“So then you ran?” I ask.
“Yes, and your mother was right. I didn’t find any water or food. That’s also why I was running so fast. I had run out of water after 30 or so hours. It was either run here and get water or die in the woods.” Alexander says flatly.
“How bad was it?” I ask Alexander because he seems to be sparing me the details. I remember how hot the last couple of days have been. I know it couldn’t have been an easy trip.
“Bad,” he lets out an exhausted breath. “I’ve never had to go a day without food or water. I wasn’t prepared for the effects.” I nod remembering the first days after my mother lost her job and we had nothing to eat. I know it’s only been a few days, but Alexander does look like he’s losing weight. Maybe it’s my imagination, but his face does seem thinner. “The dehydration was the worst part,” he admits. “I stopped feeling the hunger after a while, but my sandpaper tongue wouldn’t stop begging for water.”
I imagine Alexander running through the scorching sun panting, but no water to refuel himself. “My mother sent you on a death mission,” I say irritated. “She knew you may not make it, but was willing to risk your life to save mine.” Disgust bubbles inside me, but Alexander’s gentle hand on my wrist calms me.
“I would go back and do it all again.” His green eyes stare into mine.
“All of it?” I ask softly, and he knows I mean more than just leaving me to help Zavy. I mean it all, helping me flee the castle, leaving his safe life, and becoming a traitor. Since the return of his memories, I’ve wondered if he does regret helping me.
His grip on my wrist tightens and he says, “All of it.”
I smile and try to make myself believe it so I don’t have to carry the guilt that my mother and I may have ruined his life. Now that Alexander has caught me up with what happened to him I share the major events of the last few days for my traveling group. There’s not much to share though. Most of the time was spent thinking about Alexander and wondering what we were going to do when we got to Libertas without him.
I tell him about Paylon ambushing us, and I know he thinks it’s his fault. Paylon was following him and was probably waiting for us to get there. I tell him about finding Molly and her friends in the tunnels and he’s surprised that Mio was so quick to agree to them joining us. I tell him I was bringing them no matter what Mio had said and he had probably known that too. After Alexander is up to speed we walk back to our rooms. I leave Alexander at his and we stand in silence in the dark for a moment.
“See you in the morning,” he finally says softly. Then, he sinks into his room and I make my way back to mine alone. When I get back in my bunk I’m reminded how little sleep I’ve gotten since this whole journey started. When I finally find sleep my last thought is of the red velvet cake and how I hope we get more tomorrow.
My eyelids shoot open at the thunderous sound of someone banging on the front door. It sounds so unbelievably similar to the night when the guards came to my house seven years ago. I hear Leo’s faded voice welcome whoever is there. A stern voice responds and asks if he can come in. There’s a pause before I hear the door creak open and I sense Leo hesitate before allowing him in.
“We’ve been notified of escaping prisoners from Garth,” the stern voice says to Leo. “We are supposed to investigate all homes.”
“No,” I whisper into the night air. Tears brim my eyes and my heart quickens. Images of the guard ripping me from my bed start flashing before me, and I can’t help but feel like that helpless nine-year-old girl again. I can’t believe I’m about to be taken in as a prisoner again. This can’t be happening. I look around the room and see the other girls have woken up and are looking at each other frantically.
“They must be important prisoners for King Renon to make such a big deal about getting them back,” I hear Leo say as their voices grow down the hall. Everyone’s eyes seem to land on mine, all of them looking to me for what we should do. I lift a shaky finger to my lips and remind them to stay quiet. It’s the only thought my terrified mind can process. My eyes lock with Molly’s and tears roll down her cheeks.
“Yes, if they get away it is feared that they have the power to destroy Garth,” the officer says in a flat voice
“Well that’s kind of extreme,” I hear Leo say, his voice right outside our door.
“We aren’t taking any chances,” I hear the officer respond and suddenly the room is washed in bright light from the hallway. I close my eyes and hold my breath, hoping somehow he can’t see me.
“Why do you have so many empty beds?” I hear the guard question and I’m confused about what he means by empty.
“My wife wanted lots of kids, but she isn’t able to have any. It’s been hard on us. I’ve been meaning to get rid of them, but she doesn’t want to let them go,” I hear Leo’s voice grow distant as he leads the officer out of the room and farther down the hall. The room falls eerily silent once Leo and the officer have made their way further into the
