Chapter 38: McCrae the new king?

Charlie

"McCrae! Don't you dare hurt her!"

"Aww, you really care about her, don't you, Robinson? Adorable."

"McCrae, if you hurt my woman, I swear to God, you're not going to live to see another morning!"

"I wouldn't dare only if you sign the papers," McCrae smirked, pointing the papers on the table.

We were back in the lair this morning to discuss the 'choice' McCrae had given us. But as soon as we got here, we saw McCrae roaming around the lair as if he owned it, with an unconscious Nicole tied to a chair. Samuel, on instinct, kneeled to untie her, but McCrae had his men pointing guns at him.

McCrae and his goons had surrounded us, and now he was demanding me to sign the papers that could make McCrae, the King. I had no idea how the King never knew his intentions, or how he ever managed to take these papers out. Also, I never knew that taking the crown had paperwork! I mean, come on, the movies and tv. shows always showed that once one was crowned in front of the public, they were the next ruler automatically. No other formality was required. However, right now, it was a whole new different picture.

"Do not sign the papers, Charlie! The crown means everything to Liz!" Sam ordered, his hands behind his back and a gun pointed at his head.

"He's right. Don't do it!" Jamie backed him up, but it was of no use. The goons had removed the safety of their guns and were ready to shoot.

McCrae sat on the table, his gun pointing straight at Nicole.

"Oh, Robinson, you don't have much of a choice here. If you listen to my foolish cousin and friend, you shall lose your best friend. As far as I remember, you were always her 'bodyguard', and a bodyguard means that you cannot let your 'friend', in this case, obviously, die. But, I shall still give you the choice - Nicole Anderson, or the crown?"

I stared at Nicole in horror. She was badly beaten up - from all the bruises around her neck and her forehead, I could see. Her head hung back. She looked peaceful as if she were enjoying her time off from all the chaos, and also, she was giving her body the time to heal.

I couldn't decide what to do. Nicole was everything to me. She had always been there for me - the good, the bad, and everything. Even when dad died, she was right there beside me. Although I had to come here and didn't get much time with Nicole, it didn't change anything. The day McCrae went to jail, I thought that was the end. It was over. We could go back to our usual lives and Nicole could be her old self - but that night outside the restaurant?

Should've known that I would see him again.

The world was small, indeed. The people one thought would never see in their entire lives happen to come around again and again. It was like a nightmare I desperately wanted to wake up from but couldn't. No matter how hard I tried, the past always caught up with me.

"I don't have all day, Robinson," McCrae yawned. "I need an answer out of you,"

I looked at Samuel and then Jamie who had a big 'no' written on their faces. They didn't want me to sign the papers. Of course, they didn't! The crown, the throne - it meant everything to Francine! That was one reason why she never wanted to completely flee from the Palace - she wanted to be a Queen but also lead a normal life.

She couldn't choose between the two.

Then, how on earth did they expect me to choose?!

But I had to.

Because they didn't leave any choice.

Wow, what an irony!

Weighing everything down, I finally made up my mind. Seeing the resolved look on my face, McCrae jumped off the table with a grin.

"Finally, Robinson! Took you long enough." he paused, pointing the gun again at Nicole. "So, what's the call?"

"Tell your goons to put down their guns first,"

McCrae smirked but obeyed. "Put your guns down, boys. Let the tomboy have her day today,"

The goons put down their guns and I could see Sam and Jamie visibly relaxing. McCrae obeyed his own order, he put his gun on the table.

"Now," He said. "The moment we've all been waiting for."

I looked at Sam and Jamie and mouthed a 'sorry' before looking at McCrae again. I hated myself for doing this, for everything that had or will cause problems in Francine's life. I, mentally, apologized to her.

I took a deep breath before speaking the words no one thought I would speak.

"Give me the papers,"

---

"Wow," McCrae snatched the papers and smelled it while the pen in my hand trembled. I couldn't believe I had done that. McCrae - he was the King now. The only thing that was left was the coronation and then, he would officially rule Titania. No, no, tell me this was all a dream. Tell me, I'd wake up from this. Tell me that all that happened never happened. This was all a bloody nightmare!

But no matter how much I convinced myself, it was real.

McCrae really took the Crown.

The Kingdom officially belonged to him.

And I let it happen.

I couldn't stop it.

I couldn't.

It was all my fault.

I shouldn't have ever agreed to this. This deal. This was the root cause of all the problems we had. My life was so much different before I stepped into this Palace. Now my life consisted of politics, drama, and things only soap operas were capable of showing.

Sam and Jamie stared at me in disbelief and tore their eyes away from my face. They couldn't even look at me. I sat there, on the table, desperately trying to push back the hot tears forming. I didn't remember the last time crying, I was always so cut off from the emotions. Mostly, I could keep everything to myself. However today, the tears were demanding to come out. Today, I realized what betrayal tasted like.

I had betrayed Sam.

Nicole.

Jamie.

And my very face-twin,

Francine Elizabeth Maxwell.

"Pain demands to be felt," - I remembered reading this quote in the book 'A Fault In Our Stars'. At first, I didn't realize how pain truly felt. Today, thanks to life and the worst of my bad luck, I could feel it.

Thank you very much.

Thank you very, very much.

I cannot express how grateful I am - my foot!

It really sucks to be here.

Let me outta here, please!

I beg of you, oh god!

Save me from this nightmare, we came to call our lives!

"Let her go, now, McCrae. Let all of us, go. You got what you wanted, didn't you?" I said, through gritted teeth.

McCrae pretended to think for a while, checking the papers and then sparing us all a glance.

"I did, you're right. I did get what I want. However, not everything."

Sam narrowed his eyebrows. "What are you talking about?! If you think of harming-"

"Oh, no, no, no, no. We wouldn't want that now, would we?" McCrae cut off Sam's speech. "You can have her, she's of no use to me anyway."

Anger boiled through Sam's veins as he advanced towards McCrae, but his goons held him back from doing anything.

"Do not talk about her like that! She's a human, not a toy to be played with!"

McCrae smirked. "You know cousin, it's a lot coming from a player like you. You've always played with everyone's emotions all your life, and now seeing you all fixated on one simple girl, makes me wanna puke."

"You would never understand what love is, McCrae. You don't deserve that. You're a monster and you shall remain one,"

"Aww, cousin. I am a monster now. But I wasn't always like this - you made me the way I am. The great mastermind Samuel Alexander Maxwell made me the monster I am, today. I wish we could always stay the way we were - but that's not gonna happen anymore. So depressing."

Jamie turned to face him. "We can still go back to how we were. You, me, Samuel, Darlene, and Francine. We could be the same. You don't have to do this, you know?"

McCrae snickered. "No matter how hard you try Jamie, you can't change my mind. I've seen a lot of bad things happening to me and my family, but now, everything's gonna change. My life will forever change now that I have the papers with me. You three can't stop me from taking over, anymore."

"So, now that you got it, can we leave? It's exhausting to keep listening to your nonsense! I need a break!" I yawned, crossing my legs on the table.

McCrae smirked, evilly. "Of course, Robinson. Your wish is my command. GUARDS!"

Sam, Jamie, and I looked at each other in confusion while the guards rushed at his orders. McCrae still had the evil smirk on his face and he gave us one last look before turning towards the door.

"Take 'em to the dungeons!"

---

"Wow,"

"What's so 'wow' in this bloody situation, Charlie?" Samuel scolded. "We're in a dungeon, McCrae's the future King now, and now that he has full control, we don't know what he'd do!"

"Expose Charlie, execute us, your father dying - there are endless possibilities." Jamie deadpanned.

"Wasn't funny Jamie," Samuel said, dryly. "I can't believe everything that we planned went wrong. It was so smooth until Mackey showed up out of nowhere,"

I laughed, dryly. "He always had a habit of showing up unexpectedly. That's what made him - him."

"Well, a lot of things made him the man he is - one of the reasons is me. I made him that monster. He always envied my smartness. I could always backfire his plans - remember the hide and seek game, Jamie?"

Jamie stared at the wall, nostalgic. "The same game where you beat him. You came back after sunset."

Samuel sighed. "Always the evil genius. Used to call himself 'Bad boy Mackey' when we were kids."

"Sounds like you two had a fond memory of beating him in his game," I smiled.

"That was years ago, Charlie." Samuel sighed, shaking his head. "You did see what happened today, right? He won."

"Can't believe he won so easily - he knew if he kidnapped Nicole, you'd give in without a second thought." Jamie looked at Nicole's unconscious figure and then back at us. "The one thing that makes him a villain is that he doesn't have a weakness,"

"There has to be a way to stop him, he cannot be a king! Francine deserves the crown and the Kingdom needs her now more than anything!" I sprang to my feet.

Samuel looked up at me. "Appreciate the enthusiasm, Cherie. But nothing can stop him now. You made sure of that by signing the papers,"

"Isn't there any other way?"

Jamie shrugged. "Not that we know of,"

"Yes, yes, I was telling you, uncle, wasn't I----" We heard McCrae's voice entering the dungeon. Samuel, Jamie, and I shared a dreaded look We know what would happen in just a few minutes. McCrae was bringing the King in the dungeon and just a few minutes, my truth would be in front of him. The fact that I wasn't his daughter and just a commoner and his daughter was hanging out with the commoners.

"This is it, this is the end." He stared deep into my eyes. "It was nice knowing you, Cherie."

Jamie gave me a sad smile. "It sure was one hell of a ride. I just hope to God that we meet in the next life."

"Yeah," I said. "But I'm hella sure this is not how this all will end,"

That was the minute McCrae proudly walked in front of the cell with the King at his side and also, surprisingly, King Aurelius and Prince Augustus too. Sam, Jamie, and I shared a knowing look ( We'd been doing this a lot, these days) and braced ourselves for what was coming next.

"Why are Samuel and Jamie in the dungeons, James?" The King asked.

McCrae smirked. "Oh, they're also involved in fleeing your daughter and bringing in this commoner, and as per Titanian law - anyone who is involved with one's crime has to be in the dungeons, am I not right?"

Augustus defended. "How are you so sure that Princess Francine isn't Princess Francine and someone else? Do you have any proof?"

Whoa, that was a start! I was surprised to see Augustus not believing McCrae's words and he was trying to find out the truth for himself. I wish I could say that I was framed and that I was Princess Francine, but I know I couldn't. That was the truth and we all knew it.

"Your Highness, I have grown up with them. I know when I see someone else in the place of my dearest cousin, and I am sure she isn't who we think she is. She is an impostor!"

King Aurelius shook his head in disappointment. "I cannot believe the Princess fled! How could you let this happen right under your nose?"

The King looked embarrassed at finding out the truth. Of course, he was! His only daughter fled from the Palace to live the life of us commoners. How could anyone not be disappointed at finding this out? Augustus was silent after what McCrae said while King Aurelius lashed out at The King about how he couldn't see the flaws in me from the first day. That first meeting where I became a ticking-time-bomb and shut King Aurelius up - he felt something was different about me, but he kept his thoughts to himself. Now he finally got the opportunity he had been waiting for.

The King was quiet all this time, and I could see McCrae trying his best not to laugh at our misery. Well, McCrae, today was your day.

Finally, after what felt like ages, the King spoke up.

"Find Francine and then have them all executed in ten days from now - the day of the coronation," He stormed out of the dungeons, and King Aurelius followed hot in his heels.

Augustus gave them a sad smile and then when he locked eyes with me, it was strange, but I could see how heartbroken he was when he found out the truth. His usual icy-blue eyes became a soft-blue color, and I could see tears forming at the corner of his eyes. I never realized that knowing who I really was could break Augustus' heart. No words were spoken. The heartbroken look on his face said everything. Even if it only lasted a few seconds, it was an eternity for me.

I didn't know why, but a part of me fell looking at him like that. The ever -so snobby Prince who always flashed his charming smile to the world, was trying his best to stop the tears from flowing. I felt guilty for not telling him and him finding it like this. I hated it, despised it. Augustus tore his eyes away from me, shoved his hands in his pockets, and just walked away.

McCrae finally grinned, after they had left and let out a satisfying sigh. Man, I knew saw him this happy before. He leaned against the bars and yawned.

"Boy, today was a long, roller-coaster ride day. I never felt so exhilarating before!" McCrae yawned.

"Today might've been your day, McCrae. But remember, the light always shines after dark. Darkness doesn't stay for long, you know."

"What if it's a winter night?" McCrae smirked. "The darkness stays longer,"

Samuel looked up at him and smirked. "You always lost McCrae, you shall lose again."

"Aww, cousin. 'Tis not a game, anymore. It's real-life with real stakes. And can't you accept this for once that I won?! I won! God, it feels so good! You all will be executed in ten days. Aww man, I wish you could see me taking the crown! But don't you worry, I shall make sure you get to see my coronation. Enjoy your last ten days in this world. If destiny wants, we shall never meet again."

With that, he walked out of the dungeons.

"Yes, McCrae. If destiny wants, we shall never meet again." Jamie, I, and Sam spoke in unison.

Samuel had a resolved look on his face, finally getting back the determination he had lost an hour ago. He sprang to his feet.

"Listen up people, if we wanna take McCrae down, we have to come up with a plan and that would require all of us, and when I say all of us, I mean Francine and Darlene as well. Now that they'll be bringing her in, we can do this together,"

Jamie smiled, after quite a long time. "This shall be the hide-and-seek game all over again,"

Samuel laughed. "Oh, this one shall be so much better. As this is real-life and the stakes here are real,"

"You guys should really tell me what happened in that game, I don't wanna be the one not knowing what you guys are talking about," I said.

Suddenly, Nicole twisted in her sleep and slowly opened her eyes.

"Charlie?" Her voice came out as a whisper.

Samuel raised an eyebrow. "We're having an addition in the team, people."

Jamie sprang to his feet. "So are we really doing this?"

I smirked. This was not only about me, or Jamie or Samuel, or Francine. This wasn't about any of us. This was about taking a monster like McCrae down because he was a threat to this world. This was about the welfare of all the people who had the lucky chance of not meeting him.

"Let's get that son of a bitch,"