The Spark of Rebellion

“You killed her!” Julius roared as he prepared to shoot Henry. “You took my daughter from me!”

“Julius, wait!” Avarora pleaded, clutching her other children. “Think of our family—”

But her words came too late. Julius pulled the trigger, shooting Henry in the side.

Before he could fire again, Darius and the others intervened, wrestling the gun away from him. The other guards at the estate, enraged by Rosie’s death, stood by Julius, ready to fight.

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Titus aimed his weapon, shouting, “You’ve lost your mind, Julius! You just killed the son of Major General Wellington! Do you know what you’ve done? You’re all dead!”

Julius’s men turned their guns on Titus and his vanguards.

“Put your weapons down!” Titus barked.

Logan stepped forward, his knife still in hand. “No, Titus. You’re not in charge anymore. Look around—you’re outnumbered. Stand down, or this ends badly for you.”

Darius raised his hands. “Everyone, stop! We need to think this through. More bloodshed won’t solve anything.”

Peter chimed in. “Titus, you have two choices: fight and die here, or surrender and live to see another day. It’s your call.”

Titus hesitated, seeing the determination in their eyes. Finally, he ordered his men to lower their weapons.

Logan leaned in toward Darius, his voice low. “We should kill them now. Leave no loose ends.”

Darius shook his head firmly. “No. I gave my word.”

Titus and his men were bound and locked inside the house. As dawn broke, the group gathered to plan their next move.

Unbeknownst to the others, Logan felt no remorse for Rosie’s death. To him, her life was a necessary sacrifice for the revolution. He vowed to do whatever it took—even if it meant going further down the dark path he had chosen.

"What's the strategy? Where do we head from here?" Anxious Hans interjected without delay.

"We have hundreds of workers here! If that man's claims hold true, all of us are at risk. We can't abandon them!" Ned, a seasoned estate worker, cautioned.

Logan stepped forward, his eyes burning with fervor. "We must arm every individual here! With our numbers, we stand a chance. If we can infiltrate Stork City, we can launch a surprise attack on the palace!"

"No!" Peter interjected. "I understand your anger and eagerness, but our knowledge of their forces is limited. Given the history of failed coups, a direct assault is not wise."

Julius nodded grimly. "Peter is right. I’ve been to the palace many times. The guards may be few, but the weapons they wield... One machine gun could take out twenty of us armed with shotguns. My daughter has died an unfair death, and for every child suffering under their rule, we must plan carefully to ensure we succeed.”

Darius added, “It’s clear we need more time to prepare. More importantly, how do we protect everyone here from the Major General’s wrath?”

“There might be a way to do both," Ned revealed. "Someone in Lightshore City is sheltering runaways and offering them food and protection."

He motioned to a worker who stepped forward, his voice steady with conviction. "I’m part of the revolutionary army in Lightshore. When our leader heard about the oppression at Wellington Estate, he sent me to help. There’s a covert route we use—by boat—that leads directly to the city. I can guide you there.”

Darius asked, “Can your community accommodate everyone here?”

“Yes.”

The group exchanged uneasy glances, the realization sinking in.

Suddenly, a man burst in, his voice frantic. “Master Henry has vanished!”

“What do you mean, vanished?” Julius demanded.

"Someone took his body!”

Julius paled, understanding immediately. “The basement!”

They raced to the basement, finding it locked from within.

Julius explained, “I forgot about this. There are workers loyal to Master Wellington in the tunnels beneath the estate. If they’ve taken Henry, they’ve likely already informed him. The Vanguards in Melvic City could be here within two hours!”

Darius took charge. “Alright, everyone, let’s move out! Gather your things. We’re heading to Lightshore City!”

But Julius grabbed his arm, lowering his voice. “I don’t doubt this revolutionary leader exists, but if even I don’t know him, it’s safe to assume he lacks the power to challenge the kingdom. Our immediate need is weapons. I know someone in Stork City who can help.”

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As the estate bustled with activity, preparing for the escape, Peter cornered Logan.

“I know what you did," Peter hissed. "I recognized your knife. You killed that girl. Don’t even think of lying to me! Why, Logan? Why?”

Logan’s gaze didn’t waver. “I had no choice. I didn’t want to kill her, but it was necessary. Thanks to that, we now have allies.”

Peter’s voice shook with controlled fury. “Allies? You think murder justifies alliances? There are other ways to inspire people, Logan—ways that don’t involve bloodshed. Share their pain, their stories, their dreams! That’s how you form a legion driven by purpose, not fear.”

Logan’s voice turned cold. “Don’t be naïve, Peter. We both know this fight requires more than idealism. Darius lacks the resolve to turn an empire upside down. Someone has to do the dirty work.”

Peter stepped back, disgusted. “Stay away from us. I won’t fight alongside someone like you.”

Logan said nothing as Peter walked away, but his jaw tightened, his conviction undeterred.

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As the workers packed, a new complication arose. Families pleaded with Darius not to abandon their loved ones enslaved in the underground mines.

Julius, burdened by guilt for his role in their suffering, volunteered to lead a rescue.

“No!” Logan interjected suddenly. “This isn’t your fault, Mr. Jackman. You were protecting your family. Trust me, I understand that feeling. Besides, you need to escort Darius and the others to Stork City. Let me handle this. I’ll rescue the miners and rendezvous with you later.”

Tom frowned. “How will you manage that?”

“Don’t worry about me,” Logan replied confidently.

Peter, despite his anger, endorsed Logan’s plan. “He knows the estate better than anyone. If anyone can pull this off, it’s him.”

Reluctantly, the group agreed.

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Logan and a handful of men stayed behind, preparing to infiltrate the mines. The air was heavy with tension as the group moved into the dark, treacherous forest leading to the mines.

Logan’s thoughts raced as he descended. He knew the path ahead was fraught with danger, but his resolve remained unshaken.

“I’ll prove to them,” he murmured to himself. “No matter what it takes, I’ll show them what it means to fight for a cause.”

The oppressive darkness of the mine enveloped them, a stark reminder of the sacrifices yet to come.