The Rogues Who Went Rogue
Chapter 85

Duica and VIG002, Bernadette, went in as the last pair on their third day of forest-testing. They were all relieved that no unexplained misfortune was reported from the palace or from their families and friends, and they were immensely grateful that the forest exuded only fresh and pleasant scents when they entered each time. Despite the positive signs, they were still anxious and daunted because of their knowledge about past curses.

Duica and Bernadette went half a mile in, and Bernadette took out her notepad to record the scents of buns and waffles she was smelling before Duica suggested, "Perhaps we can go a little further today. Maybe see what's another half a mile away.”

They were both veloxes, running wasn't a problem. Bernadette gave her comrade's words some thought before she agreed, "Her Imperial Majesty didn't draw any limits on how deep we can go."

They sped another half a mile, and reached a river with the clearest water they'd ever seen. They saw the rocks at the riverbed, and the odd-looking fish swimming in the water, and couldn't help but find that this looked a lot like the illustrations in books that wrote about this place. Duica muttered, "The River of Heres. It exists."

"I wonder if the source exists," Bernadette responded as she recalled whatever knowledge generations of vampires retained since the birth of this forest.

Their eyes traced upstream, and without any discussion or contemplation, they marched up north, admiring the turquoise seaweed and pink-colored rocks in the clear water. As they continued on their path, Duica realized that the smell of buns and waffles was getting stronger. It was as if the forest was leading them somewhere. He was wary, as was Bernadette. They hoped that if they were being lured into a trap, they'd have enough time to mind-link the other vigils before they passed out or were killed.

It took them only ten minutes of brisk walking to find themselves before a coursing waterfall. Bernadette murmured, "The Misty Waterfall of Heres. It's real."

Duica uttered, "It's amazing. With the water and food source, there's absolutely no reason to leave this place. I wonder if those who hide here eat the fish."

As soon as he said that, a random yellow flower nearby opened and sprayed a scent of animal dung at Duica, taking offense in what he just said. As Duica choked on the horrible odor, he said aloud, "I suppose not. Sorry about that."

-

Upon conveying a sincere apology, the foul odor disappeared, replaced with fresh buns and waffles once again. The observation fascinated the two vigils. As they neared the waterfall, they heard something – rustling leaves.

Their feet stopped as their investigative eyes roamed the place, trying to pinpoint the source. They spotted a large leaf on the ground that was swaying to a stop when their eyes were fixed there, and Bernadette was about to skip across the river before Duica held her back by her

arm.

"There are only two of us. We shouldn't try to follow it yet. It isn't wise. We should head back and get the others."

"What if they escaped by then?" Bernadette hissed.

"I doubt they would, Bernie. They have nowhere else to hide. If they run from the forest and enter where we are, the custodes will have a field day arresting them." Bernadette's hard gaze stayed on the now-still leaf as she hissed, "We should link the others and ask them to meet us here!"

"Sure, while we stand here and wait for any creature in there to surround and attack us when we're clearly outnumbered."

She gave Duica's sarcasm some thought before she mumbled, "Fine. Let's head back and fetch the others."

###

Gerella came out of her and her family's hideout for a daily stroll and a breather before she heard two unfamiliar voices. As soon as she registered their unfamiliar faces and clean and tidy appearance, she concluded that they were non-proditors. Her defensive instincts took over, and invisibility ability hid her in plain sight as she stayed rooted to her spot, being careful to not move an inch or make a sound.

But an unhelpful insect found it appropriate to land on her leg, and it bit her through her pants, causing her leg to jerk reflexively and hit the large leaf next to her. Internally, she cursed as she resisted the urge to manually stop the swaying leaf. Gerella prayed that neither of the vigils were discretus, and was relieved when they couldn't see her even though they were looking straight at her.

When she saw the woman ready to cross the river, Gerella's heart stopped and was about to turn and run, which would have effectively blown her cover. But when the man stopped his companion, she thanked Goddess and Lord that she wasn't going to get caught today. When the two were far enough, Gerella dashed back, hoping that she wasn't seen or followed. She took the longer route just to make sure she wasn't leading the enemy right to their community hideout. Relieved washed over her when she concluded that they were still safe. It was as if she was relieved too soon. The forest's protection mark on her nape started to sting, and when her fingers instinctively flew to that area, there was a slight electrocution that she had never felt before. What was going on?

'Gerella! Where are you?!' Their leader, Saxum, was linking her with a worried and angered tone through the link.

'I'm only half a mile away from our place. I'm getting there as fast as I can. Saxum...the protection mark...it..."

'I know. Get back here quickly. We're leaving. I'm calling for an emergency meeting after we've reached the safe house. We're hastening the Callows!

'But the sting and the burn...what does it mean?'

'The forest might be...switching allegiance. It's contemplating for now, so we still have the mark and its protection. But we don't have much time left. Just get back here and pack up whatever's important so we can leave!'

Gerella figured this wasn't the best time to tell him that two non-proditors almost saw her. He already sounded worried as it was. And why wouldn't he be? Who knew what the authorities would do if they found out that hybrids like them existed, and had been living for centuries right under their noses.

According to Saxum, Emperor Kosh slaughtered many of them because they didn't 'obey the laws of nature'. This horrific tale was passed on to generation after generation of hybrids, justifying the need to stay hidden. To be killed for what she was wasn't a fate that Gerella wanted fo herself or for her friends and family.

The Forest of Oderem was switching sides? Could that really happen? She never took the forest for being fickle-minded. If anything, she and everyone else had taken the forest's protection for granted. The authorities and imperial family were so afraid of getting cursed that no one who wasn't protected would enter or even come near.

Gerella hyperventilated when she finally reached a place she called home. After kicking away the dried leaves that covered the metal opening, she knocked on the metal surface three times, once and then five times before opening the cover and climbing down the wooden ladder, closing the cover behind her. As usual, the forest produced a gust of wind that blew the dried leaves back to cover the metal cover.

Gerella found that everyone was already running about and didn't even offer her a glance as they stuffed valuables into suitcases. Some who packed fast were already walking through the newly-dug tunnel leading to lycan territory.

Saxum took out a large box that arrived not long ago, which had the word 'FRAGILE' written in red. The leader then instructed the veloxes and the hybrids who possessed the abilities of a velox to place the items all around their hideout. Without question, each of them took as many as their hands could carry and sped around the place, putting the item in every place that held the fragile object before coming back to take more and dashing to the other rooms and corridors to do the same.

"What are you waiting for?! Hurry up and pack!" Saxum exclaimed in irritation when Gerella didn't move from her spot.

"Right," she responded simply and opened up her suitcase to pack a few clothes, the only notebook she owned and her mother's scarf.

On her way to the tunnel, a three-year-old toddler came forward and took her hand. Gerella hid her anxiety and smiled at little Isla as she said, "Your mama and dada ready, Isla?"

The clueless little girl smiled and nodded, and Gerella saw her parents weren't far from where they were, both equally panicky. Isla asked Gerella, "Ella, where're we going?"

In a hushed tone, Gerella assured, "We're going on a trip together, some place nice and cozy."

"Will that place have big, buu paa-pee-lionibus?" Little Isla had been fascinated by papilionibus ever since she noticed the protection mark on everyone's necks that bore the symbol, even her own. Gerella once told Isla that papilionibus were blue, showing the girl a picture of the insect from a book that had been handed down for generations. Gerella held on to her excited smile and said, "Who knows? We might just see them."

Isla giggled and excitedly marched forward with Gerella's hand in hers. Gerella turned and locked eyes with Saxum, whose brows pulled together before he and three other hybrids pushed a boulder to cover the opening of the tunnel.

A short distance forward, Saxum pulled a rope to let down a grill which had sharp points that dug into the soil below. About a mile forward, Saxum linked Gerella, "As soon as the kids are at the safe house, link me. I don't want them to hear the explosion." "Will do, Saxum."

It took them twenty minutes to reach the 'safe house'. That was the quickest they could manage even with those with super speed carrying those who didn't have that gift. Their safe house was just their accomplice's hotel that was thought to be insolvent and out of business long ago. Klementine, the lycan owner, ushered them upstairs. Gerella counted the twenty-five children twice before she clapped her hands in excitement to get their attention.

She then spoke animatedly, "Now, let's play a game."

The children got excited and formed a circle on the floor, and Gerella sat among them. Her blue eyes sparkled when she explained, "Here's what we'll do. When I say 'go', we cover our ears and scream. The one who screams the loudest and longest wins. Ready?" Some of the over-enthusiastic children even started screaming before the game started, and Gerella simply chuckled before asking them to save their vocal chords. Their parents behind them were trying to look as normal as possible, and they too covered their ears. "Ready? One, two, three, GO!"

When Gerella saw every child covering their ears and screaming their lungs out, she linked Saxum, "NOW!"

Saxum stood behind another two boulders that were placed ten miles away from the first one, and when he got Gerella's link, his ready thumb pressed the red button on the control to detonate the explosives that completely covered the ten-mile gap with rocks of all sizes. That should keep them safe, he thought, as he made his way to join the others, who felt the vibration but chose to say nothing to the kids while Gerella lied to the children by saying that the strength of their voices shook the earth.