Hope In The Darkness

Chapter 14

My legs protested for me to slow my pace down the forest pathways leading back to my sister.

However I pushed harder once I could see two shadows that surrounded my sister in the darkness of night.

I reached in seconds and gripped her in my arms as tears fell off her reddened cheeks.

"She had a nightmare." Ralph said as he belted down beside where I sat holding onto my weeping sister.

I watched as she looked around at everyone by her side and she placed her head into my chest. " I am sorry Prudence." She whimpered as I slowly patted her tattered hair back into place.

"Could you sleep near me?" She asked as if we were but children once more and she had a nightmare and wanted to make sure whatever 's after her couldn't reach me.

Laying back down on the cold damp ground I winced as the coldness surrounded my body as I held on tight to Paige to calm her.

"Could you sing the song?" Paige whispered as she looked up towards me. I nodded my head and began to sing an old hymnal, my mother used to sing to us when we awoke from a terrible dream.

After a few moments she was asleep and I nodded to Ralph to exchange Leo's potion of watching over us so he could get some sleep.

However, sleep never found me again that night. My mind was a contant wheel spinning in every direction, as I tried to figure out the next move we should make.

After everyone was up they began to discuss the next move in our journey to escape the king's grasp.

Walking over to where they stood over a piece of land carved up by a stick I decided it was best to discuss where Praige and I shall find ourselves next.

"I must go back home to grab a few things and to find my Aunt Rose. I don't recall seeing her that day." I said confidently as Leo glared in my direction.

"That would be a death mission, the king probably has every skilled guard near or in your old home waiting for your return." Leo said as he pushed my idea to the side.

"Prudence. I hate to admit this but he is correct." Ralph said as he looked up words where I stood a couple of feet away from the men.

"That is why I shall go and if Paige thinks it's too dangerous for her to travel with me she shall stay with you."

I motioned towards the men as my sister sat with her legs curled up towards her chest, staring into the distance.

"I shall be by your side." Ralph said as I turned towards Paige and watched her nod her head in agreement.

"I can't let you go on a death mission without back up to make sure you return safely to...." Leo halted his comment as my eyes met his.

However I knew deep down what he was going to say. "Then let's be off before night finds us once more in this dark forest.

"What are your plans on getting even close to your house?" Henry asked as we began to walk down an old forgotten road.

"Well if Ralph doesn't mind I would like to use his position in the king's guard to find out when and who will be near and in the house at all times."

I said looking towards Ralph, who nodded his head in agreement.

"I believe we should be coming up on a ghost town a few miles up this dirt road." Ralph said, pointing in the direction we were heading to.

"Why was it deserted?" I questioned as everyone in our group stayed silent as I looked towards Ralph for answers.

"A few years ago it was raided for soders to use but now since we had no use for it, it had been abandoned ever since." He said while keeping pace with me as the others fell towards their backs.