Empire of Nightfall

Chapter 3: Moonlight's Escape

Moonlights pov

As Moonlight takes her first steps in the dark tunnel, she immediately notices its lack of use over the years. The brick walls of the tunnel might just barely be five feet apart, and the ceiling too, just as low - maybe a bit higher. Years' worth of dirt, grime, and litter are scattered on the marble floor, indicating that nobody has cleaned it in a lengthy period. The walls and floor are somehow wet, as evidenced by the stale smell lingering in the air.

When the stuffy, damp air fills her lungs she starts feeling light-headed. Her stomach churns bitterly, and a sour flavor creeps up the back of her throat. The musty odor of the clammy walls and floor, combined with the dust, is overwhelming. It's as if the very air in the tunnel is thick and heavy, making each breath a struggle. This sensory attack makes her feel nauseous.

After walking for roughly twenty minutes, Moonlight comes across a problem. There is a fork in the tunnel, and It goes in two directions. Although she has been in the tunnels before with her sister, she has never been in this particular tunnel. Therefore, she makes a spur-of-the-moment decision and turns right.

Luckily, her spontaneous decision was right because she did not face any other challenges during the rest of her walk through the tunnels. About half an hour later, she reaches another door.

The door looks similar to the one she used to enter the tunnel earlier. Though, she is aware that it is a different door. It is made of metal and colored the same dark black as the previous door. Moonlight goes to open the door, but when she turns the knob, the door won't open. It's locked.

"No, no! Please. Come on, open!" But no matter how hard she pulls, the door doesn't open.

Moonlight recollects an old memory of her father teaching Moonlight and Starlight, Her sister, how to escape the castle if there was an attack. Her father said that the tunnel had emergency keys hidden somewhere in it. Assuming it's still true, she backs from the door and searches for the key to unlock the door. The light from the gas lap reflects on something hidden halfway beneath a brick near the door. She follows the direction of the sparkling reflection and removes the brick with little to no effort. And behind the brick, she finds the key.

Upon opening the door, she notices the entrance is covered severely in vines. To obscure the door, she suspects. "Seriously!!" she shouts in outrage, Fighting the intense urge to break into tears. Of course, this would happen to her. Taking a deep breath to calm herself down, She uses the brick she pulled out moments ago and breaks through the vines.

Moonlight stepped out and walked through the door, discovering it led to the castle courtyard. As Moonlight left the dreadful tunnels and stepped out into the open, the first thing that her eyes witnessed was the night sky filled with hundreds of twinkling and winking stars.

"oh no!" Moonlight expressed, "It's already night. My coronation is about to begin."

With the gas lamp in hand, she runs to the castle entrance, hoping with all that was in her that the coronation hasn't already begun, that her sister hasn't betrayed her and the Empire of nightfall in the worst possible way. However, when the extravagant entrance comes into her line of sight, she sees that most of the guests have already arrived, and some are even conversing in the garden.

"I can't go enter the castle from there!" Moonlight cries. "There are far too many people there, and if people realize what Starlight had done, she could get into grave trouble."

Even though her sister had betrayed her trust in her, She did not want anything to happen to Starlight until she knew her side of what happened. She wouldn't do anything until she knew the whole story. So, Moonlight turns around, moving towards another doorway, wishing this tie wouldn't be as crowded.

She treks to the back entrance, hiding among the bushes and trees, expecting them to conceal her enough to fool people. But, before she reaches halfway to the door, she hears something peculiar behind her. She turns to investigate the sound, but before she can get a good look at what it is, she feels something hard hit her on the side of her head. Then everything goes black.

Authors note: What are your thoughts on this chapter? While it's shorter than the previous two, more is on the way. Who do you think harmed Moonlight? Let me know in the comments!

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Have a good day!