In the next three days, Raven received no visitors except for letters from Will. One described how the burial ceremony went.
She wished she was there. Not because her presence would make any difference, but because she wanted to see them for the last time. But even if she was to get a chance to go there, she was sure people would not be happy to see her.
She had always believed people trusted her enough to know that she wouldn't kill a person.
" Kill a person... " She murmured with an unexplainable feeling.
She crumpled the paper and lazily threw it aside.
Her whole body ached from the poor living condition and guards' torture. Subconsciously, she rubbed one of the bruises on her face. She took off the bracelet Orchid had given her, held it too tight, closed her eyes trying to feel Orchid's presence.
She opened another letter. It asked her if she knew about a herb known as the dreamshade.
Dreamshade. The name felt familiar but she couldn't quite remember where she had heard it.
The next day, she waited patiently for visitors. Will didn't come, Jaden didn't, Liza didn't, Madam Wang didn't, none of the pavilion dwellers did.
Disappointment almost made her collapse.
" I've been forgotten... " She felt like crying.
" Ughhh"
She only received another letter from Madam Wang.
The letter told her there was no way to prove her innocence. At the end Madam Wang wrote: Rest in peace.
Raven could have laughed at the sentence,
' rest in peace ' . But the thought of resting in peace brought goosebumps all over her body.
In frustration, she tore it into several pieces and scattered them to the ground.
Rest in peace? Who told them she wanted to rest? She wanted no rest; she wasn't tired.
She started planning in her head how she could escape but always ended up concluding her plans were stupid.
Loneliness took over. She started missing her soulmates, her roommates, everyone in the pavilion.
The execution day arrived sooner than she had expected.
Execution was at mid-day.
A guard opened her cell early in the morning. She was confused.
A guard growled at her and unlocked the chains that bound her." Sly witch!"
He then pushed her out.
There was a carriage waiting outside. She glanced at the guards, trying to figure out what was going on.
She looked at the couchman and recognized him as a guard too. He was glaring.
' Eei... What is this?'
The guard pushed her towards the carriage.
She had no choice but to enter.
" They carry dead-to-be people in carriages? How honorable." She murmured to herself with sighs.
She then glanced out from the curtains and realized no guard was following them. Curiosity took her, " Where are you taking me?"
Silence.
" Where are..."
" CAN YOU SHUT UP!!"
Raven was startled.
She looked outside again and scrutinized the surrounding. She cursed as she realized some of the guards were secretly following them. Hiding in the bushes.
" A question of curiosity." She raised the front curtain. The guard glanced at her.
She took it as an approval for her question.
" Do you receive no trainings?"
The guard frowned, " What?"
" You can't even hide properly."
" Get back in."
" As you wish." Raven mumbled. Letting go of the curtain, she sat properly. She was calculating in her head how to escape when the carriage stopped.
The guard harshly pulled her out. Raven only glared at him.
In the distance there was another carriage. Two people stood in front of it. Two were masked while one was held captive,his eyes covered.
The one held captive was the chief of Guard Michael.
The guard pushed Raven towards them, and they pushed Michael.
They all walked slowly afraid that any mistake could bring forth death. Michael
glared at Raven when they were in the center. They all increased their pace and reached the safe side.
Raven already knew the two men were her friends.
" You're crazy." She whispered to them.
Both glanced at her but said nothing.
The guard who had carried Raven there, drew his sword.
He expected her fellow guards to suddenly come out but none came.
He glanced all over.
" What is..."
Michael's face became red out of frustration.
Raven shook her head.
Will gave a proud nod.
" These idiots really thought we're idiots."
" Just shut up. Let's go." They got on the carriage and rode off. The guard and Michael went to check on their fellows. They had all passed out.
" What on earth is this?!! Do you get paid for nothing?!" Michael scolded. They started tapping them awake.
" What happened?" Michael asked one guard who had just woken up.
The guard only looked at him with sleepy eyes, blinking slowly ,his mouth open.
Michael was frustrated. " This... " He slapped his head too hard.
The guard's eyes wide opened. He hastily stood up. " Yes?"
Michael shook his head now calmer. With his hands on his hips, " Now talk, what happened?"
" There were others of them. They used a kind of sedative powder."
Michael nodded, " Follow them!" He ordered.
" Yes!" They all replied in unison.
" Some of you follow me. We're going to the 'White Lotus Pavilion '. "
Raven hadn't expected to be rescued in such way. She was too happy that her heart beat too fast. She finally understood why no one had visited. Everyone was so busy planning on how to save her at the stake of their own lives. But at the same time she felt worried. What if their plan hadn't worked? Then their lives would be ruined!!
But where they? Where they??
She clasped her hands together in excitement . 'Haha. God is really on my side!'
" I can't believe you kidnapped that man... Thank you. Many thanks really. I'll treat you wine later."
" Ahh... Don't be dramatic. As long as it is you. I can even jump in a boiling wine."
Raven was really too happy.
" Just go inside and rest."
Raven was already too tired. The every moment she closed her eyes, she fell in a deep sleep.
Another carriage met theirs in the crossroad. The coachman exchanged carriage with them and they took opposite directions.
The guard's followed the traces of the carriage until they reached the crossroad. They divided into two groups. The first group followed the traces until they reached the spot where the carriage had been abandoned.The second was the same.
Meanwhile...
Michael arrived at the pavilion with some of his guards.
The pavilion was closed but Madam Wang welcomed him in.
" Are you not working today?" He asked.
Madam Wang solemnly shook her head.
" I can't believe that question is from you."
Michael seemed confused.
" One of my children is going to be executed. How could we... "
She forced back her ' tears'.
Michael looked down, " She escaped."
Madam Wang covered her mouth in astonishment.
" Oh Great Lord. She... she what? "
Madam Wang shook her head in disbelief.
" Are all your children here?"
" Yes."
After a moment of silence, " You suspect us?"
Michael nodded.
" I can't blame you."
Madam Wang stood up and called all the pavilion dwellers on an assembly. She handed the list book to Michael.
Michael read name by name. None was absent.
He handed the book back suspiciously.
" I'm not satisfied."
Madam Wang shrugged.