-REMEMBER ME-

PART II

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Diversions, Doubles, and Destines

The only sound are the sound of our footsteps and the angry dogs and shouts behind us as we run as silently as possible for several minutes.

Not long after, there's an increase in the intensity of shouts. You grip my hand tighter than strictly necessary as you pull me along.

There's a few more shouts, and it grows in volume as the dogs bark intensely, as though they've found what they're looking for.

Different shouts, almost calls, are added to the mix, calling through the tunnels, and our group becomes tense. Except me, because I don't understand what's going on. I mean, they're causing a distraction, but surely they'll be alright…right?

No sooner have I reassured myself of this than the sound of a terrible, blood-curling scream is heard.

I whip around, stopping dead in my tracks, filled with dread.

"No…"

Your arm comes around me, and pulls me along, holding me firm as you force me to run again.

"But…but…"

You grip me tightly, keeping me stumbling along.

"They created a diversion," you explain to me grimly, anger at meaningless death smoldering.

But still, we keep going.

We hear the shouts of victory from the echoes. I feel sick to my stomach.

We keep running.

Soon after, the tunnels fall silent except the sounds of our breathing, and our footsteps.

"It was unnecessary," you say, in a tightly controlled voice, eyes fixed on Gurkhan.

"They brought honor on their familes, and bravely sacrificed themselves in the highest cause of all." Gurkhan says.

"You sent them to their deaths!" I cry, upset.

He avoids eye contact.

"Yes, I did," he says quietly.

Silence falls.

"Too many died today," says another of our party, Tremlan. He's a young boy, of about eighteen. He's nervous, eyeing us all with the nervous energy of someone with bad news to share. "Oswin was killed."

My head shoots up. Everyone stops dead in their tracks to look in horror at Tremlan.

"Who?" I ask.

I look to you for answers, and you look pained.

"I didn't know her name…" you mutter. "How could I have? Oswin…"

"Who's Oswin?" I ask.

"Tralgalade's daughter," answers Jexlan mournfully. "And loved by many."

Why does her name sound so familiar?

"Oswald for the win…Os-win!"

I shake my head in irritation, like a fly had landed near my ear. You give me a funny look. I shake the memory off.

"She died with honor," says Tremlan, eyeing the Doctor. "She saved the Doctor."

"As was her fate," says Jexlan.

Gurkhan, who made no movement nor sign of recognition at the news, now turns angrily to Jexlan.

"That was not her fate!" he yells angrily. Jexlan does not become angry, just lowers his head sadly, looking even more pained than before. He turns on his heel and storms onward, back straight as a rod.

Everyone moves along, and Jexlan and I trail behind.

"What's wrong with Gurkhan?" I whisper to Jexlan. He turns his eyes sadly on me.

"Gurkhan was engaged to be married to Oswin."

"Oh, no," I say sadly.

"It had been arranged since their births…but it was long said by the high priests that her destiny was written in the stars," says Jexlan. He eyes me, face full of sadness. "As is yours, my dear."

"You said earlier. About my destiny. What did you mean?"

He looks at me, and then glances at the Doctor.

"Your fate is tied to him as tightly as a knot. Your fate, your purpose, is bound to him in a way I have never seen before."

I watch your back as you walk, your scarf haphazardly thrown over your shoulder, velvet red jacket swishing as you walk, curls bouncing underneath your floppy hat.

"What do you mean?" I ask Jexlan.

"He is important…essential to the universe as gravity, as you so aptly pointed out. If he is the Doctor, the Doctor that is spoke of in our legends…then the universe cannot exist without him. And he cannot exist without you."

As I watch you, you turn and smile at me. Your entire personality is written in that smile. I get the feeling you know we're talking about you. I smile back at you, and you turn back around.

"It's more than that, though, isn't it?" says Jexlan. I start. I forgot he was watching us. I look back at him and he smiles. "You two. You're…"

"We're what?" I ask.

Jexlan shakes his head, looking pleased. I frown.

We're silent for the rest of the trip, each of us lost in thought.

We continue on.

It's a long and arduous journey, the earth underfoot, the crumbling stone walls on either side, and the hard-packed soil and roots of trees and plants overhead. Frequently, you check your watch, and after the fourth time I ask you the time you just start telling me. Ten minutes, thirty minutes, an hour, two…three…four…

Until finally, the tunnel floor starts to tilt upward, and before long we reach a set of doors. Two of our friends pull the heavy stone doors open. All of us blink and cover our eyes in the bright sunlight.

Run you clever boy, and remember.