From Lost Prince to Commander

RUNNING

I did not think that I posed any danger to the democratic government now, and so did the rest of Miranda's family. The government would allow the unrest to pass, and everyone would soon forget me once again, or so we thought.

We were getting ready to go to sleep one moonless night when a military van pulled into our yard. At once, I became restless and wanted to escape while I still could, but Miranda's father asked me to stay with his voice in a low whisper, as it would be easier for them to spot and catch me running on the road at night.

Their grandmother went outside to speak to the soldiers who jumped off the vehicle, and truly, they were after me.

“Where is he?” I heard their leader ask in a clear baritone, his shotgun tightly clutched in his hand when my eyes peeped outside.

“Who are you asking about?”

“The Prince.”

My heart skipped beats. They knew I was here. Instantly, I found Miranda and grabbed her wrist.

“I need to leave. Now,” I insisted. “I must go.”

“Father says you should stay.”

“Then I will hide.”

We sneaked in the darkness, and she got me into the barn, covering me under stacks of dried wheat stalks. Then, she sneaked back, leaving me there.

The barn had many holes in its walls, and one allowed me to watch the van and the soldiers who stood in front of the house. I could see the motionless, large metallic shadow that was their van, before which the old woman stood speaking to them. She seemed to have everything under control, until their leader's voice boomed so angrily and loud it shook me where I hid.

“Get out of my way, woman.”

She was too slow to obey, and would pay for it, dearly. I saw all in slow motion as it happened after that, how his shadow raised the gun in his hand and how it hung in the air for a moment like an ax, before coming down upon the poor woman's head. I saw her own shadow crumple to the floor, and bit hard on my lip to restrain myself. Else, I would have given my position away, with my cry and her sacrifice would have come to a loss.

“Search this entire place. Everywhere within these four walls.” He barked.

I knew I couldn't stay there anymore. I had to be off.

Without wasting even a second, I shook the stalks off me, climbed out of the barn, and started to run as fast as my legs could carry me when they hit the ground. Nothing made me stop to turn and look, as I tried to put as much distance between myself and the house as I could.

It took my reaching the edge of the forest that led outside Como before I stopped, crashing carelessly to the floor to catch my breath. A minute later, I heard footsteps come after me, echoing in the darkness. Quickly, I got up from where I lay, found a tree with a large trunk and stood behind it, panting and waiting.

A quick plan was formed in my head. Near me was a large stone, and I would attack if it turned out to be any of the soldiers. I imagined myself picking it and slamming it into his head, where I would wham upon it until the skull cracked when I heard the sound of her voice in a soft whisper.

“Lucas?”

I got out of my hiding place to find her as she shed tears, crying and out of breath. She saw my form move through the darkness, and we caught each other in a tight embrace. It lasted minutes, as none of us was ready to let the other go. She had been my best friend for the past five years — which I only then realized — and now, her family put their lives on the line for me.

“Where will you go?” She asked when she summoned enough courage to tear herself from me.

“I don't know.” I answered, truthfully. All I knew was that I would be safe once I was outside the city. Where I would go, or what I would do once I got there was not yet planned, and even scary to think about at this point.

“I will come with you.”

“No, Miranda. Your place is here, in Como. Your family is here, and —”

“My Prince is going, and his family is here. We are your family too, or have you not realized that over all the time you've spent with us?”

I paused and swallowed. She was correct, but Como's government was after me too, and it was too dangerous for me to continue to stay on. Even speaking to her now was putting me in danger.

“Stay here and hide. When they leave, we will tell you, and you will return.”

“No. I have to go.” I insisted.

“And you will not let me come with you?”

“No.” I answered, thinking about how unlikely escaping with me was for her. I was only seventeen, and she was twenty. Her coming with me was only both of us setting ourselves up for a life of hardship. It was better for her to stay, and for me to go.

“Goodbye then. May God keep you safe.”

For the first time, I was willing to agree with the use of the deity. If he truly had any kindness left in him, then I would need him to work miracles to keep all of us safe, if we were to ever meet one another again. “Goodbye.”

I turned to go, to find my way through the darkness, when she called me again, desperation in her voice. When I turned to face her, she ran forward and her lips met mine in an unexpected kiss, her fingers combing their way through my hair.

We stood like that for a long time, savoring the taste of that one kiss until we pulled apart, still breathing each other in. It was the first time I kissed Miranda, or anyone at all, and nothing had prepared me for the feel of her lips against mine, moving gently.

“Goodbye, my Prince,” she whispered.

“Goodbye, Miranda.” I answered back, touching the scar for the first time ever. It was wet, her tears warm on my thumb when I pulled them again, and appreciating on a rare occasion how she got it in trying to save me.

A bright light flashed from afar, which I was sure belonged to the soldiers, and I did not wait to say anymore. I tore myself from her and continued to run, far into the waiting darkness and the destiny that lay beyond.