Ezra Echelon Liberation System

Chapter 7: Innocence Proves Nothing

Ezra hunched low, his fingers quaking while he scrubbed up and down against the cool marble floor of the chamber inside the palace. Above and around him came jeering tones. The young men of lower rank in the disciples sat in the lounge chairs in the room, as were other attendants of the palace.

 

They threw bits of food and garbage on the floor, laughing as he scurried to pick it up. A stale bread crust fell to the ground, and instinctively Ezra reached for it.

 

"Look at him," one of the boys sneered. "The great son of the Echelon Sect, reduced to this."

 

Another chimed in, his voice thick with sarcasm. "I bet his daddy would cry if he saw him now. Oh wait—he doesn't have a head to cry with!"

 

The room exploded in a cacophony of laughter, the sound deeper than any blade. Ezra shoved the crust into his mouth, chewing mechanically, staring at the ground. The taste of ash and filth filled his mouth, but he swallowed without demur.

 

"You see how he eats? " Like a rat," the other said, kicking over with his foot the bucket with water in which Ezra was washing. The murky water poured out onto the floor and flooded Ezra's knees.

 

Then one of them gave him a shove, and he fell back onto the wet floor. "Clean faster, trash. Or maybe you're too weak even for that?"

 

The room erupted in even more laughter, and Ezra turned back to him, a weak smile across his face. But before the next insult could land, a sharp voice cut through the cruelty.

 

"Enough!"

 

Ezra looked up to find a young woman standing in the doorway, her face red with anger. She was dressed in the plain uniform of a kitchen assistant, her apron smeared with flour and grease. "Are you all so pathetic that you have to bully someone who can't fight back?" she snapped, stepping between Ezra and his tormentors.

 

The boys exchanged looks but shrugged, clearly bored now that their fun was interrupted. "He's nothing but a dog," one muttered as they sauntered out of the room.

 

The woman knelt beside Ezra, softening visibly. "You don't have to let them treat you like that," she said gently, helping him to his feet.

 

Ezra smiled at her and nodded weakly. "The floor's clean," she said, brushing dirt off his torn sleeves. "Come on, let me help you back to your room."

 

He let her take him through the labyrinthine corridors of the palace, her presence oddly soothing. When they finally reached the small, windowless space that was his quarters, she sat him down and handed him a bowl of food and a cup of water.

 

"Eat," she urged, her voice firm but soft.

 

Ezra hesitated, then took a bite. The plain meal of rice and vegetables tasted really nice; she gave them to him whenever she wasn't so busy. He looked up at her, a faint pull on his lips. "Thank you," he muttered.

 

She was one of the few still who actually believed in the old Echelon sect, who still showed loyalty to the cause. Everyone who was loyal to the sect back then was either murdered or banished before they were finally murdered. Everyone who had been even remotely nice to him over the years either mysteriously disappeared or was executed for supporting him and trying to take the throne for him. That was one of the reasons Ezra was skeptical about this woman helping him.

 

She smiled at him. "You don't have to thank me," she said. "Nobody deserves to be treated that way they treat you."

 

"If you ever need food or water, come to the kitchens," she said. "I will make sure you're taken care of."

 

Ezra inclined his head, his tone low but sincere. "I'm indebted to you."

 

Mira waved him off, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Just promise me you won't give up on yourself, okay?"

 

Before he could say anything, the door into his room burst open, and two soldiers stormed inside. Their armor rattled with each movement that was made as they clasped Mira by the arms and yanked her up to her feet.

 

"What are you doing?" Ezra yelled, surging to his feet unsteadily.

 

"She's been summoned by the Sect Leader," one of the soldiers barked.

 

Ezra's blood ran cold. Master Lorrin. The name alone was enough to fill him with dread. The man who had orchestrated his family's destruction now ruled over the Serpent Fang Sect, a twisted shadow of what the Echelon Sect had once been.

 

He followed the soldiers from a distance so as not to raise suspicion. They led Mira to the grand hall, where Master Lorrin sat on a gilded throne with an expression of detached cruelty.

 

Next, Mira was made to kneel before him, her face pale but full of defiance.

 

"You are accused of being a member of the Poison Ivy Organization," Lorrin intoned coldly, commanding. "We have found bloodstains on your clothes. How do you plea?"

 

"Innocent," Mira answered, her voice steady, though fear was in her eyes.

 

Lorrin snorted, leaning forward just so slightly. "Innocent? Evidence says differently."

 

Ezra fisted his hands so hard, that his nails pierced into his palm. He knew it was a baseless accusation. Mira was kind, selfless. Everything the Poison Ivy Organization was not.

 

Poison Ivy was a plague to the continent—a gathering of forces to react against the three present leading sects because of the brutal force enacted upon its members; these targeted women and children whose lives continued to go out with screaming voices among these chaotic events since the demise of Echelon Sect.

 

Lorrin's voice cut through Ezra's thoughts. "For your crimes, you are hereby sentenced to death. Execution at dawn."

 

A wave of anger surged through Ezra and threatened to knock him off his feet. This was not justice; this was an exercise of power, a display of Lorrin's absolute control.

 

Upon Lorrin's sentence, a low hum filled Ezra's head, and in front of his eyes was the system's virtual screen that popped up a countdown in the corner.

 

Breathing in, Ezra gazed intensely at the digits; this is when it dawned upon him just how critical that particular moment was. Then it halted at zero and, suddenly, onscreen pulsed:

 

Mission Updated: Liberation Begins.