Where All My Hope Is

The Giant

"What are you doing?" I demanded, as I gave Aurora a look to fry fish. The dense forest we were walking through was full of singing birds, but I couldn't even hear them over my loud thoughts. "Ezra is captured, and you are not going to go after him??"

She sighed and peacefully responded, "Fae, please, I already told you that I can't tell you why."

"He loves you," I said, which stopped her in her tracks. "Are you really going to just abandon him?"

"No," she said and sighed again. "Fae, just don't ask any questions of me, please. I can't bear it right now. He got captured because of you, so don't you dare give me a lecture!"

"He got captured because of me?" I asked, frightened. "Why?" Aaron shook his head and Aurora walked away.

"Why?" I shouted but they ignored me.

We walked in silence for a couple of hours before Aurora decided we were going to camp for the night before continuing to head for the new base tomorrow. I laid down in a huff and tried to fall asleep. But I couldn't. Not that I now knew it was my fault that Ezra was who knows where. Silently, I got up and quietly collected my belongings. I spotted Aurora on the guard, looking off into the distance with Aaron at her side. I started to set out through the woods when I heard a twig snap. I whirled around and saw Asher standing behind me with his bag.

"Don't even try," I warned him, but he shook his head.

"Look, Ezra is my brother. We haven't always gotten along but he needs me. So, like it or not, I'm coming with you. Besides, you have no clue where you're going. And I know where they took him. Don't ask how," he said, seeing my mouth open. "Just trust me."

I nodded and he walked ahead of me, leading us to perhaps both our doom.

When we reached our destination, I was awestruck. It was a massive castle, surrounded by a beautiful moat and forests all around.

"Welcome to the Fallen Stars' base," Asher said and gave a half smile. "It used to be a mighty fortress of kings and queens, but now it is used for unspeakable evils."

We quickly descended the hill, hiding behind trees, and came to the moat. Swimming across quickly, we reached the other side safely. Removing a grate, Asher motioned for me to go first. I got in and started the long crawl.

A half an hour later, I exited the dark grate. Landing softly on the hard ground beneath, I winced and stretched my back. Asher dropped down and we started sneaking down the hallway.

"How do you know Ezra's here?" I asked again. He smiled.

"The Fallen Stars tried to recruit me," he whispered as we turned a corner. "They didn't get very far, but I was able to get the location of all the important facilities in the building. Including the prison."

As we turned another corner he whispered, "Over here." Coming to a high-security door, he turned to me and said, "Now, do your thing."

I grinned and pulled bobby pins out of my red hair. After a couple of minutes, I whispered, "Got it." The lock clicked and we snuck in. Tied to a chair, in the middle of the bleak room, is Ezra. We rushed to him.

"Ezra," Asher whispered. "Ezra, come on, wake up." I was sickened as Ezra's head lolled around unconsciously.

"Oh, I'm afraid your brother will take quite a long time to wake up," a loud voice cutted through the silence. "He hasn't been conscious for hours. In fact, I'm afraid he might just need a medic."

A giant of a man walked into the room, accompanied by about 20 men. His cold eyes crinkled as he smiled.