Art by me

Rat squeaking, human speaking

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Seven returned to the skylight shortly after, lifting the lid up and dropping down, closing it behind him.

He got to packing, already collecting what supplies he needed before he left: the blanket from his bed, a notebook, a few books he could read during what little downtime the outside world would possibly give him.

His blue eyes scanned over to his desk, looking for any spare explosives he kept in his room in case of emergency. He gave an annoyed groan as he noticed his hidden pouches of gunpowder missing, chalking it up to Rain getting rid of them when she was taking care of his room.

Rain... he should at least say goodbye to her, besides he had to leave to get his backpack to put all this stuff in.

He left his room, walking down the short tunnel that acted as a hallway, finding himself in the dining room. Kids were preparing the tables, while some were already laying out plans as to what food they would go for first.

Right, the feast. Mono said something about it. Maybe he could leave before then, he didn't trust that trash bag headed, white noise making piece of shit. Plus, the faster he was out of here, the better off he would be.

He walked across, the kids not paying him any mind, just like normal. He glanced over the room, wondering where would be good spots to hide gunpowder and nitroglycerin at. Under the table? Maybe by the torches, just have to be careful.

He walked through the linger tunnel towards the pyrotech room, the half baked ground under his feet slightly warm from whatever recently fire Bread had made.

Seven's blue eyes looked around, before finally finding what his former apprentice was trying to make. Homemade cherry bombs, a simple explosive, though recreating them was mildly difficult if you didn't really know what they were doing. Were all of these explosive going to be used on the City? They'd be lucky if either them or the buildings were still even standing after they unleash all of this...

He collected his backpack, stuffing a few minor explosives in as well, making sure they were all in their own special spots as to not explode on his back.

Molotov cocktails carefully slotted in the lose interior pockets, a bundle of firecrackers in small lapel to avoid being damaged, a few small pouches of gunpowder, a vial of gasoline and nitroglycerin--

Special Molotov recipe, he needed it, he couldn't leave it here. He got up from the ground where he had been previously when packing, coming to his desk and filtering through a stack of notes.

Nothing, not it, nope, that's wrong, that's wrong... that one is wrong... nope... nope... nope... where was --aha!

He took the paper, sighing in relief. Younger him wasn't a complete idiot for writing it down of different sheets of paper, mostly due to reason like this. Of course, not exactly like this, but if he ever got exiled or something of that degree. He wasn't 'safe' after all.

Luckily, this was only a list of a quarter of what was in it, not giving the whole details. Getting up from the desk, he ripped the paper, dumping it into the small bucket of water next to the desk. His ears were filled with the sound of chatter from the other room; shit, what time was it? How long did he have left?

He took his bag, slinging it onto his shoulders. It wasn't like anyone would notice him anyway, so why worry?

The former pyrotech left, passing through the dining room once more. Loud cheering as songs were sung, and just like he suspected, no one noticed him. Good.

As he walked back to his room, his eyes caught the sight of Rain not that far away, speaking with another young girl, blond (or pale reddish?) hair in pigtail, a red line coming down from her nose, which she wiped away a few times.

He quickened his pace, he didn't want them to see him. He would tell her goodbye in a minute.

Swinging the curtain out of the way, he placed his last few items in the backpack, closing it and latching it to make sure nothing got out.

He turned, looking up and letting out a small scream and curse. The dark eye holes of a paper bag was barely an inch from his face. From being so close, Seven could see the stare the other was giving him, the sound of radio static splintering his eardrums.

"I knew you'd be leaving early," he mumbled quietly. Seven composted himself from lashing out, the last thing he needed was getting attacked by Mono again.

"Figured my presence irritates you like yours does me," he replied cooly, eyes narrowing under his bangs. Mono took a step back.

"Rain told me what you told her, about what happened at the riverbank."

Seven's blood froze, clenching his jaws from screaming out curses towards his kin. He was right, he never should have told her, now what was he supposed to tell him?

Mono waved a hand, the world around them gaining a blue tint, the world slowing down around the pair. "You know, I was honestly hoping it could go back to what it was before. I wanted nothing more but you two standing by my side, but... I guess that's a childish fantasy of mine."

"Mono, just lay off, I'm leaving, isn't that what you wanted?" Seven stated bluntly.

"Commander, Mono,"

"Oh get your head out of your ass, this isn't the time for title bullshit,"

"Watch your language. Now, do you want to still be by me or not?"

Seven growled, fist clench by his side. The rage he felt was starting to grow, just like normal. By the stars, why did he have such a short temper at times?

"No, and I never am. I once stood by you, I trusted you-- loved you even. I keep asking myself back on The Maw on what all I missed in my stupid love struck mindset. All the hints of what could have been hinting to you being a total backstabbing jackass."

Mono stood still, the static noise around the two started growing louder and louder, to the point Seven felt his head begin to pound with a headache. Louder, louder, to the point it sounded like shrieking and wailing in his mind. He rested his head in his hands, feeling his skull ring as it keep screaming in his ears.

Suddenly, in a blink of an eye, it dissappeared. The world lost its blue tint, time seemed to unfreeze, and the noise stopped. Mono took another step back, feet dragging under him as he looked at him.

"Fine. Can't say I didn't give you a chance," he said.

A sudden tightness was around Seven's mouth, something hard on his nose, digging in. Something wrapped around his head, the object around his mouth getting tighter to the point he couldn't move his jaws.

Realization hit faster than ever as the scar on his nose opened, blood beginning to roll down to the corners of his mouth. A muzzle, a much tighter one with a strap around his head that was snuggling the metal deeper into his skin as it finally buckled behind him.

His hands were pulled together, rough metal cuffs bounding far too tightly. They were clicked all the way to the point the cuffs were digging into the softer skin on his wrists, the blood flow noticeably slowing from the tight clamp around them.

In a frantic state, he tried to pull them apart, but to no avail. Nothing budged, even when he tried to move the muzzle, the metal on his nose cut more, blood leaking faster than before.

His breathing quickened, pulse beginning to roar in his ears. No, no, no, please, not again, he couldn't be muzzled again, he nearly died last time he was muzzled-

"Now that the animal is under control, let's go to the feast, shall we?" Mono said. He reached out, fingers hooking into the muzzle grating, pulling his forward, tossing the curtain to the side, dragging Seven out.

Seven wanted to scream and cry out in his panic state, trying to drag his feet to slow them down. No, no, Rain didn't need to seem him muzzled, she didn't need to see him in such a weak state!

He closed his eyes as he was brought to the dining room, he didn't have to see to know all of the eyes that were suddenly glued onto him, he could feel them.

Mono let go, the sound of him jumping onto the table again, just like at the last feast. He fixed his coat, clearing his throat.

"Kids of the rebellion. I was told by a little bird of a traitor in our midst," he stated.

Murmuring and whispering filled the air. "A traitor?"

"Who is it? Is it that kid?"

"Why is he wearing a muzzle?"

Mono hushed them, catching their attention as he started to speak again. "In all the years I've known him, I have viewed Seven as a brother to me. He's smart for someone who is messed up, good with fire and someone I would have entrusted with my life... but, recently, I was told of a few rules he broke,"

"Not listening to our founder's rules by itself is punishable with being reranked to a lower position, like a cook or healer. But, there is one rule, we all know, is punishable by death."

A few small gasps filled the air, children whispering to one another hastily.

"Does he mean the one about the Oracle?"

"But they're siblings!"

"Sick boy, how horrible of a mind do you need to do that?"

"Poor Oracle Rain..."

Seven wanted to speak, to tell them Mono was lying, to tell them what was truly wrong. Mono quieted down the rebellion with a small wave of the hand.

"Yes, the love for an Oracle rule. Our dear Oracle came to me this afternoon with concern on her face, crying and telling me what had happened to her. Too sick of an act for me to repeat, so I'll humble our traitor and Oracle and not give the details,"

"Wait!"

Seven looked over, seeing Rain raise her hand, pushing through the crowd of kids until she came to the stage. "Wait! Commander Mono, that's not what-"

Mono reached over, taking her wrist into his hand. "Oracle Rain, now now, no need to get all emotional. You'll be okay now, I'll protect you," he said, voice softening so any kids in the front easedropping only heard it.

The boy in the trenchcoat leaned forward slightly, quietly whispering something that made Rain freeze with horror. A tear ran down her soft cheeks, taking a small step back from him.

"Please, please, Commander Mono, you said you would take care of him, not this," Seven heard her whisper.

The embers of his previous anger rekindled. She told him. Rain actually told him behind his back. He never should have trusted her, now look where he was. If he wasn't in these cuffs, he'd strangle them both here in front of everyone.

Mono rose his voice again, snapping Seven out of his thoughts. "Come sunrise, Seven will be tied up and thrown out for the adults. Oracle Rain, however, will not face any punishment thanks to the circumstance."

Cheers echoed around him, kids chanting for his death.

"Throw him out! Throw him out! Throw him out!"

His eyes looked over the wave of children, all shouting in agreement with one another on their decision. His eyes met Rain's, a look of pain in her eerie pale green eyes, a silent, 'I'm sorry' behind them.

Sorry? Sorry wasn't going to cut it, not this time.

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Finished - Apr. 6th, 2021

I got this all done in one sitting, and I'm so proud of how this turned out. Almost 2,000 words too!

Anyways, I have to get to bed, I'll leave it here.

Hope you all enjoyed!

Take care!

* June 14th, 2021 *