Hourglass

Chapter 3

"Look, I would understand if you don't want anything to do with me, but please, just hear me out." He must've paused to see if he'd gotten my attention, but I show no sign that he has. "I don't agree with what my father is doing and I wanted to tell you how sorry I am for what he's done. He shouldn't have murdered your-"
    My head whips around facing this boy. He freezes under my glance. The son of Varek and Mariam Banford, Carson. Standing in my dungeon. No guards. I could do anything I wanted to. It is his blood, his family, his father who has cost me this pain. Anything. Now would be the perfect time to fulfill my revenge.  To Kill Vareks son should make him feel the same pain that I feel, but something tells me he doesn't have the heart to grieve for someone. There's another thing that stops me from doing this. Carson claims that his reasoning for coming was to apologize, surely he can't be as bad as his father. Can he?
    He takes a step toward me, his eyes softening upon seeing my damp cheeks I'd forgotten about. Scooching away from the blond haired boy, I wipe my tears away with the back of my hand.
    "Why?" I ask, "Why did you come here?" My voice betrays me, still raw from crying.
    "I know I am one of the last people you would want to talk to, but I am sorry. You didn't deserve this, neither did your family. I'm not asking for your forgiveness; I know it's very unlikely, considering the circumstances, but I just needed to apologize. I couldn't live with myself if I hadn't done this." Carson explains.
    "So this was just for you? You don't really care about me or my family. You only did this for yourself!" I exclaim, a lump forming in my throat.
    "No! That is not at all what I meant- Aspen, please. I felt bad for you! Everyone you love is gone and I figured someone-anyone-who might still care for you-" Both him and his emerald green eyes plead with me.
    "You don't have the right to say that. We've just met and so far I'm not convinced that you're all that good. I'm sorry to say that your attempts have been proved useless and-" It's my turn to be interrupted.
    "Maybe that was the wrong choice of words, but you must agree with me that my father has been nothing but cruel?" He waits for me to respond, but I don't. I am not agreeing with him, no matter how correct he is. "That's what I thought," a small smile tugs at his lips, "I also believe that it's safe to say that neither of us are particularly fond of him either."
    "Why should I believe you? Varek could have just sent you to fool me."
    "Fool you? From what exactly?" He asks, genuinely concerned. I'm running out of reasons to not trust him, frustrating myself.
    "I don't know, doing something foolish before I'm executed, maybe. Toying with my mind as he has before."
    A small laugh escapes Carson, taking me by surprise.
    "I can assure you that's not the case." I eye him warily. Another laugh sounds, echoing through the room. There's something about it that makes a small laugh of my own escape. Startled, my face warms and I'm sure it is a vibrant shade of red.
    "Don't be embarrassed, I can't imagine you've laughed quite enough these last few days." A shadow of a smile forms on my face. He's right, but there's something about him that makes me feel as if I can trust him. As if everything will be okay.
    "Thank you," I say. I really needed that. Even when I know things will end for me very soon, it's still nice to know that there were a few decent moments. A sad smile possesses his features. Moving to sit next to me, back against the wall, he begins talking.
    "It may seem weird for me to be saying this to you of all people, but I've always needed to tell someone. I have never been able to because I knew no one would understand, but I feel as if you will."
    "Everyone believes my father is one of the greatest people they've ever known. Being his only son, I know things no one else does. I feel things that no one would imagine I'd feel towards him. People envy me for being his son, but they have no idea of what I'd give to be anyone else's. Varek wants me to be exactly like him. He pushes me day-after-day and when those day that I am unworthy, I am punished. One day when I was a child, a woman was struggling carrying in her vegetables .  I offered to help her bring them into her house. I didn't realize my father was watching, for as soon as I turned my back I heard a bloodcurdling scream. He had killed the woman. He explained to me that we were better than her and shall not pity them. By doing so they would think they were our equals and rebellions would occur. For the four days after that, he had not permitted me to eat." Carson's voice turns distant.
    "From then on out, I'd sneak away without my father's knowing and help our people." A moment of silence is shared between us and I reach for his hand, letting him know I was there for him. How well do I really know him? Is it wrong to want to comfort him and make him feel cared for?
    I decide it's not as a swipe his tear away with my thumb. He turns to me with sad, tired eyes. "Don't cry, you're starting to look like me," I say, hoping to cheer him up even the slightest bit. He smiles. Not just a smile-smile, but a full on smile. Teeth and everything. Something tells me that he also needed this. Everything I've just learned about him, it's obvious that he has not had the a family he deserved. One who would make him smile and laugh as a family should.
    I shift so that I'm kneeling and wrap my arms around Carson in a hug. For a fraction of a second, he stiffens as if he's not sure how to react. His strong arms envelope around me "Thanks, Aspen." I nod against his shoulder, glad to have the feeling of being cared for after I thought no one ever would. We both needed to know that someone cared.
    Footsteps echo from outside the corridor resulting in Carson jumping to his feet and collecting himself. "Sir? What are you doing with the prisoner?" The guard walking into the room asks.
    "Didn't my father tell you that I was to escort Miss Whitelock to the execution ceremony?"
    Taken aback, the scruffy faced man stutters, "What? No, he sent me to do that."
    All of the previous emotion that Carson expressed was now gone, replaced with a steely look that dares the other man to argue, "Surely you are mistaken, I am positive that I was sent."
    "My apologize, Sir. I'll be on my way." The guard  leaves the room, looking sulken.
    As the sound of his footsteps declare he's no longer in hearing range Carson says, "Look, I may have a plan. Just follow along with the act, okay? Be prepared to run."
    "What?"
    "I can't tell you now, we are on a shortage of time. I'm sure my father will send another guard down if we don't hurry." He holds out his hand and I take it as he helps me to my feet.
    "If this doesn't work out, I want you to know how glad I am to have met you. Thank you, I appreciate you for coming." I say sincerely. It's was nice to have not spend every moment of the last few days grieving.
    "Thank you for letting me complain to you about my life," he says, smirking.
    And with that, we take our first steps into the corridor, awaiting our undetermined future.