Chapter 4– Father
Bo was out again tonight, doing whatever she pleases with whomever she pleases. Father does not care, because he is too concerned with what is going on in his country. I would care, but this is so routine at this point, I just trust that she can take care of herself. Even though she's younger, she can fight better than me and hold her own just as much as I can. I finish writing in my journal, and then open my book about the history of Kalevala to read more about my home planet. Our family moved when I was just a baby, so I love reading more about where I came from. Soon, I felt my eyes getting heavy.
The light from the window shone on my bed as I drifted off to sleep. My dreams were filled with dark shadows, a light that came, and then a bright sword. I felt my body being lifted from the ground and then my entire body dropped, and I jolted in my sleep. I am then transported to a cave in my dream where the stalactites and stalagmites kept getting closer and closer until my side was cut through.
Then, I was back in the palace in the throne room. Dark shadows surrounded me except one light one which I walked towards. Suddenly, I hear and feel in my body a loud bang.
My body wakes me up, and moments after I realize the shot in the dark was not only in my dream, it was in reality. The sound penetrated my soul and made my ears ring. It was close.
Bo had beat me out of the room and was already on the run to figure out what was happening. I had fallen asleep reading, and I felt as if I was still in a dream state, so I jumped out of my bed as fast as I could and followed Bo. Commotion was everywhere. People were shouting, swearing, and yelling orders all around. I had no idea there were this many people in the palace. Bo runs down the hallway to the main corridor and I follow her running into all kinds of people. One large guard knocked me down, and I fell forward onto my hands and knees.
"I'm sorry Milady," he said, helping me to my feet. Bo did not stop.
"What is going on?" I asked. He looked grave.
"Go back to your room and stay there. I will escort you myself."
"No, I will do nothing of the sort." I stood up, dusted myself off, and kept on going after Bo. The guard insisted but I refused. I continued on trying to find Bo. I think the guard kept following behind me. I felt a cold liquid running down my knee.
A smell reaches my nose, and it is a smell I never want to smell again, and it is coming from my father's corridors. I quickly learned it was blood. My heart stopped. I dropped to my knees. I know what has happened before I reach the scene. Bo screamed. It was an angry scream. I crawl and push people out of the way until I see father lying on the floor– dead.
There was blood everywhere, and medical workers were working as fast as possible to get my father up and to a medical facility. But in my heart of hearts I know it is too late.
My body doesn't move, and everything feels like it is going in slow motion but fast at the same time. I hear distant screams mixed with Bo swearing words I had never heard before. A pull appears under my body and I am being dragged away from the scene. Away from my father and away from the blood spilling all over the floor. The world goes black.
As soon as I open my eyes, the memory of what happens comes flooding back and it is like I have to relive the moment again. I think my body is too shocked to cry. It must have been a dream. I sit straight up and immediately feel my head pounding and the world starts spinning again.
"Easy," came a familiar voice, "Drink some water."
It was Tal; I already knew. He or the guard must've been the one who dragged me away. I lay there in silence as he holds my hand. My knee is throbbing. Then, the dreadful thought about carrying the world on my shoulders comes back. My father was dead. I was the oldest. I would succeed. I would lead.