Chapter 12
"Susan!" Amelia couldn't believe her eyes at the woman who sat before her. The very pregnant woman got up and hugged her friend.
"Amelia, it is so good to see you," Susan smiled.
"You know each other?" Merlin asked, slightly confused how they would have bumped into one another.
"Yes, we used to work with one another for Malik," Amelia explained.
"Back up, how is that possible?" Eugene wanted to know.
"Well the keys I used to help us escape came from Susan. That must mean the patient at the doctor's office…" she trailed off.
"Rafe is terribly ill and I don't know how he got so sick. Doctors Caldwell and Lebowitz can't seem to find anything wrong with me or the baby but without him, I…" tears were starting to well up in her eyes.
"I'm working on getting him healthy again but I need to know how you managed to leave Malik without getting caught," Merlin paused and turned to Rapunzel and Eugene to explain.
"One does not leave Malik's castle unless you go out in a body bag. He keeps his inner circle very tight."
"Rafe and I escaped one night after my shift in the kitchen. I had found out that I was expecting and we both agreed that we wanted a better life for our child. Our quarters were located on the castle grounds but Rafe worked outside the castle doing roadwork. He decided the only way out was to claim he needed to return to the jobsite with a cart, as he had left some equipment that should have not been left out. The guard let him pass with me hiding in the cart. He pushed me in the cart until we were far enough away so as not to be seen, and then we left," Susan told them.
"That doesn't explain how Rafe got sick," Merlin pointed out.
"Well all the men in his crew at work had been called to the doctors the day before. They were told that they needed a physical," the pregnant woman said.
"And they happened to inject Rafe with the virus and you escape the next day? I don't like that," Eugene shook his head.
"Neither do I. It seems your husband made a deal with the devil," the wizard heaved a sigh.
"He would not have done so unless it was absolutely necessary," Amelia said.
"Why did you come to Corona? Of all the places you could go, why here?" Rapunzel asked.
"It was the closest city with a doctor. This is our first child and we have no family to seek help from," Susan was getting upset.
"My guess is that the doctor you saw told Malik of your situation. He knew that the possibility of you trying to leave was high and that whether your husband left or not, he would pay with his life but I'm not willing to give him the entire benefit of the doubt unless I can speak to him," Merlin pointed out.
"It would make it tough to trace back to him. Then while Corona's back was turned he'd attack," Eugene nodded.
"Exactly. My guess if he hasn't left the castle already, he will at dawn. By nightfall tomorrow, he will be at the gates," the wizard didn't like their chances.
"The duty falls to me to lead the men into battle with the King out of commission. I need to call the Generals together and we need to prepare for war," Eugene said. Rapunzel turned to him; the look of fear on her face was unmistakable.
"Eugene…" the name dropped off her tongue quietly and he pulled her to him.
"I must do what I am expected to do. I must protect Corona and her citizens," his words were brave but inside, his head was screaming for him to run.
"Then I'm going with you," the brunette said.
"Not this time Blondie," he shook his head and gave her a chaste kiss before leaving the room.
To Be Continued…