Bleeding Royalty

chapter 1 (part 3)

"Alright, Lets get down to business"       

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There was no telling how long we were in the old chapel, but it'd gotten very dark inside. The only light, emitted from a lone candle on the table, flickered across the faces of those that'd not gone home yet.

"What if instead of coming from the left and guarding the center, we guard the left and go in through the center?" a familiar voice broke the silence that had long since overtaken the chapel.

"No, that's pointless. Either way, downtown is open and we can't have that" Mom hadn't spoken much tonight, but when she did, she was shooting down ideas.

"But if we-" "no, Caroline it won't work, we've tried it before"

I couldn't see well in the ill-lit room, but I could see the stern look my mother was giving her.    Carrie shifted her stance and continued to search for a better plan on the map scrawled out in front of us. 

I hadn't spoken in a while and I want to keep it that way. I felt like crap after that sparring match.

Across the table there was movement. It was Winston ,he stretched and let out a yawn.

Mom sighed and removed the map from the table "alright everyone, out" she shooed Carrie and a few other people from around the table and out the door "we'll talk again tomorrow. Get some rest"

There was a murmur of good nights, then she pulled the door back into place and strung the lock together.

"goodnight boys" she said softly before heading down the hall into her room.

I was trying to slip away when there was a slight tug at the collar of my shirt.

"Where you going"

Winston again.

"I- Uhh nowhere, just walkin" I stammered a little, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Uh-huh, so no thoughts on tonight?" Winston was never the best at hiding what he wanted to know. He knew I could see right through him,

"What do you want Winston." I don't know why he still tries to fool me.

"Why didn't you mention your plan to me?" his eyes searched my face, looking for answers.

"What" I asked, confused, "what plan?"

He scoffed, "Don't play coy with me. You're planning an ambush. What good does that do? Why blatantly attack someone?" 

"Wait, what are you talking about? I never planned an ambush. Where did you hear this Winston?" I was offended. I would never plan an ambush, not without Winston at least.

He pulled back, still looking very confused. "In the square this morning, I heard a couple of guys talking about an ambush, I heard them mention our names, they even talked about Caroline-"

Without hearing the rest of his rambling, I ran to find my mother. I needed to know if she planned it. I needed to know if she-

A scream echoed through the windows of the empty chapel.