CH 63

Hindley Haworth’s belt had a key to the warehouse. Rosen took the key and a pocket knife from his mangled corpse. She opened the cupboard doors, grabbed the things she needed, and put them in her bag. Food, clothes, maps and some money. And even herbs for Emily.

Rosen was very calm. To the point where she wiped the blood off her face with a towel, fearing that Emily would be surprised if she found Rosen covered in blood.

She grabbed a gas lamp and opened the warehouse door. She shook Emily’s shoulder, collapsed from exhaustion. Fortunately, Emily was still breathing.

“Emily, wake up.”

Emily opened her heavy eyes and lifted her head. Rosen touched Emily’s forehead and poured water over her parched lips. A fever ravaged Emily’s body, but that wouldn’t be hard to control. It was a relief.

“… Rosen?”

Emily was horrified at the sight of her. Rosen had wiped the blood that spattered on her face, but the blood that drenched her body and the sharp stench was not hidden. She didn’t want to scare Emily.

“What the hell is going on…?”

Emily struggled to get up and cupped Rosen’s cheeks. Emily hadn’t seemed to grasp the situation quite yet. She asked urgently in a hoarse voice.

“Are you okay? How many times did Hindley hit you? Look!”

“No, I’m fine. I’m not hurt at all.”

Emily’s expression turned white as she ran her hands down Rosen’s body. Emily stared in dismay at the blood that soaked her clothes and stained her hands. It was then that she seemed to realize what Rosen had done.

“I killed Hindley. It’s all over now.”

“What?”

“Don’t say anything. We don’t have time, so listen to me and do as I say. We have to move separately from now on. You had a fight with Hindley a few days ago and left the house. You have been imprisoned the whole time, so luckily no one knows that Emily is a witch yet-”

“Rosen!”

“Listen carefully! Don’t say anything! Take the night train before dawn. Night trains have poor security. You’ll be able to ride it without any problems. This time, no one will come after you. Because I’ve killed that person!”

Rosen forced Emily up from her seat, pushing a bundle into her arms. Emily rejected her offer.

“You want me to go alone? Rosen, don’t be ridiculous. Where’s the body? Let’s get rid of it first. There’s got to be something we can do. Let’s clean up together…”

“He visited racetracks and gambling tables every day. How can we hide it when he doesn’t visit debtors in the morning? How long do you think it will last?”

“At least let me use magic!” 

Emily shouted, clutching the necklace around her neck. At that moment, the mineral on the restraint glowed green, but it quickly turned brown again. Emily, who was otherwise exhausted, was about to fall over, unable to cope with the momentary force she had used. Rosen caught Emily.

“What are you going to do with that weak body? Don’t waste your energy, Emily. Save it and run away. You said you were scared of witch hunters, right? Go to Walpurgis Island. I’m not a witch, but Emily is, so you’ll find it easily. They say all witches are accepted there. And they can release the restraint…”

“…”

“If I hadn’t killed Hindley today, he would have killed you, right? Did I do well?”

“…Rosen, you-”

“Don’t worry about me. I’ll let Emily go first, and I’ll leave before the sun rises. It’ll be easier to catch us if we move together. We’ve failed before, right? You said you’d never make that mistake again.”

“…”

“Or shall we meet in Saint-Vinnesier in a few days? Would you wait there? I’ll take the first car at dawn. If Emily takes the night train… ”

Rosen uttered whatever came to her mind. Inconsistent words poured out. But they all had one purpose. Getting Emily out of the house, now. 

‘Leave me here and run far, far away.’

“How can I leave without you?”

“Otherwise, what are you going to do?”

“…”

“People will come when the sun rises. If you’re with me, you’ll get caught. If Emily is found to be a witch, we’ll both be considered witches and shot without mercy. But if I’m caught alone, I can go to trial in the worst-case scenario. Emily, are you going to kill me, too?”

Rosen shouted, shaking Emily’s shoulder, who couldn’t answer.

“Answer me. Will you kill me too? Or will we meet again somehow?”

Emily was not a fool. She knew that it was unrealistic to say that they could both be safe. Emily began to cry, pulling on the necklace that choked her neck.

“It’s because of this. It’s all because of me. If I had found a way to break this long ago, and if I hadn’t been afraid… It wouldn’t have gone this far if I were a witch who could use her powers. We could have run away.”

“…”

“You have always protected me, but now I am only a hindrance to you. This wasn’t supposed to happen. It was always you who protected me…”

Emily always feared that the restraint might accidentally break. She always wore a handkerchief around her neck, in case it cracked. Rosen shook her head. Funnily enough, she was happy at the moment. Because Emily wanted to solve it first.

And she was the one who protected Emily? Rosen laughed.

“I am not dying. I will never die. I promise you, Emily.”

Rosen stared at the restraints which Emily was still pulling on. But it was something that had been strangling Emily for a long time. It couldn’t be released that easily. 

Rosen whispered, wiping away Emily’s tears.

“Emily can do it. I’ve known you for a long time. Everything Hindley used to say was crap. Emily is a wonderful, great person.”

“…”

“Emily could always do it.”

“…”

“Go. Before the people come. I’ll follow you. We’ll definitely meet again someday.”

Rosen pushed Emily hard. Only then did Emily decide to stop crying and step forward. She murmured as she wrapped her arm around Rosen’s shoulder.

“You will forever be my sister. So I will wait for you. Let’s go somewhere where the two of us can live happily ever after.”

“…Don’t worry. I will run.”

“You take the train too. Let’s meet in Saint-Vinnesier in three days. I will wait.”

“Okay.”

“And remember, Rosen. One drop of blood, one wish, some magic.”

Emily ran into the dark night.

‘Let’s meet again someday.’

Rosen hoped that the vagueness of the word ‘someday’ would help Emily.

She was fine. Meeting Emily was enough magic for Rosen. It was the greatest magic of her life. No more was needed.

But…

Rosen lied.

She didn’t run away. She didn’t even try.

She just crouched in front of Hindley’s corpse and waited for dawn, when they found Hindley Haworth’s body and dragged her out of the house. Until the soldiers handcuffed her hands and walked through the town square.

‘Emily has to run far, far away while all eyes are on me. Emily is a real witch, and I am not. So I can pass the stone test and be put on trial instead of being shot straight away.’

‘After all, it was I who killed Hindley, not Emily.’

The next day the sky was clear. In the blue skies floated trails that must have been left behind by a rookie pilot.

Arguably, that was the most wonderful day of her life. For the first time, she felt proud of herself. She walked through the square with her head held high, undeterred by the pouring filth and swear words.

It was such a wonderful thing to protect someone…