THE SORTING

THE SAVIOUR

It seemed to go on forever.

The madness.

I closed my eyes for what felt like a lifetime, trying not to get lost in imagining where the screams were coming from, who they belonged to, and why they would suddenly stop. I wanted to help but I couldn't. I was frozen underneath the bed and it didn't matter if it was because of fear or selfishness because both made me feel just as useless. I curled my legs up to my chest, laying on my side, eyes remaining closed, as I tried to comfort myself. It wouldn't matter if I had tried to help. I was simply a human. I would die out there without making any real difference. Just an unnecessary casualty.

Among the cries were the sounds of beasts, rampaging through the grounds of the castle. It didn't seem as though the enemy had made it inside the walls. Yet. It was nearly impossible to tell if the beasts were the ones I could trust or not. It would be best if I stayed under the bed like Dominic said to. He would know better than anyone what was safe and what wasn't. And I trusted him with my life. So under this bed is where I'll stay, away from the danger, feeling guilty about those who are not as lucky as I. My mind shifted to Dom. Is he safe? Is he okay? Did he need help? Tears started to well in my closed eyes as my mind wandered about all the possibilities he's facing out there, all of the chaos. What about Hunter? She means the world to me and I don't know what I'd do without her. So many uncertainties flood my brain, enough to make me ache physically.

Then I heard it. A child's soft, muffled cries. And it sounded close.

My eyes flung open and my body started to pull me from under the bed before my mind could assess what might lie outside the room. My breathing got faster as I emerged. I froze for only a moment, scared, until I heard the cries again. I had to do something. I rose to my feet, cautiously, as to not make a sound. I stood still for a minute, waiting for the child to make another noise to point me in the right direction. The child cried once more, and I made my way forward. The castle itself was quiet, as the action remained outside. I still tried to move with purpose because that could change in a heartbeat. My body brought me towards the door, my stomach in knots, my hands clenched. I stopped abruptly at the doorway and carefully peaked out, to the right. I saw no one. The left, all clear. I heard the cries again telling me to turn right. I stepped slowly, until I came upon a doorway to my left. I peaked inside looking for the child but I saw no one. I continued. Outside, the fighting went on, the sounds almost distracting, but I had a mission. As I tiptoed down the hallway, I passed a skinny brown door that looked like every other door. I had gotten three steps past it when I heard another cry. Bingo. I turned the doorknob to find towels, some linens, both gold of course, and a little boy. He looked to be about six or seven, but I wasn't sure. All I was sure of was that I had to get us back to that bedroom, under the bed, where Dom knew to find me. That would be the safest place. He was startled at my presence, and his body scooted backward into the wall of the closet. His breathing picked up as I noticed the streams of old tears on his cheeks. I tried my best to smile at him while I spoke, hoping to reassure him when I didn't have any reassurance in me.

"Hello, I'm Vivienne. What's your name?" I asked quietly, trying to seem nonthreatening. He stared at me for a moment, assessing me. I guess I passed his mental checks because he told me his name was Landen. I smiled again.

"Come on, Landen," I reached out my hand towards him, which he took hesitantly, "we have to get you somewhere safe."

Closing the door behind him, we started our short trek back to the room. I tried to remain tall in my stance and deliberate in my steps, as to not show fear or worry. Children can pick up on those and I needed to keep Landen calm. I wondered how he got separated from his parents. Maybe he didn't have any parents. Maybe he was scared and ran to his favorite hiding spot and everyone else got distracted by the chaos. Maybe he was playing hide and seek and had no idea about the horrors outside, crying because he felt no one was looking for him.

Only a few more steps to go and we would be safe. Dom would return to the room, safe and sound, we would get Landen to his family, and everything would be fine. As we turned to enter the room, there was someone already there. I didn't recognize them. That scared me.

"Aren't you a pretty thing?" I pushed Landen behind my back and tried to back away from the man but he was quick. He grabbed me and threw me to the floor while Landen ran under the bed. The man seemed to be completely focused on me which I was both grateful and frightened of. Shutting the door, he continued.

"How about we have a little fun while my associates finish what we came here to do?"

"What is that exactly?" I surprised myself by asking. He stalked closer to me.

"Killing every last human in the capital, for starters. You think you deserve to live among us? You are filth. You should be eliminated," he spat. He pulled me up by my arm, holding me to his face.

"But who says we can't play a little first?" He laughed, throwing me onto the bed. I could hear Landen's cries start up again. I prayed he hadn't been here for this. I should have left him in that closet. He'd probably have been okay. My mind wanders to Dom. I silently prayed for him to save me, like he could hear it. And it was almost like he did.

The door flung open, practically flying off the hinges. And before the man could turn around, a fist pierced through his back, and emerged from his chest. It was horrible. The fist slowly exited where it entered and the man fell to the ground with a thud, blood pouring out of everywhere almost. Dom stood, bloody and breathing heavily as he stared at me. It was like he was trying to decipher how I felt when I didn't even know.

Tears threatened me but didn't fall as I got up. Dom was still. I crouched down and helped Landen out from under the bed. It was unclear if Dom even knew he was here. I held him, rocking and shielding his eyes from the corpse. Landen's soft cries were the only sound in the room. I didn't look at Dom. I couldn't.

Because the man I loved was a murderer.