Re: Another street
Bran was trying extremely hard not to panic, but it wasn't easy. Keeping an eye on Lotte while avoiding being trampled by the mob required focus, and he barely managed to notice that there was someone else being dragged away as well - since he seemed to be speaking English, he assumed he was another resident of Bellum who'd been mistaken for an enemy of the people. "Guess I should help him too," he muttered, but Erik didn't have much of an opinion about that.
In his haste he nearly ran into another man trying to make his way through the crowd, but instead of snapping at him in angry French, the man spoke English. Bran paused, deciding he could use some help. "Are you from Bellum?" The man nodded, introducing himself as Brian - but he didn't really care about names. "Good. You're going to help me with a little rescue mission, alright?" He scanned the crowd, looking for some kind of weapon - a sword, maybe, or even some rope would do--
Use your voice, Erik said suddenly.
"My--" How could he have forgotten? If his singing could tame Ella's vines, then it might just work on the crowd. But then she'll know... Lotte will know about my voice. I can't do it.
So you would prefer to let her die? You are one man against many, and even I can see the foolishness in that. Send the other man to free Lotte and the other while you distract the crowd. Erik's plan seemed to have the best chance of working, but at what cost? After hesitating for a moment, he decided that revealing his secret was worth saving her voice. "I'll distract the crowd, but I need you to get Lotte - that blonde girl - and the other man over there to safety while I do it. Get them in the alley and find some clothes. I'll meet you there, and then we need to run."
Bran waited just long enough for Brian to agree before slipping through the crowd again, but this time he was aiming to get ahead of them. "Hey!" He yelled, trying to get their attention long enough to make them stop. "Uh-- ArrĂȘte! All of you, just fucking stop!"