The Walk

PART FOURTEEN

“How long have I been here?”

Etina held up three fingers. Sonia sighed. It felt like a lot longer than three days.

“I wish we could go for a walk or something.”

Etina smiled mysteriously and opened the door, beckoning for Sonia to follow.

“but we're not allowed out.” Sonia hissed, unsure if this was a trap. But since it appeared that Etina would go, even if Sonia didn't and Sonia didn't fancy staying behind, she left the room with Etina. A young guard met them outside and informed Sonia that Lord Ivan had ordered that she could go anywhere she wished under guard. This information almost made Sonia want to stay there and not go out ever, but she decided it wasn't important enough to get worked up over. They would go first to one of the lower galleries overlooking the great hall. Sonia was allowed to lead the way while Etina and the guard brought up the rear. Etina appeared to know the guard, whose name was Evan, as evidenced by their whispered conversations which were silenced if Sonia turned around. Sonia was just a bit jealous that Etina would talk to a guard and not to her, but she supposed Etina had known Evan longer than she’d known Sonia. The gallery was dark and deserted when they reached it, which made the unusual light at one end of the great hall easier to see. Sonia, being more curious than the other two, decided to go into the great hall itself to investigate. She didn't notice for some time, however, that the others weren't following her. She didn't give it considerable thought, as the scene in front of her was much more riveting. Facing the platform stood seven figures: two guards, Ralf, Angele, Lana, Jermaine and a girl who Sonia recognised as the one who had fallen out of the dance. On the platform stood Chrystal and Mirabell. It appeared he had risen in rank, otherwise there would be some other official with him to make sure he did what he was told. The whole group on the floor excepting  Jermaine and the guards were in tears. Sonia was surprised he wasn't comforting Lana, for their behaviour at her hut and certain things Ralf and Angele had said suggested they were engaged, and surely something which would bring tears to Ralf’s eyes in front of Chrystal and Mirabell should not leave Jermaine as indifferent as he appeared. Then Sonia remembered a horrible piece of technology which had not been perfected by the time she left but was still used, at the risk of terrifying side effects. It was for wiping people’s memories almost completely. She desperately hoped this device hadn't been used on Jermaine; too many terrible things had happened to these people already, she was sure. But as she drew closer, keeping hidden from sight, saw the confused expression on his face, the heartbroken longing and disbelief on Lana’s, she realised it had been used. Why? What had they done? There was no reason Sonia could think of that could make up for it. And what was the other girl doing there? At a word from Chrystal the guards came forward and tied the girl's hand to Jermaine’s. Sonia hid her eyes so she wouldn't have to see the rest of it, but that couldn't prevent her from hearing it. The cries of Lana and Angele, sobs turning into screams of the girl as she was dragged away with Jermaine to the labyrinth to die. Despite the size of the great hall, Sonia felt suffocated, as if her lungs and throat were being squeezed and walls were closing in from every side. She wished she could wake up in her hut and this had all been a dream, but the hard truth was that it wasn't. She heard the others being taken away. Sonia had to get away from that place. She headed back to the gallery. She found Evan and Etina dancing.

 She stood in the doorway, watching. It was refreshing to see two people enjoying themselves. She didn't want it to end, but eventually they noticed her and stopped, looking somewhat shame faced.

“I want to go back now.” her voice sounded hoarse and shaky. The prison rooms would be a relief to return to. On the journey back, Sonia wondered if she was a coward, if it was cowardice to fear Chrystal. There was no one she could ask.

cold

PART THIRTEEN
It was bitterly cold in the solitary cell Angele was now in.
To make matters worse, she had been forced to leave all clothes but her dress and undergarments at the door. Apparently warm petticoats and socks didn't count as undergarments.
She sat in the corner, shivering miserably. Through her chattering teeth she wept. Great sobs of self pity, stress and bereavement.

In another cell, right next door, in fact, sat Ralf, thinking. Everything was a mess. Either they'd be killed, or they would stay in these cells for the rest of their lives.
That wouldn't be such an unpleasant prospect if Angele had been there. But even if she had been, there was no chance they would ever get to the hidden city which was where she had wanted to go in the first place. And Connal, their son, had shrunk away from his mother. What had happened to him?

Far from these two cells, but in the same situation, was Lana’s cell, where she sat, bemoaning the fact that she and Angele had fought and she couldn't apologize. She too, had only her dress and undergarments on, and so was pacing the floor in a vain attempt to warm herself. Her attention was caught by the entry of Jermaine. Lana ran to him and tried to throw her arms around him. To her surprise and disappointment, Jermaine held her back. She looked into his face to discover the cause, and found only confusion. She spoke his name but got no answer. She thought this must be some kind of nightmare and screamed, holding onto his arms and sobbing. He shook her off angrily and said she was mad. This was too much for Lana, she thought Jermaine loved her, he had said he
would always love her. She couldn't take this on top of all the stress of the last few days. The release of unconsciousness came swiftly and she collapsed on the floor.

Chrystal

Ivan strode down the corridor to Lady Chrystal's room. At the door he listened out of habit and hearing nothing, entered. Lady Chrystal was sitting on a sofa holding the cup Ivan had thrown at Shine. She looked preoccupied, but Ivan had something important to say.

"Mother."
She looked up. "Ivan." She smiled with her lips only. "You have a sister."
"I know. Shine is my sister."
"Oh. Yes I forgot." A look of hatred briefly darkened her face.
"I meant another one. I thought she was dead or far away from here."
Deciding that what he had to say was more important than the information being passed on to him, Ivan tried again.
"Mother, do you think-"
"The prisoner you showed me last night, she's my daughter." Chrystal spoke through gritted teeth, clutching the cup with white knuckles. "I will make her miserable."
"I'm not exactly sure how all this is important to me, Mother. I want to ask-"
"Don't you see that if you have an older sister, she will be leader instead?"
"Well yes”

“Well then?”

“I suppose it makes sense. But Mother, l need to ask you something.”

“What is it?”

“Do you think I should marry Sonia?”

“Marry whoever you like.”

“Alright.” at the door he turned, “I think I'll wait a bit, though.”

Chrystal nodded and smiled