I look over at our new backseat passenger Mireille has chosen to accompany us in the limo. It’s the largest of the Soldats, the young man named Henry. His hair is cut so close, I can see the skin of his head shining. He now sits by the window, staring out, keeping watch. Uncle sits in front, as usual, and is talking on his phone. Another limo follows us at a distance. Mireille has taken no chances with our protection.
I yawn, and feel Mireille’s arm go around my shoulder, pulling me in to her. She leans against the door, and I lean on her.
“Tired?” she murmurs in a low voice just meant for me to hear.
“Yes.” I yawn again. I find it harder to fall asleep each night- I’m scared of the dream coming.
“Me too.” She stifles a yawn. I know I’ve kept her up at night being restless.
“I’m sorry.” I whisper, wishing we were really alone, so I could kiss her. “It’s my fault you don’t sleep.”
“Not your fault. It’s the fault of Soldats. I will never forgive them for what they’ve done to me, or you.” she fiercely whispers. “That’s why we’re in this mess now.”
“Mirielle-” I start to whisper back, but she cuts me off.
“Don’t defend him. He’s just like the rest of them. I swear, if I had a way to destroy them all, I would.” Her angry whisper is in my ear, and I glance sideways to make sure no one else has heard. Uncle is still talking on his phone, and Henry seems to be a statue staring out at the country landscape.
She pulls me in to her tighter, and leans her head down on mine. “Don’t worry about it. We’re safe for now. Let’s both take a nap- we have at least another hour in the car.”
I close my eyes. Safe. Maybe here, in the car, I will at last be free from the nightmare room.

“Stop it! No!”
“Kirika!”
“No! No!” I push away, but something is holding me tightly. The darkness swirls away and I open my eyes to find myself pressed into Mireille’s chest.
“Kirika, I’m right here. It’s okay.” Her voice sounds near tears. “It’s okay.” Her hands go through my hair. I’m sweaty and shaking. I can feel Uncle and Henry staring at me.
“What happened?” Uncle asks, his voice full of concern.
“They were both asleep, then Kirika started screaming.” Henry’s deep voice resonates over the car. “She acted like someone was attacking her.”
“Was it that dream again?” Mireille’s voice is soft and soothing, and my breathing begins to slow down.
“The same one.” I adjust myself and try to sit up. “I’m sorry.” I apologize to everyone for my behavior.
“That kidnapping did this to you.” Uncle sighs. “It makes me sick to see it.”
Mireille mutters something under her breath.
“Let’s talk about something else.” I squirm uncomfortably. I don’t want to be the center of attention over this. For some reason, I feel I can’t tell them about the nightmare room.
“Yes. Let’s talk about why we’re rushing to see an inmate at Laciaon prison.” Mireille sounds fully awake now, and back to her usual self. I sit up, but continue to hold her hand. I just want to touch her right now. She’s the only comfort I seem to find.
Uncle grunts and turns half-way around in his seat, trying to face us.
“Ah yes. Today I received a letter from someone I haven’t seen for almost twenty years. He’s going to be released soon. I wouldn’t have paid it much mind, but for two things; he asked to meet you both in person and-”
“And so you’re just taking us to see some common criminal like that?” Mireille huffs out loud. Uncle looks at her briefly and purses his lips. I can see she tries his patience.
“Droger is no common criminal.” Uncle says, pulling out the letter again.
“Droger! You mean Dumond Droger?” Mireille sounds shocked.
“Did you hear of him from your father?” Uncle asks.
“He used to call him Droger the fallen emperor.” Mireille closes her eyes. “He said that Droger controlled everything but himself- and that brought his demise.”
“Your father once dealt with him.” Uncle clears his throat. “As did all Soldats- before Droger’s fall from grace.” He turns the letter over in his hands repeatedly, no longer reading the contents.
“He murdered someone ages ago.” Mireille frowns, as if she’s trying to remember. “But I don’t know how that caused a break with Soldats.”
“It wasn’t an ordered hit.” Uncle creases the letter with his hands as if he’s re-tracing the past. “He turned on an innocent- one of his servants… and killed her.” He creases the paper in half and stares at it.
“No.” his tone is softer now. “He brutally murdered her. There is no other way to describe what was done.” He folds the paper again and puts it back into his pocket.
“Turning on one of your own is a serious enough offense; but the way he did it…left us no recourse but to exile him from our ranks. He lost all trust, all honor on that night.”
Uncle waves to the driver and we pull into a space. As if on cue, we all take out our weapons and place them on the floor.
“Then why are we going to see an exiled Soldat that can’t be trusted?” Mireille grunts out as she pushes her gun under the seat with her foot.
Uncle raises his head and looks at us both.
“Because it’s good to know the face of your enemy.”

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