The President Chapter 104

The small coastal town was bustling that morning, fishermen hauling in their nets, children chasing each other through the narrow streets, and vendors calling out their wares. Dimitri moved cautiously through the crowds, his cap pulled low to obscure his face. Though he often came here for supplies, today felt different.

As he walked past a café, his ears caught snatches of conversation from a table of two men. One of them was leaning forward, his voice low but urgent.

“They’re supposed to be somewhere nearby. A villa on the coast, maybe,” the man said, his thick accent unfamiliar.

Dimitri slowed his pace, pretending to inspect a fruit stand.

The other man responded, “If they’re here, we’ll find them. The president doesn’t tolerate loose ends.”

Dimitri’s pulse quickened. He casually picked up an orange, handing the vendor some coins while keeping his focus on the men. They didn’t notice him, too engrossed in their conversation.

He left quickly, his mind racing. Someone was asking questions—too many questions. He gritted his teeth, deciding not to tell Celestina just yet.

That evening, the villa was quiet except for the soft crackling of the fireplace. Celestina sat curled up in an armchair, a book on her lap. She wasn’t reading, though. Her thoughts drifted to Edric’s warning and the images of suffering he’d shown her.

Dimitri entered, setting a steaming cup of tea on the small table beside her. “You haven’t said much all day,” he noted, sitting across from her.

“I’ve been thinking,” she replied, staring into the flames.

“About what?”

She hesitated. “About them. The people. The children.”

Dimitri leaned forward, his expression gentle. “You’re carrying too much on your shoulders, Celestina.”

“Am I?” she said, her voice sharp. “Because it doesn’t feel like enough. I feel like a coward hiding here while they suffer.”

“Surviving isn’t cowardice,” he said firmly.

She didn’t respond, just stared deeper into the fire.

That night, Celestina’s dreams were vivid and haunting. She stood in the middle of a vast square, surrounded by throngs of people. Their faces were gaunt, their clothes tattered. They reached out to her, their hands trembling with desperation.

“Help us, Celestina,” they chanted, their voices rising like a mournful song. “Help us!”

She turned in circles, overwhelmed by the sheer weight of their cries. Faces blurred together, and suddenly, the crowd parted, revealing a young girl holding a small, lifeless body in her arms.

“Why did you abandon us?” the girl whispered, her voice cutting through the chaos.

Celestina jolted awake, her heart pounding. Sweat dripped down her forehead as she sat up, clutching her chest. The dream felt too real, too urgent to ignore.

The next morning, Dimitri was sorting through supplies when he noticed something unusual tucked among the papers Edric had left on the counter—a folded note.

Frowning, he unfolded it and scanned the words.

“They’re close. You need to move soon.”

The handwriting was unfamiliar, but the urgency was unmistakable. His grip tightened on the paper as he realized someone had intercepted a message meant for Edric.

Dimitri crumpled the note and tossed it into the fire, his jaw clenched. He had to tell Celestina, though he dreaded how she would react.

“Someone knows we’re here,” Dimitri said later, his tone clipped. He stood by the window, watching the shoreline for any sign of movement.

Celestina, seated at the table, looked up sharply. “What do you mean?”

“I overheard two men in town yesterday. They’re asking questions about us. And this morning, I found a message meant for Edric, warning that Alvada’s agents are closing in.”

Her face paled. “Why didn’t you tell me this earlier?”

“I didn’t want to worry you until I was sure,” he admitted.

Celestina stood abruptly, her voice rising. “You can’t keep things like this from me, Dimitri! If we’re in danger, I need to know.”

“And what would you do, Celestina?” he snapped, turning to face her. “Run straight into their arms? Hand yourself over to your father?”

“I’d do what’s right,” she said, her tone firm. “I can’t ignore this anymore, Dimitri. The people need me.”

“They need you alive!” he shouted, his frustration boiling over. “And if we go back, you won’t stay that way for long. Your father will see to that.”

Celestina’s eyes filled with tears, but she refused to back down. “Maybe I don’t care about my safety anymore. Maybe it’s time I stop being afraid and start fighting for what’s right.”

Dimitri’s voice softened, but his eyes were full of pain. “And what about me? Do you think I can survive losing you?”

Her breath caught, and for a moment, the room was silent.

Later that afternoon, unable to sit still, Celestina ventured into the town to clear her head. She walked the narrow streets aimlessly, her thoughts swirling.

As she passed a small market stall, a strange sensation made her stop. She turned, her gaze sweeping the crowd, and her breath caught.

Standing at the edge of the square, watching her intently, was Liora.