Borderlines

Chapter Four

Screaming, someone was screaming... Fawn jerked awake and burning pain stung her eyes. Her throat seemed to close as she coughed. She looked around the room, but she couldn't see anything, it was covered in thick smoke.
Fire! Fawn's lungs screamed for air and she scrambled out of her bed. Her eyes were itchy as she felt her way to the door. She swung it open and was greeted with a wave of heat. Fawn covered her nose with her night shirt and scrambled down what she hoped was the hallway.
Don't panic... She counseled herself. If she freaked out now, she could hurt herself or even worse, get stuck in the burning palace. Fawn reached the staircase only knowing she was there because of the marble floor. She began to descend the stairs, vaguely aware that two other people were near her. Fawn was halfway down the stairs when she tripped on her pants. She gasped as she tumbled forward, the marble staircase as unforgiving as the fire itself. Fawn screamed when her head hit part of the metal railing and she could feel blood dripping down the side of her face. She hit the landing with a painful slide onto her back. The world was spinning and she couldn't breath.
Please don't let me die here!  She pleaded to no one in particular. Fawn gasped as someone grabbed her and practically dragged her out of the palace. She couldn't see who it was, but she knew someone was helping her. Fawn collapsed as they reached the outside, clean air flooding her oxygen deprived lungs. She tried to stand up, but that produced a series of dots in front of her eyes. Fawn felt her body go limp and she passed into a black abyss.

~

Fawn coughed as her body came back to life. She tried to sit up as the sound of sirens rang in her ears, but her arms gave out. Someone caught her at the last second and she turned to see Garrett holding her up. Fawn looked around the clearing and saw dozens of people. Servants, maids, guards, and all the overseers were gathered at the palace entrance. Fawn saw Garth rush towards her, his face covered in black soot and his hair less than tidy.
"Are you okay?!" He asked as he bent down to her level, his voice was laced with concern.
"I'm fine." Fawn croaked, her throat felt like it was made out of sandpaper. Garth examined her closely and then he leaned forward, touching the side of her head. Fawn winced in pain and he pulled his hand away.
"Oh my gosh, Fawn you're bleeding." He said and stood up.
"Medics!" He yelled as loud as possible and began walking toward an ambulance.
"Please Garth, that's not necessary-" Fawn's complaint was cut short by a series of coughs. Garrett held her firmly, taking most of her weight.
"Fawn, what happened?" He asked, looking at the side of her head.
"I fell down the staircase," Fawn mumbled, pushing his probing hand away. Garrett sighed and Fawn figured he must be worried and was doing his best to hide it. Garth began walking back toward Fawn and Garrett.
"They said they will get to you as soon as possible." Fawn looked toward the ambulance.
"How many are injured?"
"We don't know," Garrett said, "and the king and queen are yet to be found." Fawn gasped.
"It seems this fire was intentional from what I've heard." Garth said as he looked at the burning palace. Fawn looked at him wide-eyed. This was more than a simple attack. Fawn turned as she heard loud shouts and saw Ruth and Travis being dragged by two guards. Travis yanked his arm away from one of them.
"What is the meaning of this!" He shouted at the guard. They responded by grabbing one of his arms and pinning them behind his back, Travis winced in pain. Fawn took an involuntary step forward, but Garrett stopped her by grabbing her arm. Fawn looked at Garrett and Garth, but they clearly had no idea what was going on either. Angry shouts began echoing across the clearing until a guard yelled above the noise.
"Travis Knoll and Ruth Chase you are under arrest for the murder of King Marcus and Queen Lily!" Fawn gasped in shock and her blood ran cold. Travis yanked away from his guards again.
"What are you talking about?!" This time he got a kick behind his knees that made him stumble. They began dragging him toward a waiting cop car that they had already loaded Ruth into. Travis began yanking against his captors, looking around the clearing frantically. His eyes locked with Fawn's and she could see pure rage reflecting out of them.
"I'm innocent!" He yelled repeatedly across the clearing as the guards continued shoving him. Fawn felt sick to her stomach at the whole site. She turned into Garrett's shoulder as Travis's screaming continued. Soon a car door slammed and he could no longer be heard. Fawn let out a breath, she felt like breaking down and crying as the stress pressed down on her. The king and queen were dead, and she realized she was shaking with fright. What was going to happen now?  Fawn felt Garrett wrap his arms around her head gingerly.
"Let's get you inside." He whispered. Fawn nodded, she didn't want people to see her like this. Garrett led her to a car that was waiting for them. There were rooms waiting for them at a nearby resort they would be staying in until morning. Fawn was checked out by paramedics when they arrived at the hotel and was given a patch to put on the cut on her head. They had also checked her out for smoke inhalation, but said she would be okay. As soon as she and Garrett entered the resort, she ripped off the patch.
"Fawn," Garrett chided.
"I'm not wearing that stupid patch around this place." Fawn grumbled, she wasn't in a good mood. After the initial shock had passed, Fawn found herself more grumpy by the minute. Garrett grabbed their room keys from the manager who was waiting for them. Fawn's room was on the second floor. Garrett stopped at the door, it was wooden with a simple handle.
"You'll be okay?" Garrett asked her. Fawn nodded and felt the soreness in her neck.
"Yeah, I'm just afraid of what's next." She said quietly. Garrett sighed.
"I am too, we will have to see what the morning brings. Goodnight Fawn." He said and walked away. Fawn entered her room. It was about half the size of her palace room, but it was still nice. Fawn walked over to her small deck and closed the door. The smell of smoke still wafted through the air and she didn't want it bothering her lungs again. She was happy to find clean clothes on her bed and changed into them. She was too tired to take a shower as she flopped into bed. Fawn sighed and curled up underneath her blankets. She closed her eyes and every time she did she saw Travis's green eyes staring back at her in pure rage. Fawn flipped over and huffed. Why couldn't she get his image out of her mind? After about an hour, her body finally gave in to exhaustion. She didn't know how long she slept, but dawn came too quickly.

~

Fawn sat up and stretched slowly, she winced in pain as her limbs protested. Walking into the bathroom, Fawn was horrified to see bruises splotched across her legs and arms as well as her neck, and one giant one around the cut on her face. She could only imagine what her back looked like. She carefully slipped into the shower, letting the warm water wash over her skin. Fawn smiled as she felt the grim wash off her body and soon she was clean. She slipped into jeans and a light blue shirt as she toweled off her hair. She stepped onto her small enclosed deck, the wood creaking beneath her feet. Fawn began brushing out her hair in slow strokes as life seeped back into her limbs. She put on some make-up, but it would not be able to hide the ugly gash on her face. Fawn slowly made her way downstairs, grabbing some food on the way. She stepped outside and took a breath of fresh air. Fawn didn't know what to do, something at the back of her mind was bothering her, but she pushed it away.
Curiosity killed the cat Fawn... She said to herself. But not doing anything never helped anyone. Why should she help the one single person in the world she hated the most?
Because it's right. Is it?  Fawn could only hope. She ran back up to her room and called a cab quickly before she lost her courage. For some reason she felt like she was being sneaky as she ran back downstairs to wait for the cab. She waited in the awning for the cab to pull up, secretly hoping no one would spot her leaving. The cab pulled in and Fawn hopped in quickly.
"Where to?" The driver asked as Fawn showed her identity, she was able to travel free of charge as a overseer.
"I want to go the Capitol Jail." Fawn said firmly when they pulled out of the parking lot. The driver hit the brakes quickly and Fawn had to grab onto the seat in front of her to keep from hitting her head.
"Ma'am, that is no place for a lady."
"And it is not your place to speak." Fawn said harshly. The driver sighed and began driving again. Fawn gave a small smile and leaned back in her seat. She still wasn't convinced she was doing the right thing, but she knew she needed to try. Fawn watched the world fly by the window. A crane was knocking down a giant skyscraper as ordered by the first king and queen, who believed that giant buildings were completely unnecessary and a waste of money. It wasn't long before they were stopped at a chain link gate by police. The cab driver showed them Fawn's identity and they let them through. Fawn thanked the driver when they had parked and told him she might call again later when she was ready to leave. She walked toward the intimidating jail. It was surrounded by barbed wire and guards were everywhere, they needed to be. The Capitol Jail housed some of the nation's worst criminals that were awaiting punishment. Fawn went through a lengthy security check before she was escorted to a small room. The police were slow to grant her orders, but granted them nonetheless. She waited in a chair until she heard a door swing open. She turned as a guard pushed Travis into the room. He looked up and the expression on his face could only be described as shock. Fawn smiled, enjoying the fact that she now held power over him. She held her arm out.
"Travis, how nice to see you alive. Please, sit."