Returning to his room, Luke took a breather and tried to relax, but no amount of stress relief could save him from the flood of tension building inside. Even though he had a plan, his mind would do nothing but play out every possible failure in excessive detail. From getting caught by guards to being ditched by Jade, every hour he felt more and more his situation was unwinnable.
Thump thump thump
Luke had opened his door to see his father on the other side.
“Son, are you okay?”
“Yes dad, I’m fine.” Luke growled through gritted teeth.
“It doesn’t seem like everything is fine. If there’s anything going on, you can tell me. If you don’t want to tell me or I’m not around, just remember, ‘what would Matthew do’?”
“I’ll remember that.”
As his father left his son to his own devices, Luke was almost reluctant that he popped in; his words, his mere presence, had put the boy’s mind at ease about the kidnapping. Taking one last sweep of the room, he felt certain he was prepared for whatever the journey ahead presented. Leaving his room and house, he said nothing as he walked by his father.
Arriving at the same tree that overlooked the castle, Luke couldn’t see the man. He scanned continuously, knowing a man in black would be hard to see in a dim area.
“You’re a tad early.”
Luke nearly jumped out of his skin as the man patted his shoulder. Turning around, Jade had managed to stand out against the night sky.
“I wanted to say this earlier, but I was preoccupied with personal matters: I’m worried that fight from earlier will make our mission difficult.”
“It’s fine, I know how to fix it.”
“Good. From there, just follow me. Make sure nobody sees you.”
Luke traversed the castle path, keeping his composure as he walked by the entrance guards. Approaching the garden, he expected Elizabeth to still be angry with him; instead she was smiling wide, causing Luke’s heart to crack. Concentrating on their earlier conversation, he gathered himself.
“Hey Elizabeth, I wanted to say I’m sorry about earlier. I was just really anxious to see my brother again and I’ve been waiting my whole life to see the outside world; all I’ve seen beyond Lumina is a view from on top of the gate or pictures in books.”
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
“Luke, I’m sorry about what I said. I was just scarred you were changing into…an evil person. I shouldn’t have thought that though, because you’re my friend! And If you don’t want to get married, that’s fine, I was-
“Actually,” Luke interjected, “I was wondering if you wanted to see the stars tonight.”
The princess gasped at the idea, grabbing the boy by the hand and dragging him toward the secret exit. She had only let go of him so that they could travel outside; once they escaped, Luke took the initiative, grabbing his friend’s hand and guided her away from the castle.
When he no longer felt her grip, he turned around to see the man had grabbed the princess, the latter already unconscious. Jade lifted her off the ground, carrying her over his shoulder.
“Let us make haste!”
Luke trailed the man on a path unfamiliar to him. Twisting and turning, the duo ran until they reached a part of the lowest ring. There was no distinguishing this area from the rest and their travel course was so peculiar Luke couldn’t figure out which district they currently occupied; all he knew was that the buildings looked trashy and wall was nearby.
The pair had stopped at a tiny, mundane building that was too thin for both kidnappers if they stood side by side. Jade opened the door and revealed a ladder leading down. Inside, the building was well lit, the orange glow of the light mesmerizing the boy. At the bottom was another door, which Luke could now see was metal plated. Once the barrier was ajar, a hallway of pipes met their gazes.
For a moment, Luke was amazed as he followed Jade down the hall; however, the spectacle died when the rancid smell of sewer kicked in. Even worse, the pair were met with an intersection, all paths leading to other halls with infinite possibilities. The man took a left, then a right, then headed straight, all the while his accomplice had kept uncomfortably close, fearing he could get left behind in the pipe labyrinth.
The navigation of the maze had dragged on and on for Luke, as this plan went well passed his bed time. Before he could open his mouth and question Jade, the pair hit another wall, this one only divided into left and right.
Jade made a move that Luke hadn’t anticipated: he tore off the wall panel in front of them, uncovering a dirt tunnel. Making their way down the hidden cave, the man making sure to return the panel, Luke inhaled in relief as fresh air poured into his nostrils and lungs. At the entrance of the tunnel was a royal carriage, the driver of said vehicle was a pudgy man who hardly noticed their approach.
“Oh, you're back! The plan went accordingly I take it?” The man seemed all too giddy when he saw the two.
Jade simply leered at the man, opening the door to the carriage and offering Luke the chance to enter first. He had sat the princess and himself opposite of the boy.
As the carriage began to move, Luke peered out the glass window, watching with both fascination and guilt as Lumina slowly came into view before shrinking.
“Feeling conflicted?” Luke had turned to Jade, the man watching the sleeping the princess vigilantly.
“You should rest your eyes, it will take a bit to reach our destination.”
Luke said nothing, instead his gazed was fixed on his friend. Elizabeth looked peaceful in her sleep, unassuming and innocent. Watching her had made Luke yawn, but one thought had kept him awake.
“Hey, where are my powers?”
“When we reach our destination. you will get your wish. Fear not, I can be trusted to fulfill my end of the deal, for you are just as vital to my plan as she is.”
Relieved, Luke gave in to his tiredness, his fears and anxiety pushed aside by the dark void of slumber.