Chapter 12: The Ravager Class Blademancer, The Speaker Class Whisperer & The Pyromancer Class Emberweaver, Pt 2: Confrontation
Making his way down the stairs, Theo was met by the other residents of the Orphanage, all children, eyeing him with contempt, fear and hesitation. He paused to look at the glares he was receiving by the other orphans, the sound of an angry mob just outside the house. There was a pause of silence as they listened.
"W-what happened t-to Dominique and Paul?" one of them – a boy of dark hair – seemed to gather enough courage to ask Theo. "W-we know t-they went up there with you!"
Theo just looked at the boy with a tilted head and blank expression, before saying "Don't ask questions you don't want the answers to, boy," as he walked past the group of kids and towards the front door. 'You're gonna join them soon, anyways.'
Taking a deep breath, hand on the nob, Theo thought 'Well, here goes nothing,' before opening the door and exiting the beat up house that was the Orphanage. What awaited him was a mob of angry villagers, with pitchforks and torches.
When they saw that he had the galls to walk out the beat up house that was the Orphanage with a calm demeanor and a satchel over his shoulders as if he planned on fleeing, the mob of villagers quieted down, eyes wary but attentive of Theo's every mood. After all, being this calm in the face of such a crowd was unsettling. They weren't sure what kind of game Theo was playing.
Until he spoke, calm and clearly. "Can we talk about this like civilized people? Or do you intend to lynch me simply for existing? Is there no due process? Rule of law?"
His bold accusation sent an uncomfortable ripple through the crowd. Murmurs seemed to pass through them and even Chief Jacky seemed to eye Theo up and down warily, squinting, likely curious of his true intentions. Joshua stayed silent, eyeing the whole situation keenly.
"Don't heed the Devil Possessed 's blasphemy! His silver tongue is how he was able to convince my poor, sweet, innocent children to go to the forest with him where he executed them!" Ovisia's voice was like peppered honey to the mass of villagers, both riling them up and working them into a frenzy.
'Sweet? Innocent? We can't be talking about the same kids, can we, Bitch?' Theo thought internally, making a face, brow twitching.
"What about the children?" She continued to rile the crowd into a murderous frenzy, her voice coming over them like sweet nectar, but to Theo, it tasted like bitter poison. "You think my children would be the only victims he'll take if we let him live? Wake up! He's devil possessed! All our children are unsafe while he still draws breath!"
This seemed to re-spark the fire of the masses, causing the villagers to get even angrier somehow.