Chapter 25: The Awakening (1)

Chapter 25:

'The king was ill...' the words continued to replay in my head over and over again to no avail.

It was simply just not possible.

There was still time before the king had gotten ill, and Zachary doesn't find out this way. The future was changing, and slowly guilt crept into me. Was it because of me? Now I was almost uncertain of anything that would play out from here on out.

"Winter," Zachary called out bringing me out of my thoughts as I turned to face him slightly taken aback by his cold expression.

What was wrong? Was I not supposed to listen to this?

"Yes? Yes, I will excuse myself," I fumbled I stood up before he held my hand seating me yet again.

"I just wanted to know if you were okay?" he asked as I smiled trying to cover up my fluttered and panic emotions.

"Yes, yes I am, I was just shocked by the sudden news of the emperor," I justified as he simply smiled at me and nodded.

"Don't worry your pretty mind, I'm sure it's just a passing cold," he played it off lightly.

But it wasn't a cold, this was going to kill the emperor. But how could I tell him that without him raising suspicion towards me? We were only starting to trust each other. I could not blow this chance, so I played it cool while trying to smile as sincerely as possible.

"I'm sure it is," I said.

Zcahruy took my hand in his, kissing the back of my hand as he squeezed it reassuringly, as though trying to tell me everything was okay.

The future, not even I was aware of, would it lead to me being beheaded once again at the cost of trying to survive. My hand unconsciously rose to my throat as I held it almost as though I could feel the coolness of the sharp blade of the guillotine.

"May I be excused?" I questioned, muy voice slightly trembling.

Zachary looked hesitant as he nodded excusing me, I bowed toward him as I made my way out of the dining hall.

My heart pounded in my chest as I walked at a full speed. There was nothing more alarming than knowing the fact the future was changing. Stopping I felt my knees give out as I fell to the ground. A cold sweat covering my forehead slightly.

What was I going to do? How was I going to fix all of this? How was I going to…survive, if things decide to not go my way?

I wanted to cry momentarily, but there was honestly no time for that I had to think about how I was going to continue on if my plans didn't work. I needed to think of a backup plan, but the only way is to observe what happens from here on o0ut. Sighing I let my head fall between my knees.

"What are you going to do now Winter…?" I questioned myself.

A crackling sound echoed around me, as my head snapped up alarmed. Was there someone following me since I had left the dining hall? I'm pretty sure there were no footsteps resounding behind me as I walked all the way…here?

I looked around quite confused. Where was I? I stood up on my two feet looking around trying to see something familiar, but there was nothing familiar surrounding me?

'way to go winter, you have a gift…! The gist of getting lost,' I groaned as I thought to myself.

It felt as though the wind was blowing, but there were no windows around, as the crackling sound resounded again.

"Hello?"I questioned, "Is there anyone there?"

As soon as the words left my mouth mu entire surrounding turned dark, as my heart caught up in my throat.

''You are the one…." A voice unfamiliar yet eery spoke. "Master…get rid…you…" the voice echoed. Get rid of what?

Looking for something to protect myself, I pulled off one of my shoes holding it up ready to strike whatever it was.

"Who are you and what do you want?"

"Master, rid…destiny…you," the voice tried speaking making a coherent sentence, but I couldn't understand it.

In a split second, I felt my entire body hit against the wall I stood at not long ago, as the pain seared throughout. Coughing I tried getting up, but before I could do that, something held me against the wall, my neck wrapped tightly as I squired trying to get out of its grip. A dark shadow-like figure, overpowered me, as it hissed in my face.

"Must dispose of the one playing with destiny," it said as it continued to hold me. My oxygen was slowly cutting off as I scratched at the grip.

To no avail, I only hoped there was just something anything, I could hit against it. My other shoe on my foot, I reached out to grab it, and as my fingers slowly reached, I pulled it off, slamming the heel of the shoe against the blob of shadow only for it to screech loosening it's grip letting go. It seems it's not only made like smoke huh?

Coughing, trying to catch my air, I stood up on my two feet, my vision slightly hazy, as I tried getting away, only it to grab my foot raising it in the air.

"Must kill," it said.

Was someone trying to kill me??

My heart pounding excessively, I squirmed and for a moment, a surge of power rose within me and something bright shone so powerfully as it pierced holes through the creature. It screeched and cried and slowly bit by bit it began to turn to dust, as it escaped ever so quickly, dropping me to the ground, in a hard manner. I could almost feel my mouth fill with blood as I coughed.

The pain unbearable, I could only slowly close my eyes, and the last thing that clouded my vision was none other than flakes of something I couldn't make out of, as I fell into a dark and deep slumber.