The World Divided

chapter 2

        My head starts to feel light as the General and the woman round the corner, leaving me with this burden of knowledge. Different thoughts flood my mind. What do I do? Am I supposed to warn the people? Is this just some extravagant prank that the King decided to pull on me? Will I still be alive after tomorrow?

        The brightness of the hall seems to increase, and my head starts pounding. Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath attempting to calm myself. All I can think of right now is getting out of here with Alyndra. I need to keep her safe. Dropping the broom and the dustpan full of dirt, I start running out of the West Wing. Because the floor is so slippery, it's hard to run fast, but I manage to keep going. The way to the kitchen is still somewhat fresh in my mind. I need to go straight and then take a right then a left and then another...wait...was it left or right? Shoot.

        All the hallways have the same marble floors, high ceilings, and arches. At one point, I wonder if I had gone in a circle. I continue to blindly run around, but there's no guards to help me. Standing at an intersection, I kick the nearest wall. This is hopeless. Who makes a palace this big and with no signs. Looking around, there's a row of wooden doors. Choosing a random door, I pray that luck is on my side and open it. A gush of wind hits my face, and I step into an outdoor area with King Cyrus's statue in the middle of it. Yes!

        Thrusting the kitchen door open, I rush in and glance around the room, trying to find Alyndra. No one notices my haste because they're  all still too busy with the coronation, which starts in about thirty minutes. Alyndra is in the other side of the kitchen talking to a girl.

        I grab her arm which startles her. "Lyra! Where have you been? It's about to start." With an apologetic look, I pull her away from the other girl so I can tell Alyndra about my revelation.

        "We have to get out of here now. " I say to her as I move us to a corner.

        She stares at me blankly, not understanding the gravity of the situation. "What  are you talking about? What's happening?"

        I hesitate before telling her. "You're probably not going to think it's true. But when I was in the West Wing I overheard this conversation in the Royal chambers. Apparently, they've received a message from Eplon in which they promised they'll take over Thernia by tomorrow morning." The look on her face clearly says she doesn't believe me.

        "I'm sure you just misheard something. That can't possibly be true." She tries to reassures me. "They've already attempted to do that multiple times this past year, and they've failed every single time."

        "No." I shake my head, "This time they have the Morgro dragons on their side." Her expression changes from one of doubt to genuine fear. "And you're completely positive this is exactly what you heard?" She asks, any trace of uncertainty has vanished. I nod my head.

        We burst through the main steel gates, but the guards don't mind us because we're coming from the palace. Crossing the road, I lead Alyndra to my house.

        "Ok here's my plan," I try to keep my voice steady, "We could head north to Fairbrook, and stay with our families for maybe half a day. This all depends on how fast Eplon's army advances on the rest of Thernia. Once they completely take over Bellmare, which they already promised will be done by dawn, they've basically won the country. They're planning on conquering the entire country, so once we get to Fairbrook we immediately leave to Brecor. It's going to be a lot of running, and we won't be able to stop very much. But I'm ninety-five percent sure this plan is our best chance at not dying... Got it?" I pant out the last sentence, but I get no response.