All Of Us - Part 1: Summer

Chapter 2 - Captured

Trigger warning: violence

- Evangeline -

Something is wrong.

My eyes snap open. I sit upright and dust off the imaginary specks of dust off my dress. I can feel that something is amiss. Yet the horses are merrily jaunting down the trail, Dame Camelia and Gam sitting in front whilst I am safely tucked away inside the carriage. All is as I left it last night. So what is the cause of this horrible, churning queasiness in my gut ?

Brutally, it dissipates and I am left alone, clueless and still a bit sleepy. Promptly, I opt for a bit more rest - who knows what they will ask me to do once I am in the Summer Palace ? I settle into a comfortable slouch which sends a thrill of delight to my brain - slouching is formally forbidden to me. Truly, positively forbidden. I am relatively certain that there is a royal decree somewhere about it.

Just as I was getting comfortable on the red velvet lining, the carriage abruptly stops and I fall forwards. Colliding with the closed door, I collapse into a miserable pile on the floor. As expected, no one comes or asks me if I am alright. Yet I hadn't expected us to halt. I rise and hobble over to the window. Drawing the curtains, I gaze out to what seems to be a forest. I recognize those red-leafed trees - they are a signature mark of the Sun Woods, a forest right next to the Summer Palace. We are almost at our destination. So why have we stopped ?

Suddenly, I hear a sound and freeze. A sword is being drawn.

"Hey ! Who are you ?"

Gam's voice. The first time I hear any trace of emotion in his voice. Fear. A sword... It could be fellow Guards... Or robbers... I close my eyes and try to ignore the last possibility which comes to mind - the rebels. Please, no. I need to live. My hand starts to tremble and my fingers let the curtain go. What I hope is silently, I crawl towards the back of the carriage. Sweat rolls down my forehead. I need to live.

More sounds from outside. Some more weapons being drawn, a yell, a thud. A dull thud. Then a second one.

Panic takes over as I rush towards the door. My fingers graze over the handle, and then pull back. Is fleeing the right option ? I hesitate. What if the thuds were the enemy, killed by Gam ?

And I take too long. It has been a few seconds since I heard the noises. They will be approaching the carriage now. It is too late. My hands have stopped shaking and my fingers lock the door. I will not die like this. Not without a fight.

I spin around the carriage in search for a weapon. There ! A bit of the wood in the door frame is loose from where I hit it earlier. I grit my teeth and pry it free till it gives way and falls into my hand. I look it over: the tip is sharp and lethal-looking. It will have to suffice.

The handle jiggles and almost gives me a heart attack.

"Locked."

"Open it, then."

I hear some steps back, then silence. And suddenly, someone rams into the carriage.

The door breaks; it was missing a piece of its frame. The person falls on the floor. Without thinking, I step forwards, spring off them and land on the forest ground. I try to run, but there had been two voices earlier, not one. Someone catches me, arms around my stomach. I go rigid. I do not like it when I am touched.

My breath is coming in short, rapid bursts. I never do this much exercise and I generally avoid panicking this much.

"What d'we got here ?" the person holding me captive mutters. The second voice. A girl.

She threads her fingers through my hair and clicks her tongue.

"Wait..."

She spins me around, and all I can see is straight, bright red hair and wide, wide green eyes. Stunned green eyes. She recognizes me.