the lord and the alleycat [COMPLETED]

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven

I began to hyperventilate, collapsing on the ground. My hands clutched at my hair as I tried to calm down my racing thoughts. All I could see was images of the alley-cats in dark prison cells or worse—hanging from a noose. After a long while I heard my name being called faintly, and then footsteps running up from behind.

“Amara?” I heard Bennet say, worriedly. I was so distraught I couldn’t answer him properly, except to whisper his name. He hurried into my line of sight, pushing my hair from my face. “Talk to me, Amara.”

“They’re gone,” I was able to whimper out. “They’re gone, Bennet. The Guardians found them.”

He straightened from his crouched position to look around. I followed his gaze as my throat ceased up again. Wrinkles creased in his forehead as he turned back to me, picking me up in his arms. “You’re shaking.”

“They’re gone,” I repeated, digging my face into his chest. “My family…” Bennet shushed me calmly as he ducked back out of the Alley-way. I hear the clink of armor and I tense in his arms.

“It’s alright, I’m going to put you in the carriage, okay?” Bennet whispered to me, before opening the carriage door and placing me gently inside. “Hide under the blankets.” I mustered up enough energy to pull a few over me as I felt the carriage begin to move.

“Halt!” I hear a deep voice yell. “Lord Bennet, we had arrived at your home to find you and the accused gone. Where is she?”

“Snuck out last night with her sister,” Bennet lied confidently back. I continued to hold my breath as we awaited the Guardian’s answer.

“Check the carriage!” He demanded and within seconds the door is ripped open. A pair of arms began to pull at the blankets surrounding me. My heartbeat continued to increase, but it felt as though it was going to jump from my chest when I felt hands on my hair. They grab clumps of it and pull me from the carriage by my hair, dumping me in the mud on the ground.

“Don’t touch her!” Bennet yelled as he tried to rush towards me, but was held back by two Guardians. His face was panicked as they hauled me up by my armpits.

“It’s okay, Bennet,” I said, pleading with him so he wouldn’t get hurt.

A Guardian slapped me, “You will not speak to him in such an informal manner, you criminal.” I landed on the ground again, gripping my face. Bennet was able to punch one of the Guardians and shake off the other, running to me.

He cupped my cheek over my own hand and looked into my eyes, “We will get this figured out.” Before I could reply, Bennet was torn from me. My wrists and ankles were shackled with chains as another carriage pulled up, but this one was a prison cell on wheels. I was thrown in, crumpling to the floor. Bennet was screaming as he thrashed against the Guardians, but I couldn’t bear to face him anymore. I sat facing the corner as we pulled away, Bennet’s voice lost in the city noise. I cried silently, over my losing my family, Hailey, and then over losing the newest addition of my life. All because of the Duke. My tears soon turned to searing anger as I realized all of this was the Duke’s fault. Olivia would never have had to change her name to Hailey to protect herself. We wouldn’t have nearly starved to death. I might not have met Bennet without the situations leading me here, but he wouldn’t be beating himself up over what was happening to me. And the Alley-way would still be safe.

“Hey, hey, love,” I hear a Guardian say outside my cage. “Don’t be sad. You’ll be convicted soon enough and join the rest of the criminals—six feet under.” He laughed and a few other Guardians joined in. I sniffed and wiped my eyes, determined to not allow my emotions to take over me again. I kept my stare in the corner, trying to formulate a plan of escape. I studied the chains, but couldn’t find a weak point. Before long, the carriage pulled to a stop and a Guardian hauled me from the cage. He pulled on my chains as I was drug to the dungeons. Prisoners wailed at us as we passed and I kept my eyes down.

“Amara?” I heard a voice to the left of me, and I glanced up to meet the eyes of Martin, an older alley-cat. He was with quite a few of the alley-cats, and I smiled in greeting as I was tugged past. I didn’t see Hailey, so I was happy the Princess kept her promise.

At least she’s safe, was all I could think as I was thrown into my own cell. They had provided a small straw-filled cot that I didn’t dare to sit on. The door was slammed behind me, so I decided to lean against the steel door blockading me from the outside. The wails continued as I assessed the situation.

“I have been caught for a crime I didn’t commit, but will most likely be convicted of, and will soon perish at the hands of a hangman.” I said aloud to myself, tilting my head back to touch the door. “I can get out of this.”

Probably not. My head said back to me and I sighed. Yes, probably not.