Writing Prompt

Ammer, Cree, and Mae climbed aboard the tottering carriage. "Everybody set?" The aged coachman whipped the hurried steeds into motion without waiting for the children to respond. "What if I said no?" Cree muttered under his breath. "Quit it, Cree. We have much to discuss." Ammer straightened. He enjoyed being the one in charge. "This is a Delmont carriage. Since the Rogues know we're in Delmont, there's a possibility they're searching the carriages along the way to the sea." "If we get caught, we tell them the truth." Cree stated matter-of-factly. "But we agreed to lie!" Mae threw her hands up in exasperation. "Cree, this is serious. Our lives are in danger, and if we tell them the truth our lives will be over." Sometimes, Ammer wished he had been born with a more sensible twin. "I don't see the point in lying. The Rogues will only believe what they want to believe. They'll question us until we tell them what they want to hear," Cree crossed his arms, satisfied that he had won the argument. "And they know what we look like." "Ammer," Mae began. "I hate to say it, but Cree does have a point. We need a better plan." "There is no other plan. The best we can do is hope we aren't caught." Ammer groaned, annoyed that Mae had taken Cree's side. He was supposed to be in charge, not his careless, savage brother.

At first, it was a simple knock. Both occupants of the house, woman and girl, had been sitting at the dinner table that was placed in the middle of the tiny house.

The woman set down the tea cup that had been prepared by the other, approaching the door.

“Who is it?” She leaned ever so slightly against the door.

“Police.” Her heart skipped a beat. She forcibly ceased all motion in her body.

“Joanne Moore, we know who you are and we know you’re in there.”

“Exit the house calmly, you and your associate, with your hands where we can see them!”

Her cold eyes widened as her pupils subtly shook. She swore not to make a sound.

“Miss Joanne?” The girl across the room sensed her fear, standing up as she whispered audibly to her.

She closed her eyes, retracting her hand from the doorknob quickly as if she was burnt. Maybe, if she stood still, they’d believe she wasn’t there.

Her body was shook from the banging on the door a few minutes afterwards. She began to step away and turned to the kid, fixing up her glasses and steeling her face. She withdrew her gun from her coat where it hung on the rack and was about to explain—

“—Joanne. You can’t hide forever in there. You either come the easy way, or we can do this the old way…” a venomous familiar voice slowly took control over her. Fear locking her limbs in place. Cutting off her train of thoughts. Her throat went dry and her lips were forced together.

No. No. No. This can’t be happening again.

“…Hey, snap back, Miss Joanne— I- We’ll get out of this mess, like we always do.” She held her rough scarred hands gently, rubbing her thumbs onto them. When had she gotten closer? She blinked back to life and immediately held the girl’s shoulders, looking her in the eye.

“Penelope, do you remember what I said?”

“Yeah, if we get caught—“

“If we get caught, we tell the truth.”

“What? But we agreed to lie!” Her whisper was a bit louder this time.

“Exactly.” She squeezed her shoulders comfortingly, before releasing her hands to reload her gun.

“I-I don’t get it? What do you mean?!”

“We’ll be telling them the “truth”, right, kid?” She raised her voice very obnoxiously as she turned her head to the door.

The girl took a second before, “Yeah, we will!”

“Follow my lead,”

“As always,”

"If we get caught, we tell the truth."

"We both agree to lie," Maya finished, her voice a conspiratorial whisper.

Eli stared at her, unsure whether to laugh or protest. Maya was always like this—brimming with mischief, her green eyes flashing with a blend of excitement and danger. But this time, they weren't just playing pranks or sneaking out past curfew. This was different. It was bigger.

"Come on, it'll be fine," she said, reading the doubt in his face. "It's just a shortcut. We go in, we go out. No one will even notice."

The "shortcut" she referred to was the old Frost Manor, a crumbling mansion on the outskirts of town. No one went there anymore, not since the night twenty years ago when the entire Frost family had vanished without a trace. There were stories, of course—whispers of ghosts, of curses, of things far worse. But to Maya, it was just another adventure.

Eli sighed, feeling the familiar tug of her persuasion. "Alright," he conceded, "but if something goes wrong, we stick to the plan."

"Of course," she grinned, pulling him along. "Just a quick peek. In and out."

The sun was setting as they reached the rusted iron gates, the sky turning a bruised shade of purple. The mansion loomed ahead, its windows like dark, hollow eyes watching their every move. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and decaying wood. Even the trees seemed to lean away from the manor, as if trying to escape its shadow.

Maya pushed open the gate, and it groaned in protest. The path to the front door was overgrown with weeds, the once-manicured garden now a wild tangle of thorns and dead flowers. They walked in silence, their footsteps muffled by the thick carpet of leaves that blanketed the ground.

At the front door, Maya hesitated for the first time. She glanced at Eli, her bravado wavering for just a moment, but then she steeled herself and pushed open the door. It creaked loudly, echoing through the empty halls.

Inside, the air was colder, and the smell of rot was stronger. Dust coated every surface, undisturbed for decades. Faded portraits lined the walls, the eyes of long-dead Frosts seeming to follow them as they moved deeper into the house. The floorboards creaked under their weight, the sound unnervingly loud in the silence.

Eli tried to shake off the feeling of unease gnawing at him, but it clung to him like a shadow. "Maybe we should just go," he suggested, his voice trembling slightly.

Maya shook her head. "We've come this far. Let's just find one interesting thing and leave."

They wandered through the house, peeking into rooms filled with dust-covered furniture and forgotten memories. In one room, a grand piano sat silent and still, its keys yellowed with age. In another, shelves of books stood untouched, their spines cracked and faded.

It wasn't until they reached the grand staircase that they found something truly strange. At the top of the stairs, a door stood slightly ajar, a faint light spilling out from within.

"Who's that?" Eli whispered, his heart pounding in his chest.

Maya shook her head, her eyes wide with fear and curiosity. "No one lives here," she murmured, but the doubt in her voice was clear.

They crept up the stairs, each step feeling like an eternity. When they reached the door, Maya hesitated again, her hand hovering over the handle.

"We should go," Eli said, more urgently this time.

But Maya, ever the brave one, pushed the door open.

The room beyond was a stark contrast to the rest of the house. It was clean, almost pristine. A small fire crackled in the hearth, casting flickering shadows on the walls. In the center of the room, a table was set for two, complete with silverware, plates, and two steaming cups of tea.

And sitting at the table was a woman.

She looked up as they entered, her face calm and untroubled by their intrusion. Her eyes, however, held a depth of sorrow that made Eli's breath catch in his throat. She smiled faintly, gesturing to the empty chairs across from her.

"I've been waiting for you," she said, her voice soft and melodic, yet laced with an undercurrent of something dark.

Maya, always the bold one, found her voice first. "Who... who are you?"

The woman tilted her head, as if considering the question. "Does it matter? I've been alone here for so long... I simply want some company."

Eli felt a chill run down his spine. "We should go," he repeated, grabbing Maya's arm.

But the woman's gaze pinned them in place. "Please, stay a while. You might find the truth isn't so frightening after all."

Maya, as if under a spell, slowly sat down at the table. Eli, feeling the weight of the woman's stare, followed suit, his mind screaming at him to run, but his body betraying him.

"Good," the woman said, her smile widening. "Now, let's begin."

The doors slammed shut behind them, and the fire roared to life, casting long shadows that seemed to dance and writhe on the walls. The air grew thick, and the room seemed to close in on them.

Maya reached for the cup of tea in front of her, her hand trembling. "This is... this isn't real," she whispered, her voice wavering. "It's just a dream."

The woman laughed, a sound that was both beautiful and terrifying. "Oh, it's very real, my dear. And now that you're here, you can't leave."

Eli's heart pounded in his chest. "We... we should have left when we had the chance."

Maya met his gaze, her eyes wide with fear. "What do we do?"

He swallowed hard, remembering their pact. "We tell the truth," he said, his voice shaking. "No matter what happens, we stick to the truth."

The woman's smile faded, replaced by a cold, calculating look. "Are you sure about that?"

Maya hesitated, glancing between Eli and the woman. "We... we both agree to lie," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

The woman's eyes narrowed, and the room grew darker, the shadows closing in around them.

And then everything went black.

When Eli opened his eyes, he was lying on the cold, hard ground outside the manor. The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a pale light over the crumbling ruins. Maya was beside him, unconscious but breathing.

He shook her awake, his heart pounding. "Maya! Maya, wake up!"

She stirred, blinking up at him in confusion. "What... what happened?"

Eli helped her to her feet, his mind racing. "I don't know. But we need to get out of here. Now."

They stumbled away from the manor, neither of them looking back. As they reached the gates, Eli glanced at Maya, his heart heavy with dread.

"We tell the truth," he said, his voice firm. "No matter what happens, we tell the truth."

Maya nodded, her face pale and drawn. "We both agree to lie," she whispered, a shiver running through her.

And as they left Frost Manor behind, Eli couldn't shake the feeling that the truth—and the lie—had become one and the same.

“I can’t keep doing this bro, I can’t keep lying and keep a straight face at home anymore, I just can’t. I have a future to think about, I’m trying to get my shit together and build a future and you’re hell bent on digging deeper into this shit and dragging everyone around you down in the pits with you, what the fuck happened to you man?”, my brother was right, there was no denting I’d pulled him in too deep into my my shit show of a life, and just when I couldn’t handle the pressure and pulled him into it one more to bail me out.

“Just this one last time, I need this, then I’m gone, I’ll cut you yours and I’m out…” I tried responding calmly, sincerely, shutting my eyes as he cut me off real abrupt, expecting a a justified lecture, his eyes were wide open, brow tight, he was definitely more pissed at me than usual.

“There won’t be a last time, it’s always something, and this time they’re going to find out, you know he saw us with your guys, theres inly one reason we’d be loading a van with them, and he saw us with this shit in our hands, my eyes locked onto his, you think he’s not already called the police, Dad, and half the fucking community?” He sunk his head into his hands, fingers clasping his hair between them. He was sweating, this was nervous, stressed out perspiration, the worst, it started in an instant, and refused to end until you were able to calm down, next would be the adrenaline jitters, I had to calm him down.

“Alright, you tell them you had no idea and I asked you for a hand moving a friends stuff and it wasn’t until we got back you realised what it was and told me to dump it, I’ll be back in the morning, no product, and the cash will be safe back in the flat”. I was trying to reason with him to give me up, wash his hands of the drugs but also keeping him onside with promise of his share of the money. I know, I was playing cerebral games with my own brother over his and the family reputation for my selfish gain. What he didn’t know is this is what paid for his education up front, it’s what bought us the family cars, it’s what kept the heating on and food on the table, without questions being asked there was always a miracle bonus or winning that kept us ticking along, and no one was the wiser.

“So you want me to snitch you out and pretend like I didn’t have a clue what I was doing? We’re not kids anymore man, no one’s buying that crap - you know you can still make it out without touching that shit again?” He was waving his arms around, pacing making swift turns around the side of the table he was on, Mum and Dad’s dining table, it was a solid table, I’d know, I’d used it for homework, to eat from, to cut my drugs on, and even slept on it once when I was too hight to take the few steps to the living room sofa.

“It’s not an option for me, Bro, I can’t let it go, this is what I know, and I have to see this through, if I don’t, they’ll come looking for their money”. This wasn’t me playing it smooth, no this was the gravity of my predicament becoming all too real in the moment and forcing me to be honest with him.

“Fuuuuuuuuck, so Mum and Dad might have their door knocked down because of this shit?” Uh-oh, now he’s really pissed, I might have been elder but he had both the moral high road, and the mass to knock me down both verbally and physically.

“Look I’ll leave now, I’m sorry, you’ll have to tell them the truth, I can’t be here for that right now, I need to end this, my debt is done, then I can face the wrath of family, community and the law if it cones down to it, but for now, I have to get rid of the noose around my neck, and make sure they don’t run up in the yard looking for their money”. I should have done this in the first place, without making that call for his helping hand, fuck, why’d I do it, I don’t know, why’d he pick up, why am I always trapped in a cycle of difficult decisions of my own making… deep breath “Give me the keys, I’ll have it back in the morning, when they get back tonight tell them theres been a misunderstanding, I’m sorting it out and will be back tomorrow”. I’m reassuring myself that they’ll be alright for one more night.

“I can’t lie for you again, I’m done”, he pulls the keys out of his hoodie and underarms it across to me, ching cha ching.

“I love you bro”, I grab the back of his neck and our foreheads knock together, “I’m sorry I’m like this, I’m sorry”, I mean it, it’s not me pretending anymore, at least I don’t think it is, I really can’t tell or control which side of me anyones interacting with anymore - what I do know for sure is, I do love him, I’d do anything to make sure he was alright, it’s all I’ve known, but I’ve lost my sanity in living like this, the drugs, the fear, the rejection, the pressure of the world crushing my shoulders every waking day, the filth in the hearts of man I’ve witnessed, I’m not sure if I’m a good man anymore, what I do know is I’m not a bad man.

“Look I’ll tell them it was a misunderstanding, and you’re sorting it, just come back alright, and end it tonight”. He’s grabbed my shirt like he’s about to batter me, but he doesn’t know how else to make it any clearer for me, this is as hard for him as it is for me to express real emotions anymore. “I love you too bro, I want you to be better, be my brother, not this criminal anymore, promise me”. He has tears forming in his eyes as they turn red, this is what I do to people I love, and yet I am unable to love them in the same way, I just don’t feel real anymore, but I have to go for now, I’ll figure out how to be a brother again once I’m back… if I come back. This would be enough for me to move on and setup somewhere new. I can’t do that to his or them, I shouldn’t.

I unravel his hands from my shirt and turn to waln out the door, and hold my palm up to signal my bye for now, he nods. This might be the last time he sees me, and my last memory of my little brother is tears in his eyes, I caused that, and yet he has a glimmer of hope for me in there. Is it enough for me to change my ways… we’ll find out I guess.

As we crept around the side of the building and into the alley, Jamie threw a hand out to stop me.

“What?” I whispered.

He glanced behind his shoulder before answering. “If we get caught, we tell them the truth.”

My eyebrows knitted together. “But we agreed to lie!”

“Well, yeah, I know. But I was thinking about it, and it’s just going to come out at some point or another. So why not get it over with?”

“I was under the impression that we weren’t planning on getting caught,” I said, huffing.

He rolled his eyes. “There’s always a chance we do. Best to be prepared.”

“Oh my god, let’s go, Jamie. I’m not going to stand here and make up hypothetical scenarios with you.” I pushed past him, a breeze ruffling my hair. I heard Jamie shuffle forward, following.

Not looking back, I continued forward, moving along the brick wall until I reached the door.

I peeled back my sleeve and read the time on my watch. After waiting thirty seconds, I grasped the handle of the door with my gloved hand and yanked on it. It didn’t budge.

I rolled my eyes again. _Can’t anyone do their job? _

Jamie peered over my shoulder. “What’s wrong?”

“Door’s locked. Yasmeen was supposed to have it open.” This threw a really big wrench in our plans. This was a steel door equipped with the most secure locks you could ever find on the market.

Essentially, Jamie and I weren’t the ones that were supposed have to gotten it open.

As if she’d been waiting for us to get to the door, my earpiece crackled and Yasmeen’s voice came through. “Benji, I’m so sorry, I got distracted and forgot about the mission.”

Seething, I bit out, “Yasmeen, what the hell? Where are you?”

Jamie gave me a questioning look. I pointed to my earpiece.

“I’m at work. Some of us actually have to show up to keep our jobs, you know. I told you last week I didn’t know if I could do it today. Again, I’m really sorry, I’ll try to make it up to you next time.”

“There won’t be a next time. This was my last chance.”

“What are you talking about?”

I let out a deep sigh. “The boss said if I couldn’t do this job then I’m out.”

“Benji, I’m so sorry, I didn’t know.”

“Look, what’s done is done.”

The door banged open against the wall, sending me and Jamie jumping backwards, startled.

I blinked.

Of course. Of course he got here ahead of us.

He stood there in the doorway, heavily tattooed arms crossed, a look of disappointment taking up residence in his expression.

Looking from me to Jamie, and then back to me, he shook his head.

“This was your last shot, Benji. In the real world, I can’t be here to save you. You need to figure out how to do what you need to do to get the job done.”

Protesting, I exclaimed, “But it’s not my fault! Yasmeen—“

He cut me off. “And most importantly, you have learn how to take responsibility for your actions. You can’t pull a job when part of your team isn’t even available.”

“But—“ I stopped on my own that time. He was right. I was doing nothing but blaming other people. It happened, it’s in the past, I can’t change it. “Okay.”

I swallowed, looking at Jamie, who was standing up straighter than I’d ever seen him stand, and was doing his best to appear professional.

“I’ll plan it better next time. Give me another chance. Just one more, Dad. Please.”

He stared at me, face unreadable. “On one condition.”

“Of course, name it,” I said hastily, desperate for yet another last chance I was never supposed to get. I really don’t think he’s going to let this slide again.

My dad turned around and walked back into the building, letting the door slam.

Bewildered, I turned towards Jamie. “What just happened?”

“Um, I’m not really sure. It seems like your dad kind of just slammed the door on this conversation—“

The door swung open again, and out emerged my dad and the most beautiful girl I’d ever seen.

My dad gestured to her. “Meet the fourth member of your team.”

Listen, if the police ask about the murder tell them, BUT DONT never mind that just lie, we can’t get a life sentence. Just say that we don’t know nothing about the murder. BANG BANG BANG FBI OPEN UP. Oh shit, remember the plan. Hey sir what seems to be the problem? FBI: we got a report about a murder in downtown Austin Do you know about that? Us: h- u- uhhhh n- n- no officer we don’t hehehe. FBI: you seem really suspicious, we’re taking yall in. Us: RUN BITCH RUN!! FBI: HEY HEY GET BACK HERE, GET THEM! Us: WHAT DO WE DO I- I- I DONT KNOW JUST RUN. Okay we’ll just chill here for a min. Really, in a dumpster. Yeaaaaa we’re safe here! FBI: THEY WENT SOMEWHERE OVER HERE! HEY IN HERE!! Us: welp, it was a good run.

PSA! - So im starting this out with a huge warning. It will be like nothing ive ever written. Kinda got a little insperation and im gonna run with it. It will feature a bit of guy on guy action. So be warned. As well as i do not wish to anger or upset anyone with how it is portrayed.

So hopefully you agree with my love is love antics, without further ado.

Caught

“Mr. Wells?” A strong hand gripped around his throat, a feminie squeak escaping as their eyes met.

Deep chocolate brown eyes were pitch black of the night void. A cocky grin on his face; as he gave Erin’s throat a little squeaze again. A horrified look across his face hard to hide. Searching his gaze for more then the lustful addiction he’d started to feed.

“Please….” Erin started to beg. “Not here. Its too” Trying hard to not focus on the pleasure as another tight squeeze was felt.

“What’s wrong?” A throaty tone escaping the lustfilled air as his hand dropped to his sides.

“Its wrong…” Erin sqeaked out, trying not to let the grin grow across his glossy lips.

Turning, running his hands through his thick curls. Shaved on the sides, carmel complexion turning red when he looked back. Eyes darting across the cheer outfit that hugged his slender figure. Crop top style, only further feeding into his sissy status with the black and purple skirt of the school colors.

“Your mine!” His voice rash, gruff and breathe hot as it fell against Erin’s neck.

Causing goose bumps to trail across his scrawny arms, neck, and back. Shaking from a jolt of anticipation as their lips smashed together quickly. A small tickle coming from the lightly well kept hairs of his chin strap beard.

“Ughhhh” Erin groaned, feeling his coaches body squeezing him against the set of lockers. “Is that what you want? Me to be yours again?”

Grabbing at the coaches manhood, Erin could feel the answer to the his question. Then it hit him like a train of conciousness. The busty blonde bombshell that he’d hugged tight, twin blonde haired girls at her side smiling as he gave them attention. Married.

“Don’t!” Now his teeth nipped at Erin’s throat, knowing full well the questions were loaded. “It’s starting to bother you?”

Erin pulled himself away from being trapped against the tan grey lockers. Slipping away from coaches touch and starting to pace.

“She’s beautiful…. Like instagram model beautiful…. And your girls… A spitting image.” A little water starting to pool in his eyes as he failed to make eye contact. “I can’t compete with that…”

“Why do you think you must?” Coach grabbed his own temples, starting to massage them. Clearly annoyed at the whole situation.

“Cuz i want more…” The realization cracking in Erin’s tone. “More then just being your little play thing….”

“Is that what you think you are? Some toy i can just toss away when im board?” Now coach had split the gap, grabbing harshly Erin’s chin. Making his gaze meet his own, a cocky smile starting to foarm. “Your young…. Going off to college in a few months…. It will be a blip on your life…”

“I’m staying local…” Erin blirted, pulling away again.

“No your not.” Coach growled, now pinning Erin’s small figure to the locker. “I won’t let you throw that scholarship away… Your gonna be great.”

“I want to be great with this” Erin sobbed, his head falling. “I dont want to lie anymore….”

“If we ever get caught, we tell the truth… but your going away to college!” Coaches voice firm and commanding.

“But you wanted me to lie?” Erin’s grey eyes looked deeply into the coaches for a second before their lips locked again.

Coaches muscular mass pushing Erin against the locker with enough force that it caused a pop in the metal. Graning as he bit down on his upper lip, gasping into his mouth a second before their foreheads met.

“Please don’t stop” Erin pleaded, eyes and body yearning for a release. “I’ll do whatever you want”

»If we get caught, we tell them the truth.« I sternly said, making sure that there were no arguments about it. »But we agreed to lie!« How lousy to think she would drop and do as I say. »Look, I know what we agreed on but we never thought about the possible consequences. I'm not risking it. I'm not risking your safety.«

»I can protect myself.« She crossed her arms before her chest. Pretty annoyed with his behavior toward her. »Of course you can.« He scoffed, thinking about the last time she 'protected' herself and almost got killed in the meantime. He wouldn't be this reckless again.

As they got out of the bank, they heard the sirens of the police. They ran with bags full of money on their backs. Down corridors and around alleyways, but for some reason the sirens were only getting louder. They were getting closer!

“Sammy boy!!” Said Ryan as they ran.

“What? Sir!” He said back.

“I don’t usually do this but if we get caught, we tell them the truth! Ok?”

“But sir! We agreed to lie!” Said the boy surprised.

“I know, I know! But I will take the fall. I brought you into this one, buddy boy. Take this to your mother.”

They stopped and quickly, Ryan put some of the money from his bag into the boy’s bag.

“Ok Sammy boy. Listen to me and pay attention. I won’t let them catch you. Go to your house and store this in a safe place. Spend it slowly and wisely for your mother. She needs to heal.”

With that the boy nodded and ran. Ryan sighed and walked out of the alleyway facing many police cars.

“GET ON THE GROUND! HANDS IN THE AIR!!” As Ryan did as they said he couln’t help but think about how he had finally did something good. It had cost him but it felt GOOOOD! He would go to jail for a couple of years but at leadt the boys mother would live, unlike his.

He was brought to a car and taken to the jail to wait for his trial…

Leora-

Leora ran as fast as she could. She darted down passage ways and past doors and people. She needed to make it to the corridor before anyone else could. She had to do this.

Finally, she arrived in the throne room. In the middle of the night, no on was there. Only the whispers of owls and mice were heard.

She took a deep breath. She couldn’t believe she was here. Why was she here? She shouldn’t be here. This was a big mistake. She kept thinking that this was a mistake.

“Don’t tell me that you’re thinking of turning back now?” Her sister said from wherever she was in the room.

“Come out, sister.” Leora said.

Maela appeared from behind the rusty old throne. She was dressed in the outfit that a thief might wear; all black and completely undignified. The shirt was too tight and the skirt was leather. Her tights were black too and her cloak’s hood was covering her face.

“Really? This is what you wear?” She asked.

“What? You actually think I was gonna dress like a princess?” Maela said. She sneered.

“Your name literally means princess!” “Clearly a mistake on our father’s part.”

Leora rolled her eyes, angrily. She was upset. Her sister never took anything seriously. It annoyed her.

“Come on, we don’t have time for this.” She said.

The two girls made their way to the throne. It was rusty bronze and very plain. Vines swirled around the legs. It looked like it had once been glorious and spectacular. A king had once adorned it. His guards had once swarmed him. Maybe he even had a family.

Now it was a shell of what it once was.

The girls examined it. “What are we looking for again?” Maela asked.

“A latch or a lever. Father’s notebook said that there was something on this thing that led to a tunnel.” Leora replied.

All of this was very confusing for them. They were desperate to find their father. After he disappeared, they were left orphaned. Orphanages wete not their thing. They had forced themselves into the world so that they could find him.

For Leora, this would mean having a family again. It was important to her. She missed her father and mother. Theh could be a family again, she knew they could. All it would take was a little push.

“Found it.” Maela said.

Maela-

Maela stared at her sister for a second before pushing the button on the rusty metal throne. She knew things would only get worse from here.

Part of her knew what was about to transpire. She had to do it though. She was older. She had to take care of Leora. Her father had told her to. This was his will.

She remembered the conversation clear as day. “I know what you are thinking.” Her father said.

“Well I’m sorry if I think that you’re a horrible person.” Maela had said.

“I know, but you must understand that this is our legacy. I know this is a lot to ask of you, but if I don’t find it then who will? Someone outside our family? Unacceptable. It’s our curse. We must live with it.”

Maela had thought him a jerk at the time. Their magic was a gift. They could turn light to shadow, mountains to dust, and lay waste to valleys with a flick of a hand. They were strong. They were powerful. How was that a curse?

She didn’t know. She never would, but she obeyed her father. “Fine. I’ll protect her, but she will come after you.” She warned him.

“I know this. Send her on the wrong trail. I’ve left a fake journal. This is what needs to be done. She can never know her power. If she does, it will destroy her.” Father said.

“Yes, Father. Stay safe.”

“As to you, dead child.”

Now, it was time for this to happen. Maela had pushed the button. It was too late to turn back now.

Leora-

Leora heard footsteps coming as the tunnel opened. Guards. They were coming to get them. Oh no.

“Maela!” She whispered. “Someone’s coming.”

Her sister listened and nodded. “We can’t get caught here. They will think of us as common thieves. We need to leave. We’ll come back tomorrow.” She said.

“No!” Leora said. They were too close to turn back. This was their land. That’s what Father had told them. She would defend it. “If we get caught, we tell them the truth.”

“I though we agreed we’d lie!”

“No. Isn’t this our home? Isn’t this our heritage? We are descendants of their first king. We have our rights here.”

Maela didn’t think. If she did, she’d realize this. “And who’s to say that they’ll believe us?” She asked.

“They have been waiting for us.”

“No. They’ve been waiting for their king, covered in gold. We are not that. We need to leave, Leora.”

“No! You can leave. I’m staying.”

Maela’s eyes softened. “Fine.” She said. Then she pushed Leora into the tunnel and pushed a different button. “I’m sorry, sister.”

Then the tunnel closed and and we launched into the sea.