Take her away

Helen regretfully watched from across the room as the old lady took all the blame on herself.

Helen didn't really know much of the etiquette observed while in the king's presence. But was atleast sensible enough not to defend herself most especially at a time where she was on the king's wrong side. The best she could do was to silently watch the scene before her , being the one reason still keeping her alive and untouched, well apart from a few strips from the palace guards before being brought to the king.

" I apologize for her foolish ness , Your Highness. I promise it won't happen again, I'll take care of her." Dina added in a shaky voice probably on the verge of tears this time with her face almost kissing the marbled floors . It was as though she was defending a five year old.

King lchor watched the trouble maker from a distance for sometime with a furious and enraged gaze , noticeable by everyone in the room but unfortunately and fortunately Helen didn't notice as she was busy making up scenarios in her head regarding the current situation.

He then motioned his hand for his close man Cassius , who fastly reacted to the call and bent his head with one hand at the back and the other on his sword . " ....." The king quietly whispered something into Cassius ear , careful enough not to leave a single hint of what the two exchanged.

Helen's heart was now beating at a faster rate and her palms were all soaked with sweat. She hardly noticed a thing since all that mattered at a moment like this was her life. Her life was now in the king's hands and only costed him one call for it to vanish away.

Little did she know that all her assumptions were about to come to life and with a loud voice piercing through the silent room, mischievous words followed sending shivers down her spine.

" Take the girl away and severely punish her till further notice" .

She felt strong hands roughly lifting her up , the King's words playing uncontrollably in her mind like a sad song , with lyrics as daggers piercing through her heart mercilessly.

Helen finally released the tears that had fused a pain in her dry throat , since all that she could do now was to cry for her dear life .

Her knees were weak and swollen that they shook involuntarily but the guards were more than determined to drag her about as though she were a criminal. Of course she was a criminal, but not in a bad way. In her opinion , she meant no harm to the palace, her curiosity just got the hold of her .

Dina who was all along staring blankly at Helen looked away the moment their eyes met that she paused with a confused look this time.

No emotion was written on Dina's face . Was it because she wasn't going to be punished or was it something else. Helen wondered still fighting to take in her present situation.

How on earth did she end up here? Was she dead or was this all in her mind? Perhaps, she was in a comma? Questions started reeling in her mind as the guards dragged her away.

Whatever it was , this was the right time to move back to reality. To a life she couldn't call amazing but it was way better than the one before her.

They navigated down the hallway this time into a dimly lit part of it with disgusting stench of mold and decay feeling her nose.

"Ewww, what is that smell" . She quietly muttered to herself but loud enough for the guards to hear .

To her surprise, the guards didn't show any reaction to her words as if it was something usual or expected in such a place.

Cells were lined on both sides of the hallway , holding in one or two captives who randomly peered at her with desperate eyes. She could also hear the silent conversations exchanged behind her from every cell they moved past.

Other cells stood empty, their doors hanging open like gaping mouths yet completely dirty and mouldy compared to the ones occupied.

Helen's attention was now diverged from the captives to her destination like a lamb being led to it's slaughter .

At long last, the guards halted before a cell on the right, its door adorned with rusting hinges and a large, old-fashioned keyhole. One of the guards selected a key from the jingling bunch and twisted it into the keyhole .

The door was pulled open and they roughly shoved her in the moment the mechanism clicked.

As if she'd read their minds, Helen reacted first and anticipated the fall steadying herself, with outstretched arms all in the name of not touching the disgusting floor.

She landed awkwardly, her heart racing with fear and her senses reeling from the sudden confinement.

The guard locked the door unbotheredly and strolled away from the place leaving Helen confused and scared of what was to become of her.

She threw a couple of tantrums after that by banging on the door and yelling on top of her voice hoping that the guards would come back for her even when it sounded impossible.

" Come back , please...." She gave up, slowly backing away from the door finally accepting her fate.

She searched through the darkness for a fair looking spot next to the wall, where she curled up supporting her chin on her knees.

She was sweating profusely partly from the banging and yelling, but mainly because of the dark forms that were now forming in every corner of the cell.

" It's all in my mind." She tried to calm herself each minute that passed but her. Nyctophobia left no space to erase the illusions which scared her even more.

Helen was all alone now with the only comforter being her. She gathered any possible courage and comforted herself, trying to remember nice things like her best friend Sarah, her late mother's smile and hugs , slowly drifting to sleep.

In no time, her heart beat stabled and she was now sound asleep like she was now in the embrace of those she loved...