9 NINE

Celeste had finally managed to repress the urge to murder Will , but she swore to God if he told her to run faster one more time, she would break his nose this time. How stupid could she possibly be to think that the dinner would be the worst part of her night?

Currently, she was running as fast as she could right behind Will. She frantically became aware of the screaming getting louder. She was so out of breath, Celeste was sure she would collapse, but she couldn't stop. Adrenaline had taken over her senses. Her buzzing mind couldn't form thoughts. She was grateful for that. Sweat made her hair stick to her forehead .She breathed heavily, cursing herself for going on such a long walk. She was desperate to see the little house and finally catch her breath. And the pebbles and shrubs and uneven ground weren't helping her by making her stumble. Again and again, she tripped.

" Come on !" Will shouted frantically.

She contemplated giving him a piece of her mind but was too tired to. Will stopped abruptly, rushed back to her and grabbed her wrist. She cried in protest as he pulled her after him. Celeste glared at the back of his head, and almost pulled her hand back. But then again she had never been very fast. If he let go, she might just collapse on the ground.

She didn't even have time to feel relieved when Will crashed into the front door, running inside shouting for everyone. She was right behind him.

Yogi, Thomas, and Karen were still at the table. She didn't have the energy to process their looks of surprise and panic as she bent over, catching her breath. Thomas was quickly at Will's side.

" Will? What's wrong ?" He demanded in concern. Will's face was sickly pale and sweat coated his hair.

" Soldiers" He managed to choke out

" Soldiers at Boshtown. Valentine's soldiers!" He said with more urgency. " They're burning everything. I don't know if they're here for her, or if its a raid"

The effect was immediate.

Yogi shot up from his chair with the agility of a young man.

" Karen," He said with an unbelievable calm. " Under my mattress, a trunk. Get the swords child! And there's money in the pouch" Karen stared at him unmoving.

He turned to Thomas.

" Thomas," He said gravely. " Get the cart out. You lot need to leave!"

Protests rang out at once.

" Leave? I think we're being too-" Karen was cut off by her brother.

" What do you mean you lot?" Thomas said fear and accusation lacing his voice.

" You, Will, Karen, and Celeste," Yogi said simply.

" You're crazy if you think we'll leave without you Yogi" Thomas snapped.

" That's not happening"

Yogi only smiled at him fondly.

"It is happening, Thomas. It will look too suspicious if the house is empty. They might chase after us. I can buy you some time. They'll think I'm just a lonely man living alone. They won't bother an old man "

" That's a lie," Will said suddenly. In the dim light, he looked like a ghost. A guarded expression was on his face, but his eyes ... they were a storm. Celeste expected him to either punch Yogi or to crumble into pieces before them.

" No, we're not leaving you behind Yogi," Thomas said, his tone was a mixture of anger and hurt. Yogi gave him a stern look.

" We don't have time for this Thomas. If they find you here, they will kill you especially if they find out you're hiding the future queen! They'll kill your sister boy! Is that what you want?"

Karen's soft whimpers echoed in the room.

" No! None of us need to lea-"

" Karen" Will said in a hoarse voice as if he were in pain.

" Do what Yogi said"

Karen turned to Yogi, sobbing hysterically.

" You can't do this" She cried. " I won't leave without you!"

Yogi smiled at her, his eyes full of emotions and memories. Celeste uncomfortably looked away.

" What a beautiful person you've become Karen," He said softly.

" You have brought light into this old man's life. And I have lived my life to the fullest, but the best part of it" He said voice thick with emotion as he stared at his children . " was taking you three in"

" Karen" Thomas snapped, his voice muffled and thick.

" Go"

Celeste half wanted to follow Karen as she rushed out of the room crying, but decided that she was one of the people Karen would least like to see. Celeste realized with despair that Yogi had turned to her.

" If they take you to your uncle," He said softly. " Will he offer them his protection?"

Celeste nodded without hesitation feeling her own heartbreak a little at Thomas's heartbroken expression.

" It is settled then." He said laughing a little.

" Will and you must get the cart out and leave right now. Take the path through the woods, look out for each other"

Silence hung in the room. No, Celeste wanted to say. There has to be another way.

" I will make you proud," Will said in a devastated voice. It was a voice that knew if had lost, that knew it was the end of something good.

" You already have"

Will rushed out of the house and Celeste made to follow him, wanting to give Thomas some time alone with Yogi to say goodbye.

" You will make a good Queen" Yogi's voice stopped Celeste as she turned back to look at him.

No, I won't.

" I hope so," She said softly instead.

Will was behind the house hastily attaching reins to the single horse. Behind it was a cart Celeste supposed they used to move hay. Will swore loudly as he tried to work through the straps, Celeste realized his fingers were shaking too much. Celeste didn't say a word, instead moved to his side attaching the straps as quickly as she could. She could hear the commotion, it sounded close. Karen rushed to them, throwing some bags into the cart. Wrapped in a cloth were two swords which she too threw in. Celeste almost panicked when she heard footsteps and turned around to see Thomas. He was holding a lantern, his shoulders slumped and his eyes red and puffy. They were so devoid of the joy and mischief she had seen in them earlier.

" We need to leave now," He said hoarsely.

Will stared at him for a moment before nodding and climbing into the driver's seat.

" Get in" He ordered. Thomas climbed in first, holding the lantern and curled up in the corner. Karen climbed next, Celeste was right behind her.

The cart was crowded, none of them would be comfortable. But you see, being comfortable isn't a big priority when one is running for her life.

Will pulled the reins as they left behind the little house.

Celeste couldn't help but imagine Yogi staring at them from the window, alone in a dark house, waiting for death.

She lost track of hours, lying on the hard surface of the cart. She was hunched over at the edge as far away from the others as she could get. Celeste hugged her knees as the cart jumped violently at the rocky path. She could no longer see the burning fires of Boshtown. She had no idea where they were. She could hear Karen softly crying before she stopped. She must have fallen asleep. But there wasn't a single cry from Thomas or Will.

This is all your fault, the voice in her head hissed.

They've lost everything because of you. Astoria is burning because you are a coward. You ran away that night, leaving your brother behind. And you're running away again, leaving Yogi to clean up your mess. He's most likely dead already, like your brother, your mother, and your father.

Will's voice rang out in her head

" You expect us to risk our lives for you?"

Celeste lay there numbly, half from the cold, half from the realization that she didn't deserve to live. If someone should've escaped the castle, it should have been Gabriel. Not her, she should've died there. She couldn't save the people she cared about, let alone save a country.

"Coward" She whispered to herself.