The Door

Chapter 15

The piercing sun burst through the window. Everett's eyes blinked open. He yawned, uncurling himself. The sleep rolled up his fingers as he stretched. He looked around. Josha was tucked into himself on his bed. Rowan, on the other side of the room, was sprawled out, tangled in his blanket. Everett's sock covered feet thumped on the ground, and he shuffled across the room to the doorway. He caught a glance of Axle's bed. It was empty. His breath caught in his throat. He scrambled to the bed, yanking off the covers. He was gone. There was not even an imprint on his bed. He had never laid down.

Everett stumbled outside, and looked out on Pelac. People were strolling around town as usual, not a care in the world. A lump caught in his throat. Axle was gone.

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No one touched breakfast. They all sat in a tight silence, shifting in their seats. Everett rung out his hands. Rowan paced across the floor. An uneasiness hung in the air. Horrible thoughts flew about Everett's head, like flies unable to be caught. How Adron could have stolen him. How he could have fallen off the balcony. Practically everything bad that could have happen passed through his head at one point or another. Axle was a lot younger than the rest of them. He is not as capable of caring for himself. Kaden stared out of the window, next to Everett. They glanced at each other, their worry transmitting itself back and forth. Everett was the first to break the gaze, looking at nothing in particular in the distance.

A loud buzzing filled the room. Josha's father jumped, and grabbed his phone. Everyone held their breath. He jerked the phone down.

"There's been sightings," He paused, glancing away. "He's going to Kamere."

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The harsh sound of the motor on the dirt road spread for miles. Everett, Josha, Rowan, and Kaden were squished together in the back seat like sardines. The sound of clanging metal filled the forest. The car slowed. They all craned their necks, trying to catch even a heartbeat. Something banged on the truck. The car suddenly jerked forward, leaving everyone's organs in the dust. Sounds of running footsteps echoed in the wind. Horses heaved in the chill air, their heavy breaths like gongs. The car sped through the trees, swerving to miss ramming straight into a log. Everett clenched his jaw, turning back. A few hooded riders cantered behind them. Then the car stopped suddenly. It careened through the peaceful woods like a bulldozer. No one in the car screamed. They did not have that much time, before the blackness hit them.

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Everett jerked awake. The raw feeling of blood trickled down his arms. Corse ropes where rapped around him. A shiver dripped down into his spine. He squinted in the dark. Dim silhouettes sat behind him. The steady breath of Josha warmed the air, and his head calmed instantly.

"How much they got?" A husky voice said.

"Not much," Another man threw down a sack. He spat in Everett's direction. "Useless swine."

"What should we do 'bout them?" A third voice asked, stuffing the few belongings they owned into a horse's saddle bag.

"Well we can't just leave them here. They'd rat on us for sure,"

"Well then what do ya suppose we do, idiot? Become murderers for a failed attempt of petty theft?"

"I ain't sayin' we should kill em-"

"Enough." The first man pushed past them. He walked up to Everett. His footsteps crunched on the coarse dirt, echoing in the night. "Paco's right. We can't leave them here. It's to risky. He leaned down to Everett, grabbing his chin.

"We could make fine servants out of them." He let go of his iron grip, and walked over to Kaden, on the other side of Everett. She stared at him, challenging him with her eyes.

He giggled. "Is this who I think it is?" He motioned to the others to come closer. They peered into her face. They cackled. "She sure does share the family resemblance, that's for sure. We could get a hefty price for her, no doubt." He chuckled. Kaden looked down. "The other two kids will be mere forerunners. It's unfortunate the black-haired boy is missing an arm, but it is but a trifle. He will be mighty pleased when he sees the girl. The father we might as well leave here. He's completely useless to us anyhow."

Josha flinched, looking down. Everett reached his foot over to his. They looked at each other and shared a moment of reassurance and silence.

Everett looked off into the distance. He saw a pair of gleaming eyes in the trees. He shook his head ever so slightly. Not yet. He mouthed. Rowan disappeared into the underbrush.