in front of Ellison. A surge of fear crept up my spine but I consoled myself that Ellison would be safe. I had already cast the barrier long ago, and kept casting it for good measure. 

“Ellison….you are a sly one.” He chuckled. “When you entered my home at first, Layton began calling the shots.” He shook his head. Then addressed the crowd. 

“Layton here is the unassuming mask Ellison would have us believe is the head of their faction.”

“Imagine, a raid monster entering our faction as a faction leader! He needed Layton here to pretend to be in charge to lure us into a false sense of security.”

My mouth hung open as I listened to Jordan spin his lies.

“Then they spent time with our merchants, spending time building relationships, attempting to buy their favor.”

I opened my mouth to defend myself, but Jordan cut me off.

“Worst of all? They spent months stealing our people in the dead of night to weaken our resolve, all in a failed attempt to break us down.”

“But we didn’t break, did we?!”

NO! The crowd erupts at once.

“Are we going to let these criminals continue to harass our people!?”

NO! Again the crowd screamed. They were basically frothing at the mouth now. Jordan had played us perfectly. Somehow he was one step ahead. Now anything that I said would seem frantic and defensive. 

I began to panic again. Not really in a life threatening way, I knew that I could fight my way out of this. But I wanted to help this faction, not create more problems or cement a corrupt leader as a hero. I was about to lose hope when I heard a shout from the crowd. 

“Stop!” It was barely audible over the crowd but it was getting closer. “STOP!”

Jordan looked up, for the first time showing a hint of surprise. 

Tom shoved his way through the crowd and forced himself on stage. “STOP EVERYONE!” He swung his arms wildly as he tried to silence the crowd.

It didn’t happen easily, but little by little the crowd grew still. 

“Tom, welcome back!” Jordan walked over and wrapped his arm around Tom. “Ladies and gentleman, you are looking at a hero! Tom was on a special mission to eliminate one of the criminals plaguing our faction. Give him a hand!”

The crowd erupted again. Tom wasn’t having it. He shoved Jordans arm away. 

“STOP! LISTEN TO ME! JORDAN IS A LIAR!” His voice could barely be heard over the cheers but some had heard and they began to listen. “JORDAN IS A LIAR! YOU HAVE TO LISTEN!”

Members of the crowd began trying to quiet the group.

“You have to listen, Jordan has been lying from the start! It wasn’t Layton or his friends. Jordan has been taking your loved ones.”

If the crowd wasn’t quiet before you could hear a pin drop now. 

“Tom, what is going on here?” Jordan said, and reached for Tom. “You’re confused.”

Tom was pale, his hands shook. “No. I’m not confused anymore.” He stepped further from Jordan. 

“I have been helping Jordan steal people for months now.” He cast his eyes down and tears began to fall freely. “Some–the men–we killed. The women were brought to a cave not far from here.”

“I’m so sorry.” Tom’s shoulders sag and he begins openly weeping.

For the first time since Jordan took the stage his composure seems shaken. 

“Tom, what are you talking about? You know that isn’t what happened, tell the people the truth damn it!”

Tom dropped to his knees. He wasn’t listening anymore. He covered his face and wept, occasionally shouting “I’m so sorry!” or “Forgive me!”

At this point the crowd was at a complete loss, they stared in silence at the wreck of a man on stage. 

“Layton.” I heard Mischief's voice. It was solemn, reserved. 

“We found them. Nick is bringing them here now.” Mischief paused. I could sense he was hesitant to move forward.

“The women…he's been…abusing them.” 

My skin crawled. I had prepared myself for the worst, I knew that this could be a possibility. It didn’t help. I could feel the current taking me. 

Warden of Judgement had come. 

The air began to shift. I could feel it. Jordan looked at me and cocked his head, his hand twitched toward his weapon. 

I had to make a decision. Jordan was guilty of so much. He had abused his power, manipulated his people, killed, and even taken that most precious thing from the women he abducted. 

The current was pushing me.

I resisted it. I knew what my answer was, my class knew. But I fought it. Even after all that Jordan had done-I fought. My eyes burned. This was too much, I'm just some kid. I didn't want to do this.

“Layton…” My name hung in my mind from Mischief's words. “There were children.”