The Rising of A Leader (Book 1)

Chapter 10 ~ He's Gone Forever

Eric screamed as the whip came in contact with his skin and ripped it apart.
The guard was laughing at his pain and continued to whip him harder.
"Make sure you make every inch of his skin is red with blood." The king ordered.
The whip came down again and took out a big chunk of skin and Eric cried out again.
The ropes that held his wrist dug deep into his skin and rubbing them raw.
"That! (Whip) is what (whip) you get (whip) for talking (whip) like that (whip) to the (whip) king!" The guard yelled.
Eric cried and screamed but did not beg for mercy.
The floor was stained with his blood and pieces of skin.
"All you have to do is kneel to me." The king offered.
Eric just spit in his face down the king took the whip and whipped him so hard and so many times that you could see his ribs.
Eric was going into a coma and didn't really see well and he couldn't feel anything except excruciating pain everywhere.
"I think's that is enough. Take him to the village across the barrier and drop him off short and let him walk there and by the time he does he will have no energy left and probably die of blood loss." the king smirked.
"Can't wait to see how his sister reacts to this!" The guard smiled.
Eric fell to the ground and had a hard time breathing but soon the guard cut the ropes and dragged Eric across the sharp ground and threw him into a carriage roughly.
Eric cried out again in pain.
The guard got up to the front and whipped the horse to make him go.
"I'm sorry Tala....." Eric drifted off.

*****************************************

"What happened?" Tala looked at the castle.
The castle used to be bright and lively, but now it's dark and reeks of death.
"Something's changed from within." Mark could see it too.
"So how are we going to get in?" Will asked.
"There is a ladder that Star and I used to get out of the building. That will be the easiest." Tala answered.
Tala looked to see if anyone was around and luckily not.
Standing up, the group smelled fresh blood float through the air.
"Did someone die?" Star's face went pure white.
"Maybe...." Will teased her.
Tala looked along the castle trying to find the ladder and the hole that went up into the castle.
Will took Star and went one direction and Mark and Tala went the other.
Tala stopped by a broken window and saw blood all over the floor and chunks of skin too.
Tala almost screamed but Mark covered her mouth before she could.
"Do you want us to get caught?" He asked coldly.
Tala shook her head and Mark took his hand away and wiped his hand on his pants.
'Real mature!' Tala thought.
"Hey guys I found something!" Will yelled whispered.
Tala jogged over and looked at what Will had found.
A doorway with cool designs and a number passcode on the side. It had the letters H.I.I.H on the top.
"What is it?" Tala asked.
"I don't know." Will answered.
Tala walked away and saw the hole with a broken ladder.
"That may not be very useful." Star came over and saw the ladder.
"Probably not." Tala agreed.
Star touched the wooden ladder and it was so wobbly that it wouldn't support anyone.
"I guess we can't go that way." Star stated.
"No kidding." Tala said.
Mark came over and Star walked back to Will.
"We'll have to go another way." Tala didn't turn to see him.
Mark didn't say anything.
"Hey! You guys over there!" Someone called.
Tala turned and saw guards running after them.
Mark mumbled something under his breath and saw Star and Will dash into the trees.
The guards didn't see them but they did see Tala and Mark.
Mark saw a crack in the wall just big enough for the both of them to fit through.
Mark grabbed Tala's arm and pulled her though the crack and covered her mouth.
Tala was all caught by surprise and didn't know what was happening until her face was inches from Mark's.
Tala blushed and looked away. Mark leaned closer and Tala's heartbeat sped up faster as he leaned in.
"Stay quiet."
Tala felt a little sad. Wait why was she sad? She hated Mark.
Mark saw her blushing and was about to say something but didn't.
"I don't like this anymore than you do." Tala whispered.
"I find that hard to believe." Mark added.
Tala turned back to Mark and leaned closer to him.
"Believe it."
Tala looked away again and felt her face go red again.
She was pressed up to a guy she didn't really care for and if she moved they would be caught. It was one of those lose, lose situations.
The guards ran passed the crack not noticing them and they waited awhile.
"I think they're gone." Mark whispered.
Tala leaned out and looked for anyone and thankfully they were gone.
Tala pushed herself out and was able to breath again without feeling Mark's breath on her.
Mark pushed himself out and looked around.
"We need to go back. Star and Will already went back." Mark said.
Tala nodded and the rest of the walk home was silent.

(Skip walk)

Tala tried to keep her eyes open and was relieved when she saw the faint glow of the village lights.
Star was there to meet her but her face was still pure white and she looked horrified.
"Star what's wrong?" Tala asked placing a hand on her shoulder.
Star took a deep breath.
"It's your brother...." She started.
Tala felt like she was going to regret asking this question.
"What about him?"
Star closed her eyes and when she opened them she looked like she was about to cry.
"Remember t-that blood we smelt earlier?"
"Yes." Tala answered confused.
"That was his...."
Tala felt like she was going to cry.
"He is....."
"He's dead...." Star finished for her and a tear ran down her cheek.
"Does father know?" Tala managed to choke out.
"Tala, the king is not your father." Star said softly.
Tala felt some kind of anger filling every corner of her body, she didn't know where it was coming from. All she knew is that there was NOTHING that could stop it.

A/N ~ This story has reached over 100 reads and over 20 votes! You don't know how much this means to me!! So this is the end of book one! Good cliffhanger right? So I would love it if you went to check out my next book (the sequel) called, Her Last Breath. More information will be on the note after this chapter. I really hope you guys in joyed it. Please vote, and comment. Thank you all again!!❤️