The loud shouts of men. The horses whining. The jostling and rumbling as the wagon went against a bump on the road, swerving here and there as children and mothers screamed in terror and ran out of the way, pulling their kids to safety. The pumping of blood, so loud and constant, why wouldn't it stop? It barely let me listen as the shouts grew closer and closer. The clanging of steel deafening our ears as we tried to make sense of what was going on. The pile of bodies that littered the ground, their faces now a ghostly reflection that faded into dust. Liam. He called to me and I ran over to hug him, but before I got there, the cursed red blotch spread over his chest, the sword pushing its way through his body and sticking out, leering at me. Liam gasped, mouthing out my name before he fell over. Behind him stood the Shade. Or was it Darin? I blinked and the person's face blurred, becoming indistinguishable, but the feral smile remained, laughing and gloating, coming closer, swiftly, like a bird soaring down on its prey. I couldn't move. I couldn't think as it hit me.

~~~

Silence. Only silence.

I could barely even hear my own breathing, my own heart pumping blood. Was I asleep or was I awake? I didn't even know if I was actually alive.

My throat was so sore from screaming. The nightmares that would crawl into my head would just not leave me alone. Maybe they were the only thing that kept me from believing I was dead.

I stayed slumped on the cold hard ground, shivering, trembling, covered in sweat. Flashes of the recent nightmare played in my mind, keeping me from moving. As if I could. I probably couldn't even lift a finger. And I wouldn't dare try to, in fear of causing the pain from my side and my neck to hit me again with full force.

It wasn't Darin, it couldn't be. But the image of him standing behind Liam, it had looked so real. It terrified me. But it wasn't him. It wasn't! Go away!

I tensed, having heard a shrill scream. It took me a good few minutes to realize it had come from me. I gulped and thought of something else instead.

Had I done the right thing? Had killing Darin been the right thing? I had already gone through this thought hundreds of time, yet I always came back to it. If I hadn't killed him, the Shade would have done so. And they could have found out about the Varden.

But who are the Varden? All I knew is that they opposed the king. And Uncle Liam and Darin worked for them.

And King Galbatorix. He didn't seem so bad. He could make you believe the whole world was wrong, and he was right. And I would believe it, had I not seen the poverty and injustices that struck the cities.

It was his fault.

His fault. Not mine.

His fault.

Or mine?

I thought I heard footsteps getting closer to me, but I hadn't seen anyone in a long time. How long exactly? I turned towards the sound, but I didn't see anything. Oh. Wait. I had my eyes closed.

I opened them a bit and closed them right up as a bright light blinded me. I instinctively covered my eyes with my handsbut was taken by surprise as someone yanked my arm and pulled me up to my feet, making me cry in pain.

My legs failed me and I fell back to the floor, instantly covering my eyes with my free arm.

"Get up!" called a rough voice and the person yanked me back up.

I stumbled back and forth as if in a drunk stupor. My body was really tired and I thought I might just pass out from the pain.

I squinted my eyes and looked down at the ground that swirled below me, and felt hands bind mine in chains. I was pulled away, but could barely keep my step and I kept stumbling and falling to the point that they lifted me up and had my feet dangling. My eyes tried to adjust to the light, and I kept whimpering in pain with almost every step the soldiers took.

I was taken into the king's throne room. Now what? I wasn't ready to find out what was going to happen to me.

The soldiers kept a hold on me as I could barely keep myself up. I let my head loll to the side and kept my eyes closed. On no account did I want to see the king. Or anyone for the matter.

"Kailee, look at me." His voice was soft and soothing, almost comforting. But I still didn't want to look at him.

"Kailee," he said a bit more stern.

Ugh, well, I would have to look at him sooner or later. I lifted my head up a bit and winced, my neck and jaw still very sore. I looked at him as best as I could, my eyes still not well adjusted to the light.

The king sat on his throne, looking down at me with an unreadable expression. The room was silent for a long while, in which no one else dared speak as the king pondered over his thoughts. Every minute that passed made me even more nervous, and more tired, the pain ever present in my body.

When he spoke, at last, he spoke in a soft, almost fatherly tone.

"Kailee, you have gravely disappointed me. I thought you were smarter than what you have shown me. Your actions have cost me the opportunity to destroy the Varden. Our common enemy."

I tried to keep my eyes on him as he spoke, but all I wanted was to drop to the floor and forget about everything I had ever known.

"I have had many men killed and tortured for lesser mistakes. And I should be doing the same to you. But I believe you are brilliant and talented for your age, Kailee, much more than you have shown me. I will take you in, and you will help me. I don't want you to disappoint me again, understood?"

Take me in? At this point, I didn't care anymore. Liam and Darin were gone, and the Varden? What was so important about the Varden that it had cost Liam and Darin's lives? Maybe it was the Varden's fault? Or King Galbatorix? I was so confused and remained quiet, ignoring the king as the internal battle took place within my messed up mind.

But that was a mistake. I felt a tight grip take a hold of me as if wanting to squeeze the life out of me. My head was forced up so as to see the king, who was staring down at me with narrowed eyes.

"Is it understood, Kailee?"

The grip tightened painfully, and I whimpered, not knowing how much more pain I could take. Did I have anything to live for?

'Just remember, stay strong, always keep fighting, and keep your mind safe.'

'You must do everything you can to get this to the Varden. Liam gave his life for this, Kailee.'

Liam's andDarin's words suddenly popped up in my mind, clearing the raging battle that was wearing me down. How could I have forgotten Liam's words? The promise I made Darin? Did I even have a chance to fulfill it?

"Yes...my king." Might as well give it a shot, I didn't have anything left to lose anyway. Always keep fighting.

I felt the grip tighten for a few moments and then disappear. I probably would have fallen to the floor had the soldiers not been holding me.

"Good, we will begin tomorrow. Be ready."

The king dismissed us, giving the soldiers orders to take me to my new room. When we got there, a maid was already there to whom I was given to. She carefully took me to wash and undressed me, giving view to all the wounds I had. They were ugly, but she didn't say a word as she scrubbed of all the grime, dirt, and blood stuck to my skin and hair. I would whimper and bite my lips trying to suppress the screams as she'd pass over a wound.

When most of the dirt and blood were scrubbed off and the water was as clear as mud, she took me out, dried me, and carefully tended to my numerous wounds, which was another painful task. Then, she combed my hair, fighting with all the tough tangles, and dressed me up in clean clothes. They weren't much, but they were the cleanest I had ever worn in my life.

After being dressed, the maid brought me food and water, which she tried to feed me. I refused, although I had not eaten in days and felt extremely weak, I could barely keep my eyes open anymore.

"Come on, child, you have to eat," she said softly, but stern.

I shook my head, just looking at the food made me feel nauseous. Can't I just sleep? Sleep and forget. Forget about everything. About the king. About Darin. About Liam. My dear, Uncle Liam. Why? Always keep fighting.

I felt bad for almost forgetting their words. But what could I do? What was there to fight for? The Varden. They had died for the Varden. Opposing Galbatorix.

Galbatorix. It was his fault.

Always keep fighting.So be it.

A couple of tears fell down my cheek, and I closed my eyes. I was starting to drift off and lose conscious when suddenly I felt something touch my cheek. Reluctantly, I opened my eyes and raised my hand to feel what had touched me.

The maid was looking at me, her blue-grey eyes filled with a mix of kindness and sadness? Or was it pity? I couldn't tell, but she gently wiped the tears away and sat next to me, pulling me close to her and wrapping an arm around me.

It felt...strange, to be embraced, but comforting. She didn't say anything, but hummed as she sifted her fingers through my now untangled hair, as little by little, I drifted off to sleep.

I promise Darin. I love you, Liam."I will avenge you.

I promise.