Desperation

Annie chuckled, a bitter edge to her voice. "It's a little too late for that." She turned and went inside, leaving me to follow behind quietly, my heart heavy with regret and confusion.

Joel was waiting for us inside. "Are you both done?" he asked, his tone flat but not unkind.

Annie replied curtly, "Yes, there's nothing else I have to say."

Joel nodded. "Alright then, first off, we need to get to the headquarters."

His words only deepened my confusion. "What headquarters?" I asked, looking between them for answers.

Annie looked reluctant, her face a mask of suppressed emotions. Joel took it upon himself to explain. "There's a group of people who have long been dissatisfied with the king's tyrannical rule. We've been gathering different factions and allies, waiting for the prince's succession day."

"The succession day?" I repeated, trying to piece together what he was saying.

Joel nodded. "Yes. On that day, everyone in the kingdom will be unguarded. It's their tradition to celebrate without heavy security, believing that no one would dare challenge their power. The king is too audacious, thinking no one can rival him. That's when we plan to strike, to minimize casualties on our side."

He continued, his voice growing more intense. "When we strike, the king and his son will be killed. Then we shall appoint our own ruler."

A chill ran down my spine. Joel looked at me with an earnest expression "I shall explain more when we get there. But for now, we have to leave."

We gathered what little belongings we had. Annie's eyes were cold, distant, a stark contrast to the warmth I had once known from her. The pain of her hatred was like a dagger to my heart.

As we moved stealthily through the dense woods, an unsettling feeling gnawed at the edges of my awareness. The forest, usually a sanctuary of rustling leaves and birdsong, felt oppressive, as if it were holding its breath. I glanced at Joel, whose sharp eyes scanned the surroundings, his expression growing more tense with each passing moment. Annie walked beside me, her silence heavy with unspoken emotions.

Suddenly, Joel halted and raised his hand, signaling us to stop. "What's going on?" I whispered, my heart pounding.

Joel's face darkened. "We're being followed," he said grimly. "Damn it, maybe the prince sent people to follow me. We need to hurry."

The urgency in his voice spurred us into motion. We broke into a run, weaving through the trees, our breaths coming in short, panicked gasps. The sound of distant voices and the crunch of leaves underfoot confirmed our fears. They were getting closer.

As we sprinted, the whistling of arrows cutting through the air filled my ears. "Watch out!" Joel shouted, his voice barely audible over the chaos. We ducked and dodged, but the arrows rained down relentlessly. I saw one arrow heading straight for me, its deadly point glinting in the dim light.

Before I could react, Annie lunged forward, taking the arrow meant for me. "Sister, nooo!" I screamed, catching her as she stumbled, blood already soaking through her clothes.

"Keep moving!" Joel commanded, his face a mask of determination and fear. We pressed on, supporting Annie as best we could. She was bleeding heavily, each step she took leaving a trail of crimson in the dirt.

Up ahead, we saw a cave, a dark mouth offering temporary refuge. We dashed inside, the cool, damp air a stark contrast to the frantic heat of our flight. "No, no, no, sister!" I cried, lowering her gently to the ground. "Why did you do that?"

Annie's face was pale, her breathing labored. "Because you're my sister," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"But I thought you hated me," I choked out, tears streaming down my face as I reached to pull the arrow out.

Joel grabbed my hand urgently. "No! Don't pull it out. If you do, she'll die quickly from too much blood loss."

Desperation clawed at my chest. "The arrow seems poisoned," I screamed, feeling utterly helpless. "Sister, no, no, no!"

Annie managed a weak smile. "You really worry for me," she said, her eyes softening.

"Why wouldn't I worry for you, sister?" I sobbed. "This is all my fault."

She shook her head slightly. "I should have approached you long ago. I'm the stubborn one. But I don't want you to die, so just go with Joel. If they catch up to us, they would kill us all."

I shook my head vehemently. "No way. I'm never leaving you again."

Her grip on my hand tightened for a brief moment. "I'm the one at fault. I should've told you everything sooner. But now, you need to survive. Just go with Joel. If they find us, it's over for all of us."

"No, sister, never!" I cried, my voice breaking. "I'd rather die with you here."