Stone Castle

Rise Above

Zack was out by the stables, running his hands along the fur of his favorite race horse as he cleaned her. No he didn't race. No one did, they hadn't for some time but he came in right before they got rid of all the horses convincing them he would take care of them and break them in for something else useful. This was Daphnee, she was white with long ears. Her ears drooped over her face which is why he liked her. She would get timid around new people and he had her wrapped around his fingers.

He led her out into the field. Looking up to one of the balconies he saw Sam standing in his calvin clein underwear and a button up white shirt which was in fact left unbuttoned. Zack didn't believe in sexuality, in his maturity he learned the magic was there regardless of who you were playing with. Though hard as he may try he couldn't find what he was looking for. Just then Blaine slipped out of the curtain onto the balcony in the slowly rising sunlight. He just wore some see through leggings and a strap that only covered the essentials. 

He mounted Daphnee and whisked his head back and forth allowing his hair to catch the warm summer air. With a deep breath in through his nostrils he tightened his grip and ran his heel along her calf. She popped back and took off in a fast pace gallop. He smiled feeling his life return to him. This was what he was meant to do. He pulled her reins and she stooped to the left right beneath two trees that looped through one another creating a tunnel. Deep into the trees he found himself in a maze. The trees still blocking most of the light a fair amount of fog centered in the air. 

Around the river bend, beneath a stone canape, through a cave tunnel, across the bridge, and straight shot to the field once more. He reached a hand up and felt the morning dew upon the leaves grazing his hand. A sigh of relief, this was what made him feel free. Just him and Daphnee. Up ahead he saw something. A person, dangling from a tree. Just before the field. Blood dripping down onto the dried mud beneath himself. Daphnee cried out pulling back hard and bucking Zack from her. He rolled out onto the field and felt something break within him. He chocked out in pain but no words could escape his lips. Air was stuck in his lungs and his eyes locked on his brother's gentle corpse resting in the tree.

He couldn't hear anything and his vision was getting blurry. He saw Cody walking up to him, his voice filtering in and out of his head behind a rough ringing. The bloody body knelt down next to him and touched his face. His vision cleared and he saw the face. Cody was missing pieces in his body, black and blue welts covered his neck and his eyes were bloodshot. "It must suck." Cody smiled. "Having to be so strong all the time. You see these things that make you uncomfortable and if you say anything you're considered... less than... human." Cody took Zack's hand within his own. He could feel his own life slipping away. "You take out your anger and sadness by running into the trees with a race horse that has no use. you and her have a lot in common... both created for something that no longer exists." His eyes drifted shut and he fell into a deep unconscious state of mind. 

Sam laughed as Blaine whispered in his ear. Out of the corner of his eyes he saw the animal. He cocked his head to see Daphnee racing back into the stables without Zack. he looked back at Blaine who made a worried face and the two of them turned into their room throwing on their robes and racing down the hall. 

An hour later Zack's eyes fluttered open and he looked around the room to see Lucy sitting in a chair her eyes out the window. "loo..." He whispered. His voice still sore. She looked over at him and gave a sheepish smile. Standing she approached his bedside and took his hand in her own. "Hey..." She said. "Wheres... Codes." He begged. She looked behind her and made a face looking back at Zack she responded: "He left this morning... before you went out to the stables... i'm sure he will be back." She rested a hand upon his forehead and sighed. "What happened out there 'Z'?" She asked calmly. He rolled his head to the side to ignore the question. He honestly didn't know. "Well... i have to get rid of Daphnee... i don't have a choice." His head snapped back in her direction and he began to cry. She was his everything. The pitter patter of the rain against the window Payne. 

She left the room and the door shut slowly behind her. His eyes drifting to the window he saw the stables just outside his room. Several men from across the way had came over and they were fighting with her to come with them. He saw her there. He felt her pain as she whined and cried out for him. A part of him felt her call his name. Nothing but pain shot through his body as he lie there watching them drag her away. He shook vehemently, his tears dripping down and off his jaw. "NO!" He screamed. "Noooo!" the base in his voice shaking the room. 

His eyes bolted to the door and he saw standing in its frame, after having once been closed, a young boy, no older than sixteen, his eyes were yellow and his skin was pale but not translucent. In terror Zack watched as the boy raised his hand in the air. Slowly Zack felt himself rise from the mattress the quilt slipping from his lap. The boy clenched his palms and Zack screamed feeling a sharp blow in his rib cage. He crashed to the bed his eyes shut. The boy had vanished.