What is the loudest silence you've ever heard?

The fall of a leaf on the ground? The white noise you can hear some days in the darkness? The quietude lingering in the air after everyone you know has been obliterated and your house turned to ashes?

That pause of a second of pure nothingness before the panic sets in and makes you want to claw your heart out. The instant before realisation washes over you, leaving you shattered on the ground.

The sound of steps in an empty hallway in the middle of the night, illuminated by the bright fluorescent lights on the ceiling. They cut out every once in a while, a single moment of darkness before the corridor is enlightened again.

The silence is deep all around her, so loud that she swears she can hear it whisper into her ears. It's always been like that, for as long as she can remember. The city is noisy, the loud honking of the car in the street and the sudden commercials compete with each other, each of them periodically winning the title of the most obnoxious one.

But that's the city. Alouette hasn't stepped foot in Dacran ever since her family was forced to run away. The government has never dealt well with opponents, especially when they are way too loud, and her father never was the silent type.

Where they are there's silence. Not a casual silence either, the one you know is only momentary. It's a strong silence, the one that lasts. The only sounds are produced by the people, which means that at night everything turns quiet, so quiet that you can almost hear the voice of your thoughts.

Alouette has never liked that silence, but she has learnt to live with it. It's part of her world, now, one part she can't run away from.

She wouldn't be walking in the hallways in the early morning if she didn't have a specific reason to, either. Five has always been a special time in the buildings of the Revolution. It's when all the people that have the night shift go to sleep. The moths go silent and the butterflies will only wake up at six, so for an hour sound is dead.

If only she knew.

She reaches her destination and knocks on the door with her fist, loudly enough to wake up the person on the other side.

It's not long before she hears steps coming towards the door, and a matter of seconds later the door is swung open. A purple-haired woman is standing on the other side, and she gives her a glare as she rubs the sleep out of her russet brown eyes.

"Allie?" She asks, confused, turning on the light of the room to have a better view of what's in front of her. "What are you doing here?"

Alouette knows it's an awful time to go around bothering people in their own rooms, but she knows there isn't much she can do about it.

Elodie has been very helpful ever since her father died, offering her her friendship first and support second. She was the first to offer her some help with her little sister, that at the time was only three years old, and now she really needs her help one more time.

"Elodie, hi," she greets her quickly, a little pleading smile on her face. "I was wondering if you can watch over Amina later today? I really want to go to the meeting."

Elodie rolls her eyes, but a smile curves her plump lips all the same. "Of course I can, it's always a pleasure to spend time with her," she replies. "I would've come to you if you hadn't asked, honestly. I heard your presence is required."

Alouette frowns. "What? Why?"

"It's an important meeting, so all the important people have to attend."

The simplified answer isn't particularly helpful to the younger girl. "I'm not important, though."

The thirty-something woman raises an eyebrow, putting her hand on the side of the door. "Your dad founded the Revolution, Allie. You're basically royalty here."

Alouette lets out a sour laugh. "I'm not really useful though, am I?" She asks. "All I do is hide away and take care of Amina."

"We all do what we have to do at times, that doesn't make us useless nor not important."

She sighs. "I guess you're right." She looks into the room, at the digital clock embedded into the wall on the other end. "I have to go before Amina wakes up!" She exclaims. "I'll see you at nine?"

The woman passes her hand through her somewhat matted periwinkle hair. "Sure thing," she mumbles in reply, closing the door in her face. Alouette doesn't really mind though, considering she'd come to her room at five in the morning.

She goes back to her room, the corridor is still silent, aside from the occasional door shutting or chair moving as some people start to stir awake.

When she opens the door darkness is still prevalent, and Alouette has to follow the line of the wall to her bed to make sure she won't trip over anything. She safely makes it to the mattress and sighs, lying down on it and staring at the ceiling above her head even though she can't see it due to the lack of illumination.

She wishes things were different, from time to time. How her life would be if they'd never left Dacran. She knows it wouldn't be better in the slightest, but she can't help but wonder. She knows she'd be another one of the souls meticulously stacked on one another in the small apartments of the city, finding herself walking at night in the brightly enlightened streets, surrounded by fake news and empty commercials while wondering what the reason of her existence is. When people are no more than a product, who will fight for them as people? Freedom, joy, self-actualisation become irrelevant to the bigger schemes, that are only dominated by the powerful call of money.

Her father once said you're worth how much you can spend, she never realised how true it was until she grew up.

She doesn't want to be one of those pieces, lives wasted towards making sure the mechanism of their society will move forward, slithering like a blind snake towards a future made of nobody knows what.

But even though she managed to escape the tinning of the city, she found herself into a new box, the one of the Revolution. Even though its principles are almost opposite, the result isn't that different at all. She has her space, her things to do, but even there she can't escape the fake news. It's a system carefully built to achieve submission, she knows that. She doesn't mind though, because she knows that to break the rules, she has to know them first. And so she plays by the rules, waiting for the perfect moment to flip the whole system over.

But at the moment, she feels useless. She loves and cares for Amina more than anything and she loves to spend time with her, but she feels powerless, compared to her father. He did many great things, and she knows that everyone that meets her has similar expectations for her. She feels like a disappointment sometimes.

Alouette turns to her side. She wishes she didn't feel so alone at times, she really does. She always puts up a facade for Amina because she's little and she has to protect her from the world, but that ended up making her feel incredibly lonely. Elijah is always there for her, but he has his own issues to think about, and so does Elodie. One does not stumble upon the Revolution without having a past. She wonders what it takes to create such an organisation.

She stares into the darkness, where she knows the alarm clock is. She should sleep a bit if she doesn't want to get tired during the day, but her brain is going at a thousand miles per hour and she doesn't know if she'll manage to quiet it down long enough to fall asleep.

She can hear her own heartbeat in the silence. She closes her eyes.

•    •    •

She's woken up only some hours later by the odd feeling of being stared at.

She opens her eyes, blinking a couple of times, trying to make sense of her surroundings, smiling when she recognises the shape out of focus in front of her as her sister.

"Why are you already up?" Alouette murmurs, sitting up and letting out a sigh, brushing back her messy hair, and Amina raises her eyebrows.

"It's almost nine."

She widens her eyes and looks at the clock on her nightstand, dread washing over her when she realises her sister is right. "Oh no, I slept through the alarm haven't I?" She asks to no one in particular as she stands up quickly, not missing the little nod she gives her.

Alouette runs into the bathroom just to jump back out to get a change of clothes and tell Amina to stay in the room while she gets ready.

There's no time for a shower so she just tries to make sense of her hair instead, ending up putting it in a low ponytail, and brushes her teeth to get rid of the unpleasant taste in her mouth. She stares at herself in the mirror and rolls her eyes when she takes in the state she's in, the lack of sleep of the night before evident in her eyes. She washes her face, somehow managing to look more lively, and then changes her clothes, rushing out of the bathroom as soon as she's done.

"I'll take you to Elodie and you'll have breakfast with her, how does that sound?" She asks her sister, earning a confused glance from her.

"Aren't you coming?"

She shakes her head. "I'm sorry, I have a really important meeting I have to go to," she tells her, "and I woke up too late, so I can't come."

She takes her sister by the hand and walks out of the door, putting in the code to lock it and making her way down the corridor in the fastest way she can without forcing Amina to run.

It takes them a bit longer than she would like to get to Elodie's room, but when they do the other woman is quick to open the door, telling by her urgent knocks that she has no time to waste.

"I'll leave her to you" Alouette just says, and Elodie chuckles.

"It looks like someone woke up late today," she comments, looking down at Amina. "Your sister is a bit distracted at times."

"I didn't sleep much last night."

Elodie gives her a nod. "I don't want to say you deserve it for waking me up at five, but that's exactly what I'm saying."

Alouette lets out a chuckle. "Maybe I do," she agrees, before changing topic. "Amina hasn't had breakfast, can you take her?"

"Sure thing, now go!" The other tells her, "I don't want to be held responsible for you being late."

"Okay, be safe," the young girl says, giving her sister a little look, "I'll be back soon."

The door is shut between them and she's left alone in the corridor. Differently from the night before, though, there's no silence wafting in the hallways. She can hear noises of every kind all around her, from steps on the ceiling above her head to conversations in the rooms next to her as she walks quickly to her destination.

She turns a corner and feels a weight being lifted off her chest when she spots Elijah waiting for her at the end of the corridor. She walks towards him quickly, immediately being met by his little sarcastic comment.

"There you are, I was about to put up missing signs."

Alouette rolls her eyes. "Should we waste time chatting or should we go to the meeting?"

He raises his eyebrows, but walks next to her anyway as she goes to the meeting room. "If they'll let us leave the building at all at this time."

"Of course they will, come on," she replies, not even wanting to think about the possibility of not being allowed out.

They reach the east door and she pushes it open, giving him a winning smile when it follows her will easily.

"See?" She comments, not missing the way he shakes his head at her.

They walk to the central building and knock on its front door, where they're met by a bald man in his forties seconds after.

"There's always someone who's late" he mutters, letting them in anyway before closing the door again, and Alouette offers him a little thank you before running up the stairs.

The buildings of the Revolution are rather old, almost seeming to be what's left of a past civilisation, and are divided into small rooms and a long and complex system of corridors, which made it hard to find a place to hold meetings in. In the end they'd decided to take some walls down, and only the central building was built in a way that allowed it, which made it become the heart of the Revolution. It's where the leaders stay and where the meetings are held, where attacks are planned and weapons are kept.

They run up the two sets of stairs and walk to the open door right in front of them while trying to stabilise their breath, the eyes of about a hundred people drawn to them upon their arrival.

"It looks like we have some latecomers," someone comments loudly and Alouette looks up, embarrassment washing over her when she realises the words came from Ezra.

She's not exactly familiar with him. He and her father used to be partners, they founded the Revolution together with the help of Markberg, but she never got to know him personally since her dad preferred to keep business in the office. She's only talked to him a couple of times, both of them after her father's passing, which means that she's pretty sure her delay has just given him a negative impression of her.

Elijah shrugs and offers her a little smile, not seeming to mind the snarky comment as much as her.

"As I was saying before being interrupted," Ezra continues, shooting her a glance, as he walks back and forth in front of the room, "we have to organise a strong response now that Markberg is dead."

A cloud of whispers arises all around the room at his words, as the most knowledgeable members of the crowd inform the others, comments being shared quietly with each other.

"Now, the Council says we should attack Dacran, but I know it's not the right thing to do, not the right way to respond to the unlawful murder that took place a couple of days ago." Ezra pauses, and for some seconds stops walking too. "I say, they killed one of our leaders, so we'll kill their leader too."

Alouette's head snaps in Elijah's direction in the second she processes what the man said. Kill their leader? That's impossible, unheard of. It could never be a possibility. He seems to be just as shocked as she is, as the majority of the people in the room is too.

How could they even do that? It's an impossible plan, one that will only bring death, pain and no results, she can already tell.

"I understand your confusion, believe me, I do," Ezra speaks again, louder than before to overcome the multitude of mumbles all around him. "But the Council and I have come up with a plan that's guaranteed to succeed."

"I doubt that" Elijah whispers in her ear, trying to make light of the situation, but she can only barely pay attention to what he's telling her.

"We will never win against them. Even though many of our young men have chosen to join it, our army is small and not strong enough to go against theirs," Ezra explains, sending a glance in Elijah's direction, one Alouette doesn't miss.

She turns to look at him, surprise on her face. "You're going into training?"

He offers her a tight smile. "I want to actually do something for the Revolution," he tells her quickly and quietly, "besides, it's a perfect excuse to go out every once in a while." He studies her face, not missing the worried look in her eyes. "Relax, the little missions they go on are hardly dangerous" he tells her playfully, and she sighs.

"I get it," she replies truthfully. Even though it worries, she knows what he means. If that's what he chose to do, she has to accept it. "I just wish you'd told me."

"I would've."

Alouette hums even though she isn't that sure he's telling the truth, going back to listening to what Ezra is saying.

"We won't attack them in a traditional way. Styles never leaves the presidential palace, which is extremely well defended. We wouldn't be able to penetrate higher than the third floor if we were to attack, let alone get to him." He gives a serious look around. "So we'll work from the inside."

Alouette can physically feel the confusion and shock the people around her are feeling and expressing in multiple ways. Sending someone on the inside? The danger of doing that is indescribably high. It's basically asking for that person to be killed.

"We'll send one person inside the palace. They'll have a period of two months to get close to Styles. At the end of the two months the Revolution will orchestrate a fake attack towards the palace, which should create enough momentary instability to allow that person to finish the job and get out of the palace unscathed."

"I wouldn't wanna be that person for sure" Elijah comments, and Alouette can't help but agree with him. That surely seems to be a dangerous thing to do.

A man in front of them coughs loudly, gaining everyone's attention. "It sounds good on paper, but do you already have any idea of who should do that? Do you accept volunteers?"

Ezra shakes his head. "There will be no need for volunteers, we've already chosen someone."

Murmurs fill the room once again at his statement. The tension rises with every passing second as everyone wonders who it is - some hoping it'll be them, some hoping it won't be them.

Ezra turns his head, and all of a sudden Alouette can feel his eyes burn into hers. "It's Alouette Ivenhart."

Alouette can feel her ears ringing. What?

Everyone is looking at her now, Elijah too, they seem to even more puzzled than her, if possible. Why her? Why her, out of all people?

It doesn't make sense.

"Why?" She can only ask.

"Your father founded the Revolution, Alouette," Ezra tells her, a serious look in his eyes. "The Council and I believe you're just as strong-willed and bright as he was, and that you'll rise to the occasion."

Alouette just stares at him, his words resonating in her brain but never really making sense.

"Everyone, leave," Ezra continues, "I want only Alouette and the members of the Council in here. We shall discuss the details of the mission privately."

People start standing up, the mumbles getting louder and louder as they leave the room. Alouette sends Elijah a pleading look, begging him not to leave her, but he just gives her a little smile and a mouthed sorry before going out of the room, leaving her in there, alone in the company of people that want to send her to her death.

She stands still in her spot until everyone has left and only eleven people are in the room.

"Alouette?"

She looks up, Ezra is right in front of her, a concerned look in his grey eyes.

"We thought it'd be the perfect opportunity for you to get out there. You're smart, I'm sure you wouldn't encounter any issues," he explains, "however, if you don't want to do it, you should tell us now."

She just stares at him, and then at the faces of the ten other men in the room. She wants to answer, but it feels like her tongue is tied, paralysed by the shock of the situation she was thrown into.

She doesn't want to do it.

But it's her chance to do something.

Who will take care of her sister if she isn't there?

It's her opportunity to get out of that place.

What if something happens to her?

She could flip the system over.

"I don't... my sister," the words stumble out of her mouth, disconnected just like her thoughts.

Ezra gives her a warm smile. "We'll make sure she's always safe. I'm sure Elodie Byrne wouldn't mind taking care of her for a little while. She should be the one that looks over her from time to time, if I remember correctly."

Alouette gives him a weak nod. "I... I don't think I can do this. I'm not sure I'm the right person."

"You're the perfect one," Ezra states. "We all believe in you, and firmly believe you're the best person for this job."

"It's rather easy and safe, too, if I can say," another man chimes in, walking towards them. "You'll go there to assist his secretary, so you have a legal and unsuspicious way in. You won't be blowing your cover until the very last instants, and by the time they find out you'll be long gone. And then he will be gone, and the issue will be solved."

She doesn't need him to specify to know who he's talking about. The man that made life as she knew it fall apart. Gone. In the past. Into a brighter future.

It's her opportunity to do something, something good, that will make everyone's life so much better. To use the rules to flip them over.

She doesn't even realise what she's about to say until the words leave her mouth.

"I'll do it."

Everyone in the room seems relieved.

"Tell her the plan," Ezra states before sitting on one of the chairs, and the man that had previously spoken nods and steps forward.

"You'll be going in with a fake name. We think it's best if you decide it yourself, since you're going to have to answer to it," he explains, "we'll also erase you from the internet just to be safe, so in case Styles gets a hold of your real name he won't be able to know who you are."

Alouette gives him a nod, but she's only half listening, the realisation of what she just agreed to starting to come to her. Is she crazy? At this point, maybe.

After all the years spent walking around corridors and sleeping in small rooms, she wouldn't be surprised.

"You'll work for his personal assistant. She works closely to him, so she's your way in. You need to get her to allow you to be around Styles as well, which won't be immediate." He stops for a second, seeing if she's still following him, and then continues. "You need to gain access to him, but remember not to get close to him in a personal way. He's extremely manipulative, if he senses something, he will do something about it. You need to know where he'll be when the attack comes, so get a hold of his schedule or something. You have two months."

"You'll also be able to keep in contact with us," another man with short blond hair says. "A guard at the lower levels works for us. He'll be the one to take you. You'll meet him and tell him your progress every two days. You can ask for things, within a reasonable range, of course. We'll make sure to give them to you through him."

Alouette frowns. "Why can't the guard do it instead?"

"The palace is organised in levels for safety," Ezra tells her. "The lower levels cannot access the higher ones. It creates a system in which Styles is kept at the very top, away from danger. You're lucky we managed to find a way in through his assistant."

She gives him a nod. It makes sense, but her head feels like it's about to explode. "Can I go?"

Ezra nods. "You have two months to get ready. Make sure you tell us the name you want to use by the end of today."

"Sure" she murmurs, turning around and escaping from the room.

Only when she gets out of the main door she realises that Elijah hasn't stopped to wait for her. She shrugs it away though, knowing that he too had places to be - especially so late in the morning.

During all the way back, the latest events do not leave her mind.

What has she just agreed to?

She walks right past Elodie's door but she doesn't dare to knock. She knows she's so visibly upset that even Amina would see right through her, she can't allow that to happen.

She closes her eyes, trying to ground herself, because she feels like she's floating into space with no spacesuit on, with no weight to her body and instants away from dying.

In the end she ends up running to her room, slamming the door closed right behind her and forcefully sitting on her bed, accidentally making something fall from the nightstand.

She opens an eye to spy what it is, something softening inside of her when she discovers it's her dad's book.

Alouette picks it up carefully, making sure it didn't get damaged in the fall, opening it and passing her finger through the pages slowly.

It's a collection of poems a man from the past wrote to his lover, each word dripping with authentic, powerful feelings, something she doesn't really think exists anymore. Their society is too pragmatic for that, to the point that the lines feel to her as odd, though welcome, strangers.

The author of those poems always referred to his partner with the name of a bird, something she's always found curious, and her father has always found special. He'd always told her how distinctive it was, ever since she was little.

He thought it's a beautiful thing to refer to someone you care about with a bird name. He believed that everyone could be resembled by a bird in characteristics. It'd always been one of the weirdest things he'd talked to her about.

And so she's Alouette, the lark, because she was always cheerful and gave him a reason to fight for.

Or so he used to say when she was little. He stopped mentioning it after her mother officially forbade him from naming another one of his daughters after a bird.

She smiles. They feel like memories from another life, now.

She sighs, feeling much calmer, and looking down at the book again, immediately glancing up again in the instant a thought crosses her mind.

She's the lark.

Lark.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. x
Miki