Dreamscape: Saving Alex

by Kirstin Pulioff

  “There’s none. I already checked.” I blushed. “You were asleep for a long time.”

  He sat back and sighed, looking up at the ceiling.

  “We’ll find a way out,” I said. “I promise.”

  “Don’t make promises you can’t keep. I’ve already made too many of those.” He swore and threw a rock.

  “You only promised what you could—that you would try. There’s no fault in that.”

  “I promised much more than that. I promised a future of hope and possibilities and a chance to live without wondering who was on your side.”

  “You haven’t broken those promises yet. We can still find a way. Stranger things have happened.”

  “You keep on hoping. I’ll check the bag again for a magic wand,” he said, shuffling to where I’d dropped my bag.

  “We don’t need magic,” I said.

  “If we had some, we could make our own way out of here instead of going around in circles talking about impossibilities.”

  I jerked my head in his direction. “What’d you say?”

  “Magic wands? Impossibilities?”

  “No, you said we could make our own.” I felt a smile grow on my face. “We’ll make our own way out. You’re a genius!” I ran to his side and gave him a quick kiss before scouring the pile of items from the bag.

  “How do you expect to do that? Neither one of us knows any magic.”

  “We don’t need magic when we have this.” I pulled out the last pouch of luminance powder and emptied half of it into his hands.

  He looked at the pile of glimmering dust in his palms. “What am I supposed to do with this?”

  “Help me find the way out. These traps were always built with an exit. We just need to find it. There has to be a trap door, staircase, moveable blocks, I don’t know. Something. I’m sure of it.” I pinched the dust and threw it up in the air, watching it settle.

  He shook his head like I had lost it, but followed my example.

  Golden flakes filled the room, shimmering on the ground like hidden treasure. The pile of powder shrunk more quickly than I’d expected. I glanced at Arrow, pacing along the other edge, empty-handed. Now what? I threw the last bit at the wall.

  The flakes settled around my feet. Deflated, I looked back at Arrow, who had walked to my side. “Maybe I was wrong.”

  “Or maybe not,” he said, pointing to one flake lying suspended in mid-air.

  I dropped to my knees and scooped up more of the golden dust, tossing it at the floating flake. I squealed as several flakes landed next to the first, and others came to rest above it on a slight angle. The dust now clearly defined a hidden staircase.

  “That can’t be,” Arrow said, throwing more.

  “It is! And you know what that means. We’re getting out of here.”

  I climbed up the illuminated staircase, digging my nails under the layer of powder.

  When I reached the top of the stairs, I slithered across the smooth stones of the hallway, keeping my eyes focused on the red door at the end of the hall. The stones cracked under my weight, sending a new wave of panic over me.

  “Run!” I yelled behind me, throwing the door open and crashing through it. Arrow tumbled over me.

  I winced and pushed him off me, cradling my ribs. “I told you we’d find a way out of there.”

  “I’ll never doubt you again. What do we do now? Save the queen?”

  I looked behind him, down the dark hallway lined with red doors. A shudder ran down my spine. “Now we kill the king.”

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Dread settled over me the moment the words left my lips. The hair on the back of my neck stood on edge, my stomach tightened, and my hands lost their grip. Everything popped with heightened sensitivity.

  I jumped when Arrow tapped my shoulder. “Don’t do that,” I said, catching my breath.

  He raised his hands in surrender. “I didn’t mean to startle you. I just wanted to stay by your side. In case…” He let the thought trail off.

  I looked at him, daring him to continue. “In case you needed to be saved again?” I offered.

  “That’s exactly what I was thinking.” He smiled. “Do we have a plan?”

  “Just the same as it’s always been: Find a way through this maze of a castle, and then you can take care of the king.”

  “That easy?”

  “I never said it would be easy.” I gave him a hard look. “Are you sure you’re ready to do this?”

  He patted his ribs. “I’m as good as new, thanks to our overabundant supply of vines.”

  “Who would have thought my clumsiness would come in handy?”

  He winked at me. “There you go, underestimating your worth.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Let’s just hope our luck holds out. We’ve used the last one.” I ran my hands over my bruised ribs, hiding the intense pain. “Get prepared. There should be a pile of guards around this corner. I don’t know if they’ll still be knocked out or not.” I lowered my voice to a whisper and wrapped my fingers around the hilt of my dagger as we turned the corner. “They’re gone,” I said, surprised.

  “What?”

  “The guards. I must have stunned at least three or four of them before I took the wrong turn.”

  “Or right turn, depending on who you ask.”

  “You’re right.” I smiled back at him. “I just thought they would still be here.”

  “That’s good though, that means you didn’t kill them.”

  “I guess you’re right.” I kept my hand on the dagger.

  I counted the doors and took us down the right hallways until we entered a larger corridor. From the outside, it seemed the same as the others—dark, dismal, and bare. But to me, it was different. I knew that the true darkness waited at the other end, behind the last red door.

  That door became my sole focus, and the rest of the hall faded as I examined every inch of it. Unlike the others around the castle, this door glimmered in perfection. Its red paint glistened, and the polished golden knob reflected the wavering torchlight framing it on both sides. Light pulsed at the bottom, like a quiet siren.

  The dagger slipped in my sweaty hand as we walked closer.

  “This is it,” I said, reaching down, making sure the whip stayed coiled at my side. The words seemed to carry a different message to Arrow than they did to me. As I assessed my weapons, he gave me a sad smile.

  He grabbed my left hand and pressed it to his lips. “Alex, whatever happens in there, I want to thank you. I couldn’t have done this without you.” His gaze deepened.

  I couldn’t find the right words to say before he turned and strode through the door. What did he think he was doing? I ran after him, skidding to a stop as I turned the corner. Déjà vu.

  The throne room was an exact replica of the final scene from the game. My eyes skimmed the sterile white walls, bare except for the red drapes that seemed to bleed around the windows. Marble pillars lined the expansive room and curved behind the golden throne. Vases of dragon weed fluttered on either side of the garish seat.

  King Berkos drummed his fingers along the edge of his throne. Fear constricted my breath. “Arrow, wait!” I whispered, barely recognizing my own voice. I wanted to run to Arrow’s side, but my feet refused to listen to me.

  The two men, poised on opposite sides of the throne room, mimicked the setup for the final battle. I shook my head and dismissed the thought. This wasn’t a game.

  “It’s about time, dear boy. I’ve been waiting all day.” Berkos’ deep voice echoed off the marble walls. “I hope you’ve found the accommodations to your liking.”

  “Hello, Berkos,” Arrow responded with a steady voice.

  Berkos tsked. “Ah, so formal. Is that any way to greet your uncle?”

  “Any familial ties between us were severed long ago,” he said. He unsheathed the sword from his side and stepped closer.

  A deep laugh broke the tension. “That’s the spirit. I hoped these last few years had tou
ghened you up a bit.”

  “You know nothing about me. You never did.”

  “I knew enough to see a spoiled child running about the castle, playing at being prince—as if you had any inclination or ability to lead the kingdom.” He sneered. “Even your dear brother lacked a backbone when it came down to it.”

  “Leave my brother out of it.” Arrow clenched his jaw and tightened his grip around his sword.

  “Oh, you don’t need to worry about that. He’s been long since forgotten. The moment I killed him, he became meaningless.”

  Arrow’s face matched the pallor of his knuckles. “What’s the point of this?”

  “Oh, there’s no point, just some idle chit-chat while I wait for your gift to be ready,” he said, looking behind us towards the back door.

  “Gift?” Arrow asked, following his uncle’s gaze.

  “I wouldn’t be able to call myself a host if I didn’t present you with an offering.”

  My stomach flipped at his choice of words. “Arrow, I don’t like the sound of this,” I whispered, walking to his side. “It’s some sort of trap.”

  “We don’t have much choice. We’re not leaving without the queen.”

  “Ah, such a sweet sentiment,” said Berkos, “I’m sure she’d appreciate it if she knew. Unfortunately, she doesn’t get out much these days. And I have an inkling you won’t be joining her.” He paused as Arrow lurched forward. “And about the gift, I must insist. It’s been prepared especially for you.”

  “Don’t let him get to you,” I said, pulling him back. “He’s just trying to goad you.”

  “The hero speaks such words of wisdom,” he said, turning his attention to me. “It’s hard to imagine that someone as tiny as you could have created this uproar.” His calm words and demeanor contradicted the burning hatred in his eyes. Heat rose to my face as I tried to maintain eye contact.

  “Leave her out of this,” Arrow said, stepping in front of me.

  “It’s hard to ignore such a creature. You seem to have that problem as well. Tell me, how is it, working with this thing?” He pointed at me.

  I looked at the ground, trying to stay out of it. My blood boiled, but I needed to keep my cool. We were too close to the end to lose it now. I reached for Arrow’s arm and shook my head.

  “She’s not a thing,” he said.

  “What is she, then? She’s not one of us. That much is certain.”

  “Her name’s Alex,” he said, brandishing his sword. “And she’s here to save the queen.”

  Oh boy. I lifted my gaze, hoping I looked braver than I felt.

  “This is priceless. I wish more people could witness this.” Berkos stood, the black velvet robe unfurling behind him as he descended the stairs. Slow, deliberate steps echoed through the hall.

  My face paled and I gripped the knife tighter. I knew I couldn’t beat him by traditional force. He was an obvious threat even without a weapon. I hoped my fear didn’t show. If it did, no one noticed. Arrow and Berkos locked in on each other.

  “There’s nothing you can do to stop us now.” Arrow said, pointing the tip of his sword at his uncle.

  “Surely you’re not going to harm me when I come bearing gifts.” He snapped his fingers, and one of his guards entered from the back. “What has it been? Five years? I thought one per year would be sufficient. If it’s not, though, let me know. I have plenty more I can give you.” His chuckle reverberated in the chamber.

  The guard kneeled and presented an oddly shaped bag.

  “Ah, perfect.” He waved off the guard and peeked inside. “I love that smell—fresh, cloying, and definite.”

  “Arrow, don’t take it,” I urged. I pointed the dagger at the king.

  “Don’t listen to her. It’s just a little gift, just something to show you how I feel about your little game of rebellion. Please, go ahead and open it.”

  Arrow glanced between me and the king. I saw it in his eyes, anger and desperation. If he opened it, nothing would stay the same.

  “No!” I yelled, knocking the bag from his hands as he reached for it.

  I screamed as head after head rolled out, staring at me with their blank eyes. Even in death, their faces constricted in pain, their final screams frozen. Behind the empty stares, I saw young faces, void of scars and wrinkles, guilty of nothing. I thought back to the boy in Flourin, so eager to fight for freedom. And then I saw the familiar face of Pipes, and my heart went cold. I sheathed my dagger and grabbed the whip, my grip now surprisingly steady.

  “You sick, deranged—” I snarled, jumping for him. Arrow grabbed my arms, pulling me back to his side.

  “Flattery gets you nowhere with me, my dear. Trust me, you would have to do a lot more to impress me.”

  “I’m going to kill you, you monster.” I lunged at him with a guttural yell. The king deftly twirled to the side, dodging my first strike. I nearly dropped the whip as it chipped a chunk of marble off the pillar.

  I raised the whip and refocused, ignoring the pain vibrating through my palms. A smirk grew on his face as he stared at me. “The little girl wants to fight! How precious. I thought I had seen it all from the queen, but apparently this new generation doesn’t do docility. A blessing and a curse.”

  “I’ll show you a curse,” I said and blew a strand of hair out of my eyes as I ran towards him, sliding across the smooth floor, swinging at his ankles.

  The blue flames from the whip singed the black velvet of the king’s robe. His smile faded when he glanced back at the scorched garment. “This is your last chance to save yourself, little girl. None of this pertains to you. If you leave now, I will spare you.”

  “You’re wrong, Berkos,” I said, walking to Arrow’s side, clipping the whip to my belt. “This does involve me. More than I ever thought possible.”

  “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” He unclasped his robe, the velvet dropping in a heap around his feet. A quick snap of his fingers and a team of guards marched in, tossing him a black sword and shield.

  “Attack!” The ground shook with the guards’ approach.

  Fear flashed in my eyes as I looked at Arrow, but his gaze had already hardened with an intensity of focus. I turned in time to see the closest line of guards running towards me. I ran to the outer edge of the room, searching for a plan. I saw the drapes and thought about swinging, but I didn’t know what that would accomplish. Swinging out the window wouldn’t work here. My heart raced as their feet came closer. I had used the last of the dragon weed on Pounder, and the luminance powder would do nothing for me here. My mind drew a blank, and my chest burned from running. I had to come up with something quick.

  “Flowers, use the flowers!” I heard Arrow yell.

  What was he talking about? I had already used up the dragon weed. My mind raced until I saw the fresh flowers fluttering by the window.

  I looked back in time to see him engage two of the guards, the red stamps on the back of the first disappearing under a stream of blood. The next second he turned and swung at the other, slicing off an arm at the elbow.

  Behind me, I heard swords unsheathe, and my hesitation disappeared.

  With a burst of energy, I ran towards the windows and grabbed the vase, careful to keep the pollen from hitting me. That flower had burned me enough. I twisted the red drapes around my wrist and forearm and jumped, pushing off the wall, turning in mid-air above them. I yanked the flowers from the vase and scattered them, watching the golden pollen fall into their eyes and between the plates of their armor. While they screeched and scratched at their faces, I pounded the vase against their heads, knocking them to the ground.

  I wiped off the scattered pieces of pollen and looked around for Berkos. He sat back in his throne, watching Arrow fight with casual indifference. The calm stroking of his mustache enraged me. I tightened my grip around the handle of the whip, feeling my temper rise.

  Arrow’s voice interrupted my thoughts.

  “And now, Berkos, it is your turn.” He faced the king, his s
word dripping with the guards’ blood as he walked forward.

  “At last,” the king chuckled. “It’s time to put an end to you and your pesky followers. I’ve been dreaming of this day.”

  “Then it’s time to wake up. Your days of ruling are over.”

  “And who do you expect to take over after me? You?”

  “No,” Arrow said, adjusting his sword. “Lockhorn will continue to be ruled by the true monarch, Queen Elin.”

  Berkos sneered. “You think a shrew trapped in a dungeon can rule a kingdom better than me?”

  “Anyone with a heart could rule this kingdom better than you. You’re a disgrace. True leaders don’t need to rule through fear and bribery.”

  “That, my dear boy, is why you were never king and never will be. Weakness cannot hold a kingdom together.”

  “Who is weaker? The man who opens his heart to help others or the one who only cares about himself?”

  “I’ve had enough of this bickering.” Berkos stood and reached for his sword.

  Something shimmered against his thigh. I narrowed my gaze and gasped—the keys. I needed to get those without being noticed. I tiptoed along the outer edge of the wall, fading into the shadows.

  Berkos walked down from his throne and stood across from Arrow. Beneath Arrow’s dark matted hair, sweat dripped down his forehead. He wiped it with his shoulder, the muscles in his arms rippling. I had no idea who would win.

  Berkos stabbed first, a quick jab, easily blocked. A smile grew on his face as he thrust forward again. His movements seemed playful, although his smile dripped with animosity. Their swords crashed against each other as their moves increased in speed and ferocity.

  Sweat dripped down Arrow’s face, and his jaw tightened with concentration. His arms twisted as he met and deflected every thrust of the king’s.

  Berkos’ grin faded, and his face glistened with exertion. “I have you now,” he said, knocking Arrow down over the body of a fallen guard. Arrow rolled out of the way just as Berkos’ sword cracked the plated armor at his side. Arrow jumped up and deflected the next swing, maneuvering around the other guards. Berkos kicked the fallen men and slid through the puddles of blood around them. His smile turned sinister.