Gale

I know I'm going to die, I don't know how I know I just do. A loud crash, women and children screaming, Coran shouting to me but I can't make out anything he's saying. The last thing that goes through my mind is an image of my beautiful Arabella and how much I will miss her, and then darkness surrounds me, consuming me in a whirl of confusion and pain.

My name is Gale Vilhelm . I am 23 years old, although everyone still thinks that I am 18 years old. Oh well I guess that just means that I can get away with some things still. Unless I want to go get a drink, then they think I'm lying about my age.

I have a beautiful wife named Arabella and she is the love of my life. We have been married for 3 wonderful years and I love her with all my heart. We are talking about having children and she is so excited; me on the other hand, uh, yeah, I'm not so sure if I want to have children just yet. But I guess that doesn't matter now that I'm dead or about to die. Now I wish we had children but that would mean leaving one more thing behind and I couldn't do that, not to our child or Arabella.

This is my tale.

It seems to take a lifetime to die when you know that the end is near. There is so much darkness and sorrow. I don't know which way is up, down, left, or right. The only thing that I know for certain is that I'm dying and there is a voice guiding me, I only need to follow it.

"Gale", the voice calls to me.

Where is that voice coming from?

"Gale hold on, it's me, coran don't let go"

Is coran dead too?

"Don't die on me Gale, your wife needs you, I need you."

"What's his wife's name Coran?"

Who's that and why do they want to know about Arabella?

"Coran, if you want your brother to live then I suggest you tell us exactly who his wife is."

"Cor-an don…" My voice trails off and I can't seem to find it for some time.

"What did he say?" I know Coran understood me, he knows me very well, but he doesn't seem to hear me.

"I don't know what he just said, all I could make out was my name and that was it."

I could picture his face as he said it: full of worry for me and no other emotion showing, I know he heard me, and just to make sure I say it in my head and hopefully he can hear me.

Since we're brothers we can communicate through our thoughts. It's weird I know but it does come in handy.

Coran, don't tell them anything about Arabella, I don't know who they are but I don't trust the sound in their voices.

These people are Alem's men, I'm sorry but I have to tell them, if I don't then they will let you die and Arabella would kill me if I let you die.

I don't care, I don't want them to know the biggest secret she has, ever since Alem started sending out his men to try and kill all of the shape shifters she hasn't been the same, she can't even go out for a long period of time anymore, for fear of being found.

I know, but I have to. I'm so very sorry Gale.

"So, who is your brother's wife? Are you going to tell us or will we have to just let your brother die and then make you tell us?"

"No, you said you would help him." Coran sighed a huge sigh and he only does that when he knows that he has no other choice. "I'll tell you on my own."

CORAN DON'T!!!!!

"Her name is Arabella. Sh- she's a shape shifter."

I had to, I'm sorry. Arabella's my best friend, and I would never do anything to harm her without a good reason and saving you is all that matters right now.

"Wait. The Arabella? Your brother is married to the most powerful shape shifter in the world?! You're lying! And for that your brother will die!"

"NO! I'm telling the truth! If you don't believe me ask him yourself when he gets better and can speak for himself."

Please do this Gale, tell them.

Why should I? You just told them didn't you? I don't see why I have to betray Arabella too.

They don't believe me, you heard them. You have to. Unless you want us both to die.

I will NEVER sell my wife out to these people, besides I'm a dead man anyway so there really is no point in telling them. I'm not going to talk to you this way anymore!

I pushed Coran from my mind and focoused all of my remaining strength on the conversation.

"If you are telling the truth then you best hope your brother pulls through this.

"He will and when he does he will tell you what I have. That his wife is the most powerful shape shifter in the world."

My consious started slipping and the last thing that I can remember is that Alem's men lifted me onto a soft surface. I welcomed the comfort and finally slipped into a dreamless sleep.

I opened my eyes and saw Coran sitting by my side. I tried to turn over but when I tried to move it felt like a thousand needles going up my body.

"Go away." I whispered to him. I wasn't going to be in the same room with a traitor even if I was in serious pain.

"You're awake. It's SO good to finally see your eyes open."

"I said, go away."

"Come on you don't really mean that, I'm your brother."

"You mean you WERE my brother."

"Gale"

"NO! Go away! Go tell your new friends that I'm awake."

"Fine, I'll be right back." He dragged his feet as he left the room and I couldn't help but feel a little sorry for him.

Coran was back in about five minutes with five heavily armed men.

"Ah, I see you're awake. Get him up and bring him to Alem's chambers, I'm sure he'd love to see him." Two of them came over to my bed and roughly pulled me to my feet. The pain was hardly bareable. I could barely stand up.

"Be careful, he just woke up and he's not strong enough to walk on his own, let me help him."

Coran started to walk over to me but with a nod from Kasim, Alem's right hand man, two other men grabbed Coran and tied his hands behind his back.

"NO! Let go of me! I need to help my brother."

Kasim responded by snapping his fingers and I find a cold piece of metal held to my throat.

Coran stopped instantly and looked at Kasim with pleading eyes, "OK I stopped now tell him to take the knife away from my brother's throat. I won't fight you anymore." He looked at me and I could see into his eyes that he was telling the truth.

"I don't know if I should, maybe you're just saying that so I would take the knife away and the next thing I know I have a knife in my back!"

"No, I swear I will not fight anymore, you have my word Kasim." Coran bowed his head to show his promise was true.

"Fine, take the knife away and let's get a move on, the boss doesn't have much patience."

So we walked down the long corridors in silence until we hit a dead end at the far end of the mansion and there were big double doors standing before us. Kasim opened them and we stepped inside.

To Be Continued…