Escape Route
The whole place went silent as the people that are embarking on the journey stared at the guard.
He is definitely not the one Leo found asleep when he went to get the key.
"What are we going to do now?" Salient asked in a whisper.
Chloe's legs started shaking vigourously and it was like she peed on her pants. It was wasn't visible though because of the darkness of the atmosphere of the night.
"What are you kids doing out so late in the night?!" the guard yelled.
That... Question... Was... Dreaded... Amongst... All... Of... Them...
They expected but never hoped that it come out of the mouth of the guard.
LiLi turned to look into the eyes of Leo that is standing just right beside her but a little bit ahead of her.
She didn't know what to do, and she hoped someone will come up with something. And will come up with something fast!
But then...
Leo's lips broke into a half smile and he winked at her before turning to face the guard with the spirit of full strength and sacrifice.
"We came for the party held at the palace but lost our way due to the darkness"
All eyes settles down on Leo. Liam made a sign by wagging two of his fingers, indicating if Leo was out of his mind.
Non of them except Leo knew about the party or feast rather, being held by the king tonight.
"Were you not given the map?" the guard yelled back his reply.
From behind Leo, Ryan slowly snatched the key away from Leo's fingers while Leo figured out what next to say.
"What map?" Leo yelled back.
Ryan inserted the key into the keyhole and turned it carefully to open the gates.
"The map to the palace... The one with a yellow imprint?" the guard asked.
"C'mon, c'mon" LiLi whispered as Ryan struggled with the key.
"No! No map was given to us!" Leo yelled in reply.
The guard's silent reigned again as they all hear the ruffling of his footsteps. They don't know for how long, but also wondered in an angry state, why was he still standing there and staring at them, while they struggled with the key and the lock of the gates of Peril.
"So you came all the way from another town to get here cause of his invite?" the guard asked again.
They all looked at each other for a second, annoyed by his sudden repeatition.
Ryan was still struggling with the lock of the gate.
"Umm... Yes. Yes, that's exactly what we did!" Leo yelled again, with his might.
With all the yelling, LiLi stared at him cause of the muscles and veins popping out through his skin as he yelled with all his might. She wondered why the guy is so captivating even when he is sweaty.
The guard didn't say anything more but places his right foot in front of him and immediately, lights exploded everywhere.
Ryan got caught as the light shined heavily on them that wanted to leave the city.
"We're busted" Salient little voice chipped in.
Chloe's leg started to shake as she held the arm of Liam tightly.
Joe's face showed no expression. Whether he was glad or scared that they had caught all of them, it couldn't be interpreted.
Ryan opened the lock immediately the lights switched on.
"It's open" he whispered to LiLi and she nodded.
"So you guys think you can leave this city just because of what?!" the guard yelled.
The lights were both bright and eye-blinding. They had to raise their palms to obstruct the lights from affecting their eyes.
"You think we are fools?!" the guard yelled again.
LiLi tip-toed to the side of Leo and gave the rest a signal.
"It's open" she whispered to Leo.
Slowly, Leo turned to her, a devilish smile on his face which showed happiness.
"You know what?" he whispered in a way that only LiLi could hear.
Then he turned to face the guard. A stern look reappeared on his face.
"I think you all are!" Leo yelled.
The guard stared at him wide eyed and like a bolt of lightning, started running towards them.
"All of you, out now!" Leo yelled and the rest ran out of the gates.
"Send an alarm" the guard yelled and a trumpet sound was heard, loud enough to be heard by everyone in Peril.
LiLi grabbed the arm of Leo and pulled him and they both ran out of the gates.
"Thanks!" Leo yelled and she nodded as they passed through the openings of the gates.
Ryan and Chloe pushed the gates and closed both of them when they saw Leo and LiLi pass through the opening, and from outside, Ryan locked the gates of Peril.
The guard pounded on it from inside but nothing could be heard outside. He was panting heavily because of the distance he had ran for.
"Damn it!" he yelled and looked back at some guards who had woken up due to the noise they were making.
"They got away" he yelled.
The guards stared at him in anger as hatred for both him and the people that got away started to erupt in them. No one has ever been able to cross the gates of Peril, because of the orders made by the king.
"Tommorow morning you will report your loss to him and he will figure out what to do with you before the third day, else... !"
The heads of the guards, an elderly man yelled because of the distance between them.
"I will know what to do with you myself!" he completed and the guard at the gate gulped.
They all knew the head of the guards, they dare not make fun or even have fun with him. And now that the guard that let LiLi and the rest escape didn't provide proper security, the heads of the guards feel like he had made fun of him by allowing them to escape.
With that, he turned and left, the robe he wore flaying behind him as he walked away.
Meanwhile, outside the gates, LiLi panted heavily and so with Leo.
The fresh breeze that blew out of Peril was sweet and pleasing to the soul.
The Green and flourishing grasses outside Peril gave LiLi and Chloe joy and the clouds that was clear made the boys to feel freedom, at last.
"We did it" Ryan said and looked up at all of them.
They all smiled at each other because the hardest task of the journey has been done.
"I mean like seriously, we did it you guys" Chloe, for once said and they all laughed out heartily.
"Now it's just for us to know where to go from here" Liam said.
Leo stared at LiLi and nodded.
She smiled cause they were all happy.
The first puzzle, finally! ... Has been put together.