Marina sat in a high backed chair, staring across the short space in front of her at the man she had helped kidnap. He had a long cut on his face that flecked his cheek with dry blood. Probably got it when the giant mirror in that room shattered. She thought to herself. Still, he looked like he was at peace, even considering his current situation.
I really hate that about you people… Marina thought.
After Marina had subdued him back at the palace, and revived Cal and Han, they had fled from the city of Draven. Hiding the Prince in a wagon, they had traveled to the very north of the country, to a port town called Tero. From there they headed east to a large forest Han called the Dark Forest. Deep inside the forest, they arrived at a single, very rundown cabin. The inside was decaying, worn down from what seemed to be many years without any care or visitation.
Well, there had been visitation, but not the kind that keeps the house intact. Everything had been removed from the inside, except for what was broken or useless. There were signs that many animals were using the place as their own, and they were probably not too happy with their current visitors.
As Marina’s attention returned to the Prince, the door to the room suddenly opened. Through it walked Cal, holding a cup in his hands.
“It’s time for the Prince to take his medicine.” Cal said, holding the cup out to Marina.
“Why am I the one who has to give it to him all the time?” Marina asked, only looking at the cup.
“You saw what happened when I did it, It spilled everywhere and none of it even made it down. You seem to have a knack for taking care of people, and gave it to him no problem. Please, Marina? I don’t need Han getting angry again. I don’t know if I will be able to hold back next time…” Cal trailed off, his words cut short by anger. He was clenching his fists so hard his arms shook.
Han had been brewing a special concoction to keep the Prince unconscious, which he said took a lot of expensive ingredients. When Cal spilled it, Han had flown into a rage. Ever since reaching the house, Han’s attitude had become much worse. Marina felt it was probably do to the sling holding his broken shoulder, and the presence of Han’s new boss.
When the group had arrived at this cabin, they found a man waiting for them. His name was Calden, and Han told them he was the brains behind the operation they had just completed. Upon meeting him, Marina sensed he had great power, almost the air of royalty. His hair was dark, his eyes even darker. He was quite handsome, and wore simple but well made clothes. He had spoken little, only to thank them, before he had disappeared into the house. They had arrived the day before, and she had not seen Calden since. But shortly after returning, Han’s attitude began to change, becoming even darker than it was before.
When she had tried to ask him about what they would do next, he had snapped at her, and told her she didn’t need to worry about that part, that it was being taken care of. Her only job was to make sure nothing happened to the Prince.
She'd been pretty much alone since then, sitting in a quiet room with a kidnapped man who was unconscious. Cal came now and then, but he seemed to be doing something else at Han’s direction. For all the hours since she had arrived, she'd simply stared at the Prince, trying to ignore a tug-of-war between emotions inside her.
Taking the cup from Cal, Marina stood up. “I’ll take care of this, so get back to work.” Marina said, not even looking to see if he left. She heard the door close moments later though, and looked up.
Sorry Cal… It’s not you who did something wrong. It’s me. Marina thought, though that hadn’t really been what she'd meant to think.
She looked down at the Prince. Nihlen, I think they said his name was. She pressed her hand against his cheek, feeling the cut he had received on that day. Your family must be worried sick…
She quickly turned away from him, folding her arms up to hug herself. Why am I feeling bad… He is a noble. Of the ilk I despise more than anything! I should be able to laugh this off like I have all the other times I took what I wanted from someone rich… Yet…
She wasn’t just stealing gold coins, and fleeing with her meager prize. This time, she had stolen an entire person. As the realization of what she had done, and how she felt about it, began to sink in, she began to shake. Was I so blinded by greed I let my principles be forsaken? What must his family think? Why do I care so much!?
“I’m so confused!” she whispered shrilly.
“You’re not a bad person.” A hoarse voice suddenly said, startling Marina to the point that her heart nearly stopped..
Marina whirled around to see Nihlen looking up at her. His eyes looked heavy, bloodshot. They were rounded by dark circles. He looked barely conscious, but he was awake.
Oh no! Marina thought, looking at the cup in her hand. “You need to drink this. Don’t cause a fuss, just drink it and do as I say until the ransom is complete.” Marina said, suppressing her feelings to seem more in control.
“You really aren’t a bad person.” Nihlen said, acting as if she had said nothing.
“Well thank you for your words of confidence, but I do not need you to tell me that. Now drink this.” She said, trying to sound as gentle as possible. Maybe she could get this done without having to fight about it.
“I don’t want to drink anymore of that… It’s doing something to me. More than just keeping me unconscious.” Nihlen slurred.
“It isn’t doing anything else to you. We don’t want to hurt you, all we want is to collect a nice ransom, and give you back to your family. You are wealthy, it’s not going to do anything to your family. You get to go free, our lives get easier, everyone wins.” Marina said.
“Are you trying to convince me, or yourself?” Nihlen asked.
The words hung heavy in the air. All the thoughts Marina had been having before Nihlen had come to came crashing back onto her. She wanted to hit him, and yet, for some strange reason, she also wanted to fall down and apologize.
“I can tell you aren’t a bad person.” Nihlen said once again.
“I kidnapped you!” Marina said, raising her voice more than she had meant to. She didn’t want to draw attention to the room while Nihlen was conscious. It could turn into a big problem. She lowered her voice to a near whisper. “You know nothing about me. If you knew the things I had done, you wouldn’t be saying that you ‘know I’m a good person.’”
“I do not know the things you have done, but not all actions can be classified as either good or bad. Looking at you, I would guess you are of the lowest class of the social hierarchy. You’ve done bad things, what I saw back in the castle says that much. Sometimes though, good people have to do bad things just to survive.” Nihlen said quietly, before he started having a coughing fit.
“There you go with that ‘I know everything attitude.’ You should get off your high horse and stop acting like you know everything. Look at the situation you’re in! You’re tied to a chair, held captive by strangers who broke into your castle and stole you on your wedding day. You’re drugged, half dazed, and completely helpless. Yet still you sit there like nothing is wrong, like you are in command. You think you can read the situation, and even call your captors good people! I don’t know what you think you know about me, but you don’t know the first thing about me!”
Suddenly Marina stopped. Nihlen looked at her quietly, breathing heavily. Why does he make me so angry? Because he’s a nobleman? Or because…
“I’m right.” Nihlen said, looking into her eyes. They suddenly seemed clear, and full. Like he was no longer drugged. “I am not passing judgment on you. I am simply stating the situation as I see it. You should know though, this isn’t about a ransom…”
Nihlen trailed off again, coughing loudly. Marina looked over to the door, waiting for someone to come through it. Not about a ransom? Is he just rambling?
“What do you mean it’s not about a ransom? That has been the plan all along. That’s why we took you alive.” Marina said.
“This is not about a ransom...” Nihlen repeated.
“No amount of gold would allow you to escape the entire nation forever. You’d never make it off this island if I were returned alive. Even now the ports will all be closed, the people passing through the Dividing Wall thoroughly checked. I know your faces, and it would eventually lead to you being tracked down. I don’t know what you were told, or what you know, or even if you’re being used or not, but this is not about a ransom. I will never leave this house alive.”
That final statement chilled Marina to the bone. He didn’t even flinch in saying it. He had confronted the possibility and stated it head on. He really believes that is what is going to happen… And he knows just how helpless he is…
Yet the seed of doubt had also been planted within Marina. His logic is sound… If the Prince returns alive, we’d be fugitives from the Draven nation forever. They wouldn’t rest until those who kidnapped the Prince were caught…
Marina turned from Nihlen, biting her lip. “I need to go tell Han I’m going to need something stronger to put you back out. I’ll be back.”
She quickly moved to the door, and stepped outside. Pulling it closed behind her, she leaned up against it. Her heart was racing, the pounding of her blood in her veins rushed through her ears, louder than anything she had ever heard. She had been afraid before in life, faced near death situations countless times, but as their conversation was playing over and over in her head, she felt only one thing.
Terror.
Surely that can’t be the case… Han knows I would never be a part of something like that. I have my standards, even if he thinks a thief with standards is a joke. I don’t condone killing… And I’ll never be a part of it. Marina thought, straightening up. I’m going to go find Han and Calden and make them tell me what’s going on.
Marina began poking around the house, checking all the downstairs rooms. As she passed the staircase to the second floor, she heard voices from above, and started up there. The stairs were quite worn though, and groaned in places no matter how lightly she stepped. She followed the voices up to the farthest room back from the staircase, stepping as lightly as possible to avoid detection. The voices were quiet, and she had the sudden inclination she shouldn’t interfere in the conversation by knocking, only listen. She peeked through the cracked door, and saw Han and Calden inside the room. Calden was sitting on a worn chair, and Han was standing with his back to the door in front of him.
“It’s almost time Han.” Calden said from inside.
“Marina should have given him the last dose just a few minutes ago. All the preparations should be complete.” Han responded. He sounded so submissive, which was very unlike Han. “What about Cal and Marina?”
“Kill them while their guard is down. We no longer have any use for them.” Calden said, his tone indifferent.
Marina backed away from the door in horror. Kill us? There’s no way…
She reached for the door, but then pulled her hand back. He wasn’t kidding… Everything Nihlen said is true! What have I done? I’ve got to warn Cal! We’ve got to get out of here! Marina thought frantically, heading quietly down the stairs.
She hadn’t seen Cal while she was searching for Han and Calden, so she figured he must be outside. She ran through the front door, and looked around. She could just see him sitting up against a tree. She sprinted across the distance between them as fast as she could, Cal rising in alarm at her movements.
“What’s wrong? Did something happen?” Cal asked urgently as soon as she stopped in front of him.
“We have to get out of here!” Marina exclaimed, pulling at Cal for him to follow her.
“What do you mean?” Cal said, standing still against her pulling.
As quickly as she could, in a desperate whisper, she relayed what she had heard upstairs to Cal. His expression changed for the worse at every word that left her lips.
“So we have to get out of here, now!” Marina said, pulling at him again. This time Cal ran with her.
“Get the horses ready. Be quiet about it though, and don’t draw attention to what’s going on. Too much noise and they may find us too soon.” Marina let him go with that, and started toward the house.
“Where are you going?” He called after her.
“To get Nihlen! I can’t just leave him here to die, this is all my fault after all!” She called back, before taking off at a full sprint toward the house.
She hurried through the front door, careful to be as quiet as possible. The rotting floor planks made a lot of noise if stepped on wrong. When she reached the room where Nihlen was being held, she quickly threw the door open, and ran inside to find Nihlen with his head bent down limply. He seemed unconscious again.
“Nihlen, wake up.” Marina said urgently. When he didn’t respond she began shaking him. “Nihlen, wake up!”
He began to stir a little, but then he fell still once more. In desperation, Marina slapped him hard across the face. Slowly he lifted his head to look up at her. Without saying anything, she moved around behind him, and began untying the ropes.
“What are you doing? Aren’t I your prisoner? Or does it mean it’s time? It’s time for me to die…” He said. For the first time ever, he sounded afraid. His dignified persona had slipped, and he seemed truly sad and forlorn.
“It’s not time for you to die Nihlen. We are leaving.” Marina said, struggling to untie the knotted rope.
“Leaving? What do you mean?” Nihlen asked, trying to look backward toward her.
“Everything you said is true. There are no plans for a ransom, and never were. Cal and I were used, and we aren’t meant to leave this house alive either. We are leaving, and I am taking you with us.” She said, finally getting the last knot undone.
“I knew you were a good person.” Nihlen said, trying to stand up. He suddenly grabbed his head, covering the left side of his face.
“Are you all right?” Marina asked urgently, moving to his side. What have I been giving him? What have I done?
“My head… It hurts so bad. It started during the ceremony before you kidnapped me, and it’s just getting worse now… It hurts so bad.” Nihlen said, a tear leaking down the side of his face.
A tear of blood.
“Oh no! Nihlen! Please, just hold on. We are leaving, and we’ll find someone to take care of you, just try to hold on!” Marina said, tears of her own beginning. Looking at him, she felt a heart wrenching pain. Whatever was wrong with him, whatever she had been giving him, was causing him problems. Serious problems. She bent down, and put his arm over her shoulder. She lifted him out of the chair, and started out of the room.
His dead weight was heavy for her, and it was a struggle to move forward. When she reached the front door, she stopped to take a rest.
“Let me take him.” Cal suddenly said from her right. He pulled Nihlen over to himself, and threw him over his shoulder. “The horses are ready, we should hurry before they realize what’s going on.”
The two ran over into the yard where the horses were waiting. “Put him on with me, in the front of the saddle. Then you jump on the other horse and we’ll hurry out of here.” Marina commanded.
She jumped up into the saddle, and helped Cal get Nihlen situated so she could hold onto him. Then he jumped on the other horse, and they started off.
“Marina! Cal! Get back here!” A voice screamed from behind them. It was filled with rage unlike any she had ever heard.
Looking back over her shoulder, she saw Han and Calden standing there. Han, his arm in a sling from the injury Nihlen had dealt him, was shaking with rage, looking as if he would run after them on foot. Calden had a simple smile on his face as he watched them flee.
That smile… Marina knew that wasn’t going to be the last of it.
Chapter 5
Pursuit of Fear