It Has Come

Chapter 6; "Running"

I looked at Eric as if he were a madman. Leave the estate? I thought, confused. What good would that bring?

Eric noticed my expression. "I'm sorry, Mistress Willow," his voice became soft, compassionate, comforting. "I shall explain everything... later. Right now, you need to pack up and get ready to leave. The maids are not to know that you are leaving. We part from the estate at promptly midnight. Understood, Mistress Willow?"

I nodded. This was certainly something new for me; normally, I'd be the one giving him orders.

Stranger still was the fact that we were leaving. Eric had said that he'd explain everything, but I found it very odd since I had never even once set foot off the estates. My parents had left for town often enough but never asked if I wanted to go with them.

I glanced back at him as I left the dining hall to pack. I decided I'd bring nothing more than the bare minimum, even though I had no idea where we were even going. When I reached my bedroom, I pushed the door open slowly, warily, hoping that none of the maids were lurking.

"Claire?" I called out softly through the gloom. "Genivieve? Corinth?"

When no one answered, I figured it was safe to start packing. Before I did, I changed into another one of my riding outfits; this one consisted of a deep red button-up and black pants, along with my sturdiest and most comfortable brown leather knee-high boots.

I reached into my wardrobe again and pulled out a thick, rugged grey shawl that I'd use to carry my things. Folding into it a black shirt, tan pants, and my blood-red billowy gown, I tied the corners of the shawl together tightly in the middle. I removed one of my pillows from its silk case and replaced it with the bundle. I put the bare pillow into the linen closet on the other side of the room. Those were all the clothes I figured I'd truly need; I also had the ones on my back to contend with.

When I had awoken from my coma of four days, it was around noon, lunchtime. My stomach was tight with angst for the rest of the day as I let the hours dwindle by, waiting for the midnight hour to come. I didn't speak at all until it was time for bed, but during the day, I tried to shoot looks at the maids that inconspicuously shouted Goodbye! I'll miss you with all my heart! I don't even know where we're going, but I'll miss you anyways! I don't think any of them got the message, but hey, I tried.

Finally, as I lay in my bed, pretending to be asleep, I heard the tiny wooden clock beside me chime softly, twelve times. I sat up and removed the bundle from my pillowcase. I got up silently from my bed; I didn't need to change since I hadn't bothered to get into my night clothes in the first place. The door to the hall opened with a low creak, and I crept slowly down the passage. Somehow, I found myself in the front foyer in a very short amount of time. Eric was waiting for me. I couldn't see what he was wearing, it was covered by a long, thick black cloak. He handed me an identical one along with a dagger with a copper hilt. I tucked the knife into my inner pocket and wrapped the cloak around me. I did it all without a question, without a sound, as if I were simply a puppet under someone else's control.

The heavy door creaked slightly as Eric pushed it open. Our cloaks swished softly in the cold night air. It was all so mechanical, a feeling of subdued unease settled in my heart. I started to veer towards the stables, thinking that we would take the horses to... wherever we were going. I still had no clue. Eric grabbed my arm, pulling me back onto the path, away from the stables. I looked at him with a puzzled expression.

"They'd be killed," he said shortly, letting go of my arm.

I felt the blood drain from my face quickly.

If they'd be killed, wouldn't we?

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We reached the gates of the estates. Eric told me to stop walking when we were about twelve feet from the wrought iron. He kept going.