The fighting began at 11:00 pm.

Lance seemed to be bringing more and more men into our castle and we took that as our cue to start the fighting. I’d gotten my armor on just in the knick of time before three soldiers barged into Alex’s room. Alex took two while I delt with the third. We knew those would be the first three deaths of a new devastating war.

“Jack, go light the fire. Now!” He said.

I nodded and gave him a very quick kiss.

“I love you.” I said, fear in my voice because we both knew this could be the very last time we saw each other.
“I love you too, now go.” He replied, longing and worry in his eyes.

I barged out of the room and grabbed one of the torches off the wall. I could hear the sound of swords clanging as our guards fought, buying me time. With a torch in one hand and my sword in the other, I ran up the stairs leading up to the tallest tower. I’d just turned a corner when suddenly I came face to face with Sir Gonthad. He was still weak and hurt from the tournament and that was probably the only reason I stood a chance at winning. He swung his sword at me. I had to win this fight. If he killed me, Lance and Cenrid’s men would take over the castle because Vancett’s wouldn’t know to advance. The entire kingdom depended on me winning this fight. I blocked his blow and made an offensive move forcing him to back up a stair. He swung again but I dodged it and hit his leg making him stumble, then I quickly shoved the torch in his face making him scream as the fire burned his skin, a hand shot up to his face and I wasted no time in sending my sword into his chest.

“You will not have me.” I spat before pulling it out of his dead body.

My hands shook, threatening to drop the torch so I took a breath before continuing to run up the stairs, praying I wouldn’t meet anyone else. Once at the top, I threw the torch into the fire pit and it immediately blew up into a blaze so bright I had a hard time seeing. About three seconds later, the hundreds of men were already beginning to emerge from the hill. I smiled and turned around to go back into the castle, but then I noticed another bunch of soldiers approaching from the opposite direction.

Fuck.

Cenrid’s men.

They’d probably seen the beacon too. I gasped and rushed down the stairs. I had to get to Alex and tell him what was happening. I ran by his room but he wasn’t there so I jumped down and into the main hall and the sight made my jaw drop. At least sixty men, both ours and Lance’s, were fighting. I scanned the crowd for Alex but I didn’t see him. I ran out and into the courtyard when I saw him battling four men. I raced forward because I saw one of them about to slash into his back. I caught his sword with mine and punched him in the face making him fall to the ground. I stabbed him in the throat and turned around, facing another one of the men whom Alex had been fighting.
Once they were dead Alex and I had a second to talk.

“Vancett’s men are on their way but so are Cenrid’s.”
“Fuck. Which party had more?”
“They looked pretty equal.” I replied.
“Okay that’s better than him totally out numbering u- DUCK!”

I dropped to the ground and felt some blood falling onto me. I looked back to see a man behind me dead.

“Thanks.” I said, getting up.
“No problem.”

I noticed someone out of the corner my eye and spun around, colliding my sword with theirs. They thrusted towards my side but I parried and stabbed them in the chest. A loud bang was heard at the gates before the doors fell open and a sea of green flew in.

No.

Cenrid had gotten here first. Our men were falling left and right, Alex grabbed my wrist and we retreated.

“FALL BACK!” Alex screamed above the sounds of the fighting.

We reconnected with some nights.

“Alright, Yard, you block off the left wing.

Stryder, left wing. One of you find Lien and tell him to grab a few others and block off the north. I’ll take care of the south.” Alex ordered.

They nodded and ran off to do as the prince said.

---

“Come on.” I said, taking Jack’s wrist again. I knew that any moment now, Vincent’s men would burst through the door and honestly they couldn’t come quick enough. There were men dressed in green everywhere and it seemed like every time we turned around, another man dressed in red and gold fell to the ground dead. Another loud bang filled the air and I whipped around to see the doors fly open as a sea of purple rush in. Vancett was finally here.

Despite all the noise, I heard one small whimper which silenced everything.

My heart lurched and I whipped around to see one of Cenrid’s soldiers pulling a bloody sword out of Jack.

Notes

Title cred: Angels - Mayday Parade

BECHA DIDN'T SEE THAT ONE COMING DID YA