A second chance in life

Damn!

Liza cursed herself a hundred times. Seeing Alicia there unexpectedly and observing such an unbelievable scene playing out she got a bit distracted and didn't notice when one of the soldiers who was responsible for keeping sight on surroundings started surveying in her direction. But it was too late to regret now.

"Run!"

At that thought she turned around and started running on top of rooftops as fast as she could. Those soldiers were still a distance away so she could take it as an advantage to lose their sight. But she never expected that after crossing just four buildings, as she was going to cross the fifth, a crossbow bolt would suddenly fly towards her and hit her on the shoulder.

They already had sentry placed here and there on the surrounding roofs to not let even a single rat get away! Escaping was impossible from the very start!

She was in the middle of a free run and couldn't keep her balance. She stumbled and fell off the two storey high building and onto a heap of crate placed under it which dampened the impact a little but still left her injured to the point of not being able to walk any time soon.Soon she was surrounded by soldiers.

"Another rat. Search her."

A soldier went over and started searching her thoroughly and soon found something that interested him.

"Oh? A throwing knife. Were you planning to assassinate his holy priest using this?"

"No. I wasn't... I didn't even know he would be there"

"Shut up. You think word of a rat mean anything? Just a little suspicion is already enough reason for us to kill you." retored a soldier in annoyance.

"But she sure is pretty. And young too. Do you think high priest would mind if we were to 'punish' her ourselves before killing her?"

"I don't think he would. He is a busy man and doesn't have enough time to tend to all criminals"

"That's true" these soldiers were literally dripping saliva in excitement.

Liza shuddered at the sight of more than 10 men surrounding her. She wanted to kill as many of them as she could before dying but she couldn't even stand up no matter how hard she tried.

At that time there was a slight commotion from behind as the black robed man from before whom these people called by high priest was coming over accompanied by a large troop. These soldiers who were surrounding her made way immediately and bowed respectfully.

"Liza!? Why are you here? Weren't you supposed to be by the riverside now?"

Hearing the familiar voice Liza raised her head with difficulty. It was Alicia "Why would that matter? I am a rat too right? Someone who should be killed for world's betterment? Would you kill me too the way you killed Joaquim?" said Liza with disdain.

"No you are not..."

Alicia wanted to say something but couldn't come up with words. At that time the high priest interjected "Child, wouldn't you introduce me to this friend of yours?"

Alicia was stunned temporarily but soon collected herself "Reporting to high priest, she is a childhood friend of mine. We took care of each other when in tough times. I beseech high priest to give her a chance to live."

"Even if we give her a chance, seeing the condition she is in, she would be dead very soon if left on her own" high priest shook his head then in a deeper tone he asked "Or are you telling me to let the church take care of her, a rat?"

"No of course not high priest. But even though she is a rat, she hasn't been one for too long. She hasn't taken a life yet and still has faith in God. I believe given time she can also redeem herself of her sins and I will take care of her until she is able to stand on her own" Alicia pleaded with clasped hands.

Seeing her earnest expression high priest seemed to be satisfied and with a grand pose he said flinging his sleeves "Very well. As the lord almighty says, forgiveness is the greatest virtue. She is your responsibility now. Don't disappoint me."

"Yes!" Alicia nodded gratefully.

"Alright everyone clear the area now. Fifth and sixth platoon go join the others who are currently putting out the fire. Others come with me. We will be setting out on sunrise two days later." Saying that he turned around to leave.

Those soldiers who captured Liza first were a bit disappointed as their 'prize' was getting away from them but as this was a direct order from high priest, they could only follow it obidiently. Giving Liza one last glance they moved out according to the order.

Alicia wrapped Liza's woulds with a piece of cloth torn from her dress and took her on her back. After walking a few steps behind the army Alicia said jokingly "You have gotten heavier from the last time I carried you"

But there was no reply. That was expected.

After few more steps Alicia said again "I really wished for you to get away safely. I thought by the time you came back from your training, the slum would have been in ruins and soldiers would have already left."

There was a long pause and she thought for sure that she wouldn't get a reply this time either when Liza asked in a faint voice " For how long have you been working for them? "

"... You could say for more than four years now." A little surprised, Alicia decided to answer truthfully after a little contemplation.

Liza was stunned. More than four years... That was when Alicia had just joined the rats according to what she heard.

" How can that be possible?!"

"You see, my parents used to be believers of the church. My father joined the judgement army and my mother was a field medic for the army. But in a battle against demonic beasts both of them lost their lives. I was still here in port town with my granny back then. Then when my granny died out of illness five years ago, I lost all those whom I could rely on to. I tried to join the church several times but was rejected at the doors.I had to join rats out of hunger but I kept going to the church to pray in front of the door every Sunday. Then one day suddenly they gave me a mission. If I were to be successful they would forgive all my sins and let me join the church and even recommend me to the Judgement army that I yearn to join. They had news about food leaking out on its way before they reach the church but no concrete evidence. They wanted me to keep an eye from the inside and tell them what I find out every time I go there to pray. "

" But things started getting difficult. Joaquim seemed to have gotten some sniff about information leaking out one year ago. He was keeping an eye on every suspect secretly. You probably don't know but you were a suspect too, like me. "

" At that time I had two choice, one to continue what I did and risk getting caught or to stop spying and give up on my wish to join church"

"Luckily the church gave me a third option at that time. They said, as they already had an idea of the supplier, they would keep an eye on him themselves instead and I should stop working for Joaquim totally. But I couldn't just join the church yet as that would alert the rats of me being a spy, I would still have to be a rat but I would get food for cleaning a house of a noble that the church assigned me to." At this point she stopped.

Liza still had a little doubt " But why would they wait for one year? Wouldn't it be better to capture him once and for all and end the matter? "

" Capturing him wouldn't be that much of a problem but they wanted to use this opportunity to capture as many rats as possible and sell them as slaves. You saw those cages right? They were being made in the lord's castle secretly all this time. They also brought a large number of soldiers from holy city of hermes to ensure the success"

Liza gasped hearing it. For how long were they planning everything?! It was no wonder they were so helpless when it happened out of the blue. She sighed "Life will never be the same as before"

"Life should never be the same as what we have been through so far" Alicia said adamantly.

"You have been given a second chance in life. The church will show us the path God has wished for us to take. Will you walk on this path with me?" Alicia asked the girl on her back.

"Like I have a choice" she grumbled but soon giggled and said "I am just kidding. I don't know much about rats or the church, but if that's where you want to go, I will definitely follow you" and she rested her tired head on the tall girl's shoulder.