Purple Roses

Chapter 25 - Now or Never

Today is the first day I've left the house in what feels like centuries. I'm practically gasping for some fresh air.

We're off to visit our grandparents again, mum figured it would only be fair to let us leave the house for once, and I do think that Grandad might have had influence on that.

I intend to try and tell them about my plan. I don't know how I'm going to do this, but I'll surely try.

Mabel and Mum sit in the front seats, while James and I sit in the back. I can tell that mum is on edge just from looking at her, but she trusts in our grandparents, I know that for certain.

We should be there shortly, mum is driving abnormally quickly, her eyes constantly darting between the mirrors and the road, silently petrified that we're being followed.

We practically screech onto the drive on two wheels and all disembark the car with haste.

I see James and Mabel get out and walk behind us, we quickly enter the house in what feels like mere seconds.

We are quickly invited to sit down in the old, fancy lodge. Handcrafted, still impresses me each time.

This is one of our first visits since Luca... well...

"I've heard you've become quite the engineer, James." Nan says, breaking the quite awkward silence.

"Yep! Mabel keeps training me, I can use some of the bigger machines now!" He says with excitement.

"Yeah, I must say he's got the hang of it pretty quickly, faster than I did, at least." Mabel smiles.

"Engineering, used to love it back when I had a good back." Grandad laughs. "Oh, right. Anyone want a cuppa?"

"I will please." Mum says. Alongside Mabel and Nan. James and I aren't as fond of it.

As grandad slowly gets out of his armchair to head to the kitchen, I realise this is my moment to propose the plan.

I quickly get up and follow him into the kitchen.

"Grandad, can I ask you a question?" I say, as he pours the boiling water into mugs, it looks like he pre-boiled the kettle.

"What is it, Oscar?" Grandad questions.

"Well... I've been planning this thing, the kingdom on the Shadow side means that I can't have a life, I feel like Mum is gonna keep me inside forever, the school won't let me back in, I can't do what I want to do, it's torture!" I say.

"Right?" Grandad says, suspicious of what I might say next. Still stirring his tea.

"I drafted this plan where we enter the shadow side, the kingdom itself, and take them down. I've created a little video that, if we can get into the broadcasting room, we can play to the public and convince them to band together and form an uprising!"

"Mhm..." Grandad replies.

"If we can get the people to rise up against them, they'll be powerless. The kingdom falls, the people are free, and I get my life back!" I exclaim.

"You know what, that's not a half bad plan, lad." Grandad laughs. "You just gotta be a bit careful."

Mum walks in, probably at the worst time, and questions what we are talking about.

I recite the exact same things I've said to grandad to her.

"No, not a chance, no." Mum says almost instantly.

"Oh, but why! I know my way around the place, so does James! Anyway, I'm gonna be thirteen in like two weeks" I argue.

"I'm not saying you don't, it's just not safe." Mum sternly says.

"But I've entered and escaped the place two times before! I can be trusted, why can't we do it-" I'm cut off.

Mum sternly grabs my arm and holds my hand up to my own face, my scar, although faded, still lays prominent across my hand.

"This is why you can't go back. For the love of god you were almost killed, you collapsed afterwards, and I very nearly had to call an ambulance." Mum says sternly. "These people don't mess around, they don't care that you're young, they will hurt you, they will hurt us. I cannot in my right mind let that happen to you!"

Defeat is painted across my face as I feel all hope is lost.

"No, come on Jane, he makes a fair point. If you don't act now, then he's going to be stuck inside forever, along with James and Mabel." Grandad argues. "If you wait and see, they could build up better defences and a bigger army and..."

"And what?" Mum asks.

Grandad simply looks and James, Mabel and I. Silently conveying the fact that if we don't act now, the shadow side could send more people after us.

"What- What does that mean?" James asks with concern, quite ignorant to what's happening.

"Nothing, love. It's fine." Mum quickly pitches in.

"Come on Jane dear." Nan says. "You have to consider what the better option is."

"Well, I for one, am on mum's side here, it's stupid to take any of them back there, there's only four of us." Mabel pitches in.

We're at a stalemate. Half agree, half don't.

"Mum, please. I know the place, so does James, We have experience, we can do this, we can pull this off." I say

"What if it fails, though, what do we do then?" Mum questions.

"I don't know- but- but I know that I don't want to spend the rest of my life locked away! I don't want to live my whole life in fear! I want a life!" I say, emotions running rabid in my voice.

Mum's expression converts to that of defeat, just like the one I was wearing a minute or two ago.

"Well... I suppose- you have a point... but I still don't like this." Mum says.

"Mum, please don't agree with this, this is stupid." Mabel attempts to intervene, but to no avail.

"If- if we go at this in a smart and organised way, then I guess it's worth a shot-" Mum tells her, seemingly uncertain of her own words.

I see Mabel place her hand on her face, she knows she's outnumbered here. James sits silent on the couch, staring down at the old oak floor, it looks like he's thinking, or fearing.

"It's the best shot we have, I don't want to live the rest of my life in fear..." I say.

I just keep thinking of all the innocent people over that wall, if we don't act that we're letting all of them down... we're letting Luca down. This is a good plan.