The Lost Child

chapter 35

With each step, the knots in my stomach released. We got banished from our own country but yet we were still alive. And that was enough. I held the cloaks to my chest and I walked with the guards as they pulled me through dark valleys. It was still morning though everything in that place was in utter darkness. We walked through valleys and up hills. In the shade and in the morning sunlight. I kept glancing around trying to catch a glimpse of the others but all I could see was the empty area as the ground spread towards the horizon. My heart sank a bit at the thought that I was completely alone. What if they actually killed me? No one would ever know. We stopped at a deep tunnel. I walked down as the darkness washed me away. I could barely see where we were heading but I felt the moisten rocks I walked above. Through the silence, I heard the sound of waves crashing against each other. We were near the ocean. We walked closer till the salty smell filled my lungs. I saw faint light streaks flow in as we walked towards the end of the tunnel.

We reached the end of it and the guards gently helped me out. I inhaled deeply as the fresh breeze blew at my face and the warm sunlight washed my skin. I glanced at the sparkling blue water as locks of dark hair flew before my eyes blurring my vision. That feeling. The feeling of happiness. The feeling of freedom as the fresh air filled my lungs. The darkness I lived in for years was gone. Vanished and buried in the depth of ground. I took each step slowly till my eyes caught sight of the others. I swung away from the guard's grip and ran towards them. Towards my finacé in particular. I dropped the cloaks and drifted towards him. I jumped and threw my arms around his neck as he held me tight. He breathed into my hair and I relaxed as his mint scented breathed carried me away. I leaned up and whispered in his ear "I love you". I could feel his smile in my hair as he whispered it back. And I sank into this dream. I pulled back and looked into his eyes. Those pure eyes. I studied them. I studied his pink lips as he faintly smiled. His jawline tightened as he looked through my eyes. I broke eye contact at the voice of Simon as he gently spoke.
"I'm sorry what are we doing here?" Confusion covered his face and I suddenly remembered I hadn't told them about Michael's last words. So I told them. I told them how he saved us. That he wasn't as bad as we had thought. I told them about the boat that would take us to another country and live. Finally live. I saw as their eyes brightened and I studied their ecstatic faces. I watched as they laughed and screamed at the top of there lungs. I watched as they hugged and their eyes filled with tears and I couldn't help but smile. Phillip's arm wrapped around my shoulder as I leaned on his muscular arm. I breathed. I felt every burden I carried fall off. I looked at the clear light sky above me. We're okay Stephan. Don't worry. Oh God! I missed you. I missed you so much, brother. This time I smiled. He was still there. I felt him. I felt his presence in Simon's eyes. In Phillip's loud laugh. I saw him in Chrisy's features. I could smell his scent around me. It calmed me. He was still alive in each one of us.. he was still alive in our memories. Those that never die.

We were so lost in that spectacular moment that we didn't hear the guards yell to get on the boat. It was big enough to carry all of us and so I grabbed the cloaks and handed it to each of them. To get out of this place, we had to row around the shore till the other countries were in sight so the cloaks were important. We put it on and pulled the huge hood over our heads covering most of our faces. They were dark and so I was boiling in the sunlight with them on. We all climbed in and the boat left the spot, leaving the shallow water as the waves swayed beneath us.

With the fresh air and warm sunlight, my eyelids could barely stay opened and slowly they stick together and I drifted into sleep.

I was shaken awake and though the blurry vision I saw it was darker and the air seemed cooler. I pushed myslef up and saw the sun get swallowed into the ocean waves. I was thrown forward as the boat hit shore. I looked up and we were in a different place. It was beautiful. I crawled out of the boat and lay on the soft sand and my fingers engraved through the sand grains. I stayed there and enjoyed that sensation. They all came out of the boat and stood there, admiring the new country. Our new home. Small houses and huts were built near shore and as we walked through them we reached the heart of the country where the grand church lay and further away we saw a faint shadow of an enormous castle. Within hours, a guard came towards us and gave us a note. I opened it firmly and read..