GHOSTLY Kingdom

CHAPTER 9: HENRY!?

The cart rumbled to a stop as it reached the gates of the Kingdom of the East. Sam jumped out, shouting so loudly that everyones ears felt like they would burst. "WATCH MY KINGDOM! NO POVERTY HERE!" he declared.

Octavia rolled her eyes and muttered sarcastically, "Oh wow, that is not a lie." She tried to step off the cart, but then she froze, her eyes widening in shock. There, standing before her, was Henry.

"Henry!" she shouted. "You don't show yourself at this time. Why are you here? Is something wrong?"

Henry didnt respond. Octavia, paralyzed with fear, tried to move forward but couldnt. She opened her mouth to scream his name again, but no sound came out. Suddenly, Henry spoke, his voice a haunting whisper.

"Octavia, my queen..." His voice then distorted, turning into a dreadful, echoing scream. "HE KILLED ME! HE KILLED ME! HE KILLED MEEE!" His body began to dissolve into a black, viscous liquid. Octavia screamed, "HENRY!" and collapsed to the ground, finding herself surrounded by her classmates, who were staring at her in shock.

Sam paused, staring at Octavia. "How... do you know that name, Octavia?" he asked.

But Octavia was too scared to speak. Sams expression darkened, and he snapped, "HOW DO YOU KNOW HIM, OCTAVIA? ANSWER ME!"

The teacher intervened, her voice stern. "Sammy, you will not speak to a lady in such a way." The atmosphere was tense, the air thick with unease.

A boy in the back commented, "Wow, not even five minutes and already chaos. The Kingdom of the East is something."

Sam shot him a glare. "I dont think you should be speaking. Your kingdom has secrets too, dont they, Jackson?"

The teacher cut in again, "Alright, lets get inside the palace gates. Its going to rain, and we will spend the night here. Also, stay mannered—no fighting. I have no time to babysit unruly children." She helped Octavia back into the cart.

Jackson smirked and remarked, "How ironic. Shes babysitting us, but the difference is she gets paid for it." Then he turned to Sam, his voice dropping to a threatening whisper. "Ever threaten me again, and I promise your body won't have a head."

Sam stared back, his eyes cold. "If I dont take away your hands first."

### SAMS POV

The argument had reached a boiling point. Sam's brother, Anthony, was yelling at him, his face red with anger. "You did what? You lied, saying Dad did it? Are you insane, Sam?" Anthony screamed. "You know you killed Henry!"

"No, this is not working for me," Sam retorted, trying to stay calm. "Dad is the king. What will Octavia do? Threaten him? She will be punished."

George, their younger brother, spoke up, his voice shaky. "I read this in my book. When they killed their mother, she came back, and you know what she did? She hunted them."

Anthony and Sam turned to glare at George. "George, your books are bad for you," Anthony snapped.

"We all did it," Sam said firmly, his eyes narrowing. "We all had a part in Henry's death."

"Don't you dare blame me," Anthony shot back. "Who wanted to be king? You, Sam. It's your fault."

Suddenly, the window burst open, and Henry appeared, his ghostly form hovering in the air. "Interesting," he said, his voice echoing. "And how do you plan on silencing my queen? You are killers—except George."

George fainted, collapsing to the floor. Henry's spectral eyes glowed with an eerie light. "Believe me or not, being a ghost really is nice because I am able to see your future, brothers."