the disastrous guide

2.6K 116 16
                                    

here is the long awaited update (i'm sorry i'm dragging things out. i just don't want to rush anything; i'm a stickler for pacing in stories.)

"I did not come here to die!" I exclaimed, hoping someone would speak up. The barking was getting louder and I was slowly backing away from the entrance that they were going to enter through.

"Why don't I believe that?" Arthur snapped sarcastically, his gaze on the door.

Fuck, fuck, FUCK!

North and my parents were frozen, too, which really didn't help the situation. Especially since they were probably the most capable of coming up with something to get us out of here.

But frozen them didn't seem to have any cogs whirring and the pain in my hands was stinging too much for me to be as immobile as them. Gotta do something!

"Fine, if none of you are going to do shit," I snapped. Something was better than nothing. Since my hands were disabled, I had to use my forearms to push the couch forward. It was heavier than it looked, which, I guess, was a good thing, but if I didn't get help soon, I'd be wasting my time.

"Arthur, North, a little help here?" I asked through gritted teeth.

That got those guys moving. Arthur assisted me with the couch and I suspected North was pushing the others, too. I wasn't sure if this would help, but buying us any amount of time would do. We just needed to figure out an escape.

By the time we had the two couches and a cabinet blocking the doors, the dogs sounded like they were just on the other side. My eyes widened in a panic and I turned to my parents, holding my hands up and yelling over the barking, "Anything?"

My parents had their heads dipped together, planning between themselves. It was as if they didn't hear me. But as long as their brains were working—I turned to North. "Do you have a plan?"

He shook his head, his gaze falling to my parents with hopeful determination.

"Fuck."

I turned to Arthur, next. "What about you?"

He was bent over a desk, rifling through its contents and scattering objects on the floor. What a pig. Even as we were about to get ravaged by dogs, he was making a mess.

I moved closer, thinking he didn't hear me and repeated my question. He glanced at me, shook his head, then returned to his rummaging. "What are you doing?"

"Not sure! I'm just hoping something'll come up!"

What an idiot.

"Now's not the time for you to bank on coincidence!" I remarked incredulously.

"It's not like we can bank on anything else!"

He had a point.

The banging on the doors started and the dogs seemed even wilder and thirsty. And I was beginning to rethink my stance on dogs. Fuck, fuck, fuck.

I began to fidget, my head swinging all around the room as if another sweep of the area would reveal something none of us had seen before. But that kind of luck only happened in the movies and books. Admittedly, this possibly could be something that would happen in stories, I wouldn't count on luck since my idiotic self basically sentenced us to death. Why, why, why didn't I get more assurance?

"I'd just like to point out that this place is a pretty old place," a cool voice commented from behind me. My neck snapped around so fast, I winced at the crack. When I turned, my eyes widened at the sight of Gabriel examining his nails nonchalantly. What in the actual fuck. A moment ago, there had been a dresser covered in statues right where he was now leaning against a concrete wall. "There's a bunch of secret panels and rooms, I'm surprised none of you tried checking for any hollowed out spots." He glanced up, shoving away as he stalked into the room.

You'll also like

          

I began to move backwards, sliding glances at Arthur, North, and my parents. They all held wary expressions on their faces as they raised their weapons.

This didn't seem to faze Gabriel.

His gaze first landed on my parents, smirking after he gave them a onceover before switching his focus to Arthur and North. He rolled his eyes at North and his gun, amusement glimmering in his eyes. Then he turned to Arthur, brows raising in interest.

"Well, if it isn't the Crowned Prince himself." He gave a theatrical bow that was more mocking than respectful. "Or, my bad, the former Crowned Prince. What, couldn't handle the title?"

Confused, I sent a quick glance at Arthur. Former Crowned Prince? How many lies had he been telling me? I frowned, the pot of boiling anger that I had been steaming for him bubbling. But just as I had been reminding myself for the past few minutes, not the time.

I swung my gaze back to Gabriel, who stood back upright and calmly strode towards the liquor cabinet, unbothered by the growing sounds of the dogs combined with the slamming of the door. North and Arthur moved in front of the doors, both boys holding up their weapons as if to prevent him from trying to open the door. But Gabriel didn't even spare the door a glance. He was about to pour himself a shot of Scotch but seemed to rethink that decision, instead grabbing the entire decanter before taking a swig.

"It would be stupid of you all to stay here so we might as well get going," he said as he moved into the passageway and taking a right.

"Get going where?" my mother asked from behind me.

"To freedom, where else?" his voice echoed back. His steps sounded farther and farther and I sent wary looks towards my parents and the guys. Did we follow him? "You better hurry because that door won't hold open for long and we've got to stop somewhere first."

Well, I wasn't going to question him. After all, it was either we died here or we died where he led us. At least with this option, there was some hope. Sure, it was a very iffy type of hope but who was I to question this?

Without any more prodding, I stepped into the hall.

"Kaia—"

I cut a glare behind me at Arthur and hissed, "You're not stopping me so you either follow or you wait for those dogs to come in and maul you."

I didn't bother looking at my parents. They had to know that this was the smarter decision, especially with how injured we were.

Just as expected, as soon as I was a few feet in, they began to follow. And after a low cry of shock, the sound of the wall shutting resonated down the hall. Surprisingly, even the sounds of the dogs were muffled here.

The passage was narrow, barely four feet wide. It smelled like mothballs and charcoal. The only source if light came from small holes between the bricks and they barely lit the way. Fortunately, Gabriel was waiting for us when the path divided into three directions.

"Pit stop," he stated, nodding his head forwards. His face held a grim expression as he tossed his head back and took another swig. He began to descend the steps when I was suddenly pushed back.

Arthur and North stepped in front of me, nearly shoving me against the wall with the force. They stood shoulder to shoulder, as if blocking me from continuing and I began to get annoyed. First, because their shove made me fucking land on my hand. Second, because I did not need them to go all bodyguard.

Okay, admittedly, the second point was actually valid on their part considering how some of these events came about. But still.

"Any gentler, Neanderthals?" I grumbled, grasping my hand and then trying to see between their barrier.

Royal DisasterWhere stories live. Discover now