ACROSS THE MEADOW (book one)

Chapter 11: The Lonely Pirate

Raey

The water is cold and mushy at the bottom. Her legs gain a itchiness that takes everything in her not to succumb to. It smells of waste and the only sounds present is the flickering of a candle or the sounds of—what she hopes is water—liquid droplets hitting her forehead.

Of course not to mention the occasional faint skittering of mice that would startle both the prince and the princess.

"Bloody hell!" she would exclaim, causing them to clutch each other tightly, which in turn earned them hushed remarks from the looming Saint.

Raey tries her best to dissociate from the situation entirely. She is not in a sewer. No, in fact, this is a beautiful lake in the middle of the night. This is not the worst night of her life. No, in fact, she is having the time of her life.

A sudden thought comes rushing through her.
Did Ester make it home okay?

Raey comes to a halt. She watches her reflection in the water below her; a sinking feeling coming to her stomach.

The cold barrel of a musket lightly grazes Raey's back.

"Keep it moving." he spits.

This whole situation is complete and utter rubbish. Where exactly is she even moving towards?

"Where are you taking us?"

She is welcomed with silence. Raey digs her foot into the mush and crosses her arms. "Where are you taking us?"

"Must you always bitch?" Amani groans.

"You have me walking through muddy water running away from Saint's with no direction. So yes, I am going to bitch."

Elio shoves his musket against Raey's back once again. "We're taking you to a friends house. Now keep it moving."

"Splendid." Raey deadpans.

Amani turns around, completely puzzled. 
"A friend? From when?"

"From before."

Their eyes both in a pensive, communicating stories. Raey begins to grow curious, but she knew asking for information would do nothing for her. So she walks, in the mush, and continuing to dissociate from her current situation.

However, no matter how much she tries, Raey could not pull away from the ball-and-chain that is her emotions.

Ester.

She hates her so much for leaving her. Even if Raey knows to do so is not ethical. Even though Raey knows Ester's feelings are justified, but they are stupid feelings. Everything about Ester is stupid. Her stupid laugh, her stupid smile, her stupid touch, her stupid eyes.

Raey feels her feet sink deeper. Her eyes.

It was not the color or the way they hold so much life, it was that Ester saw her. Watched her. Perceived her. Understood her.

Now Raey had no one to watch her. No one to prove she's alive. How would she survive stewing in her own thoughts?

Raey feels her whole body beginning to feel heavy and suffocating. Her eyes darting away, her hands gaining a numbness and in response she clenches her fist. For a moment, she feels present once again. Adrenaline washing through her, but quickly it is stifled with shame as she notices blood beginning to drip from her palms.

Promptly, she wipes her hands on her shirt.

"Are you alright, Your Highness?" Naina begins to walk side by side with Raey. She gives her a pleasant smile, but it does not change Raey's distrust of her