I apologize for not updating sooner, but this story is going to take a lot of planning, i realize that i have thought up of A LOT of plot lines for this story and if i don't write it properly none of it will make any sense. So it may take me longer to update this story seeing as i have to plan out carefully what to include in each chapter. Also it was my birthday on the 22nd so i've been celebrating for a few days and haven't found a lot of time to write anything:L so yay i'm now 16 years old! Anyway i hope you enjoy this, any feedback would be VERY useful as this is going to be a complex story to write!
In the dark hall of The Sanctuary Caleb, Blake and Sheldon, crept along the corridors in a deadly silence. It was after hours, all the other boys were in bed, and to be caught sneaking around The Sanctuary at this time would result in execution. Only half of the thousands of boys ever made it out of The Sanctuary. Most of them were killed by The Masters, or driven insane with fear or killed in fights to the death organised by The Masters. There were even some boys who loathed life in The sanctuary so much that they preferred to take their own life just as a way of escaping the horror they endured on a daily basis.
"This had better be worth the risk." Whispered Caleb so softly it was almost inaudible.
"Trust me this is worth the risk." Said Sheldon equally as softly.
The boys made their way along the deserted corridor and stopped abruptly when they got to the door at the end of it. Caleb had never been to this part of The Sanctuary before. The Sanctuary was hundreds of years old and was a huge building made of dark grey stone, even after 11 years of being held in The Sanctuary there were still parts that the boys were unfamiliar with.
Blake slowly and careful opened the door as to not make any sound, once open it revealed a small room filled with swords, shields, bows, arrows, spears and any other weapon you could think of. Caleb immediately felt anger rise within him.
"Is this it?" He questioned.
Coming across deadly weapons was not a rare thing to the boys, they had to practise with them for 8 hours, 6 days a week.
"Your not looking properly." Said Sheldon.
Caleb took another glance around the room and still nothing caught his eye which might cause excitement. Sensing his confusion Blake stepped forward into the room and went over to the far left corner here he picked up the end of what seemed to be a huge thick rope. Caleb immediately grasped what they were so excited about.
"This one rope could be all we need to get out of this place." Said Blake simply.
"The Sanctuary walls are hundreds of feet high, is that thing long enough?" Caleb asked.
"It seems to be pretty long, and even if it is a little short it'll still be long enough to lower us down far enough so that the fall will only break our legs, and I'd rather have 2 broken legs out there than be stuck in here and be killed." Said Blake darkly.
"You won't get very far with 2 broken legs, getting over the walls will be the easy bit, it's finding somewhere to go after, which is the hard bit. After the Masters find out we're missing they'll send search parties after us to find us." Said Caleb.
"I say lets just do it now, we've never had a better opportunity." Said Sheldon.
"No. This kind of thing needs careful planning, we can't rush it." Said Caleb.
"We can come back here tomorrow night after we've thought up what to do." He said.
"Agreed?" He asked.
They boys looked at each other.
"Agreed." They said in unison.
The King of Mersham called for his most loyal friend, Dimitri, he was not only a skilled warrior but also the King's advisor. The king passed him the grim letter he had received.
"What do the Palarzzi want with my daughter?" He asked.
Palarzzi was a city about a hundred miles from Mersham, they had been enemies for years but it had been atleast two hundred years since the Two cities had engaged in a battle.
Dimitri pondered the letter for a moment.
"I suspect the Palarzzi are trying to intimidate you. Your daughter is admired and cherished by every being here is in Mersham, if she was to be kidnapped, it would lower moral and certainly start a war." He said.
"But why do the Palarzzi want to start a war?" Asked the King, beginning to become agitated.
"That I cannot answer."
"What do you suggest I do?"
"The chances of the Palarzzi rallying their army and attacking is very low, even they are aware our army is the best in the land, possibly the world. For now I would keep your daughter safe, double the guards just in case, you can never be too careful, and keep this only between ourselves, there is no point worrying anyone else over this matter."
Cornelia was sat in the grand hall, attending a lavish feast in her honour. This was nothing new to her, but she had realized that ever since she had started to approached her 18th birthday, more and more feasts were being held for her, and each time a different young man of 18 years old would attend. This time it was Connor Calford, he was what was known as in Mersham as an Elite. An Elite was a person trained from an early age to become a top soldier. The Elites were the very best Mersham had to offer, and in The King and Queen's opinion he was the perfect man to become the future prince of Mersham. Cornelia felt like her fate was already secured, it was not rare that a girl's parents would choose the man she would marry and Cornelia knew that If the King and Queen had it their way Connor Calford would be the man she would wed.
Meanwhile back at The Sanctuary, Caleb was in yet another training session with Master Bastien. It was a particularly gruelling day, it was bitterly cold day and the wind blew roughly. Caleb found himself once again shooting arrows at targets. He hated this task, and Master Bastien knew it, therefore he took great pleasure in watching Caleb struggle to hit the targets in the roaring wind. Caleb was a skilled warrior, but using a bow and arrow was probably his weakest point, but give him a sword and he could take on anyone who faced him. After many failed attempts to hit the target, Master Bastien stopped shouting at him and simply said:
"Report to the Master of Discipline."
These were the words dreaded by all boys at The Sanctuary. The Master of Discipline was the most feared Master of them all and was notorious for handing out horrific beatings. He was also responsible for the deaths of many hundreds of boys. But Caleb wasn't scared. Years of being at the hand of fierce beatings had taught him that being scared certainly didn't change anything. Nevertheless he made his way slowly to the Chamber where the Master of Discipline dwelled, it's walls and doors were deliberately thin so that anyone who passed could hear the screams and pleas from whoever was inside. When Caleb reached the Chamber the dark figure of the Master stood outside waiting for him. A dark hood covered his face, not one of the boys had ever seen his face and many boys believed that the devil himself was under the hood.
"Ahhh Caleb, Master Bastien tells me that you have been having a few off days at target practise." He purred. He had a very calm voice. Caleb said nothing.
"He also tells me how cocky you seem to be becoming." He said although this time it sounded a lot more threatening. Once again Caleb said nothing.
"Come into my Chamber, and close the door behind you." He commanded. Caleb did as he was asked.
It was cold, dark and damp in the room, there were many candles, giving off minimal light, and each wall was covered in metal instruments that Caleb shuddered to think what they were used for.
"Did you know, Caleb, that Cockiness is a sin, planted inside a young boy like yourself by the devil himself." He continued.
"There is only one way rid a boy of that awful sin." Said the Master.
Caleb knew the beating would come any second now. The Master picked up the Metal studded belt and touched it, almost caressing it, then in a flash he began to bring it down upon Caleb. The pain was immense and severe, blood poured from everywhere the metal tore at his skin, his arms, torso, face, legs, surely he would die of pain. But Caleb restrained himself from letting out a scream or any sound for that matter, and this only enraged the Master more. His lashes became quicker and more violent and the anger within Caleb began to rise. Eleven years of this kind of treatment, Eleven years of pain and horror. Eleven years if being taught how to kill. Caleb would now put this training to good use.
"Your weak! The Devil has corrupted you!" The Master screamed at him, attempting to taunt him. Taunts about the devil did not effect Caleb, but being told he was weak? That was enough to push him over the edge. In one swift movement Caleb dodged a blow that was about to strike him and pulled a sharp metal dagger which hung from the wall, in no time at all Caleb lurched forward and drove the dagger into the side of the Master's neck. He instantly dropped the belt as blood began to spurt out from his neck. He feel to his knee's and he bagan to turn white as a pool of dark blood began to form around him. His death was slow and painful, and Caleb watched with a blank expression on his face until the Master dropped down on the floor and took his final breath. With that Caleb turned around and ran from the room down to the courtyard where Blake and Sheldon were training.
"Come on guys, lets go get that rope." He said quickly.
"You said we would plan it first and go in a few days!" Blake protested.
"Yeah, welll, there's been a change of plan, we're getting out of this place. Tonight."
I really hope you liked this, it's rather fun writing such a dark story! PLEEEASE Review! just as a special birthday treat for me! Ahhh now i'm finished i'm going to go enjoy the beautiful sunshine, yes i live in England so having a hot day is a very rare thing!