Finding My Nightingale [UNDER CONSTRUCTION]

Chapter Twenty Three

Chapter Twenty Three

   ***William's POV***

   It's after breakfast and I'm pacing back and forth in the garden.

  Erica wasn't at breakfast this morning and it was getting late. I couldn't wait any longer.

  I was anxious to get to Elena before it's too late. I look at the garden sun dial and noon was approaching fast.

   Still no sign of Erica. I sighed, of course I would have to do this without Erica's help.

   I March through the doors of the garden and ran smack into someone I reach out and grab them before the could fall the ground.

   "Erica!" She had come at last! Her eyes glistened at the excitement in my voice. "I didn't think you would show."

  Looking guilty she looks down,  "at first I wasn't going to. I was afraid, then I got to thinking about everything, about us and realized you're right. I would never make you happy and I wouldn't be happy with myself if I made you go through with the wedding. So here."

   She pulls out the map and opens it up. She puts at a small opening. "This is the main entrance, you want to stay as far away as possible. Here is an abandoned tunnel that they check up on rarely. They keep the caged prisoners, which is where Elena should be."

   "Right and how will I get out?"

"You'll have to head down the hallway to the right of the tunnel mouth once you go through it. The hallway is long and has many doors. Don't go through any of them."

   "Right. Which door can I go through?"

"The last door on the left. Then your outside. You'll have to get to civilization before you get caught or they'll capture you and kill you both."

    "Okay, Tunnel,  Elena, turn right Last door on the left. Safe."

"Not exactly. They have professionally trained dogs that attack on command."

   "Stay away from the dogs, got it."

   "Wait!" She cries as I start to walk off, I turn to see a tear roll down her face. I wipe her cheek, she smiles at the gesture and whispers, "I do hope I'll find someone as great as you someday. Be careful and bring my sister home."

   I nod,  kissing her on the cheek I run to my horse. "Tell my family that I'm heading out and I won't be back for a few days,  but I'm safe and tell them not to worry." I said to the stable boy. He nods and runs into the castle.

   I ride off quickly, not wasting any time. I need to lessen the gap between Elena and I. I'm losing my head without her. This I know for sure is that I'm going to hurt whoever took her and bring her home.

***

  "Okay Henry. Get some rest. We leave at the break of dawn." It was dark and the moon was high. I stopped at the market right out side of town and bought carrots for Henry and a palette for me to sleep on.

   I hand him another carrot and tie him to the tree. I laid on my back starring at the stars. I tries to clear my head and get some sleep but every time I start to dose off a image of Elena trapped and scared angered me and I'm back to trying to fall asleep.

   Soon and unfathomably sleep comes and I'm awaken by the glistening sun. I gasped, I slept late. I wasted time sleeping when I could be so much closer to saving Elena.

  Angry, I pack quickly and as soon as I'm on Henry I speed off North,  getting closer to Geneva, closer to my Nightingale.

   Suddenly, an arrow comes flying out of the woods. Indians.

I'm on their territory. Surely, I'm going to die but I ride on, arrows flying in front of me and behind.

   I hear horses and I look back, I'm being chased. "We've got to lose them, Henry." Henry grunts in agreement and runs faster.

   "WHOA,  HENRY!" I pull back but it was too late, we fall into the river. The current separating us. "Try to get onto safety ground, Henry!  I'll find you!"

  The current pushed me farther away but not far enough to see Henry climbing out of the water.

   "Good horse." I whispered. Soon I was taken under the current and I couldn't breathe. Fighting the current was no use. There was nothing to grab on either and the falls were getting closer.

   I started to panic and swim toward the current.

  This was the end, I thought. There was no saving Elena now. There was no saving myself.

  I yelled as I started to fall.