The Test 9

It took time for me to be able to stand up, but I eventually did. Ignoring the deep desire to just simple remove the bandage, despite the terrible gash that was still hiding among the many layers of thick white bandage.

I was reminded in horror that Celeste and Mother were waiting for me. I had to get to the palace immediately. This time, I would value carefulness. This time, I would stretch my abilities and stay out of sight.

This time, I would be more careful.

My own words ceased to reassure me, but I still pulled my green cloak over my shoulders and pulled the hood over my messy tangle of hair, and let my eyes rest on the doorway, ready to head out.

A wave of panic rose over me. I was going unarmed. My pulse grew heavy when my eyes darted over a miniature collection of swords and daggers in one corner of the room. My feet worked their way until I stood under it. I sighed. Even though I knew stealing was a bad thing, I soon found my fingers laced around a sword. Now, the collection was at loss of it's sword. A wave of reassurement.

I was safer now.

I looked at my reflection on the sword. The same green eyes stared back at me. My hair was a mess, strands escaping all around my head. Clipping the sword to my belt, I ran my fingers through a stubborn knot of hair that rested at the top of my head.

I headed out of the door.

My heart stopped.

Where was this house, exactly? In a forest? I scanned my eyes over the scenery, a wave of shock coming over me. Who had a house in the middle of a-a forest? The green of the trees were like a blanket. Rays of sunlight escaped the grasp of the thick leaves, spreading light around me. In the distance, a river twisted through a valley of green.

I remembered the river! I ran to it. A series of rocks reached their way across the river, making a clean, yet slippery pathway through the water. I carefully walked on each rock, eventually reaching the other side. There was still a few miles of forest, but in the distance, I saw the town square, the palace. Letting a smile reach my lips, I headed towards the town square.

It was a long walk. Soon, the chirping of the birds was gone, replaced by the buzzing of the town square.

Eyeing the palace in the distance, I calculated a way to enter without the guards seeing me. Walking a bit closer to the palace, I quietly climbed up the wall that separated the palace and the wide town square. The voices of the town vanished when I dropped to the other side. I pulled out the sword, wrapping my hand carefully around its handle.

The palace was humongous and had twenty one stories worth of tallness, with amazing architecture. A circular fountain in the front, of an angel, water coming from a small pot in her hand.

I head the metal clinking of the soldier. I hid behind a wall. The guard passed, three others following him. The soldier immediately noticed me. Horror pounded in my heart. Pulling out his sword, the soldier demanded me to surrender.

I took out my sword.

The metallic clang of the sword vibrated through the air. The soldier swung at my head, I blocked it with little or no precision. I ducked a quickly planned swipe at my arm. I hit my sword against the guard, who easily blocked the attack. I dodged an attack coming from a soldier behind me, and swiped at a soldier's feet. As the guard aimed for me, I hit my sword against his, making the attack swing right above my shoulder. Hitting the guard behind me with my elbow, I ran towards the palace. A soldier blocked me, and I threw him aside with a quick yet inaccurate twist of my sword that landed him on the floor.

My heart pounded. The soldiers called after me. I dodged an attacked that was aimed for my head as the caught up with me. I brought down another soldier with a painful twist of my arm. I watched in horror as the swiping blade of a soldier got close enough to land a scrape right at my arm. I ran, ignoring it's pain. Slashing a soldier across the arm, I unarmed one soldier. Landing a quick hit on another, my heart pounded as they were all unarmed.

I pointed my sword, threatening to strike. They raised their arms.

"Don't speak a word. And be very quiet. Or I'll make sure each of your heads are missing." I warned, voice scratchy. I ran towards the entrance, reaching inside the castle. Two chatting waitresses gasped when they saw me. I showed them the sharp tip of my sword. They gasped in horror.

"Be quiet," I warned, pulse quickening, "and tell me. Where are the dungeons?"

They were hesitant to point left, down a long hall. I nodded. Pulling the hood of my cloak further down my face, I ran to enter the hallway, pressing myself against one wall, hoping to be out of sight.

The hallway had bright white walls, making the green of my cloak obvious. The hallway lead to a stairway. I predicted it was to the dungeons. I made my way down. I was finally in the dungeons. Back in the darkness. Prisoners gaped at me as I passed.

Before I found the cell where Celeste and mom were, two soldiers grabbed me, cupping my mouth, stifling my screams.

As one injected a needle into my skin, I felt dizzier. And dizzier. Taken over by sleepiness, I closed my eyes.

                                                                    ~***~

I woke up again.

My heart pounded. White stood before me again, my arms chained to the wall.

"I thought you'd never return. And yet, you were stupid enough to do so."

I screamed, kicking my feet like an idiot. My voice echoed, my head burned.

"WHERE ARE THEY!?" My voice was overtaken by anger.

White looked angry.

I breathed slowly, tired, as two guards took my arms, leading me to the dungeons. Too tired to fight, I limped along with them, collaborating.

But this wasn't the dungeons, I noticed in horror. I chill crept up my spine. They had lead me to a single dungeon. A lady, a woman, was chained to a wall. She looked tired, like she'd never slept. She was wearing an emerald dress, her honey blonde hair escaping past her soldiers.

Where did I see her before?