Castleside Academy

Chapter Twenty-Two: Hazel

“How far are we?” I ask Samuel.

            “Ten more minutes,” Samuel replies.

            I start crying. I can't believe how close I am to getting Toby back. I may not even find him alive. Samuel said they we're torturing him badly.

            The ten minutes seems to take forever. We finally arrive. The place is similar to where they held me. I peer in the window that's just above the ground. I see a single light over Toby's head. His feet are untied, but his hands are bound behind his back. He's covered in blood and laying on the ground. His breathing appears shallow, almost like he's about to give in breathing.

            “Where are the people?” I ask when Samuel comes back from circling the shack.

            “They're gone. Like they've just left him to die,” he replies.

            “Let's go get him!” I exclaim and bolt for the front of the shack.

            We get to the front porch when Samuel grabs my arm.

            “Wait! I only think they're gone. I wasn't entirely sure,” he whispers.

            I nod slowly. He passes me and opens the front door slowly. I wait on the porch as he goes through all the rooms to make sure that no one is inside.

            “All clear,” he says.

            I hurry inside and find the stairs to the basement. I run down them and burst through the door to the room where Toby is. I see Toby attempt to lift his head, but he only gets about a centimeter from the ground before he drops it. I run over to him and put his head in my lap. He opens his eyes slowly and smiles when he recognizes me. I quickly untie his hands.

            “Toby! Oh, what happened? What did they do to you? They are going to PAY!” I exclaim.

            “Shh. It's okay Hazel. I don't want you to be involved with them any more than we already are,” Toby says quietly, then coughs.

            He can't catch his breath, and he just keeps coughing, and ends up coughing up blood.

            “Toby! Can you even walk?” I ask.

            “Yeah. I can,” Toby says weakly.

            He tries to sit up, but only gets halfway before he falls back onto my lap. Tears are streaming down my cheeks now.

            “Samuel, do you have any water?” I ask.

            He nods and quickly pulls a water bottle out of his bag. I take it and hold it to Toby's lips.

            “Here, drink,” I say softly.

            Toby opens his mouth and I poor a little bit of cool water in. He swallows it. I see a little bit of color return to his face.

            “I feel a little bit better. Thank you,” Toby croaks.

            I continue giving him water. When I'm halfway through the bottle. Toby finally sits up.

            “How are you feeling now?” I ask, giving him a little more water.

            “Better. Help me stand,” he says.

            Samuel hurries over and we're both on either side of Toby. He slowly stands, trying to carry his weight on his own. But stumbles, and Samuel and I eventually have his weight shared.