festivity, confession and judgment

It was a festival of cacophony. A cortege of clamorous cars was heading back to the HQ. People were sitting on the doors of the cars, even on the roofs and wherever they could hang on them. They were clapping and whistling while shouting some victorious songs, they were not even in rhythm but they didn't care as long as it was joyful.

Jamal was still with Volga in the convertible, she got now an attachment for. They were driving ahead of the cortege while enjoying the songs and laughing while Volga was telling him about the previous battles against the outlaws she had experienced far before he came. Jamal noticed that she purposely selected the non-tragic anecdotes where they triumphed over them or only those with hilarious contents and just skipped those where people died. She didn't say anything about it, but Jamal knew only through her eyes that she had lost many comrades.

" Hum... can I ask you something? " she said after a short pause. He noticed that she was a little sheepish, maybe due to that thing she was about to ask therefore he quickly responded yes to not embarrass her even more while taking the time to think about her query. " So... I know you just met him, that you didn't spend much time with him and the few times you were together you were in a middle of a fight so you didn't talk about stuff... but did he talk about me, I mean Don, did he mention me in your conversations when he was introducing our city to you? "

Jamal looked so surprised that for a moment he couldn't reply. " Yeah I know it's a bit weird... but I don't have anyone else to ask, I can't go talking about stuff like this with his teammates because of my rank as captain and the figure of authority I represent but since... we quickly got along you and me so I thought maybe you could help... Don is the kind to talk a lot when he is with people so I just wanted to know if some times he talks about me... but if you think it's a kind too weird we can just forget about it ".

" No no no... not all, it's cool. It's just that I was surprised, but yeah... no he didn't particularly talk to me about you, however, I recalled that part of the conversation he had with Brad, where I have heard unintentionally, while I think they were sharing about their plans for the future after the war, and... I just remember him, at that moment, saying something about wanting to take some vacation and go out with a certain girl he was talking with for a while now, there was too much noise around so I didn't clearly hear your name... something like Emilia or Emily, I don't know if Volga is a surname but I hope he was talking about you...Woah!!! "

In the flow of the emotions, she twisted suddenly the steering-wheel and they nearly crashed into another car but she took back control of the car before it happened. " He really said it like that? I mean, can't you recall if he really said my name like that? Normally no one knows that my name is Emily, everyone calls me Volga. And he really said that he wanted to go out with me and spend his vacation with me? "

" Yes, I told you, that's what I've heard " Jamal responded while he was struggling to tie up his seatbelt.

" Oh my god oh my god. I know I'm acting like a hysterical high school girl but it's the first time I have a crush on someone, in my past life, I've never had luck in love so it's my first true love story and I don't know what I should do, " she confessed so excitedly that she couldn't stop shaking.

" Yeah, I understand what you are feeling and I will do my best to support you, " he paused and thought for a while before he said, " is it why you asked me to spare Daphne's life? "

A moment earlier, after Volga convinced him to not kill her when they were about to leave the outlaws' territory. Jamal brought Daphne to her teammates where Volga and he explained to them, in brief, the reason she was there and disobeyed him without missing to talk to them about the relationship between her, Brad, and Bart, the chief of the outlaws. They decided to suspend the subject until they reached the HQ. So she was actually in Donald's pickup and they both understood that they needed to hear her out about her story from her own mouth.

It was not like it bothered him to let them live, in fact not at all, however, he disliked when people gave him a fake reason while hiding the real one when they asked him a favor, it made him feel like they didn't trust him, [ and people should ask for a favor to only those they have trust in ] that was his philosophy. So he hoped that Volga was not one of those people and, fortunately, it was the case. She shook her head negatively " not at all, what I have told you, was really what I think. They should get a proper trial where we, their friends, colleagues, and victims, will be their judges but not you, and let me tell you that, at that moment, the thought of Don didn't cross my mind even a little ".

" Okay, I see. Sorry for having asked such a rude question. I just wanted to clarify things, " he calmly apologized as she gave him a reasonable and satisfying explanation.

" No it's okay, you have the right to ask, " she replied with a smile what meant that she didn't get it wrong. After that, she went back to telling him her funny stories until they reached the HQ several minutes after.

Once they arrived there, they all ran inside to spread the good news to the others and to prepare the celebration of their victory. Some of them came to Volga's car and took Jamal out, they lifted him up on their shoulders and brought him inside the mansion while still singing about how justice would always triumph over evil.

They found that the mayor Howard, who was already expecting them to return victorious, had the time to prepare a little feast with the provision they had in reserve, they had installed everything in the largest room of the edifice. Later, Jamal was put on the floor, and while he was on his way to see Howard he took a glance at the soldiers while they were running outside to go collect all the wine and alcohol they had stolen from the outlaws before they left their territory.

" Thank you very much, Mr.Jamal, sincerely, I don't know how to thank you enough for all you have done, you have my entire gratitude, " said the mayor while shaking excitedly Jamal's hands.

" You're all welcome. I regret to not have come earlier so that I could have saved many of your comrades, " he said, his eyes sorrowful.

" What are you talking about? " Said Volga who just appeared behind Jamal to join their conversation, " look around you, don't you see all that you have done? All these people here owe you their lives, even me. So cheer up, today you're not allowed to be down. Well, may you excuse me, now I have some alcohol flowing in my blood I have to go discuss important stuff with my soulmate, " she said while tapping at Jamal's back, and only then that he noticed that she was already a little bit drunk. They both gazed at Don who was helping to carry a box of wine in the direction of the room where would be the party.

" Here's your chance, go meet him now he is all alone, " he suggested while whispering at her ear.

" Not before you do what you have promised me you will do, " she replied while turning to face him.

Jamal thought a little bit before he turned asked Howard, " can you please tell someone to go take Brad and bring him to the room once we all gather there ".

The man looked surprised but still accepted his request, " of course, it's not a problem but can you tell me what is the matter? "

" I just get some announcements to do, " he replied without giving him any more details, then he requested something else, " and talking about soulmate can you provide me a phone, I have to make a call at my home ".

" Whatever you want. The phone with what I used to discuss with your mayor and those of the other cities is precisely in the room where will be the party, " Howard informed him.

" Well so let's go then, " Volga said enthusiastically. When they headed there, Jamal started running his sight in the room and his eyes quickly found the phone, and on her side Volga just happened to localize Don's position in the crowd. They separated and they both walked toward their respective goals.

•••

Hours later he hung up the phone and returned among the crowd all joyful and all smiling to enjoy the party. While taking a look on the side he saw Volga and Don alone in a corner afar from the festivity, sharing a passionate kiss in secret as they were away from any normal sight.

When she caught his eyes she whispered a few words to Don and left him to come joining Jamal, at his table, to have a seat beside him. They shared a complicit smile and without sharing any further words, they just slapped their hands and just continued acting as if nothing happened.

Later, a man came and whispered to Jamal that every people were finally present. He stood up and walked toward the door, stopped in front, and stared at the crowd. Without saying anything they gradually stopped the noise and waited for him to speak.

" Hey, now that everyone is finally here we can start the festivities to celebrate our victory over the outlaws, " and a clamor raised among the crowd " however, before that I'm afraid that we have to deal with something very important ". He glanced at Volga who nodded at him before he turned to make a sign, with his hand to the man who was standing at the entrance of the room at just a few meters from him. The man left and a few minutes later he came back accompanied by Brad and Daphne both of them handcuffed. " We need to make a trial for these two ".

Everyone held their breath and for a moment an awkward silence invaded the hall.

Jamal began by telling them the history of both them, their relationship with Bart's group of outlaws, and what the latter had made them go through since all this time. Jamal made his best to relate it in accordance with what Brad had told him while doing his best to seem as neutral as possible. Don, later, asked to take the talk and, then, started telling them the same story but now from Daphne's point of view, concerning the sexual abuses, the moral tortures, and how Bart had made her a drug addict, he spoke about everything he knew and once he finished he sat down and let Jamal continue.

" Well, we didn't tell you this to give a reason for what they have done, but for the sake of the following trial you had to know about their stories first " he explained before adding, " now it's done, you can give your individual opinion about what should be their judgment, and just for your for you to know I won't participate as I'm not among your townspeople. Now you may begin ".

There was a long silence but in the faces of the majority of the people there, it could be seen that they weren't moved by their story and that they were still angry at them.

A man, who seemed above 30, slowly stood up attracting the eyes of everyone, he started, " allow me, before I give my judgment, to confess something. First, I think everyone here already knows me, I was among the first people who, benevolently, join forces with the police officers to fight against the criminals, whose number was growing massively. I'm also known as the only fortunate survivor of the raid in the 3rd district the last year, however, what you ignore is that what happened in this raid was premeditated... " he clenched his fists, " I sold my comrades and let them die there ".

Everyone got an exclamation of surprise except Jamal and Volga who quietly listened to his story.

" I did that because the outlaws had kidnapped my daughter who was only 15. They said that if I didn't obey them they would kill her so I've settled that trap in the hope that they will give her back to me what they did after they forcefully took her innocence and raped her three times. She is now safe in Stainfall but I will never forgive them for what they did to her... neither I will forgive myself for having betrayed my colleagues. All that to say that sometimes a man is confronted to terrible choices and that the most often the way of the heart win over the duties, " he put his eyes on Brad, " and I won't condemn you for having tried to protect the one you love, for that, I have to be punished in first ".

Everyone looked at each other completely doubtful, gradually their animosity toward Brad and Daphne was vanishing. Jamal knew that among them many had similar stories of treason but even after that speech they were still reluctant to reveal to everyone.

" OK so now let's continue the trial, who wants to give his opinion? " Howard said after guessing that no one wanted to add any further comment.

In the end, the couple of lovers were acquitted. The majority voted not to kill them, though they were still some who suggested that they couldn't just leave them like that and that they needed to be punished even if it's not very harshly, which was completely comprehensible after all many people died because of them.

The guard who brought them into the room was the one who went to release them from their handcuffs. They were welcomed to go sitting with the others precisely at the table where was their teammates, before sitting down Daphne insisted to say something. In a very emotional speech, where she couldn't hold her tears, she promised that she would do whatever she could to heal herself and get rid of her drug addiction, which earned her thunderous applause and whistling to encourage her in this decision.

Jamal again made another announcement, " I know you're already tired of so many speeches and you want to quickly start celebrating but trust me this one is the last one, " it made the crowd laugh slightly. " As you may know we have some neighbors cities which are actually going through a furious fight against the outlaws and similar to yours. And despite that you're repeating the opposite, I'm not a superhuman or anything of this kind, I'm just a normal human. A human who is now asking you to accompany him to go lend a hand to these cities. Of course, I'm not forcing you to come with me, I already know that many of you are tired of fighting and I invite you if you are belonging to this kind, to go take some rest at Stainfall, but those who want to help, I inform you that I will leave Short-river for the next city in the list just after this party. It is really quick but it is necessary, we are aiming to finish all the wars against the outlaws in 6 days, so those who are interested if we finish just follow me. Thank you " then he sat back while the others were struggling to hide their apprehension and confusion and to focus on the festivities.

" Put an end to all these wars in one only 6 days? Are you serious or just insane? " Volga attacked him once his butt touched the chair.

" Are you losing trust in me? I recall you that we managed to finish yours in one day, " he responded with a smile.

" Yeah... but... ". Jamal interrupted her by putting a finger before his lips. " Enjoy, we will talk about that after the party, but only if you agree to follow me ".

" You bet that I will follow you, " she directly replied, she smiled and added, " now it's you who is losing trust in me, don't forget that I owe you my life ". As she said that, they started to laugh together as Volga resumed her funny stories and gradually in the crowd the whispers stopped to let the place to the laughs and the songs.