We climb up the stairwell and to my right is a door that will lead into the castle itself. We turn and proceed through it. The hall is dimly lit with lanterns that hang on either end.
“I remember this,” I whisper softly. As my eyes adjust to the dim light I feel my heart drop. I look forward and everything looks the same as it did the night we arrived, except for the fact mother is no longer with us. The night we were brought here is replaying in my head over and over again, but I know I have to keep moving, for mother’s sake.
I walk forward down the short hallway. The walls are a simple white with gold and red swirls and floral designs. Beneath my bare feet is a beautiful velvet purple carpet lined with gold. It’s a rare luxury in Garth, my family could never afford it. Once I reach the end of the hallway I lift my hand and picture the locks on the other side of the door turn and the doors open. I can’t tell if the locks on the other side of the door flip open or if I simply just shake the door until it breaks free.
“That’s so cool,” Titus breathes and I see his eyes light up. He knows what this means. We get to start over and be free. We step out into the main foyer of the castle. Everything looks the same here as in the last hallway except for the hints of purple and blue running through the walls. I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to recall the way out, but it’s been far too long. My gut tells me to turn right so I stop trying to force my memory, and just follow what feels right.
Quietly, we move down the hall, our feet silently floating over the lush carpet. Trying to get out on Parting Day was the right decision. The castle seems to be empty after today’s events. Everyone from Garth who came to view the killings have returned home, and the majority of security has been off duty. Titus and I continue to move through the castle undetected. We walk past a hall to our right when something catches my eye. About halfway down the hall hangs a large painting of a palm tree. I stop suddenly and focus on it. I remember it from the night we were brought here. The memory from that night surfaces and I see myself and my mother walking by the painting with Titus in her arms. I remember the guards practically shoving us down the hall, and I had peered at the painting through tear-filled eyes.
“We’re close Titus,” I say softly. We turn and move down the hall with the painting. The way out starts to come back to me and I know the front of the castle is just around this hall.
A slam of a door back the way we came causes my heart to pause. “We need to move faster,” I whisper and Titus and I pick up our pace to a jog. Another slam off in the distances sends me into a sprint. I glance over my shoulder and see Titus falling behind.
Then, a guard emerges into the hall behind Titus. “Run!” I scream as the soldier draws his sword. I stop in the middle of my stride and switch to running back to him, but the guard’s blade drives through Titus’s chest before I get there. Through clenched eyes I picture the blade flying back into the guard and effortlessly it does. I drop to my knees, into the purple damp carpet next to my little brother under the palm tree painting. The guard I threw the sword into makes unidentifiable noises as he falls to the floor and silence returns to the castle.
“Titus,” I say gently, tears filling my eyes. He takes my hand in his, wet with red blood, and tries to speak. “It’s okay Titus,” I try and quiet him.
“We need to go find Mother,” Titus gets out.
I drop my head. “You’ll be with her soon Titus,” I say and meet my younger brother’s dying eyes. “You and mother will be free soon.” Titus’s lips curl into a tiny smile before he takes in his last small breath, and his hand becomes limp in mine.
I fight the urge to make a sound. I clench my teeth and fill my head with internal screams. 1. 2. 3. I count and squeeze my brother’s hand.
1… 2…3
Chapter 2
I don’t know how much time passes before I finally let go of Titus’s hand. It feels like one or two minutes but the stiff muscles in my legs tell me it’s been longer. My tears have dried to my cheeks and my mind is finally starting to accept reality. My mother and brother are both dead. If I don’t move soon I will likely face the same fate. Before I stand I gently cross Titus’s arms and close his eyes. I hate the idea of leaving him here, but I know I have to.
Abruptly I stand and continue down the hall. I tell myself to move quickly because I know if I hesitate, even for a second, I’m not sure I’ll get the courage to go again. I pick up my pace to a steady jog and then I hear two distant voices coming my way. I scan the hall, looking for somewhere to hide, but there’s nowhere for me to go.
