Julius Rictor - Chapter 37 - Betrayal

After that embarrassing display, my parents brought me into Dad’s office. I sat down with them until I calmed down. They consoled me. 

Then, once I was good, Dad gave me the biggest, loudest lecture of my entire life. He said I was a fool for risking my life like I had, that I was disrespectful, that he’d have me remove my Guild mark if it didn’t mean my tongue had to come off with it, apparently.

It was a lot of yelling I probably deserved.

After he was satisfied, Dad called for some tea. We sat in silence for a while soon after, him sitting in a chair across from me and Mom, who were on the couch I’d seen them sitting on from the window outside.

“Do you like adventuring?” Dad eventually asked.

Stunned, I looked at him.

“I’m not happy you did it, but I’m curious about your thoughts,” he explained, as if reading my mind. “What kind of jobs did you do?”

I went over my first job with Gai. I tried to limit the details, but it was hard to avoid. Dad had questions that led me to certain answers, meaning he already vaguely knew what I’d been through.

He and Mom went quiet after that story.

Frantically, I jumped into one of our other quests. The next one Gai and I did right after the dangerous one was an easy search-and-rescue mission for a lost kid. The parent literally came into the Guild crying, and we took her case immediately. We found her in a restaurant nearby. The owner was feeding her while a staff member was out looking for her parents.

That helped lighten the mood a tad.

Most of my quests were generally like that. We had a retrieval mission. We did some Water’s Bastion-wide parcel stuff. The only other dangerous one was tracking down a thief, but it turned out to be a teenage girl trying to make money for her siblings. After listening to Remi’s story, I ended up just giving the girl jewelry I was wearing, much like my time with Father Wilson.

By the time I finished, the room felt less heavy.

I ended with the Father Wilson quests I was just on, then became silent.

Dad was hard in thought, while Mom smiled at me, her eyes half closed. She was rubbing my arm with her fingertips. It was a little embarrassing.

“So you can be mature,” Dad muttered, crossing his arms.

“I resent that,” I retorted.

Dad tapped his shoulder. “Making me realize I lack a few things in my role. I handle so many oversight issues, I can’t really deal with granular, public-service-oriented tasks.” He nodded. “Perhaps there is a formal role there for someone who’d be interested.”

My ears perked up. “What do you mean?”

“If you wish… I think we can create opportunities within the castle for you to act in some official relief capacity,” Dad said. He closed his eyes as he spoke, leaning back. “It could be a special force of approved members designed to mediate and control conflicts in non-violent manners.”

I stared at him. As if he could feel my eyes burning holes into him, Dad’s face twitched, but he didn’t look at me or open his eyes.

“You’ll give me guards and let me help people?” I summarized.

“As long as you promise me you will approach every incident carefully, seek non-violent approaches, and coordinate anything you do with the castle’s knights while keeping me informed, yes,” he relented, sighing and opening his eyes. He sat up. “But you must continue to perform noble tasks on our behalf at events.” He hesitated. “I also need you to follow through on your engagement and marry Gai Regal.”

I knew why, but the question flew out of my mouth anyway. “Why?”

“Do you not like him anymore?” Dad asked. “Has he done something?”

“No.”

“Then why wouldn’t you?” he pondered.

“I thought you would cancel our engagement,” I admitted, knowing he had. “After what happened.”

Dad’s face distorted for a moment, but Mom stepped in for him.

“You are a very sought-after girl. We used to get requests weekly with nobles trying to set you up with their sons,” Mom said.

I crinkled my nose. “I don’t remember that.”

“Well, you were throwing boys out of windows at parties,” she replied.

I nodded. “That I was.”

“They kept coming, though. Some were more persuasive than others.” She lightly smoothed out the front of her dress and looked at me calmly. “We’re the lowest form of nobility. A few of the offers became more like threats.”

“Ah.” My face darkened. “Duke Dallinger?”

Dad’s head shot up. “How did you know that?”

“Lucky guess based on context,” I said. “And Gai’s sister used to be married to him. We’ve talked about their family and Richard Dallinger plenty of times.” I shifted my posture on the couch. “Sounds like you’re implying Duke Dallinger wanted me to marry his son Richard.” I already knew the answer, but I wanted further confirmation told to me face-to-face.

“Several times,” Dad admitted. “You know what kind of man he is.”

“I do.”

“It is unlikely the prince will return after what happened to him. He lost the duel for your hand. If Gai had won any other way, Duke Dallinger would have protested, given the balance of power between the four dukes. If Gai were no longer your fiancé, it would mean your only possible option left would be Richard Dallinger.”

I nodded. “And I’d probably end up killing him at some point.”

At that, my father laughed. “Yes, I suppose I assumed the opposite. You probably would. The lad wouldn’t be able to handle you for a moment.”

“Besides, Gai is a kind boy,” Mom said. “I think you two work well together.”

“You, uh, should probably go talk with him,” Dad said. “Feel free to mention that I’m disappointed in his actions and wish for him to do better in the future.”

Taking back his words through me. Funny. But probably best delivered through his daughter than him.

“Then I take it I’m no longer punished.” I stood up smiling. “I’ll be off!”

“Do not leave the castle grounds for the foreseeable future,” Dad cut in.

I deadpanned. “I won’t do any more Guild work. I promise.”

Sighing, Dad gestured for me to sit down again, and I did. His expression was unusually somber, as was my mother’s. They clearly knew something that I didn’t. I hadn’t overheard anything that’d prompt this kind of reaction when I was snooping, so I was confused.

“There’s no easy way to say this.” Dad took a breath. “Someone wants to hurt you.”

I flinched. “What?”

“There were better ways than that,” Mom said, furrowing her brow, judging my dad. She gestured for me to look at her, and I did. “There’s nothing for you to worry about. Stay in the castle for the next week or two. Don’t go anywhere without guards.” She reached forward and squeezed my hands. “We mean it. This is not a joking matter.”

I turned to my father. “Who wants to hurt me?”

My parents exchanged a look.

“Several girls have been taken—” Dad started.

“You’re talking about the serial killer in town that’s taken five girls.” I immediately inferred and concluded the situation based on those simple words. “Wait, is that true? And why’s he targeting me?”

Dad made a face. “So you did know.” He didn’t relax. If anything, he looked more tense. “Yes, it’s true. We found the bodies yesterday morning. Some signs pointed to you as a potential target.”

“To what extent?” I asked.

“You don’t need to know that.”

I frowned. “Of course I do!”

“Scarlet!”

“Are the girls getting killed because of me?” My mind was swimming with worst-case scenarios. “Are more people going to die if I stay in the castle and do nothing?”

My parents exchanged another look. They were already bracing for the argument.

I went still. There was no winning this argument in that office. “Never mind. I’ll do as you say.”

Arguing now would only make them lock every window in the castle. If I wanted answers, obedience was the fastest lie.

Neither of them believed me. I could see it on their faces, but they didn’t push me any further.

“I’m going to see Gai,” I said quietly. “One thing at a time. I don’t feel like arguing after all the nice talks we’ve had. I’ll just save it for tomorrow,” I teased. “Maybe.”

Awkwardly, I stood up and lingered over them. I thought about hugging them, but decided not to, embarrassed and still not used to being loving. Instead, I smiled, thanked them, and exited the room.

I overheard their parting words as I lingered outside the door for a moment.

“You say I’m too soft on her,” Mom scoffed, her voice muffled. “That little girl still has you wrapped around her finger.”

I audibly heard my Dad sigh. “That she does, the brat.”

For some reason, I smiled.

•••

Gai Regal

I stood in the middle of my room staring at my bed. My eyes felt unusually tired, and my limbs felt heavy, like they’d drop off at any moment.

Should I say anything to her before I go?

My lone bag was packed and sitting on the bedcover before me. Little knick-knacks Scarlet and I had gotten during jobs and trips in town were fresh on top, hidden from view by the cinched top.

I slapped myself and forced a smile.

“Cheer up! It was always temporary!” I told myself. “Nothing lasts forever, and there are always new journeys on the horizon.”

It pepped me up for a single second, and I actually felt like I’d be fine.

There was a knock at my door. “Gai?” a voice called, one I was very familiar with.

I whipped around and opened the door before I even had a chance to fully register who it was, though I knew who it was.

“Whoa.” Scarlet stood in the doorway, a head shorter than me, as she always was. She wore a short black shirt and a long-sleeved red blouse. Her hair was messy and curly, as always, and her emerald-green eyes bored into me with a light astonishment. “Quick.”

“Did you hear?” I asked.

“Hear what?” Scarlet seemed genuinely confused. “I’m just dropping off a message from my father.”

I tensed.

“He said to tell you that he is disappointed in your actions and wishes for you to do better in the future,” Scarlet said. She shrugged. “Whatever that means.” She looked around. “Can I come in?”

I flinched, staring dumbfounded as Scarlet walked past me without waiting for my answer. “He didn’t say anything else?” I asked in disbelief. Just yesterday, he was threatening to annul my engagement with his daughter. Now this?

“What? Expected some sort of punishment?” Scarlet flopped onto my bed without care, relaxing onto the messy sheets that stunk of dried alcohol. “You’re a duke’s firstborn son. What could he even do to you?”

He didn’t tell her. Did he change his mind?

“He really didn’t say anything else?”

“Nope.” Scarlet shook her head and rotated on the bed until she was on her stomach facing me. She kicked her feet rhythmically behind her head, showing me brief glimpses of the soles. “I got my punishment, though. I’m confined to the castle until this killer issue has been sorted out.”

My face hardened. I’d heard the details when that guard came in to warn the baron, Talbert, and Remi of what had happened in town. After some light investigation later with my gift, I learned about the golden hand, the serial killer, the state of the five dead girls, and the red-haired doll found at the scene.

“It’s probably for the best,” I said after a moment. I reached forward and placed a hand on the top of her head. “I’ll keep you company. Don’t worry.”

“I’m sure you will.” She rolled over, evading my hand and lying flat on her back as she looked up at me. Her blouse parted slightly. “Rather than keep me company, I want you to help me.”

“How?”

“Help me investigate this killer. We can find out who they are and stop them together!” She pumped her fist and stared at me, excited.

My expression instantly soured. “The past 48 hours have meant nothing to you, huh?”

“No, I was able to reconcile with my parents.” Her expression grew embarrassed, and she looked away. “I can’t remember the last time anyone’s cared for me that much. I thought they didn’t but they did.” She peered at me. “Richard Dallinger wants to marry me.”

At the sound of that name, my blood boiled. Images of my sister rushed into my mind. I remember the crushed look of her corpse when it was returned to us. She’d jumped off a building to end her life. The pristine image I had of her was gone forever, replaced with the crumbled mess of flesh and misshapen bones in a box.

All because Richard Dallinger tortured her until she couldn’t take it anymore.

“Hey.” Scarlet sat up and grabbed my hand. She stared at it, worried and deep in thought. “You’re bleeding.”

When I looked down, my hand was clenched so tight into a ball that my nails had dug holes into my palms. “Sorry.” I released my grip.

“Don’t be.” Scarlet’s voice was barely a whisper. Her mind was elsewhere. “I know the feeling. Believe me.” She looked up at me from my hand. “They kept pushing back the duke’s request. Your duel with Christopher prevented them from interfering in our engagement. Without you, I’d be in a horrible place right now. My parents wouldn’t have been able to fight off the duke’s influence forever.” I dipped my head. “It made me realize how much they care.” Her voice cracked a bit. She looked up and smiled. “And how much I’m grateful for you, truly. It seems like my life could have been way worse. Ironic.”

Instinctively, I took my non-injured hand and placed it on Scarlet’s face. My heart raced. I wanted nothing more than to kiss her, pull her close, and make her mine.

But my touch always made her—

She didn’t flinch.

Scarlet looked sideways at my wrist. Again, she was contemplative. Slowly, she rested her hand on top of mine and looked at me.

My heart pulsed.

I felt myself lean forward, crouching down to meet her level.

But Scarlet’s face turned red. She looked away, embarrassed.

The mood died. I turned away, equally embarrassed.

“I’m going to go to the morgue. Talk to Clyde,” Scarlet said. She got up from my bed and brushed off her clothes. “Care to help, my invisible friend?”

“No.” My voice was resolute. I looked Scarlet dead in the eyes. “I think you should stay out of the situation until the investigation has more footing.”

Scarlet’s brow scrunched up. “Who knows when that will be? I can’t wait forever. What if more people die? How will I be able to live with myself?”

“It wouldn’t be your fault. The killer—”

“You told me I’m a kind person and that I should follow through with my kindness.” She interrupted me swiftly and viciously. “That’s what I’m doing. I’m going along with what you said. Will you help me?”

I hesitated, but the words came out. “No.”

I want to keep you safe.

“Fine.” Scarlet brushed past me and opened the door. “Then don’t get in my way.” She slammed the door behind me.

I scratched the back of my head, frustrated and annoyed at myself.

•••

Scarlet Embers

No one understood the guilt I felt. I thought of all people, Gai would help and understand. But he didn’t. He wanted to keep me safe when, before, he was all for helping me live true and free. Hypocrite!

Five people were killed, and I was somehow connected. Either I was the target or the end goal, but either way, my existence was brought into the mix.

My brain knew it was probably some kind of trap. I wasn’t stupid. I’d studied serial killers in college and independently. I’d never represented a famous one like portrayed on television or sensationalized in the news, but I’d represented people with multiple suspected homicides. I was a public defender in New York City, after all.

The killer was trying to draw me out. I had a habit of being impulsive and dominating. No doubt they thought that by calling me out, I would try to find and take them on, likely by myself.

But if they’d slipped up, if I could find the right information, maybe I’d be able to gain the upper hand. I was confident in myself. If I was good at anything, it was investigating and fighting. I had a whole degree in the first and two lifetimes to practice the second. All I needed was the conviction to follow through, and I certainly had that.

In the castle, there was a cool basement that served as a morgue and medical lab. One floor up, with beautiful sunlight and multiple beds, was the infirmary.

Clyde was usually in the sunlit part, but his duties drew him beneath the castle.

I slipped downstairs into the morgue with relative ease. There weren’t even guards on hand, mostly because I timed my entrance to coincide with their shift change. The basement smelled of medicine and chemicals. My nose clenched instinctively the closer I got to the bottom.

Soon, I was met with the sound of soft hums and clinking tools.

I peeked downstairs and saw Clyde steadily working away on a body. He was fully dressed, suited in heavy clothing, his face covered. He wore thick clothes to keep away blood, and gloves to do the same. He was staring intently into the now open torso of a deceased girl with light brown hair and, obviously, dead eyes.

“Organs were traumatized repeatedly, especially the lungs. She’s filled with water,” Clyde muttered under his breath. He stood back and looked around. The four other girls were all on different tables, taking up every single one he had. “He did something different to each girl. If they weren’t found together in such a way, it’d be hard to connect the killer.”

“What do you mean by that?” I said, striding into the morgue from down the steps. “Each cause of death is different?”

Clyde recoiled. “L-Lady Scarlet! What are you—”

“Someone’s calling me out, and I’d like to know everything I can about it.”

“I don’t—”

“Please!” I walked toward him and dipped my head reverently, fake desperation laced in my tone. It sounded like I was on the verge of tears, maybe collapsing. All acting on my part. “I’m a little on edge. I know this killer has it out for me, but no one’s explaining why. I’m a little… scared. It would be nice to know something.”

That approach softened Clyde a bit. He took a step back, then sighed.

“I don’t know much more than you. The five girls were found each hanging from a finger of a giant homemade hand the size of a small home sitting right in the middle of the town’s main street, going right into Water’s Bastion,” Clyde said.

“Must have been done in the dead of night. And a normal person couldn’t have done that, so it’s either a team of people or a single Eater,” I reasoned. “A group would have been caught by now. Single Eater, most likely.”

“...yes.” Clyde seemed surprised by my summation. He almost seemed impressed.

I haven’t been showing people my best sides these past few years, I guess.

“Do you have the hand?” I asked.

“It was burned,” Clyde said. “There was also a doll that looked a lot like you holding a sign like it was being praised. Looked a lot like you. Both the doll and hand were hollow on the inside, surprisingly.”

I filed those creepy little facts away, a little disturbed now that I knew why people thought I was a target, and focused on the more annoying details.

Idiots. There could have been more evidence on them.

“Did you see it? The doll?” I asked. “How much did it look like me?”

Clyde’s face darkened. “It wasn’t an exact replica, but anyone would have guessed you were the inspiration. It had an expensive dress on, green eyes, and styled red hair. And that cryptic message saying you were some kind of savior…”

“What exactly?”

“The doll was holding a sign that said ‘SHE SHALL SAVE US’ in its hands,” he explained. “We don’t know what that means.”

“Neither do I.”

I looked at the body in front of me. The younger girl’s chest was open. Some of her organs had been taken out. Her lungs, most noticeably, were unnaturally puffy.

Clyde caught me looking and seemed concerned. “Do you not find this disturbing?”

It wasn’t my first time in a morgue, let alone seeing a dead body. My job defending people meant I was used to death. But even before that, I—

I shook my head. “It’s fine. You said her lungs and stomach were filled with water?”

“Yes.” Clyde moved forward and pointed at the lungs. “Notice the bruising. She didn’t just drown. She was drowned and resuscitated multiple times.”

At that, I made a face. “To torture her?”

“I’m not sure,” Clyde admitted. He walked to one of the other girls. “This one was assaulted and bludgeoned over the course of several days, based on her wounds.” He moved on to the next. “Tortured. Made to flee a long distance barefoot, based on her feet and legs. Throat slit when she collapsed.” The next. “This girl had her body parts gradually cut off layer after layer until her heart gave out.” The last girl, with a mangled, broken body. “Dropped from a great height. Based on the rope burns on her feet, she was suspended in the air for several days before she dropped.”

I placed my hand over my mouth. My stomach was bubbling. “He’s tortured all of them.”

“In different ways,” Clyde muttered. He crossed his arms over his chest. “It’s like the killer was trying to evoke something out of his victims.”

“What?”

“No idea.” He turned to me. “And I don’t know much more than this, Lady Scarlet. Please, do not seek out more information. Sir Talbert and Sir Van Gallan will handle the killer. Do not fret.”

That didn’t satisfy me in the slightest.

•

Back in my room, I was already applying strawberry-blonde dye to my hair and putting on my adventuring attire, with the full intention of sneaking out of the castle in the middle of the day and poking around wherever I could. Marion was no longer there when I arrived, meaning someone had gotten him out of my trap, thankfully. I felt like I’d have had to string him up again.

Changing clothes, my intentions were clear: I needed to see the scene of the crime and look for clues.

Really going to lose all the goodwill I gained with my parents today if I’m caught, but this will bother me if I do nothing. I already have too many demons keeping me up at night. I don’t need more.

“There’s no way they haven’t missed something if they’re burning godsdamned evidence,” I muttered, putting my hair into a ponytail. “I doubtless know more about crime-scene investigations than anyone in this time period. A look around would do me good. If I can get in and out before dinner time, no one will be the wiser.”

Security was beefed up around the entire castle. It was probably the better bet, as it was very, very easy for me to incapacitate one guard. Plus, there were only a handful of people in the castle who could fight me, and they were all Eaters.

“Okay!” I turned to my window, fully dressed. Two tendrils of darkness jutted out of my hands and stuck to the sides. I pulled back, made them taut, and shot myself forward through the window like a bullet.

I was soon bathed in sunlight.

Then, for a split second, I saw Remi hovering over my window on a sword, looking down at me, disappointed.

“Nope!” she shouted.

Wooden boards flew around me from out of nowhere and sealed me into a tight box. My momentum was killed, and suddenly, I was shot straight down. Before I hit the ground, the momentum died slightly.

The sounds of rocks forming around me made me feel claustrophobic.

I was sealed completely in darkness. My breath became shallow.

There was an explosion.

A hole ripped through the box, only big enough for me to see through and get air.

I wiped wood chips away from my lashes and peeked out.

All three of my friends were standing over me. I could tell I was sealed under hard rock and locked in a makeshift casket. They’d basically buried me alive.

“The baron said you’re not supposed to leave the castle’s grounds,” Nigel said. “Don’t put up a fight.”

Did that bastard tattle on me, or did they know I was about to do this?

“Yeah, for once I agree,” Alexander said. He waved down at me, grinning uncomfortably. “Sorry to be such a killjoy.”

“You didn’t listen to a word I said after the Synborn or when we visited my family, did you?” scolded Remi.

“Let me out,” I called to them, ignoring their questions and comments. “It’s hot in here.”

“No,” they said in unison.

I smirked. “Okay!”

They leaped back as I let a full blast of light energy burst out of my body. It was less powerful than concentrating it in my body, but it was enough of a percussive blast to shatter the box and loosen the rocks around me.

Free, I kicked up with my legs until I was on my feet. I cracked my neck and walked in a small circle while my three friends fanned out.

“It’s been a while since we’ve all sparred like this,” I commented.

“We’re not sparring,” Nigel responded. “We’re protecting you.”

“Don’t need it.”

“Remember, she’s extremely argumentative and likes debating people,” Alexander said. “Don’t let her goad you.”

“My reputation precedes me,” I gloated.

A potted plant soared at me fast as shit.

I barely dodged it when a second one came flying.

“Remi!” Nigel shouted.

Remi ignored him. Her hands were out. Every loose item in the courtyard floated and shot toward me.

I did my best to dodge and break what I could. The plants were easy. When bricks started coming, I earned some scrapes and bruises from the ones I failed to dodge. It was when an entire column of the courtyard was sent my way that I knew Remi wasn’t playing.

But I didn’t realize that soon enough, as the column smacked me hard in the stomach. The air was taken out of me as I was sent sprawling to the ground.

As I lay gasping, Remi stood over me, her eyes dark and wide. She quickly got on top of me and grabbed my chin forcefully with her hand.

“You don’t listen. You’re the most selfish fucking person I’ve ever met in my entire life,” Remi said. “Everyone in this castle is on edge, worried about you, and you’re trying to sneak out. For what? To fail at finding the killer yourself? For fun? For the thrill? Because you’re unsatisfied with a life of absolute privilege and wealth? Fame? Beauty? Anything you could ever want?” She got closer until our noses were almost touching. “You don’t care about anyone but yourself.”

I gritted my teeth, eyes brimming with fury. “I care about—”

“If you cared, you wouldn’t try to leave right now, you selfish bitch!” Remi’s eyes brimmed with tears. “I’ve supported you for years! I almost lost my job because of you! My family depends on it! You know this!” Her voice cracked, and her true complaint dripped out. “Why don’t you trust me?”

I shoved her off me and stood up, jaw set firmly.

“You wouldn’t help me with this,” I said, my voice easy and my emotions pushed aside. “I don’t want to burden you if I don’t have to.”

“You didn’t even ask!”

“What’s the point if I already know the answer?!”

“Because we’re friends! We love each other!” She let me go and stood up quickly, wiping her eyes. “You’re my best friend.”

I lay there looking up into the sky, my resolve weakening.

And yet—

“More people are going to die because of me, aren’t they?” I asked them.

I didn’t get an answer.

“So I must sit here in this castle by myself, eating, drinking, and sleeping. Every worry or care taken for me. In the meantime, more people will die who do not have the power to protect themselves.” I looked between the three of them before ending my gaze on Remi. “Would you be happy if any of your sisters died for me?”

Remi’s eyes cracked with anger. “Don’t.”

“Exactly!” I shot to my feet and cleared the distance between us. “Each of those girls died in horrible ways. Each was loved by someone. What right do I have to sit here and wait for their killer to maybe get caught when we know what he wants?” I thumped my chest. “Me! Use me as bait! Help me!”

“That’s enough.” An invisible arm landed and appeared around my shoulders. “You’ve made your point.”

I looked over my left shoulder and saw Gai. “You did snitch.”

He smiled at me, but it lacked the warmth and playfulness it usually did. “Yes.”

I looked at him, distraught, and scoffed. I brushed his arm off me and stepped to the side. “You’re supposed to be on my side. You have been ever since you came here. What changed?”

“A Voiced broke into your room and tried to kill you,” Gai said bluntly in front of my friends.

All three of them recoiled and stared in our direction.

“It happened when everyone was asleep,” Gai said quickly. “She was assessing if Scarlet would be a threat and concluded she would not. Then left quietly. It’s the sole reason why Astria was here.”

He’d left out major details I was afraid to speak about, but that was the truth. Even so, I felt betrayed.

“You don’t trust us,” Remi said softly.

I barely trust anyone. But… I want to…

“I didn’t want anyone to panic,” I said softly. “She was far too powerful.”

Gai silently agreed with a nod.

“Don’t agree with me,” I spat at him. “Of course you’d betray me. What else did I expect?”

Gai crossed his arms over his chest and tried to speak, but he hesitated. It was like his own words choked him.

I waited. He tried speaking again, but still, nothing came out. It only frustrated me more.

“I’m heading inside,” I said, not bothering to wait anymore. My feet led me toward the castle. “You guys win. I’ll walk back into my prison. Thanks for your support. I really appreciate it, friends.”

I heard them call out to me as I hurried away, but I ignored them.