My Royal Story

Chapter 11

Luke sat in the guards' room in the castle. He'd spent the past six days looking for Lily, ever since the terrorists got away with her. He looked over the map of the territory they lived in, New Michigan. He crossed out the cities they had already searched, Brooklyn, Traverse, Saulte St. Marie, and Rodger. The only territory left was Detroit.

Detroit is an old abandoned city in southeast New Michigan. When Michigan was remodeled into New Michigan, Detroit had far too much damage to fix. Now nobody lives there because it is too dangerous and broken.

"We have to go to Detroit," Luke mumbled under his breath.

"Detroit?" Tim, a fellow soldier, asked.

"Yes, it's where Lily is. We have to find her!"

"Luke, remember the king's orders? Once he saw the hostage video, he told us not to bother, it wasn't worth it."

"Tim, we have to get a troop together. We have to find her, she isn't going to be killed by some terrorist group!" Luke yelled as he slammed his hands on the table.

"I thought you didn't love her."

"Tim, she is the love of my life. I want to be with her so badly, but then she would have to move down to the fourth caste instead of staying in the first."

"Luke, you love her, that's all that matters."

"When did you become so romantic?" Luke asked.

"Doesn't matter," replied Tim. "Now come on! Let's get a troop together!"

• • • • •

I sat in my cell for the past week doing almost nothing. I slept, ate, used the bathroom when nobody was watching, and tried to figure out what the weird puddle on the ground was.

I think it's blood.

I lay down on my cot and stared at the ceiling. It was cement. I thought about what I could have done with my life. If I stayed in the sixth caste I would have married into a higher caste and had a few kids. If I stayed princess and married a prince and had an heir as a child.

If I had it my way, I would marry Luke and move into the fourth caste. I would have a few kids and live a happy and comfortable life.

My daydreaming was disturbed when the cell door opened. Rat-face grabbed my arm and drug me into the hall, upstairs, and into Ranche's office. "I'm really sorry," he whispered.

"Ready Princess?" Ranche cackled. "Jim, turn the camera on, we are sending this to King Ben."

Rat-face brought out the 'camera' and gave Ranche a thumb's up. "Hello Ben," Ranche cackled. "It seems as though you have failed to fulfill my wishes. Like I promised, I am going to kill your only daughter." Ranche brought up the knife and put it to my throat. "Any last words?" He turned to me.

"Luke, if you're watching this, I love you! I wish we had more time together!" I gagged as tears rolled down my cheeks.

Ranche tightened the knife and I prepared to take my last breath. The knife dug into my throat and my whole life rushed before me.

When I was little I ran through the daisies with Ana into Dad and Mom's arms. Ana and I opening presents on Christmas morning. Mom sobbing when Dad left us. Mom dying. Ana being sent to jail. Seeing Dad for the first time in a long time. Getting to know and love Luke.

Tears ran down my face as blood gushed down my neck. I wheezed as a bullet hit Ranche and glass shattered all around the room.