Beautiful Creeps

Forest of Souls

As soon as we reached the kingdom's bridge, we saw some groups of suspicious-looking travelers.

"L-let's walk faster, Nath." Smith whispered. I nodded in response, and walked faster as well.

I was kinda surprised that he called me 'Nath' instead of 'Señorita'.

I took a long glance at the mysterious travelers, and my, they looked like rags; clothes all torned and not properly sewed nor patched up.

A strong wind blew and one of the traveler's cover flew up revealing a a small portion of his under garments. But he was no ragged man, he was wearing white armour under neat.

"Ace knight?!" I let out in my breath.

One of the travelers gave me a killer stare and grinned. Have he heard what I said? Smith noticed the traveler's stare, and ran.

"RUN!" he screamed and grabbed hold of my wrist.

They didn't seem to care and taught we were just town's children, so they continued to enter the kingdom.

After a few meters of running, we finally entered the forest.

"The forest of souls." Smith introduced.

"I miss cousin Samuel." I said.

"I miss him too." he sighed.

And both had mourned of the lost of their love ones. Who is Samuel? Well, Samuel Green is Nathalie's 13 year old cousin who passed away not so long ago. Both three were the best of friends, going on mischiefs and adventures. But sadly Samuel passed away from a terrible lung failure, and his ashes had been dropped at the heart of the forest of souls, where once in awhile the two remaining best friends visit.

It tooked some time until they reached Samuel's thomb. Samuel's ashes fertilized a beautiful rose bush, with the roses itself having unique colors in each petal.

"Hello Samuel, it's been a long day without my friend." I said.

"And we would like to spend the whole day with you even just for today." Smith began to cry while talking.

"Hey guys, no need to mourn. I am here now." something whispered in the wind.

Fire flies came dancing around us, and soon formed a figure of a young boy. He had golden yellow hair, pale skinned, and eyes as blue as the sky can be. It was Samuel, greeting us.

"Samuel?" both had said.

"Happy Birthday emerald cousin." he greeted. "It's really nice to see both of you." he continued.

"How?" Smith managed to ask.

"We are at the forest of souls Smithy, seeing the dead is not impossible here." I answered.

All three of us were reunited, we played, chatted, and snacked just like the good old days. Hours had passed and so we decided to settle on a tree near Samuel's thomb, and waited for the sunset.

But the afternoon sky turned blood red and the clouds of white darken like smoke and flakes of ashes scattered in the sky. All three of us were horrified of such sight.

"The Kingdom!" I shouted and pointed to the burning castle, where screams and pleads can be heard from far distances.

"I need to go there! Mummy and Daddy might be hurt!" I screamed in a tune of panic clear in my voice.

"Señorita no!" Smith grabbed hold of my hand, stopping me from jumping off the branch of the tree.

"Jiego! Do you know what might happen to your parents right now? Don't you love them?" I said with tears running down my cheek.

Smith grabbed hold of both of my wrists and faced me to him.

"I love my Mama and Papa, Nathalie! But as your faithful servant, your safety is my priority!" he paused to stop his tears. "The beloved King and Queen had ordered me to take you here to Samuel's thomb before the Ace knights would come!" he explained.

"Woah, wait what? So you mean, the Kingdom of Clubs is under attacked?!" Samuel questioned.

"Yes, that's why it is not safe for you to go back." Smith answered.

I pushed Smith aside and jumped off the tree. I ran as fast as I can back to the Castle.

"Nathalie!" I heard Samuel and Smith calling me. Chasing after me, trying to stop my actions that might lead me to my certain doom.

I reached the Kingdom's bridge, and not so far at the gates I saw some Ace knights killing my people.

"No--!" someone caught me from behind, covered my mouth so that I couldn't scream. I tried to struggle but he was too strong.

This man can't be Smith and possibly not Samuel, he is too big and might be much older to be both.

"Señorita!" I looked at my right and saw Smith carried by a man in armour. It was not colored in white but in golden yellow. With a huge diamond on the armour's chest.

'Diamond Knights' I said to myself.

"Princess of Clubs, we mean you no harm but are here with coordination with all the four Kingdoms to protect the heir of the throne, we will now take you to the campsite where all the other young royalties and survivors are hidden." the soldier explained.

"No... This is not happening..." I let out between my sobs.

He placed me to one of the horses and off we went far away from my burning Kingdom of Clubs.