The Red Nights

It was a festival of cacophony. A cortege of clamorous cars was heading back to the HQ . There were people 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 embarrassed her even more by the time he would have taken to think about her query . " so... I know 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 stuffs... but did he talk about me, I mean Don , did he mention me in your conversations ?"

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 stuffs like this with his teammates because of my rank of captaincy and we quickly got along you and I so I thought maybe you could help... but if you think it's a kind too weird we can just forget about it ".

" No no no... not all . It's just that I was surprised, but yeah... no he didn't talk to me about you however I recalled that a piece of conversation he had with Brad, as they were in the same car , I have heard unintentionally and they were sharing about they would want to do once the war would be over. And... yeah I remember him saying that he would want to take some vacation and go out with a certain Emily Volga but I think he was talking about you...Woah!!! "

She twisted the steering-wheel and they nearly crashed in another car but she took back the control of the car before it happened. " He really said it like that? I mean, he really said my full name Emily Volga? 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 , as I've told that's what I heard " he 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 I've never had luck in love so it's my first true love story and I don't how and what I should do " she confessed so excited that she couldn't stop shaking.

" 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 him explained 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 now 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 that it bothered him to let them live, 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 trust in ] that was his philosophy. So he really 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 said to you was really what I think. They should really 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 ".

" Oh 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 returned back telling her funny stories until they reached the HQ some 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 at Volga's car and took Jamal, they lifted him up on their shoulders and brought him inside the mansion while still singing about how justice would always triumph over the evil.

They found that the mayor Howard, who was already aware about their victory, had the time to prepare a little feast with the provision they had in reserve and installed everything in the largest room of the edifice. Jamal was put on the floor by those who were carrying, and while he was in his way to see Howard he glanced them while they were running back outside to go collect all the wine and alcohol they had stolen to the outlaws before they left their territory.

" Thank you very much Mr.Jamal , I don't really know how to thank you after all you have done, you have my entire gratitude " say the mayor while shaking frenetically Jamal's hands.

" You're all welcome. I really 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 joined them " look around you, don't you see all what 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 stuffs with my soumate " she said that and Jamal noticed that she was a little drunk. They both gazed at Don who was helping carrying a carton of wine in the direction of the room where would be the party.

" Go to see him now he is all alone " he suggested " here's your chance " .

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

Jamal thought a little bit then said to 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 " 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 anymore 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 ".

" All what you want, the phone with what I used to discuss with your mayor and even with the others is precisely in the room where will be the party " Howard informed him.

" Well so let's go then " Volga said enthusiastically. The head there then , Jamal glanced at the phone, a fixed one while Volga just happened to localize Don's position in the crowd. They separated and they both walked toward respective goals.

Minutes 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 no one beside him noticed them . She came join him at his table to have a seat beside him and at his teasing smile she immediately understood that he saw them, they didn't say any words to each other, they just slapped their hands and just continued acting as if nothing happened.

A man came and whispered to him that every people were finally present. He stood up and walked toward the door, he stood there and stared at the. Without saying anything they gradually stopped the noise and waited for him to speak.

" Hi now 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 doing so we have to deal with something very important " he glanced at Volga who nodded at him then he made a sign with his hand to the man who was standing at the entrance of the room, he left and few minutes later he came back but now accompanied by Brad and Daphne both of them handcuffed. " We need to make a trial for these two ".

He started to tell them about their history with the outlaws about what Bart had made them go through and he made his best to relate it in accordance with what Brad had told him. Then Don asked to take the talk and then tell them the same story but now from Daphne's point of view, about the s.e.x.u.a.l abuses , about the moral tortures and how Bart had made a drug addict , he spoke everything he knew and once he finished he sat down and let Jamal continue.

" Well , we didn't tell this to give a reason for what they or anything, but for the good follow-up of this trial you had to know about their stories first " he justified " 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 man , above 30 , who quickly stood up before anyone, he started " allow me before I give my judgment to confess something. Firstly 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 raise of the criminality and I'm also known as the only fortunate survivor of the raid in the 3rd district the last year . However you ignore is that what happened in this raid was premeditated, I sold my comrades and let them die there " everyone got an exclamation of surprise except Jamal and Volga who quietly listened his story " I did that because the outlaws had kidnapped my daughter who was only 15 . They said that if I don't obey them they would kill her so I've settled that trap in the hope that they will give me back my daughter what they did after they forcefully took her innocence and r.a.p.ed her three times. She is now safe in Stainfall but I will never forgive them for what they did to her neither I forgive myself for having betrayed my colleagues. All that to say that sometimes a man have to take decisions to protect a dear someone " 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 they had many who had similar stories of treason but even after that speech they were not resolved to talk. " OK so now let's continue the trial, who wants to give his opinion? " Howard said.

At the final the couple of lovers were acquitted . Everyone voted not kill them even though they still some who suggested that they couldn't just leave them like that and they needed to be punished even if it's not very severely, what was completely comprehensible, after all many people died because of them. The guard who brought them in 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, 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 a thunderous applause and whistling to encourage her in this decision.

Jamal again " I know you already tired of so much speeches and you want to quickly start celebrating " people laughed slightly " but trust one is the last one. As you may know we have some neighbors cities which are actually going through a furious fight against the outlaws and just like you they need help. And despite that you're repeating the opposite I'm not a super hero or anything in this kind I'm just a human. A human who is now to accompany him to go lend a hand to these cities. Of course I'm not forcing to go with me , I already know that there are many of you who 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 war 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 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 b.u.t.t 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 cut by putting a finger forward his lips to tell delicately to shut up " 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 " now it's you who is losing trust in me, don't forget that I owe you my life ". She said that and 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 .