CHAPTER ONE . . .  the curse of the fold

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       "WHY WAS THE FOLD CREATED?" A young Alina asked the woman beside her. It was a sensible question considering the fact that the book they were currently reading was not in any way educational.

It seemed more like a trophy written by the winners who had triumphed over the evil black heretic who plagued their world for so long. And apparently, it wasn't just the young woman who believed that. As the two children, either side of her found it equally as ridiculous.

"It's obvious. It was created to kill the heretic's enemies." Mal replied as the woman who held the book, lightly stroked an out of place corner back into position. Except her efforts were futile.

"That can't be the only reason. Can it, Ellie?" The part Shu girl reasoned. A pleading look on her youthful face, hoping there was more to the story than what was presented to them. She always loved a good story.

"Of course not. There are always two sides to a story." Her answer eased Alina's worries of story night being cut short and made a toothy grin take hold. Wordlessly asking the woman to continue.

But both of them were interrupted by Mal's arrogance. "He was evil and a madman. What else is there to it?" He groaned, growing bored of the conversation.

"Would you like me to continue? Or, would you like me to tell Ana Kuya about that statue you broke outside today?" El negotiated, knowing that the fear of Ana Kuya finding out about his recklessness a few hours prior would shut him up.

The boy let out a gasp at her obvious blackmail. While Alina started to giggle at Mal's fall of bravado.

Once she'd received the response she expected she allowed the corners of her lips to turn upwards, smiling at his brooding manner. "No? Then I suggest we continue."

Closing the old book, she gave it to Alina for safekeeping. She was the better choice of the two, Mal would probably misplace it even while he was asleep. Moving both of her arms to place them over the small children's shoulders she pulled them closer towards her.

"I think the fold was created by accident. He was hungry for power but underestimated the consequences." She told them, her eyes turning from the two children in her arms to the clock as she saw that they only had less than a minute until midnight. She couldn't stay up with them too long, otherwise, Ana Kuya would wring her neck as well.

Alina seemed to notice the older woman's attention on the timepiece across the room. Accepting the fact that it was late, and that she and Mal needed to get to bed before they got in trouble.

Just as she was about to say something the clock spoke for them. Reminding them of how short time could become.

"Well, off to bed you two. Before Ana Kuya starts to dig out our graves and empty our coffers." El humoured, smiling as she saw their faces light up at her infantile nature.

Shooing them off of her bed she stood up to open the door. Checking if the coast was clear she signalled for the two to leave once she saw or heard no sign of the dreadful housekeeper. And once the two got to the safety of the empty corridor she gave them a thumbs up, shutting her door behind her. Leaving them for the wolves you could say.

Fortunately for them, Ana Kuya was snoring loudly in the sitting room. A sign she was blissfully asleep in the land of dreams, or nightmares depending on what exactly she deemed dream-worthy. After all, she was a scary woman, it was like nothing brought fear to her.

Alina and Mal separated and walked into their individual rooms, not forgetting to say goodnight before they left.

Meanwhile, El made a start on making her bed once again. After a very enthusiastic pair of children decided to jump on top of it just over an hour ago. It wasn't a great challenge, but it was an inconvenience. Especially when considering how tired El didn't know she actually was.

Lifting the thin blanket that laid at the top of her multitudinous of covers, she revealed a small sealed envelope. She could tell by the handwriting that it was from Alina, but she didn't understand why it had her name on the front. Opening it with the letter opener she kept in her drawer, she noticed a thin object fall out. It was light, it didn't land with a thud. Nor did she feel any pain when it fell onto her leg.

It was a flower.

More importantly, it was a daisy. Her favourite flower.

It was a wonder as to why the woman chose that as her favourite flower, especially when there were so many others that were more beautiful. But it was just something else that made her the woman she was.

She found beauty in the simplest of things.

Placing the flower on top of the now-empty envelope on the old wooden bedside drawer, she began reading the letter.

'Dear Ellie,
We found this daisy outside in the field today, I told Mal not to pick it up but he did. He wanted to thank you for not telling Ana Kuya about the statue. We know how much you love daisies, but I also know how much you love leaving things such as flowers to follow the course nature gives them. So I made sure to hit him lightly for his mistake. But instead of letting it go to waste, I thought I should give it to you anyway, so you could admire it up close. Don't worry, I'll make sure Mal never does that again.

Your's, Alina x'

The corners of El's lips turned upwards at the irony. At how not only a few minutes ago she was threatening to tell Ana Kuya of the very situation Mal was thanking her for.

Folding the piece of paper once again following the creases previously made, she placed the flower inside for safekeeping. Then opening her drawer to place both the letter and the sharp object inside.

"Oh Alina, you're just like your mother." She whispered to herself. Blowing out the light she had beside her. "And I'm so proud of you for it."

       THE AIR AROUND THE CAMP WAS TEPID. The stench of sweating men and other indescribable odours filling the senses. Making it difficult to breathe clean air and leaving her to wish she'd never left the shithole she'd not long come from.

But she needed to pull through. Soon she'd be with Alina and Mal once again. And that's all that mattered to her.

And it seemed the Saints were hearing her prayers as she heard a familiar name being called. Her name. Or at least that's what she had convinced herself. More importantly, it was the voice who called her that received her complete attention.

"Marianne!" The voice called again.

She knew that voice better than anyone. Except for Mal, of course, he knew her more than he'd care to admit. It was Alina. Alina Starkov, map maker extraordinaire.

"Come on slowpoke, are you gonna say hello or not?" Another familiar voice said, obviously irritated with her lack of movement.

"Oh shut up, blockhead! I'm coming alright." She amused as she revelled in his annoyance. It was always fun humiliating Mal, even more so now that he was an adult. "See, I'm moving." She said as she took a few steps forward.

Finally, after a few agonising minutes of torture, she stood in front of the pair of them. And without any notice, they pulled her into a bone-crushing hug. Missing the friend they both hadn't seen in a while.

Patting their shoulders while struggling to breathe she let out a light cough to notify them of her discomfort. But it didn't do anything. They knew exactly what they were doing and she didn't make any movements to stop them. She'd missed the two of them greatly while they were all separated.

"How long has it been?" She asked, now able to slightly regain some oxygen in her lungs.

"Too long," Alina replied. While Mal just nodded at her comment.

The two of them had accepted Marianne as one of their own quite a few years ago now. She'd been with them for a long time, even though she was a bit older than the duo.

If only they knew.

At long last they let go of her, watching her struggle to bring air back into her lungs. Only this made her feel sick as she inhaled large amounts of the repulsive 'fresh' air that inhabited the place.

"We're off to get our orders, you coming with?" Mal asked, his arm resting on the woman's shoulder, giving her his canteen of water to help. She could only nod as she continued to drink his water. Until he realised and snatched it off her. "Oi. That's got to last, you know." The three laughed as they walked on.

Mikhael and Dubrov, who she'd been quickly introduced to, walking on ahead. Mal stood in the middle, his arms draped around the two women as they joked and laughed along the way.

As the man spoke, Marianne tuned out of the conversation. Not wanting to listen to what the man was saying. But something did draw her attention. His mention of the Second Army and Novokribirsk. Whatever could they have planned that involves going through the Shadow Fold and survive it only to get to Novokribirsk. It seemed like a waste of time. Until she realised that it was to restock their supplies.

She really needed to listen more. But whenever a man like him spoke all she heard was "Blah blah blah. War this, war that." So maybe it wasn't a good idea that she listened otherwise she'd get thrown in the brig for misbehaviour.

And that was the last thing she needed.

Mal's terrible impression of the man made her and Alina snigger as the greying man began to read out names from the 'nightmare lottery'.

As he read out the names, a sense of fear enveloped the three of them as they heard a name they hoped would never come up. It was Mal. He tried to brush it off, claiming it as an error, but the two women weren't as convinced as Marianne felt Alina's hand slip through her own to hold on tight.

She needed comforting. Something her friend would not hesitate to do.

"That's it. Dinner in one hour." The man continued as if he had not just spoken the names of those that were likely to meet a grim death soon enough. "Come back and line up by rank. Dismissed." After that everyone began to move around in the large tent.

Elowen missed what Mal had said to Alina, but she noticed the sadness in her eyes as she watched him walk away from her.

Their love story was even more annoying than any other, the worst part was that they were both clueless about their feelings. Mal more so than Alina. That man seriously was a blockhead, he was completely oblivious to everything around him. And yet he was the only one who truly knew everything about her. He had memorised every detail.

So perhaps there was still some hope for him.

Sliding Alina's hand out of her own, drew the girl's attention towards her. Moving their arms so they were linked. "Don't worry." She attempted to reassure her. "He's Mal. He'll stay alive just out of spite to taunt you for the rest of your days."

Instead of humouring her as she intended, it made Alina feel more scared at the fact that it might be the last time she saw Mal again. And she couldn't, no she wouldn't live with that fact.

"Maybe...maybe there's a way for me to go with him." She whispered to herself. Making Marianne completely turn towards her with a wild look on her face.

"No!" She replied a little too loudly, making a few others turn towards them. But she didn't care. "I am not letting you do anything stupid. Or I'm going to drag you by your ear off of that skiff tomorrow. Please, just listen to me, for once." She finished calmly, forcing the anger and fear that had begun to rise to the surface, bubble down until she was back to her usual composure.

Alina felt sympathetic to her older friend, knowing how afraid she was of losing someone to the Fold once again. Although she'd never specified who it was she lost, they had never pestered her for an answer. And she never pestered them.

"Okay." She mumbled, resting her arm that was previously entwined on to her friend's forearm, to comfort her. "I promise I won't do anything stupid."

Unbeknownst to the other woman, the raven-haired girl held one hand behind her back. Two fingers crossed. Immediately making the promise null and void. And she didn't know what she was in for, but it wasn't good.

       THE FOOD AT CAMP WAS FAR FROM NUTRITIOUS. But it was food. So Marianne was going to make sure to savour every morsel while she was there. Because it was better than starving.

She stood behind Alina in the line, Alexei directly after her. Just because she was a higher rank than the cartographers, didn't mean she would eat before they did. Station and ranking was just another form of segregation, if it wasn't for your skin or your abilities, it was for your rank in society. Men in power made it a habit to isolate people into different groups, perhaps it was their pride. They didn't want to lose to those they deemed inferior.

She'd been at the mercy of men like that before. Never again.

She watched as others were served their helping of a gruel like substance. As she saw the chef, if you could even call him that, serve it up she tried to distract her mind. Forcing thoughts of it being the best meal she ever had to get her senses through the scent alone. However, she was not going to lie. It looked and smelt revolting. She just had to suck it up.

Eventually, it was Alina's turn, only the decrepit old man didn't seem to want to serve her. Or at least his prejudiced ideals were shoved so far up his own arse that he couldn't form a single nice word.

"What's a Shu girl doing here?" He asked, confused as to why she was allowed to be in such close proximity to him. Just by the sound of his voice, Marianne wanted to punch him. They wouldn't tolerate that in camp, but she'd take her best chances.

Alina tried to convince the man about how she belonged with everyone else in the camp, but that didn't seem to change his arrogant tone with her. Even Alexei tried to help, but he seemed nervous under the older man's scrutinising gaze. Fortunately, Marianne was never one to back down from a fight. Even if that did get her in trouble the majority of the time.

"Is that an answer?" He asked rhetorically, not wanting to hear what it was they were trying to say. And it was seriously annoying the older young woman beside the so-called 'Shu girl'. "Back of the line. Your friends, too." He finished.

He seemed a little too brave to Marianne. Where was a pissed off heartrender when you needed one? They're always around when you don't want them to be.

"I don't know them," Alina said, letting the others at least have a chance at eating tonight.

"Then you go. Come on!" Raising his voice, was not necessary. And he was making two pissed off women want to punch him so hard in the throat he'd swallow his own vocal cords. It was a tempting idea but Alina holding her hand stopped her.

Said woman decided not to antagonise the man any further, choosing to starve rather than stand for his bias.

Throwing her plate down, Marianne felt the cold bite her palm as the absence of warmth began to take over. She was walking away, off somewhere to sulk. And the brunette was not going to stand for that. Unfortunately, Alexei held her back from attacking the ancient decaying man. But the man in question didn't even flinch.

Pulling her arms out of Alexei's grasp she glared at the man in front of her. She too throwing her plate down. Her appetite was now gone.

She felt a sense of pride as she walked off, hearing the sounds of the others giving up their own plates. She knew she liked those cartographers, they didn't need a gun in their hands to show they were useful.

Unlike her.

She was a murder, a cold-blooded killer. But this was war. And you had to become a monster, or be eaten by one. Natural selection at its finest.

Deciding that she didn't want to let Alina and the others go hungry, she quickly devised a plan to sneak into the large kitchen tent. There was bound to be something there. And she wasn't going to risk everything by being caught stealing from a Grisha tent. Too much of a risk for her to take.

Apparently, she and Mal were very different people. She was smart and he wasn't, simple as that.

Except they were both planning to steal from what seemed like very greedy people. Marianne's challenge being not to tackle the man who refused to serve them. He was cackling about something, finding his own joke completely hilarious.

The longer she was there, she realised what the joke was about. Or more or less, who it was about. And for once she didn't care that she was planning a million different ways to kill the man and bury him without a trace. The only one skilled enough to find his corpse would be Mal, and she doubted he'd help once he found out about his little joke.

Ignoring the sound of him and the other cooks, she focused on finding something edible. Perhaps a good helping of bread, maybe some cheese. Not that it was likely. Sneakily looking around the cluttered workspace she jumped as a small mouse slowly started scurrying away from her.

Poor thing. He was probably looking for something to eat too.

It wasn't too long before she found some bread, it was almost as hard as a rock but hopefully, the inside was still relatively soft. Just as she was about to leave, she noticed two of the three men sitting at the table walk out of the tent. Her favourite person in the world was fast asleep snoring in his chair.

It wasn't just that which made her smile. It was the decently sized piece of cheese that sat on a plate. So that was it, they were keeping all the goods to themselves. Giving the soldiers dysentery and all manner of diseases with that horrific concoction they claim as a fulfilling meal. Well, maybe they wouldn't miss a little bit of it. And by a little she meant the entire piece on the plate, he did seem a bit portly to her, she was being helpful to his organs. Too much of something as tasty as that could drive you insane, there are many things to prove it.

Or at least that's what she rehearsed in her head in case she got caught. It wasn't helpful, but it was damn funny.

She tiptoed to the uneven table, carefully watching the man's face for any movement. The man was a heavy sleeper, that was good to know. Finally claiming her prize she went to rush outside before noticing the mouse from before looking up at her from near the only entrance and exit. He looked hungry.

So without hesitation, she stepped closer to the small creature. Amazed at how it didn't cower at all as she moved. Crouching down she placed a sizeable chunk of cheese that she'd broken off the corner in front of him.

He looked up at her with big eyes, as if asking for permission.

"Go on." She encouraged, keeping her voice low to remain hidden in the shadows. "It's for you, enjoy it." She then slowly stood up, watching as the mouse took what was given to him and returned to wherever it was that he came from.

She didn't expect a thank you or something like that, after all, he was a mouse. If he spoke it would be quite unusual and a little bit terrifying.

Continuing on her journey out of the tent, she checked if it was clear. Fortunately for her, nearly everyone seemed to be asleep or some soon to follow. It was getting late. She walked fast as she passed campfires and small groups of soldiers. Keeping her first army issued coat close to her as she hid the stolen goods. Not afraid of getting caught, but it would make her plan useless if she didn't see it through successfully.

Finally, she came upon two familiar faces, well it was more like she'd seen their backs before their faces. But still, she'd know them anywhere.

Just when she was about to join them, she heard Mal's words as he spoke directly to Alina. "I'll find my way back to you." So simple, yet so important. "I promise." She knew of their promise to each other, she'd almost forgotten that it was her who'd introduced the two young children to one another.

She let out a breathless laugh at her childish matchmaking.

Even though they deemed they were nothing but friends, she could see the truth behind their eyes. They were just lost souls who needed to find their way to each other. It was why she knew Alina would be so quick to try and stop him or go with him, she couldn't bear to be without him. No one knew that pain more than Marianne.

After hearing those words, and seeing the way they looked at each other she walked away. Allowing them some time and space before the crossing tomorrow.

She walked back to the tent she shared with a few other women. All soldiers like her. But only a few of them gave her the light of day. They were all asleep as she tended to the dying fire, keeping it alive long enough to warm her. She was used to being alone, even when she was the one that chose to be that way. She had lived with the empty feeling loneliness gave for too long. But she still survived.

What she didn't expect though was to see a familiar little ball of fur beside her feet. A mouse.

Apparently, she'd gained his attention back at the large tent. She leaned down to look at him, placing her hand down, palm facing up, on top of her boot. An invitation for the harmless creature to come closer.

Picking him up once he nestled into her palm, she smiled at him. "Are you alone too?" She whispered, not wanting the others to think her any weirder than they already did. Pulling another substantial chunk of cheese with her free hand, she placed it in front of his pointed nose. Giggling slightly as his nose twitched as the smell wafted directly through his nose. "You must be hungry?" She asked rhetorically, stroking his back with the lightest of touches.

She looked up at the stars, and the moon shining brighter beside them. It was a lovely night. One that reminded her of all the late-night walks she would take, as a child, until she came across that clearing. Nearly every night and she never cared about her lack of sleep. Because she was with him, and he never let her feel lonely.

"What a dream that would be." She mumbled to herself, looking back down to the tiny creature she held in her hand only to look back at the night sky. "To be together again."

———  APOLLO SPEAKS  ———
WE BACK BITCHES!! Man I love their friendship it's the golden trio I swear! And Foster Mama El is seriously my favourite era there are gonna be some really great moments as the story continues 👀, so stay tuned.