The Documents of Teen Royalty and Troublemakers

Chapter 2/ In a Land Far Far Away

"Ransom! What's going on?"

He pushed Camryn behind him. "I don't know!"

Part of the enchantment in the woods was missing and men from The Land of Evil poured into the streets of Springwick. The guards of The United Kingdoms of Royalty fought just to keep them from taking over the city. Men and women lay dead or dying in the dusty streets. Blood spilled everywhere. The stench of rotting flesh overwhelmed Camryn's senses. Yes, she lived in a gory kingdom but she had never seen anything like this before. Swords plunged into bodies. Arrows flew across the battlefield in the city. Ransom pulled Camryn after him as he tried to avoid the conflict. No matter what they tried they couldn't seem to escape it.

Ransom ducked down beside some bushes.

"Ransom look out!" Camryn barreled into him as a stray arrow almost killed him. Awkwardly she tumbled off Ransom. "Are you okay?"

He rubbed his side. "I am now. Let's get out of here."

"About that." Camryn looked around. "How are we going to get out of this?"

Ransom breathed out his frustration. "I don't know. Why is this even happening? I thought you and your mother were the only ones who could get through the enchantments from the other side."

"I thought so too." Camryn kept looking all around but there was too much to look at. Closing her eyes she breathed in and out slowly. It was so loud.

Ransom grabbed her hand and yanked her up. "We have to go now. Stay behind me." Ransom raised his hand with three fingers up. Then two. One. And they made a run for it. Camryn followed behind Ransom as she dodged falling bodies. She skidded to a sharp turn and rushed to catch up. A sword landed in front of her and a huge ugly man shouted at her. Camryn didn't pay any attention to him, all she did was run. Camryn slipped and tumbled onto her hands and knees. Blood. There was so much blood.

Ransom shouted at her and pulled her to her feet. "Come on."

Camryn gagged. All she could see was blood. All she could feel was blood. All she could smell was blood. Her boots sloped as she attempted to run. Her clothes clung to her thin frame.

Then she heard Ransom shout, "Behind you Camryn!" Camryn ducked, and Ransom pushed her out of the way of the arrow. "Now we're even," he said grinning as he toppled over.

Camryn screamed. "Ransom you're bleeding."

"Only a little."

She touched his leg. The arrow was deeply embedded in the muscle. "You're bleeding a lot."

"Camryn, take a deep breath. I need you to help me, alright?"

She tried to stop her shaking hands as he got to his feet. Ransom leaned on her and they started forward. Ransom was heavy, but Camryn didn't complain. Swiftly she turned them invisible. Camryn set him down behind a tree. Just the short distance had tired him out so much.

"Can you call anything?"

Ransom groaned. His leg must hurt a lot. Shaking Camryn broke off the end of the arrow but left the head in his leg. She couldn't do anything else. He needed immediate medical attention, and they were not going to get that in The Land of Evil.

"I can try." He whistled, and moments later a horse galloped up to them. It whinnied and shook its dark brown mane. It was obviously scared of the fighting around them.

"Her name is Destiny."

Camryn forced a smile for him. "Come on. Get up." She helped him stand on his good leg and hobble over to the horse. Ransom wasn't light and Camryn was not extremely strong, but they managed to get him on the horse. Ransom reached his hand down to Camryn. She took it and pulled herself up behind him.