15 the aftermath

Needless to say, Careth's every movement has been under the manor's radar ever since the failed runaway. He was to be in his room immediately after dinner, and throughout the day at least two servants would be within an arm's reach from him, even during classes and when he has to answer nature's calling. But Master Willdyer still allowed him to meet with Merry, albeit for only half an hour.

The girl was informed of this upon entering the estate. Master Willdyer had told her this personally, and emphasized on the fact that she should only do her job by comforting him and making him happy; she was not to do anything else. Nodding stiffly, Merry went up the stairs and knocked on Careth's door, anxious.

She entered his room and closed the door, while Careth was bandaging his arm. Merry instantly rushed to him, and when Careth heard someone approaching, he looked up briefly.

He saw that it was her, and suddenly his worries and suffering melted away, replaced with unfathomable relief and ecstasy.

Careth embraced her quicker than she could stop her steps. His arms and hands wrapped around her figure tightly as if he was holding on for dear life. With a shaky breath, he whispered in her ear, "I thought something happened. Thank God. Merry, I'm so glad you're okay."

"I'm sorry I worried you. Indeed, something happened—" but she felt layers of cloth with her fingers, and when she pulled back, her heart dropped down a pit as she witnessed the white bandages swathed around his limbs, bloodshot eyes, and the patches of blue-black bruises imprinted on his face.

"W-What happened, Careth?" She exclaimed in terror. The boy looked to the side and touched his arm sensitively.

"Grandfather gave me a lesson."

"And he caused this? All of this?" She was bewildered. At that moment Merry couldn't stop herself from raising her voice, nor could she stop the overflow of guilt pouring out of her eyes. "No, I was the reason you got caught. If only I was there, you could've had a weapon to defend yourself, and you could've escaped."

Careth trudged to his bed and sat down. "It can't be avoided anyway. When I was at the opening, my vision suddenly turned black. Father must've used his Talent on me." He felt like he wanted to spit. "He manipulated my vision."

She went beside him while rubbing her eyes. "What else happened? Can you tell me?"

The boy began to recount everything that happened last night, from his sneak to the kitchen and how he was caught by Sir Felluor, to him and Rian getting to the forest, only to be brought back.

"Rian disappeared. He just left me there." Careth gripped on his pillow, veins showing on his skin. "My curfew got stricter, and now I have two servants following me like shadows. It's impossible to escape now."

"He disappeared? Could he have gone into the forest?" Merry suggested.

He shrugged. "I don't know. Probably. But he didn't even bother to help me when I was being dragged by the guards... I feel so betrayed!"

Careth hurled the pillow at the window, which smacked solidly, and landed on the floor with a soft poof. Merry didn't know what to say, so she picked up the object and rearranged it on his bed, letting Careth be himself.

"How long has it been since you're in here?" He asked.

"Ten minutes."

"Another twenty, then." Careth chuckled and lay on his bed. He touched his face, feeling the blunt pain as his fingers skidded over. "So what do you want to do? I'm sorry to say I've returned the books, but I think there's chess in the cupboard."

Merry climbed up the bed and tried to reason. "Is there really nothing we can do? A special spell, or another way to get you out..."

"If that existed I would've tried it in the first place, wouldn't I?" He retorted, sitting up. "Why do you think I resorted to run away? It's because there's no alternative. There's no miracle. In Father and Grandfather's eyes, I'm just a piece of flesh, unworthy of living. In fact, I think Grandfather would've got rid of me sooner if he wasn't following the Tradition."

"Don't say that," she cried. "Dotilda got away, didn't she? That means there's still hope—"

Careth laughed manically. Merry was so stunned that she just hung her mouth, as this scene reminded her the first time they encountered Rian, who they both thought, at that moment, that he was deranged.

"Right, right, Dotilda. But have you considered, that we have no idea if she got away? She only mentioned about going to Accruxia when she escapes. Even if she did, she can't write it in the notebook. I hate to say this, but I don't know if she made it out alive."

As he rambled on, Merry felt that she was losing him. Careth was spiraling down in his own pessimism, and she struggled to keep him afloat. She thought for a second that it would be better to let go. To turn a blind eye, just like Master Willdyer's words, 'only comfort him and make him happy'.

But she can't! Because she swore she would get him out of here. She made him a promise. And she knew deep down, Careth still wants a chance. He wants to be told to that there is a way. But because of the circumstances around him, he is forced to conclude logically about his situation, therefore neglecting his real feelings, like always.

Merry clapped sharply to get his attention, as she refrained to touch him. Careth whipped around, quite startled.

"Let's go find Rian. We need his explanation," she said.

Careth rejected the idea. "No. I don't want to see him. He's a liar, and I detest them."

Merry felt her shoulders hitch. "But we need to know why he left. He was so eager to follow the plan; it doesn't make sense for him to just bail."

"He probably wanted to save himself. Imagine if he got caught as well—he would get in trouble, and potentially lose the opportunity to be heir."

"You know that's not true." Merry looked at him sternly. "Once you're dead, he will be the heir no matter what. It's fixed. Just for some reason, he wants your position quick, hence it's why he agreed to help you. But now that our plan is foiled, he won't get what he wants either and has to wait. Doesn't it sound strange?"

Careth remained silent. Merry was speaking facts, and though he felt irked, he couldn't deny it was true.

He then sighed irritatingly. "Fine. We'll see him. But be aware that I feel very disgusted by him, so I may display behaviours which are not fit of my standing."

Merry nodded. "Now we just have to think about those two servants."

The corner of Careth's lips curled up. "Actually, I may have an idea."

—

The next day, Careth opened a drawer from under his desk and retrieved a stash of cash. It was his emergency money, and even though he took a large sum for his escape, he still had more than enough left behind. When the clock stroke six, Careth opened his door and greeted the two servants who were slouching outside, one on each side of the door.

"I've heard your complaints on not getting paid enough by Father," he said, and the man and woman's faces paled. "You really should keep your badmouthings down. I have sharp ears, you know."

"Y-Young master," the woman stuttered, and clasped her hands into an apologetic gesture. "Please forgive our rudeness. We are terribly sorry."

Careth hummed and looked up at them, a conniving glint in his eyes. "Oh, I'll forgive you, if you stop following me for this half hour."

The male servant shook his head. "You know we can't do that. It's Master Willdyer's orders. And we still won't help you even if you're going to tell us off to the master."

The boy threw the thick wad of cash on the ground, the bills scattering like feathers, and the servants caught their breaths.

"I won't tell Father, and I will give you this extra money, if, you let me out of your sights. And, I will return sharply at six thirty. Deal?"

They hesitated, and Careth was getting impatient. He had bribed them with all of the money in the drawer. In fact, they could quit their jobs as workers and still live a pleasant life outside the manor.

Finally, the woman snatched the cash, and her partner mimicked her. Careth hopped over the mess and made his way down to the library, a new form of determination festering inside of him.

—

Careth had entered the library first before Merry came. When they met up, they went to the bookshelf containing the book titled 'The Boy Under' and activated the mechanism, hearing the rumbling of the marble floor sliding out and the metal ring popping into existence.

"Ah, so that's the book."

The children spun around to the voice, in shock to find Rian out of his habitat. The teenager approached them, his outfit and hair a whole mess, and muttered sheepishly, "You see, I know the way out, but not the way in. So you can say I was actually locked—"

He didn't finish the sentence for Careth had kicked him harshly in the abdomen. Rian fell to the ground and clutched his sore spot, but he didn't raise his eyes to meet them.

"You bastard!" Careth roared, and Merry had to anchor herself to him to prevent the boy from causing anymore injuries to himself or Rian.

"You left me! You left me alone, and I had to suffer through Grandfather's wrath! You knew how horrible he is, and you still let it happen!"

Rian said nothing.

"Look at me! I'm covered in bruises and scars, and all of this was done in one night. One night! It's ten times worse than the previous years he was here!"

Merry had rested her head on his back, sniffling and weeping as Careth continued to thrash around.

"I thought you'd understand because you were family. But it seems like you're just selfish like the rest of them. Like all of them. You never wanted to help me in the first place. You just want me to suffer even more before I die, because it's fun to you!"

"It's not!" Rian finally said.

He got up while holding his gut and mumbled weakly, "That's not true."

Careth calmed down slightly, but his tone was still venomous. "Oh really? Then do explain, dear Rian! I'd love to know why you left me all alone when you were so eager and keen to help me escape."

The youngster leaned on the bookshelf tiredly. "I ran away because I couldn't risk getting caught."

Careth scoffed. "So you think you're more important than me."

"I'm the only one who is Blessed and on your side," he explained. "If I was caught, there would be no hope of getting you out. And, I'm sorry. Sincerely. I panicked when you said you couldn't see."

"I reached out to hold you. But you weren't there," Careth said testily.

Rian clenched his fists. "I know. I ran. When you said you couldn't see, I... I lost myself for a second."

He looked up to meet their eyes, and made his decision. "I'm sorry. I will tell you everything, and I'm not going to hide anything anymore."