Dungeons & Disappointment

Chapter 44: Escape

"Trevon!!" BahnBarr yelled, although it was a dull sound in my ears. "We have to go!!"

WHUMP WHUMP. WHUMP WHUMP!!

My heart was nearly blowing my eardrums out as the world became a blur. I was sick. I couldn't believe this had happened to me. Before I could even stop myself, I pushed past BahnBarr, and I started running. It was controlled at first, but soon, it turned frantic, as I grew more and more desperate to get away.

I huffed and puffed, trying to gain my breath as I gasped and fought my lungs for control.

"No no no no no no." I pleaded with no one. "This couldn't have happened to me. Please. Whatever's out there, help me. Please help me!"

Lightning flashed. A thunderous boom shook the palace, and I remember screaming as I tumbled down the stairs, going head over heels. I was barely aware of a hot flash of pain that rocketed up my spine as BahnBarr screamed my name.

WHUMP WHUMP. WHUMP WHUMP.

I scrambled forward, shoving the door open, and there were all of my friends, Bahamut, Julia, Rosemi, and a few other servants, looking at me as if I was a zombie come back to life.

"Ha-have to go!" I yelled, stumbling over myself. "G-go! Have to go!! WE HA-HAVE TO GO!!"

WHUMP WHUMP. WHUMP WHUMP.

My heart started hurting, feeling like it might tear out of my chest, and my vision began to blur as I raced down the hall. I was barely aware of the fact that now all of my friends were screaming my name, and Alocertha had reached the bottom of the stairs, and was screaming for guards to arrest us. I rushed forward, then grabbed the double doors of the palace and yanked them open, letting the noise of the nighttime storm blast straight into my ears. Instantly, the three guards near the gate yelled, and they ran towards me as the third guard started to close the gate. I raced forward, and out of a frantic panic, I grabbed both of the guards, knocked them off their feet, and shoved them down into the dirt. They made pained grunts as I ran, and I managed to make it to the door before the man was able to close it. I grabbed the door, and, with a burst of strength that I never thought I could have, I ripped the gate straight off the hinges.

I roared in fear and anger as the blood still roared in my ears, nearly drowning out the storm outside, and I pressed on over the fallen gate as the guards yelled at me. Arrows whizzed past me, impaling themselves in the cobblestones streets, and I felt one of them pierce my thigh. I was barely aware of the fact that pain was exploding through my legs as I frantically ran through the streets.

"Trevon!!" BahnBarr yelled behind me. "Hang on! Where are you going?"

WHUMP WHUMP. WHUMP WHUMP.

More roaring in my ears, followed by another arrow glancing off my armor. I rounded the corner of the street, and with another massive lightning strike, I saw the airship up ahead, still in the depot. My friends were still running behind me, and I saw Finana halfway covering her eyes, trying to keep the flashing lights out.

"BARTHOLOMEW!!!!" I roared, gasping for breath. "GET OUT HERE!!!"

Instantly, as I felt the fires of fatigue starting to course through my veins, I saw the airship pull itself out of the docks and down into the street. Bartholomew was pulling nearly the entire weight of the ship as he set it on the ground, and he materialized, staring at me in shock.

"What happened??" He yelled as lightning exploded through the air.

I didn't answer. I blew past him, and I leapt onto the airship, before scrambling up onto the aft castle as my friends climbed on. Ormgaul and BahnBarr started to man some of the ballistas to cover our escape, Haneen let down the sails to give us some power, and Finana raced to my side. She lightly grabbed my arm, and through the sound of the blood roaring in my ears, I heard her trying to comfort me. To at least get me to calm down, but my heart was pounding, and it felt like very single nerve of mine was buzzing with electricity.