shastasnow

Chapter 8 "Ugh, my head," I groan, the world spinning as consciousness rudely elbows its way into my brain. The ground beneath me is unforgiving, a mix of sand and jagged rocks that didn't get the memo on comfort. I push myself up to a sitting position, squinting against the brightness. Salt stings my nostrils, and the sound of waves crashing nearby is like an obnoxious wake-up call I never asked for. "Captain?" Richard's voice is laced with concern, but it's the sight of him, all regal dishevelment and golden hair tousled by the sea breeze, that has me blinking twice. The Golden King himself, looking less than majestic covered in sand. "Welcome to paradise," I quip, my tone dripping with as much sarcasm as my clothes are with seawater. We take in our surroundings – not the lush, tourist-brochure kind of island. Nope. This one's got 'World Prison: No Escape' vibes. "Shelter," I say, more to myself than Richard. "We need shelter and to check what we've got." My fingers automatically

It should take 12 mins to read and less than a second to like. I am just pulling your leg. Thank you if you glance at this. Don't read if you are a child, though. It may be easy to read, but some sensitive language is in this. King Royce: I am looking into a large, lush tank of bright and colorful fish swimming. It is my break time, and they help relax me a bit. Martha suggested I get some fish to look at, and it was indeed a good suggestion. José: "King Royce, we have captured the girl with the horns for you. She is waiting for you in the cell. These are her keys". I bow to him and hold them out for him to take. He does. King Royce: "Very well down, José." He nods and makes his way out. I find my hand shaking as I hold the sizable keys. She dared to come back to my city. She is indeed a fool. With a smile, I go down to the cells and soon find her. She is resting there on the bed. Her long, dark blood, blood-red hair falls over the edge of the bed. She is missing a boot, and her

Crimson: A few days pass, and I am too scared to leave the house. My fear is getting the better of me. With a growl from my stomach, I make up my mind, grab my hat, put it in my pocket, and then make my way out. Walking to the town, it begins to snow, and I soon grow cold. The wind picks up, and thoughts of going back echo in my mind. Then, a deer walks out in front of me. It stops and sniffs in my direction. The young male deer's antlers are as long as my horns. I take out my hat and place it over my head slowly. He blinks when I do so, and then he walks away. After walking for a long while, there was a bright full moon high in the sky, but I made it to the halfway mark of the trip. Feeling cold and exhausted, I soon find the tree. Stumbling through the thick snow, I grab the small door to the tree by the tiny edge with my fingernails. With a bit of gusto, I open it and then crawl inside. I didn't find anything when I checked the small cabinet for food. Crud, I just remembered

Crimson: I stand at my shop, and I hope for customers. I should send out a balloon. In my boredom, I work to make a new potion. I take a knife and chop my finger off to put it into my mini potions boiler. It melts into the liquid, and I watch a new finger appear on my hand. I chop it, a bit of my horn, then some of my hair. All my parts and even fluids can make medicine, a weird bit of being a healer. I spit into the pot, crush my finger and horn, then add them too, just being fancy. I add my hair, making the stew turn red. I need an organ now. Much to my displeasure, I cut into my stomach. Michel: "What the hell are you doing"? I watch the pained look in Crimson's eyes as she slices into her exposed belly. She is sweating bullets, and her breathing is labored as she does this. Crimson: "I am selling…myself". I tell him as I try not to pass out. At least this beats doing the brain thing where I must go up to my nose or ear. "What are you doing here anyway? I said, you are not

King Royce: When I come to, I am in a soft bed and surrounded by many machines. I look around, and I see Crimson next to me. She is in the same situation. We are both in just our undergarments. My vision works, and I notice how fragile we both look. Crimson looks worse than I do. Crimson: "Royce, where are we"? Willamena: "Oh, darlings, you two are awake. Oh, thank the heavens! I was so scared when I saw Ruben carrying you two to my door. That horse is so smart that it tried coming inside. Don't worry; the good boy is grazing in the pasture". Crimson: The older woman takes a wet towel and washes Royce with it. King Royce: "Oh, Aunt Will, I had the worst day. I woke up to find out that I had been unconscious for four months and that my castle was under attack by savages overseas. I had to flee here because it was the only safe place to go; thank you for taking us in". Willamena: "Oh heavens! That is terrifying. Please rest up, and we can devise a plan to take your castle back

Michel: "We need more! This is not enough for everyone here, Zeek". I grab the weapons he did bring. I break the handle off of a scythe with ease. Then, I test the sharpness of the shurikens. The blades are so dull and chipped that they cannot cut through toilet paper. "Zeek, these weapons are trash, and we do not have the time to repair them." Sanders: "Just great! What are we supposed to do now"? José: "It has been four months, and this is all your sloppy crew can find? The King is in danger, and we must rescue him". I take off my helmet and clip it to my belt. The King freed me with his powers, and I must repay him. What I believe we need to do is gain control of Kradena again! Zeek: "I am sorry about the weapons. Some old guy on a farm insisted I take them. I will go back out and do better". Sanders: "We don't have the time to wait for you to get back, Zeek. The longer the kingdom is under control, there will be no proper way to obtain weapons from peasants". José: I nod my

Just a tip, this should not be read by children or overly sensitive. Thank you. Crimson: I rest in my room and am supremely annoyed that none of the guards have stopped by today. There has been no commotion, food deliveries, new clothes, nothing. I let them keep me longer because of my health, but I have yet to get any care. As I wait, I look down the rows of empty cells. Being the only one here is okay, as I grew up alone. It is nothing new to me, but for some reason, I miss talking with Michel and even Royce. He has not visited because he has so much on his plate. I chill out by taking showers and even a few baths. There is only so much to do. I practice my singing and a bit of drumming with the bars. Music is often soothing, and I remember my father singing me to sleep at night when he was alive. He was not very good at it, but he had a heart in every word he put out. He died in battle, and I remember the officer coming to our door holding his uniform and blood-stained armor.

King Royce: I rest on my bed and think about what to do regarding the new infrastructure plans. Then I get a panicked knock on my door. With a groan, I make my way over and open it. "What is it? Can't this wait till morning"? Samuel: "Not really. One of the prisoners fell unconscious, and she was very ill. It is the girl with the horns. The prisoner next to her suggests sending someone to her house to get one of her healing potions or something. The doctors are at a loss as to what to do for her. They have her on an IV". King Royce: Crimson is unconscious? Panic rushes through me, and I follow the guard to the cells. She is hooked up to a few machines and has a drip. I notice how low her heart rate is. I place my hand on her forehead, and she is ice cold. Michel: "I don't care what you think of her, but she does not deserve this! Get your ass moving and get one of her potions or something. Standing around is not helping you, moron"! I glare at the King, and he snarls back. I

Not to be read by children. Thank you :) Crimson: The snow falls, and it is quiet as I ready my gun. I looked through the scope, but I need help finding something in the field today. There are no rabbits, deer, foxes, squirrels, nothing. My hunger has driven me out here to hunt for meat. Rice is just not cutting it as food. My vision spins a bit. I'll need to go to the City. I get up and dust the snow off of myself. Suddenly, I find myself flying up into the air! My back hits a tree, and I fall deep into a pocket of snow. I am stunned but eventually shake out of it and slowly stand up. Looking around, I see nothing that may have attacked me like that. I feel something warm dripping down my back, so I lift up my clothing layer to see what it is. They are cuts, and I am bleeding. Using my powers, I simply heal myself. Then I hear a loud bark that makes me turn around to the noise. It is that deer again! He stands just a hand grab away. "Go away, you. I am not a deer like you. These