Chapter 2: The Golden Crest (1)
In the middle of that night, I couldn’t sleep. The rain is falling hard outside, I'm staring at the broken ceiling in my room and observing the cracks where waters are dripping.
I like the rain. I like the tranquil feeling it produces as if the time stops and you hear nothing but only the sound of it. But that night no matter how I tried to sleep I couldn't. It was as if my mind is already warning me about something. I only felt this way during work.
It was beyond midnight when I realized my eyes are gradually closing, I was already on the verge of falling asleep then. But I was startled when I felt someone coming at my house. This is not someone just passing through my house but coming straight to my door.
I opened my eyes and waited. I can feel the footsteps getting nearer by my front yard. I noticed that he was in a hurry, I could feel that he was panting. Like he ran from a long distance. I only sighed in relief when I felt the person is familiar to me. My danger reflexes instantly calmed down the moment I realized who it was. Lucas.
I got up from my bed and wear my old coat hanging on the wall. What is he doing here at this hour? Does he know that it is dangerous outside in this weather? I went to the living room where you can't almost see any object. I sold some of it when I needed money.
"Lucas, what the hell?" I greeted him as I opened the door. He was in the midst of knocking so he was shocked to see me in front of him. I watched him from head to toe. He is very drenched and his face– "What is going on?" I ask him immediately upon seeing his expression. A mixture of intense fear and anxiety is written on his face. And if not for the rain, I will think that
He was in the midst of knocking and he was shocked to see me in front of him. I watched him from head to toe. He is very drenched and his face– "What is going on?" I ask him immediately upon seeing his expression. A mixture of intense fear and anxiety is written on his face. And if not for the rain, I will think that
"What is going on?" I ask him immediately upon seeing his expression. A mixture of intense fear and anxiety is written on his face. And if not for the rain, I will think that it's tears flowing from his eyes.
"S-shia…" His voice is trembling. I've never seen him this terrified.
"What? Tell me what is happening?!" I demanded. I started to feel nervous. I hope I can read his mind because I really didn't like what I am seeing.
He pulled me inside the living room. He sat down at the only coach there, almost coated by dust. He rested both his elbows on his knees and his hands on his face. "Shia.." he repeated. That moment I want to hit him back to his senses. I was about to do so when he reached something in his pocket. He put a shiny thing on the table and my eyes open wider when I realized what it is.
"Shit." I gasped. "Why is that thing in you, Lucas?" I step back in disbelief. "Why is the Titan Academy golden crest is in your hand?!" I don't know how many minutes pass I'm staring at the round thing on the table. It can't be. That crest is within the Academy and that is very important to them. It is the symbol of the school. It's like the crown if compared to the king. I stared at Lucas. "Why are you not talking? Where did you get this?"
I don't know how many minutes pass I'm staring at the round thing on the table. It can't be. That crest is within the Academy and that is very important to them. It is the symbol of the school. It's like the crown if compared to the king. I stared at Lucas. "Why are you not talking? Where did you get this?"
I stared at Lucas. "Why are you not talking? Where did you get this?"
He put his hand on his face again before answering. His voice is trembling. "Flin and Karl, they are the one who sneaked inside the academy to get it. I don't know how they did it. But it was too late when I learn that it was the Titan's crest I'm holding–"
"You joined them?!" I exclaimed. "You joined their plan?!" I really want to slap Lucas this time. He is better than this. Fin and Karl, those two didn’t to anything good. I didn't realize he will join them to do this kind of thing!
I really want to slap Lucas this time. He is better than this. Fin and Karl, those two didn’t to anything good. I didn't realize he will join them to do this kind of thing!
"Calm down, Shia." Lucas said in frustration. "I didn't know that they will do illegal things when I agreed to join them. I thought it's only a simple job which requires my ability."
"Oh, come on!" I blurted out.
"Shia, you know that even if I die from starvation I won't do things that will destroy the dignity of my family. That's the only thing that is left for us."
I keep quiet. He is right. He never ever does this kind of things even though they can barely eat food.
"We agreed that I will only do a delivery. The three of us met at the town's border and there, they gave me the bag. They said I need to give it to the man who is waiting at the pub. I should have wonder when I saw their faces. They are full of scratches and wounds. I was in the middle of the delivery when I decided to check the content. There, I found out that it was the crest."
I cursed silently.
"I don't know what to do. I went back where I saw Karl and Flin but I can't talk to them. The area is already surrounded by the Titan's people." his voice started trembling again. "I saw Flin held by a man, he said who I am. He said that I have the crest."
That Flin!
"I want to return the crest but I know that they would arrest me." I speed up to the pub to find the man they are saying but he already fled. I'm stuck with the crest, Shia!"
We were both silent. I started to pace back and forth in the living room. The rain and the creaks of the where I'm walking are only the audible noise.
"Did Flin said your full name?" I ask, breaking the silence.
"He only said the last name. That's the only thing they know how to call us, right?" That's what I thought. Sheridan and Tyler are only names they knew. We are not that close to be calling on the first name basis.
"Is that important? We are the only Tyler here in Hesperia–" He froze. "My family. I need to go to them." Lucas took the crest on the table and quickly stood up. But I took the crest from him.
"What are you doing?!" he asked. I look at him straight in the eyes. "I'm the Tyler that Flin was referring," I said. "I'm the one who took the crest."
I look at him straight in the eyes. "I'm the Tyler that Flin was referring," I said. "I'm the one who took the crest."