The Prince of Arc - Part I

Chapter 8 - I'm On Your Side

8.

"So, basically, there's no hope for the kingdom?" Cam asks, glancing at me as if he knew I'd be thinking about what my mom said, and how it's not going the way she wants, at all.

"There never was ever since the families stop talking." Skylar responds, once again, as casually as possible. "You'll see how bad it is at the press conference tomorrow. There'll be Loyals and rebels there, so fights will break out after it's over. I heard someone say the King actually will be there. What an idiot. He shouldn't go in person."

"Why not?" I ask, automatically.

"I already know some people are going just to try to hurt him, and if they even lay a finger on him, the Loyals will defend. And then, fights will break out; Loyals vs. us. I can see it now. And of course, because they have guns, the Loyals will win. Any rebel that tests their or the king's authority will be shot right there on the spot, innocent citizens; dead." Skylar says, closing her eyes to picture the scene in her mind. Ever since the first riot, the Loyals confiscated every single gun in the country to use in future riots. That's one of the major things the citizens hold against my family and the Drakes, along with the trade regulations, but I think that needed to happen anyway.

Could she be right? What if someone did try to hurt my parents, or me, or Cam? All of a sudden this press conference doesn't seem like such a good idea. I don't want anyone to get hurt, but from Skylar's point of view that's going to be unavoidable.

"You really think it'll go that far?" Cam says, suddenly speaking in a lower, more serious tone.

"I don't think, I know. Everyone at the park is talking about who's going to do something." She says, twisting her head to gesture towards the park.

"Huh, I don't know if I want to go now," I say, looking towards Cam, who returns the look with a face that shows me he's worried too.

"I have to-" Skylar pauses, "Are you guys okay?" She must see we notice we look worried.

"Yeah, it's just," I say, still looking at Cam, "Nothing."

"Okay..." Skylar responds with a puzzled look on her face.

"We have to go," I say, backing up from her, and grabbing Cam.

We need to go tell Henry, he needs to tell my parents as soon as possible to cancel the press conference. Or at least to do the conference over a video feed again. I didn't want anyone to die. Especially not my father, not only because he is my father, but also because if he were to die the situation would only worsen because then I'd be King and the Drakes would want me dead so that they have complete power over Sandrux.

I look urgently at Cam, who nods in response. We run out of the market, and I hear Skylar call from behind.

"What? Why? Wait, Marcus, Derek?!" She starts to follow us. She was obviously confused, and we couldn't explain why we had to leave.

"Please, don't follow us." Cam says, turning to try to hold Skylar off. She ends up listening to him, probably confused on what's going on. We continue running past the two subdivisions, then to the train tracks. There I remember what Henry said this morning, and I stop to tell Cam.

"Henry's not going to be home till tonight, remember?" I say, trying to think of what to do next.

"What time is it?" Cam asks, putting his hands on his knees to take a breather. "Wait," He says, looking behind me. "The train station," He reminds me of the clock in the lobby of the train station.

"Come on," I say, passing the train tracks. As I'm running, I keep thinking of what we were going to do. We get to the train station, and go into the lobby.