Out Into The Open

Chapter One

The doctor said she died from a cold. Just a regular old cold. It happens all the time. I know a cold when I see one. A cold wouldn't be able to kill someone most of the time at least. The doctor must have choked on the truth and spit out the first excuse he could. He's gone now. He vanished into thin air. Not a trace of where he came from or where he is now. I don't even know who he is. My mother didn't die from a cold. She went missing. She never came back. Those are the only facts I know.

It's been two years since then. My father went crazy and the kingdoms been shot to ruins. He locked me in this cell. I've been here for days now. I haven't seen anyone or eaten or drunk anything. No visitors. No guards. Just a cell. A dirty cell. With my.... Droppings and such on the ground in the corner. No interaction. No sunlight. No light at all actually. I can't even see myself or my hands even if they are outstretched in front of my eyes. But I've felt every inch of this cell and there's no way out.

The bars always feel cold and sharp and the wall behind me is always damp like mildew. The floor is just concrete and as cold as the wall. I don't have a bed or a toilet or a bucket. I'm starving I could eat anything right now. I'm not used to such little comfort I was always comfortable with plenty of stuff for my needs.

I remember the day father went crazy. It was a month ago. He had just seen a new case of twenty civilians dead on the edge of our territory. That either meant rebels, Pirates, scavengers, gangs or another kingdom. Either way it is the duty of the king to protect his kingdom. As the kingdoms princess I should be right along side him protecting my people. After a week of searching for the attackers there was not a trace. My father got sick with rage. I looked him in the eye and asked him if I could help in anyway. His reaction was unexpected.

He looked frightened at me and jumped away from me landing on the ground. Splayed out on the ground he was as shaking. When the guards appeared he screamed. He screamed I was a traitor and I had attacked him asking when this kingdom would be in flames.

My fathers sick mentally. My mothers missing. Someone's attacking my people. I'm locked in a cell. I'm starving to death or I'll die of thirst. What a predicament if you ask me. I felt for the wall and leaned up against it. I felt around till I reached my nail that had been rolled under the bars by someone or something two days ago and carved another tally on the wall. I had been keeping score of how many times I heard the bell outside ding. Yes. The bell is so loud that I can hear it ding from my cell in the palace dungeon.

Every bell was another morning that the sun I could not see rose and the people of my kingdom that I also could not see started work and school. The bell was when my father would wake up and send for breakfast in the hall. The hall was such a beautiful place. I wish I could go back there and dance around it when no ones around again. I'd listen to the wind blowing on the trees outside the open windows and the birds chirping away, the soft whistling of nearby guards. It was so peaceful. A moment to myself. A moment of pure happiness. Now I have every waking moment to myself. Moments of pure depression.

I remember the chandelier that my mother helped make. It's hung up in the hall. My mother went every day to the builder and helped carve every inch of the hall. From his golden columns with detailed art etched into them and beautiful big windows on two of the walls with massive sky blue curtains flowing down from the ceiling like a waterfall. The ceiling had little stars made out of crystals embedded into it that sparkled and shined like the night sky. A crisp dark blue surrounded them with the chandelier looking like a full moon. The floor white and reflecting everything in the room. It was truly a sight to behold. She wanted it to be a perfect place to eat and dance and sing. She wanted to have parties and music and balls. She wanted me to get married in that hall. My brother had gotten married to the queen of Jarran in that hall.