~Emily~



'Where are you going, huh?" the stern voice came again.

I slowly turned my head back to see who it was.

Reta!


'You were the one who kidnapped her right?" I asked, my voice laced with anger.

Anger at Reta for putting so much fear in the minds and hearts of people at the castle.


And for Flora's family, putting sorrow.


'How can you be so cruel?"


'I can do anything to anyone, as Long as I get what I want!" Reta said, her tone mischievous. The corners of her lips curled up a evil smile.


'I'm going to the castle right now ! And everyone will know what you did"

I turned to leave, when another figure appeared just in front of me.

His figure was large, he had an incredible physique.

I looked up to his face, trying to identify him.

'Thorn?"

I asked, a bit surprised to see him.


If Thorn and Reta are here, that means it must be Luther behind this.


The night two days ago flashed back to my memory.

Was this what they were upto? Taking Flora to the forest?

If that is the case that means Steph was part of them.


I was concerned about them. There was no way I was getting past Thorn's large figure, and getting past Reta, would be of no use. I'll just be running deeper into the forest.


'You're not going to tell anybody anything, you saw!"

Her stern voice reached my ears. I was beginning to get fed up with hearing her voice.


'Or what?"I raised my voice at her, no fear whatsoever in my eyes.

I was ready to stand up to them. They can't do a horrible thing like kidnapping an innocent girl like Flora and brainwashing Steph to join them as well, and get away with it.


Thorn walked up behind me, and grabbed either side of my arm.

'Let me go!!" I screamed at the top of my voice, struggling as much as I could. Thorn's hold around my arms was tight and firm.


I can't just struggle like this. I need to calm down and recall my training


I gently shut my eyes, taking a long deep breath.

'Argh!" Thorn let out a sharp groan in pain as I kicked out my leg to his exposed knee.


Thorn lost his hold on me. This was my chance!


I slipped away from Thorn and ran as fast as I could.

As I ran towards the borders, the light from the stars above, became clearer the more. I was almost out, when a strong arm pulled me back dropping me flat on the ground. My back hit hard, causing me to clench my back tightly.

'You're not going anywhere Emily"

I looked up at the face looking down on me. My vision was a bit blurry.

Luther.

My heart twitched heavily. Just his mere presence drives me crazy.

'Remember what I told you before, Emily?" Luther said as I gradually got up on my feet.

'Anything you see you must keep to yourself or else… '

Luther raised his voice, but suddenly stopped as a figure emerged from the pool of darkness behind him.

Steph!

'Or she dies" Luther lowered his voice, making it impossible for Steph to hear a thing.


A swarm of fear gripped my body as Luther's words reached my ears.

No! I can't lose her. I can't lose her. If she dies I might as well just die.


'Are we clear?" Luther's voice is now more loud and stern.

'Yes," I answered helplessly.

In my mind I could only imagine what sort of devils they are.

Luther, Thorn and Reta and now they are gradually turning Steph into one.


'Good! Now forget you ever saw Flora or any of us here"

Luther said before he walked past me. His broad shoulders brushed against mine.

And his crew followed behind him.

First Reta, then Thorn and Steph. She passed me but not without piercing stare at me. Her brows were furrowed.


Why Steph? Why are you letting them get away with this?


But for Steph, I would have gone straight to Zayne and told me everything, not leaving anything out.


'Oh Gosh!" I got lost in my thoughts. I glanced around me.

I was surrounded by the shaking trees and the pitch darkness of the night.

The wind blew harshly on me causing me to shiver.

'How do I get back now! I might freeze to death.


'Emily!!" a loud voice from just outside the forest called out my name.

'Emily!!"

The voice came again, the tone very familiar.


Rowan! Yes my helper!


'Yes! I'm here!" I sighted his distant figure waving my hands at me profusely until he sighted me.


'Emily, are you okay?" Rowan approached me.

'... Yes" I hesitated a little before answering him.

It is easier to lie to him that I'm fine than to point him to the direction of the tunnel where Flora is.

If I do, Luther or Thorn or Reta could be here right now to see me and then I may never see Steph again.


'What are you doing in the forest? Didn't you have a meeting with Zayne?"

I tried hard to bring the topic away from me.

'Yes, he sent me out here to check for the body of Mr. Griffins.

Apparently he's missing since two nights ago"


'Oh no! That's sad"

Another disappearance! I'm sure this must be the doing of Luther.

Who knows how many more have fallen victim to him.


'Let's get back to the castle and tomorrow you can follow me back here and we'll check for it"

Rowan suggested, and I nodded in reply to it. Right now, I'd just rather be where Rowan is, even if it's digging up for a corpse.


We walked back to his horse, Milkshake and rode back to the castle.

From the stables we left Milkshake, I greeted Rowan good night and headed up to my room.

I laid down, my back flat on the bed as I looked up to the ceiling.


A Lot of thoughts stormed into my brain at once.


I could possibly be the reason a handful of more people die under the hand of Luther.


I have the chance to finish off Luther, but I'm choosing my sister over everyone.


I'm so selfish…


~Steph~


'Steph and Reta it will soon be dark, I need you guys to check on Flora and give her daily dose"

Luther barked out instructions to us.

We were all gathered in his room, the five of us, including Crystal.


'The rest of us will stay here as we brainstorm a plan to get something on Emily.

Something that will wipe her out of the equation"


'Okay, Luther!" I stood up first and left his room and soon Reta came out.


'Let's hurry up and get this done with!" Reta said in her stern voice.

We got on a black horse lined up at the stables and quickly rode in the direction to the forest.

The strong wind was blowing across my face.


I looked up to the sky, its colour a mix of orange and purple.

The evening is coming fast, as the sun sets to the west.


By the time we reach the forest, the darkness had already spread its wings across the kingdom.

Shadows loomed at every corner of the forest.

'Hurry and do it, let's move!"

Reta assumes she's a leader, whenever Luther isn't here.

But she doesn't know I can ruin her, if I wanted to.


I took the drugs from her hand and squeezed myself into the tunnel.


I've been here once, so I was quite familiar with tunnels.

I gently walked deeper into the tunnel, shining my fire torch at every corner.

I then walked into a room by my left and there lay Flora's body.

Her innocent face made my heart bleed.


Painfully, I opened her mouth andet down three tablets of the drug down through throat. The drug keeps her sleep for at least a day.


I turned and left the tunnels, my body was covered in dust.

'Let's go, shall we?"

We moved to leave when we spotted a figure walking to the forest from afar.

Squinting my eyes tightly, my sight caught Emily.

What is she doing here?


'Run back to the castle and call Luther and Thorn, now!"

Reta ordered, I took route to my left and escaped from the forest without Emily seeing him.

I got on our horse and rode as quickly as possible back in the direction of the castle.


And soon, I reached there and then made haste for Luther's room.


'Luther!"I yelled out his name, my voice tinged with urgency as I stood just outside his room.

'What's the matter?"

Luther opened the door, his voice was laced with annoyance.


'Emily's at the forest and she's snooping around for something"


'Okay calm down, get back on your horse and go with Thorn, Reta might need you. I'll meet you guys there"

Luther said, not a tinge of worry evident in his voice.


We did as he said, and rode with Thorn back to the forest, following the exact route I used to leave.

Reta hid herself in a bush behind the tunnel.

'Where is she?"

Looking around, there was no sign of Emily.

'She's in the tunnel!"

Reta words made my heart skip a beat. If she's Flora's body then what next.


THUM

THUM


I heard footsteps retreating from the tunnel.

'Thorn, hide at the exit. Make sure she doesn't leave.

You stay here with me!"

Reta lashed out instructions.


I did as she said and hid behind the tunnel with her.


Soon, Emily came out of the tunnel and walked to the forest exit, her steps quickened.


'Where do you think you're going?" Reta came behind her, her words bringing Emily to a halt.


And as the two conversed, I spotted Luther's horse arriving from a distance.


'Oh no!"

Emily turned away from Reta and ran away, yet again she was halted, this time by Thorn.


He grabbed her forcefully, as she struggled. This site moved me a bit, I had a tinge of remorse for Emily.

But she can't leave the forest, now that she knows about Emily.


My eyes widened in shock, when Emily managed to escape from Thorn's hold. Her training must be paying off.


Nothing stood between her and her freedom, Until Luther, with incredible speed, appeared just behind her and pulled her back forcefully.

Her back met the cold floor forcefully.


My heart ached a bit to see her in so much pain. But my pity soon disappeared.


I gathered the courage to face my sister. Carefully leaving the bushes I hid in, I walked up and stood beside Luther as he spoke to Emily.

His tone was very harsh as he gave her a serious threat against telling on us.

He then moved closer to Emily and whispered something to her ear.

Her eyes widened in disbelief as she froze to the spot.

Whatever Luther told her had to be very dark, to make her react in the manner she did.


And with that Luther moved past her and out of the forest and soon we followed behind him.

But as I passed Emily, I couldn't help but furrow my brows at her in anger, anger for snooping around here in the forest.

She didn't have to get involved in any of these.


We rode back to the castle. Me and Reta on our horse and Thorn and Luther on the other.


The castle was vastly empty when we arrived. After all, it was way past curfew time.


I was taking the stairs when a soft and gentle voice came from behind me.


'Hey Steph!"

I turned to see Rowan.

But to my surprise, I really didn't feel as much hatred for him as I once did.


'Hey"


'Have you seen Emily, by any chance?" Rowan asked.


'I'm not sure I have. I last saw her head out in the forest. She must still be there!"

Emily will need a ride home, so I indirectly sent Rowan there to pick her up.


'Okay thanks!"