Forgotten Memories

Chapter 19

The walk to the castle was surprisingly short compared to how far she felt she had travelled to get to the secret trapdoor in the forest.

She had matured a lot since that day, though it hadn't been very long at all. She was stronger, made so much clearer by wearing the outfit Sean designed.

Alongside Charlotte marched not only Sean, Matt, and Carson, but nearly fifty other rebels, ready for the worst-case scenario.

They slowed their pace as they grew closer to the castle and what could quite possibly be their doom. They would either arrive at the castle right on time to save the castle from bloodshed, or they would discover there wasn't actually an attack.

Part of Charlotte wanted to leave the King and Queen to their own devices, after the lies King Amir created for her. But she knew she would never do that, and the rest of the castle definitely didn't deserve that.

Charlotte and Sean stood at the front of the group, right at the edge of the tree line. The castle loomed just a few meters away and for a miniscule moment, Charlotte doubted herself.

"Sean," she leaned towards him so that she could whisper, "the castle is dead silent." She latched onto his eyes, silently asking if he was sure they should do this.

He reached out and squeezed her hand.

Charlotte knew her dream was true, and with Sean's faith in her she had all the determination she could need.

The rebel's footsteps echoed all around them as they walked down a hallway. This time Charlotte knew exactly how she had gotten there. Each echoing footstep brought back the image of her dream. She just hoped it wasn't a trap.

They stayed quiet so as to not attract attention should her dream fail her.

She followed in the same path, clinging to the shadows, yearning for the sound of battle to rip through the quiet.

She was ready to fight, to protect, to win.

As she turned the umpteenth corner of the path, Charlotte's steps faltered underneath herself, nearly sending her to the ground.

Bodies littered the ground, just as they had in her dream. Unmoving, silent, and cold. She scanned over extravagant dresses, expensive shoes and ties, guard uniforms, and jewelry. Her heart started beating faster and faster as she tried to convince herself that it didn't necessarily mean all hope was gone. She pushed herself towards the throne room.

Bursting through the doors, breathless, panicked, and confused, she was sure she looked insane. She scanned the room but it was so vast it was nearly impossible to see the other side clearly. She ran towards the center of the room, towards the mass on the floor. This time her feet didn't falter.

As she neared the center of the room, she could hear her dream come to life before her eyes. She felt her heart crack open once again. If only she could have stopped this.

The noise grew louder and more desperate by the minute.

Sure enough, there, in the middle of the room, lay the king clutching the queen as if to protect her, with Ravenna, crumpled over them, crying herself a river.

If only she could have stopped this.