Chapter 13: Plotting my next move

Two days of being dragged around yet another city but this time I held no joy or excitement, neither did I feel the thrill of looking at clothes, eating new food or local artworks.

Marcel tried his hardest the make me smile but I could see a lot of pain in his own face also, I bet he was worrying over his wife and Carlos as well as many friends that lived in Italy.

"Flo, you choose our next destination, as long as it's safe that is" Marcel says to me on the second evening. "Let me have a think first and I will let you know in the morning" I say flapping my hand about like it was of no big deal and walking into my room where I fell flat on my face on my bed and groan into the pillow. That's when the idea struck me!

I will wait until Marcel is in bed asleep then sneak into his room and take his phone, call Carlos and ask where he's at then tell Marcel a town with the closest ferry port to Carlos location and make my way over to him, Brilliant!

It didn't take too long before Marcel was fast asleep, I knew this because his snoring could be heard from behind closed door. I wait an hour after when I first started to hear him snoring just to make sure he was in a deep enough sleep then tip toed into his room, grabbed his phone and tried to unlock it... shit, Face ID. Ok no worries I've got this, I thought to myself. I untuck the blanket covering part of Marcels face making him snort a little in between snores, "elegant man my arse" I whisper to myself trying to hold in a chuckle.

I shine the phone onto Marcels face and it unlocked the screen immediately, great!

Once out of Marcels bedroom I go out onto the balcony and shut the doors so I'm not heard from inside. Tap call on Carlos number and place the phone to me ear... "Marcel?! Is everything ok? Is Flo ok, she's not hurt is she?" Carlo bursts out, I had to move the phone away from my ear for a second from the sudden outburst in noise, "Carlo it's me, and yes I'm fine" I whisper back, "Flo? What are you doing on Marcels number?" He asks surprised to hear my voice, "why did you lie to me?! You told me you'd see me soon and now your going to fight? Why didn't you tell me, I would never have left if I knew" I burst out forgetting the reason to why I was actually calling, "that's exactly the reason why Flo, I knew you wouldn't have left and I don't want you to be caught up in all this, what if you get hurt or worse killed?!" He fights back, "but that's my choice to make!" I exclaim, "I'm sorry I just can't let you do that" Carlo finally murmurs, there was a stretch of silence then I finally spoke, "I'm sorry, I don't want us to argue. I know your going through a hard time at the moment and I'm just making it worse." I hear a sigh on the other end of the line, "no don't be sorry, you're not making it worse at all, it's really nice to hear your voice, I'm glad you called. I'm the one who should be sorry, I know it was unfair of me... how is Tunisia?" Carlo asks, "boring. I mean there's lots to see and do but I just feel like it. How are things with you?" I reply, "fine for now, I've got my mother to a safe place. The men of a certain age group have been told to join the army to help out, so I will be departing tomorrow. They will select different groups to go to different locations and train us there." His words are raspy and lifeless, he sounds like all his hope is gone. I realise that there is no point is telling him of my plan and to get him to meet me because he would just say no and inform Marcel, once Marcel knows then there's no way he'd let me out of his sight, so instead I subtly try to get the information out of Carlo, "do you know where yet or have they not informed you?” I ask trying to sound casual, “I will be based at Entrevennes, region of southern eastern France. They have set up grounds there to train, the rest of the information I don’t know until our training has finished then we get dispatched to fight.” He explains. That was easy I thought. “I see. Keep us updated, please” I say in a hushed tone. “I know this may sounds strange seeing as we’ve not known each other long, but I miss you” my words were short but held a lot of meaning and emotion, “I miss you too Flo, I wish I could be there with you, I’m sorry for causing you all this pain” he reply’s. I hear a faint noise coming from Marcels room “I’m sorry Carlo but I need to go.” I say quickly as I press the button the hang up “Flo, I lov…” I just about make out his final words before the line ends.

Being careful not to make any noise I speed back inside and slip Marcels phone back onto his bedside table then out again and into my bed.

It took me a good while to get back to sleep, the name of Carlos next location swirling in my head, tomorrow I will start making my next move and inform Marcel of my desired location.

With that, my eyes close and I slowly fade into a deep sleep. I dream of Carlos, watching him from above like a ghost as he charges into battle, the setting like a 1900’s movie, gun shots, explosions and blood. Screams similar to those of the bombings in London can be heard as I watch Carlos being hit, laying there in mud, his face pale and his eyes glazing over.

I wake up inhaling a sudden gasp of air drenched in sweat. Thank god it was only a dream.