the truth

chapter 4 of Idabell

I grab onto small holes in the sides hoisting myself up. A few minutes into this I can start to feel my hands go numb. I should have brought gloves. My sides heave, every time a sharp pain shooting through my body. Falling through a tree isn’t the best thing to do before rock climbing. Finally I reach a slope of rubble. I’ll have to go fast. The rocks look loose ready to tumble anytime.

I Scramble as fast as I can up the rock pile. Then my foot slips and I fall onto the hard rocks. The pile immediately begins to slide. I push myself up and try to desperately grab a hold of something. It fails and I start to slide top speed off of the hill. Just as I start to plummet of the rock climbing area, my hand grabs hold of a small foot hole. My body slams against the wall and scream out in pain. I weakly cram myself against the wall as more rocks slide from the hill. Finally they stop. I slowly push myself up onto a ledge.

I almost scream when I turn around There is a large gaping hole in the rock. The sides around it look impossible to climb. Does the old woman live in there? As my eyes adjust I see narrow stone steps leading to the bottom. I gingerly stand up and begin my journey downwards.
Once I reach the bottom on the cold stone stairway, I remember my flashlight. I quietly flick it on. It illuminates a tunnel leading downwards. I groan. Every Step i take down the tunnel, new amounts of pain arouse in me. FInally After a few minutes A light grows in the tunnel. I turn around a corner to see a quaint cottage. Is this it? I walk quietly up to the door and turn off my flashlight.

“Hello?” I knock on the door.
“One minute.” A muffled voice calls out from in the cottage.  I wait for about a minute before the old woman I saw in the audience show up at the door.
“How did you find me, Girl.” Her voice is tired.
“I asked someone from the town.”
“Then the guards will be here soon.” She starts to close the door but I stop her.
“Wait. I think Naomi is trying to poison me.”
“You’re starting to catch on aren’t you?” She still keeps the door at a crack.
“What is she trying to do to me?”
“Go away. I don’t want to get killed.” I start to hear the sound of hundreds of feet.
“Please!”
“Fine.” She opens the door and lets me in. The house Is a small room and as cold as the tunnel. In The corner the room is a clay fireplace with a dying fire. In a the opposite side is a small bed and a table covered in papers.

“Please sit down.” She pulls out a rickety chair. I sit down.
“Do you know why she’s doing this?”
“No.”
“We have to hurry, the guards are coming.” She lights a small worn-away candle. “You aren’t actually the queen. She is lying to you so she can use you as a pet. In about a month she’s going to wipe your memory and put you in the village.”
“Why?” I stammer.
“Because she wants a kingdom.”
“But why doesn't she just make new people villagers?”
“Because She likes the feeling of ruling a ruler.” The footsteps have finally reached the bottom of the wooden stairs.
“How do I stop her?” My voice has raised to a slight scream.
“Take this.” She hands me a small dagger.
“You want me to kill her?” I know for sure I’m not killing anyone.
“It’s the only way.” She also thrusts a small red leather journal into my hands. I know we’re both going to die. Tears are streaming down her face as the guards begin to pound on the door. “Stay strong.” he whispers.

The door breaks with a horrible splintering sound. I hear swords being pulled. I clutch my own dagger and slip it into my cloak as well as the leather journal. I feel the cold blade of a sword against my clammy neck.
“Please.” My voice comes out a croak. I’m drenched in sweat.

Then a cry. I glance over to see the old woman doubled over on the floor, sweat and blood staining her shirt. She looks up at me one last time. Sweaty strands of grey hair falling out of her neat bun.
“You are smart.” She grimaces. “Stay strong.” Her last words were desperate. And with that she collapses on the ground. I’ve never seen anyone die. It seems so real. I scream. The guard pulls me out along with the other guards. Then I start crying.

I only cry when things are gone. Like when I turn the corner after seeing my friend for the last time. Her name was Valentine. My great friend from Junior high She moved to Canada. I shiver in the wind. I finally calm myself down. My body aches and I’m tired more than anything. I begin to slip from the guards grasp, but am immediately awakened by the ice cold blade press harder. When we reach the bottom of the hill he throws me onto the ground. A hot sticky bag is immediately thrown over my head.

The next thing I know, I’m waking up on a cold stone floor.
“Help!” I croak. Then I remember the dagger and journal. I pull them both out gently. I can't believe they didn’t notice. When I open the journal immediately pressed leaves, flowers, tickets, and notes fall out.
“Oops.” I mutter. I flip through. Each page has intricate drawings and careful handwriting. I can tell It’s been written with a Calligraphy pen because in some spots there are ink blotches. I turn back to the first page;
Thorn
Gabreille
Richard
Susan
valentine
Candy
Miller
Paris
Mandy
Kat
Tim
Joe
Ester
Jasper
Penny
Gideon
The names went on and on for about 6 pages until I noticed mine.
Izzy
Emmy
Sara
John.
Then I realize something. These are the names of the people that came here. Thorn must have been that old lady's name. Then i read.
How we all came here is a mystery. The last thing I can remember is my dear Daisy playing on the farm.
Wait a minute. That’s my great grandma's name.
My first thought is that we were dead. Then I though perhaps a coma. Of course Naomi doesn’t tell me. She says we’re all family. I don’t believe her.
Are we all family. My heart plummets. If we are then was Thorn related to me? I bite my lip and continue.
These poor people. My supposedly sister arrived today. Although I know I don’t have a sister. I think I will leave. Naomi scares me sometimes.
I am interrupted by the noise of a iron door opening. I slip the small journal into my cloak and grasp  the handle of the cold dagger.
“Idabell, dear.” Naomi’s pale face emerges from the shadows.
“Call me Izzy.” I glare at her.
“Alright, Izzy. Tell me why you went to go see that woman.
“Tell me why you had to kill her!” My voice echos around the room.
“A simple misunderstanding.” She sighs, “She was lying dear. Why would I ever hurt the queen?”
“Really? Because the maids had a little misunderstanding and tried to poison me.” My voice is steadily raising. “And even one of your own told me that I am not in full command. That Naomi is a little controlling!”
Naomi stands for a moment a blank expression on her face.
“You understand that that woman plants people in my palace to manipulate you. I have no control. Please don’t fall for it.”
“Alright then, how do you explain this?” I Slip out the notebook. Her face immediately forms a look of greed.
“That is just her planting fake evidence.”
“Well, you seemed very interested in it.” I pause, “Fine. I’ll go with you if you don’t hurt anyone else.” She takes out a large key and opens the door.
“Good choice.” She gently slips the notebook out of my hands.
“Just one more thing.” I lean closely, “Can we take a car back?”
“Of course.” She smiles. I pull her further in. And then I whisper,
“Be careful what you tell me. I thought you said they didn’t exist.” I slowly pull out the dagger and hold it up to her stomach.

Her face immediately turns white.
“Go ahead.” Her breath stings my ear, “Kill me. Kill your great great great grandma” My hand shakes. Is she really bad enough to kill? Did she really deserve this punishment?
“Now you can hold the weight that I carry everyday.”
“What?” my voice quavers.
“I take their souls. And I dine on them. They are all dead.” The last word circulates around in my head.
“Even Thorn?”
“Just a ghost trying to save you. Isn’t that what family does?” Her head tilts as if curious for my response. I take a deep breath and thrust my hand forward. Black blood pours over my hand. I scream and stumble backwards.

Her body crumples and transforms into a tall skinny body. He face now sunken, with no eyes only blackness. I gag. The black fluid continues to pour out, creating a sticky pool.  Then ghosts, white and translucent begin to rise from her chest.
“Thank you!” They all cry, flying upwards. And then it all begins to dissolve. Colors meling to create a sort of whirlpool. The air grows damp around me. Winds blow fiercely in all directions. Then it stops.

Reviews

[Luna Valentine]

New chapter!