If this is the first chapter you have read, please go back to read the other chapters. If you've read the other ones, then part 2 is coming up next. If you are one of these people that hate OCs, then you'll like Part 2 better than part 1. If you love them... I'm going to say I'm sorry in advance... I hope you don't like Eric... too much... or Lizzy... or Helen... or the waitress... or Jerry... or Alex...Sorry...Well, on that happy note, Enjoy!

Chapter 22: Axel?

I was in a small pitch black room that contained no furniture, only hay for me to lie on. Tomorrow will be my third day without food or water. It's so cold. How long will it be before I have the chance to run? Then again, look at what happened when I got caught. I asked myself in pity. Freedom was so refreshing, but the memory of it only made the confinement even worse. He would be back for me tomorrow. How strong will my resolve be then, to defy him?

I heard a rustling outside the door. Am I to die once more for his enjoyment before my so called brother returns? The door opened and all I could see was the figure of a man. He rushed inside, tore off this jacket, and wrapped it around me.

"Dustfinger?" I asked in amazement.

"You look like shit. You know that, right kid?" He said in his gruff voice.

"Don't worry about me. Are you ok?" I asked looking into his sad brown eyes.

"I'm fine." He replied.

"No you're not. You're only doing this to get back at him for burning your only way home." I stated.

"Let's get Slivertongue." He said as he helped me up. We tiptoed two sheds down to the one where they were keeping Slivertongue; I mean Mo, Maggie, and Elinor. Dustfinger pulled out his lock breaking kit and began breaking the lock. He was having trouble because of his burnt hands but still got it unlocked in under a minute. He opened the door just enough to slip through and we hurried inside.

"So, I hear you've done it again, Silvertongue!" Dustfinger began, keeping his voice to a whisper.

"They say the poor boy still hasn't uttered a word. I can tell you, it's a horrible feeling, suddenly landing in someone else's story." Dustfinger continued.

"What are you two doing here?" Elinor barked. She was a middle aged woman who dressed like a granny.

"Leave them alone, Elinor." Silvertongue said underneath his breath.

"How are your hands?" He continued.

"They put cold water on them in the kitchen, but the skin is still as red as the flames that licked at it." Dustfinger replied after a nervous shrug. He really wants to get out of here. I thought to myself.

"Ask him what they want." Elinor hissed.

"I thought it would be obvious." I whispered.

"He's here to break us all out. Why else would I be here?" I continued as Dustfinger tossed a ring of keys to her.

"Stealing car keys from Basta wasn't easy, and a word of thanks might not be out of place, but we can think about that later. We don't want to be hanging around here any longer. Let's get out of here." Dustfinger said as he cautiously opened the door to look out.

"There's a sentry posted in the church tower, but the guards are keeping a watch on the hills, not the village. The dogs are in the kennels, and even if we do have to deal with them, luckily." Dustfinger said as he got cut off by me.

"They like Dustfinger and I better than Basta." I finished for him.

"Why should we trust him?" Elinor asked to Slivertongue.

"Suppose that there is some sort of devilry behind this?" She continued.

"I want to take you with me, that's my only motive!" Dustfinger hissed in defense.

"He can't drive, you have a car, and no one gets out of this town on foot, it's beneficial for everyone." I told the truth.

"So the truth comes out! He just wants to save his own skin! That's why…" Elinor began to go on a rampage, but Silvertongue cut her off before she could go any further.

"I don't care why he's helping us, Elinor. We have to get away from here, that's what matters. But we're going to take someone else with us too." Silvertongue said.

"Who?" Dustfinger asked uneasily. He's hiding something.

"The boy. The one I condemned yesterday to the same fate as you." Silvertongue replied. I completely zoned out of the conversation as I tried to figure out what he was hiding. He began to pick the lock on the shed next door, and I saw him nervously take his eye off the lock to look up to the sentry. Why should he be so nervous? The guard up there is always asleep by now. But he wasn't. That's odd. I took a good look around, we were in the heart of the village, but I heard the grumble of guards on duty.

My necklace, the one I received from a woman who is now gone, was hot to the touch. I pulled it out and it was a pulsing blue. But, it was blood red when I first got it. I wondered to myself. A small, dark haired, Arab boy suddenly bust out of the shed.

"Devils!" He cried as Silvertongue and Dustfinger tried to calm him down.

Maggie, a small twelve year old girl, Silvertongue's daughter, brushed passed him and whispered," If you stay here, you'll see some real devils."

"Everyone, take your shoes off." Dustfinger commanded.

"You'll make too much noise with shoes on." He continued as he raced off. I followed closely. He suddenly stopped to peer around the next corner.

"Liar." I whispered in his ear.

"They're watching the town. We won't all make it." I continued putting emphasis on the all.

"I don't like what you're suggesting." Dustfinger muttered.

"What are you suggesting?" Silvertongue asked. I kissed the top of Dustfinger's forehead, and it suddenly dawned on me how to finally escape form this inescapable village. Thank you, Press. I silently thought.

"Wait until my signal." I said to Dustfinger.

"What signal?" He asked as it dawned on him what I was about to do.

"You'll recognize it." I said as I slipped off without a sound. I jumped from roof top to roof top, hoping that this would work, or rather, would happen. I stopped on a roof in the shadows on the edge of the main plaza. There were at least six guards in the plaza, shooting at the cats. I purposely put my weight on a weak spot of the already crumbling roof and fell through the abandoned house. Everything went black as I fell through. I could fell the bed underneath my back. I hastily got up and ran out of the house and opened the door. I ran and ran, and still everything was black. I heard shots, a sharp pain in my back, and a faint voice calling," Where the hell are you going Elen? Elen!"

My body stopped, my legs weakened, and I heard a faint voice yelling," Eric! Help! She's running straight into a wall!" I finally collapsed, I felt strong arms supporting me, and I whispered one word.

Thanks for reading! Part 2: Blood Follows is coming up next! Please leave a comment!