Runaway (The Knight Society #1)

Three days ago, one hundred Knights went to war against the mongrels and only twenty two didn’t make it back alive. The number is less than they were expecting but to me it still feels like too much. Amongst the list of the dead I was saddened to learn I knew at least one name personally.

Charlie.

The happy man was discovered face down on the ground. His stomach had been torn out and ravaged. Grief hung over the Institute like a heavy blanket, as people mourned the loss of their loved ones. Drake and the other Command crew members found what little solace they could in each other. Their usual boisterous teasing was gone and instead they sat together in silence, remembering their fallen friend.

Today was the day of the funeral. Everyone was to gather at the lake near the Institute and say goodbye to those who had perished in the battle. I stared at my reflection in the bathroom mirror. My eyes were large in my face, the black bags underneath them displaying how little sleep I had got over the past few days. My skin was injury free. After the battle had ended, Carrol and her helpers had swooped down on the survivors, injecting vial after vial of H-toxin. I had been in bad shape. There wasn’t a spot on me that wasn’t injured. In fact the only reason I wasn’t either dead or passed out was because of my juiced up healing. After Carrol was done with me though I was as good as new, on the outside at least.

Pushing away from the mirror I walked out of the bathroom and looked at the black dress lying on my bed. I had found it lying there last night and I was surprised that in all this chaos someone had remembered I wouldn’t have a dress. I tugged it over my head and was unsurprised to find it fit perfectly. For once I left my hair down, it fluttered around my shoulders in loose curls and I pushed them away impatiently. I tugged on my boots, they didn’t really go with the dress but they were the only shoes I had and I was sure the last thing on anybody’s mind today would be my footwear choices. I glanced at my sword and considered taking it but decided against it. Instead I slipped my small blade into my boot. Today was a day for peace, not violence but I wasn’t stupid. Going outside unarmed would be foolish. There had been no sign of Arthur since our little chat before the battle. He was still out there waiting, plotting.

A knock of my door interrupted my thoughts and I walked over and opened it. Drake stood on the other side, his expression sombre. At the sight of me a weak smile curved his lips.

“What do you know, turns out she is actually a girl.” He teased softly but there was no real humour in his voice. I played along and nudged him gently in the stomach. Stepping out of my room, I closed the door behind me and together we walked through the Institutes halls in silence.

By the time we reached the lake a lot of people had already arrived. Most of the seats were occupied but Drake led us through the crowd towards the front, where a giant platform had been set up. We passed Avery, Ed and teary Victoria and I returned the nods they gave me. Drake stopped at the third row and shuffled down a bit before taking a seat next to the Command crew. I took the one next to him and gave the guys a wave. They mumbled greetings, their eyes filled with unspeakable sadness. I turned my attention to the front and looked beyond the make-shift stage to huge funeral pyre behind it. Soon, all that would remain of the fallen would be ashes.

The last of the people arrived and Pierre climbed up on the stage and gazed out across the crowd. The muted chatter quietened and soon he had everyone’s attention.

“Today we gather here to remember those who have fallen in battle. We gather to remember them and to thank them for the sacrifice they have made.”

As Pierre’s speech continued my mind flashed back to the last funeral I had attended. Thomas’. I had spent the whole ceremony dried eyed and dead to the world around me. While Thomas’ parents’ wept not two feet away from me, I sat there, staring straight ahead not even hearing the words spoken. When it came time for me to say something about Thomas, I hadn’t been able to find the words. So instead I remained silent as Thomas’ mother told the audience about the first time she held Thomas in her arms. It was one of my biggest regrets. Not being able to honour Thomas properly. I didn’t end up crying until everyone had left and all that was left of Thomas’ pyre was glowing embers. Only then did the tears flow freely down my face.

Pierre’s speech drew to an end and then came the part of the service where people had the chance to say a few words about those that had passed. Some told stories about the fallen. Others read loved ones favourite poems. It was a way of sharing the love they had for that person. A way of remembering who they had been. It finally was the Command crews turn. They stood and strode to the stage as one. Chloe took a step forward and started her story. She told the crowd about the day she’d first met Charlie and about how he’d ended up pissing her off so much she’d beaten him so badly he had needed two vials of H-toxin to fix the bruises. Soon enough the crowd was laughing at the tale. Drake and the rest of the Command crew stood behind Chloe and laughed along with them. It was the perfect story for Charlie, someone who’d been so full of life and laughter. Too soon her story ended and she and the boys walked back to the seats. Drake sat down and immediately grabbed my hand. I squeezed his and he looked at me with gratitude shining in his moist eyes before turning back to the stage.

Finally the speeches came to an end and the time to light the pyre arrived. Everyone stood in silence and watched as the flames licked up the pyre and the thing caught ablaze. We continued watching as the fire burnt brighter than the sun hovering above us. Eventually people began to trickle away, heading back to the Institute where the second part of the grieving process would begin. Everyone would gather in the Commons Room and they would eat and drink and remember the good times. Celebrate their fallen comrades’ lives instead of weeping for them.

Drake and the others headed back but I remained behind. My gaze fixed on the burning pyre in front of me. I could feel the heat from the flames all the way over here and I absentmindedly wondered how hot the actual fire was. I was once again lost in my memories. So much had happened in the past two months, I had barely been able to keep up. Closing my eyes I didn’t try and push the memories back, instead I let them wash over me.

The agony of losing Thomas.

Running away.

Living alone for all that time.

Coming back.

Someone sat down in the seat next to me and I opened my eyes to see Avery looking at me. His usually bright blue eyes were dulled with grief and pain. I turned back to the pyre and watched the flames dance against the wind. His hand covered mine and I linked our fingers, enjoying the connection.

“He’s still out there.” I whispered and Avery’s grip on my hand tightened slightly.

“We’ll find him.” He said fiercely. Glancing up I gave him a small smile.

“I know.” My thoughts drifted back to our conversation before the battle.

I will have you My Queen. Make no mistake about it. We were born for each other.

A shudder rolled through my body. Or maybe he’d find us first.

A little while later Avery and I left the lake, walking hand in hand back to the Institute. Neither one of us wanted to break the connection, it just seemed right to share the grief. We made our way to the Commons Room, and walked inside to find it full of life and laughter once more. People regaled tales about the fallen, laughing at the memories, celebrating their lives. Drake and the Command crew laughed along with the rest of the crowd and I knew they were going to be alright. Avery squeezed my hand and I glanced up at him. His eyes were brighter and a smile hovered on his lips. I smiled back and turned to face the room of laughing people once more.

Arthur might have beaten us bloody, but he sure as hell hadn’t broken us.

He hadn’t even come close.