TYLER

Getting inside the palace was surprisingly easy. He was not allowed to reside there, but if he had dollars to exchange, Tyler was allowed in. It made him think about that one note he found in the dirt the day they came to Lordorn.

The queen is lying. There is a way to go home.

The queen was hoarding dollars. Why would she give value to real money here? There was nothing she could use it for; she couldn't eat it. But if they knew there was a way to return to the real world... then, she might need her dollars.

Tyler would think about that a little later. Corinne had her mind set on finding a way off the island, maybe Tyler could let her play her games and find out something interesting in the process.

Now, he had to think of a way to turn the odds in his favour. A sickly feeling washed over him as he ascended the palace stony stairs. The difference between this stone house and all others was in its size, mostly. The resources were scarce everywhere and real luxury didn't exist.

Still, Tyler liked the view over the town. He even saw beyond the wall.

And all the people on the square seemed so small from such distance.

Tyler focused on the iron door in front of him and the guards that opened it. He wondered whether he should have bothered to change. He's been wearing the same clothes he had on when the cruise sank. If he had enough money, maybe he would have bought something else for the meeting with the queen.

Working in the field brought in little, but at least he got some muscle out of it. And enough to buy a single red rose.

Tyler thought of the colour and the flower, but decided a red rose was the most straightforward approach. Roses were bold.

He clutched the money and the rose and wondered if this would prove to be worthwhile. He didn't really have a plan, but he had an idea. All he needed was confirmation. Everything else was part of the long game.

Soldiers led him through the hallways, plain, stone hallways decorated with nothing except an occasional convenient chair. Tyler pitied them for a moment, the so-called royalty. They must have known every day of their lives that this wasn't luxury, they weren't really kings and queens. They pretended for a while.

And it occurred to Tyler why they would keep a secret such as the possibility of getting off the island. Why would they want anyone to leave? They had power, they had luxuries others didn't. Out in the world, they were possibly nothing. Here, they were everything.

Soldiers didn't speak as they walked through the stony beast, but they occasionally glanced at Tyler, probably thinking he shouldn't be here. It was strange; he knew all of them. But here, they pretended like they didn't know him.

They dropped him off in front of the door and for a moment Tyler thought they would actually leave him alone with the queen, but no such luck. Another soldier opened the door and gestured for Tyler to come in.

The room took him by surprise.

Walls were made of plaster, instead of stone, painted light, gentle pink. Pictures hung from the walls and fluffy, white carpets rested on the parquet. A huge desk made of light wood was in the middle of the room, with a pink, leather, office chair behind it. Pens and pencils and pencil cases were scattered across the table.

There was a bookshelf leaned against the wall. Tyler scanned the books; Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Wuthering Heights, Mrs Dalloway, collection of Sylvia Plath poems.

The only other piece of furniture was a wooden vanity, full of makeup and perfumes. And above him, a chandelier hung.

Tyler glanced over the terrace, visible through the huge windows that allowed lots of daylight in. She could sit there and look at the peasants below. She could read and do her hair, while her people worked and worked until their legs gave out.

Two soldiers that let him in stood awkwardly at the door. Tyler recognized them, but didn't know their names. Jeremy sometimes hung out with them. Tyler wondered whether all of them knew he violated the law by leaving the city walls during night.

The queen entered through another door, on the opposite side and Tyler sucked in a breath. He needed to do this right, but he didn't know this woman. So, he had to gamble.

She closed the door behind her and turned around, her flushed face nowhere near regal. Her blonde hair fell down loosely in waves. She had no make up, which made her look younger. The huge, blue eyes scanned the room and a sigh of frustration left her lips. Everything about her was perfect, her plump lips, her huge, doll-like eyes, her clear skin and rich hair.

The rose in his hand probably had more personality than this woman.

Remembering this was a queen, Tyler bowed and plastered his well-practiced, flirtatious smile on his lips. He wondered what she was like in the real world, probably spoiled and entitled and boring. It wouldn't be Tyler's first time charming someone like that. He was with Olivia, after all.

"My queen." Tyler spoke. "I am so sorry for disturbing your busy schedule."

"Hello." She spoke, her voice bordering on frustration. Perhaps she was in the middle of taking a bubble bath when Tyler interrupted. "State your business."

Still, her eyes glanced at the rose and Tyler kept the smirk on his face. He didn't want to offend her, but he wanted to walk the line, just to have her intrigued.

"I'm here to exchange money." Tyler said. "I've been told that's the way to get your attention." Her gaze snapped at him and two delicate wrinkles formed between her brows.

"How much money?" She asked, making Tyler wonder how often someone paraded in here with dollars. Probably not as often.

"Five hundred dollars." He said clearly. Those were Corinne's bills. Did she get to the doctor in time? Was she still breathing?

He shook the thoughts off as he noticed the queen's realisation.

"Oh, amazing!" Her entire demeanour shifted, turning from frustrated to extremely polite.

Tyler came closer and handed the bills to her, purposely touching the tips of her fingers. The queen's gaze fell upon the rose in his hand, but he wouldn't give it just yet. This was a young woman possibly forced to be queen. She spent her days in the palace, reading and whatnot, perhaps even forbidden from stepping outside, since no one's ever seen her amongst folk.

So, Tyler guessed he had to intrigue her.

"What do you wish to exchange it for?" She asked, since it was custom.

"Five minutes of your time." Tyler smiled and handed the rose to her. Confusion crossed over her face briefly and then she offered a polite smile.

"What's that for?" Her eyes darted to the door, perhaps she was scared. Tyler guessed the guards became more alert, but he wouldn't turn around to check.

"It's for you." He bowed his head slightly, but kept his eyes on hers. He wondered how long has she been here, how long has she been queen. Jeremy only said she's been crowned before he came.

"What for?" The queen asked, keeping her chin high. Tyler knew he wasn't the strongest or the richest or the most successful guy out there, but he was aware of his strengths. Female need to contradict their fathers above all else.

"I wish to exchange it." Tyler smiled.

"For a few more minutes of my time?" The queen let out a short, polite laugh and her eyes stopped darting to the guards.

"For your name." Tyler said, keeping his eyes on hers and a faint smirk on his lips.

"Ophelia." Her smile was genuine and Tyler glanced at the bookshelf. How accurate, he thought, wasn't Hamlet using Ophelia in the book?

"I always thought Hamlet a fool for not professing his love sooner." Tyler said, deciding this was just the time to pretend they have things in common. Ophelia offered a small, intrigued frown, but Tyler continued. "Now, as I promised, I won't take more than five minutes of your time."

"Alright, what do you wish to discus?" Ophelia made herself comfortable in the office chair and Tyler kept standing.

"The sickness got within the walls." Tyler started and Ophelia's smile immediately faltered. "I wondered whether there was a way to protect the farmers."

Her face reddened and her lip slightly began to quiver, like she feared someone would ask her this. Tyler knew she wasn't the one in charge, but didn't understand why her father left her to deal with the consequences of his actions.

"Farmers are safe within the walls." She swallowed and began squeezing her fingers.

"Are they?" Tyler came closer, ignoring the guards that made a step forward as well. He was careful to address the farmers as 'they' and not 'we.' The queen didn't know Tyler; this was a chance to create a first impression that would hardly shatter. "Or, are they just as safe as you are in here?"

"Wh-what do you mean?" Ophelia frowned and Tyler couldn't help but notice how similar she was to Olivia, even by the name.

"I want to know whether you're safer within this palace or are you lying to your guards and your workers." Tyler raised his voice, emphasizing the word 'guards.' They were standing behind him, they had to hear, they had to gossip. "I have reason to believe none of us are safe, no matter how many walls we put between us and them."

"I believe your five minutes are up." Ophelia got up and crossed her hands on her chest. He had to give something, proof, idea of proof. Not because he needed to convince the queen, but because he needed to convince the guards.

"I know who did it." Tyler said. "I know who let the sickness in."

"Who?" Ophelia's eyes went wide. Quickly, she looked at one of the guards and nodded. Tyler didn't know what it meant, but prepared to be seized anyway. Fortunately, the guard left the room.

"I will tell you," Tyler began, "but I need to know that you will do your best to try to protect the farmers."

"I... It's not...," she shook her head, "it's not up to me." There was genuine regret in her expression and Tyler saw the girl in front of him as someone who didn't choose this.

"I am on your side." Tyler said, hoping those words will burn in her brain. "I want what's best for all of us. And don't you think our primary concern should be finding a way to defeat them and to keep us all safe?"

Ophelia nodded hastily, like there was no other acceptable answer.

"Do you know how to defeat them?" Tyler kept his voice commanding and the girl prepared to speak when the door behind them opened.

"Ophelia, I have told you time and time again, when somebody wishes to talk about business you have to send them my way." A strong voice came from the door and Tyler immediately turned around, not expecting a visit from the father so soon.

The man was around fifty, his jet-black hair decorated with a few white stripes. His dark eyes scanned the room furiously; like he couldn't believe anyone would dare enter without his blessing. The way he carried himself was enough to make Tyler cower. His shoulders were straight and his chin high. The skin of his face was tanned and wrinkled in a permanent frown. And he was huge, much taller and bigger than Tyler.

That's why he wanted to talk to the queen.

"State your business." The father said and Tyler wasn't so sure suddenly whether this was a good idea. His palms began to sweat and the words stuck in his throat.

"I know who let the sickness in." Tyler said. There was something he needed them to confirm, something that would give Tyler enough proof of what they did and didn't know.

The father's demeanour shifted, from furious to interested, but careful. They didn't know. Tyler wondered whether he knew about the runes. Perhaps he wouldn't tell his daughter.

"Tell us." Ophelia demanded; her voice slightly breaking. Maybe she was just trying to make her father proud of her.

"Take care of the farmers. Give them shelter." Tyler's heartbeat quickened. He knew this wouldn't work, but he had to try. They had to think he knew something important enough to bargain with.

"We simply don't have enough space." The father shrugged. "But if you wish to bargain in any other way, name it. And then tell us everything you know about the sickness." The way his cunning eyes assessed him made Tyler feel like he should not bargain.

But they knew nothing. And that was something he could use. Tyler cleared his throat, hoping he radiated at least some amount of confidence he didn't feel.

"I want a gun. And ammunition. And whatever 500 bucks is worth in lors." He said finally.

Tyler would never forget the way Ophelia's father looked at him at the moment. Chills went through his spine as he caught the gaze of the clever man. He saw through him; he saw all of his ideas and plans clearly written all over his face.

"Tell us." The father nodded.

"Corinne Hearst." Tyler felt the bile rise in his throat, but said the name anyway. "She's already sick, maybe even dead. But the sickness... she said it spreads like a living being."

"How did it come in?" The father growled.

They didn't know. Which meant... no one was safe in the palace. They were outright lying to the people.

"I don't know how." Tyler shrugged and watched suspicion and quiet, cold rage grow on his face.

"Get him a gun and get him out of my sight." The father waved away, but Tyler used the opportunity to glance at Ophelia one more time.

"I'm fighting for all of us." He told her and she offered a small smile that disappeared as soon as her father looked at her.

Soldiers invited him over, leading him out of the palace, back to the world that had no white walls and electricity. But Tyler didn't care in the moment, not as he shoved a message in one of the soldier's hands. They heard the entire conversation; they saw the reactions of the queen. The message read loud and clear.

I know how the sickness got in. You're not safe within the palace. The queen is lying.