AllenVex2020

Lusilla continuously panted as she started looking around the area for things she could use to help Isaac. She tasted the salt of her sweat as it drizzled down her lips and she fiddled with her dress. Then she tore a huge chunk of his jacket off and tied it around his waist. She called for help and it only took seconds before he revived proper treatment and was moved him into a different

As he slowly woke up he saw Lusilla looking down at him in curiosity and panic, but when she saw his eyes open, a tear dripped down her eyes and she smiled.

"Where am I?" Isaac groaned.

"You're in a room that you will stay in to recover. You were moved here after you were stabbed..." Lusilla said.

Isaac touched his head as it constantly vibrated and gave him a sharp pain that surged throughout his forehead. Then he said, "I remember a guy with a cloak... and they had a sword," he said struggling to speak.

She immediately hugged him and later told him that she would send people t investigate it but he immediately stopped her saying, "I don't want anyone to experience what I did... with my... uncle..." he said in a saddened tone.

She thought for a minute then looked at him and nodded. Then she let out a sigh and said, "I'm canceling the competition," she finally said.

"What!?" Isaac yelled in confusion.

"Too many people are getting hurt from this and you're gonna get attacked even more now! But... If you don't know in a week, there's going to be a tournament taking place in the grand arena. Over generations, this was used to decide who's the strongest person in the kingdom, but this year, we are allowing younger participants and shifted a few things. Any man who wins there will become my wedded husband. And if he chooses not to then death will follow," she said.

"Killed that's crazy!?" Isaac yelled.

"I never said he would be killed so don't be making such accusations," "I'll come to check up on you in a bit, I need to make the announcement soon..." she said.

⥊⥁⥋

Lusilla walked forward and opened the doors to the balcony as her dress dragged along the way. She went to the edge of the balcony directly beside the fence and two knights stood beside her. Both guards closed the balcony doors and once the crowd quieted down, she began speaking. The numbers seemed to have reduced since the first announcement.

"This competition has taken a turn for the worst. And many people know what I'm talking about. The numbers drastically reduced meaning many have lost their lives in just that first competition... This is the official cancellation of this competition. But it's not the end here..." she looked up at the sky and back down to the crowd and paused for a moment, she sighed and continued on saying. "In a week, there will be a competition that is used to decide the strongest person in the kingdom... However, this year we have decided to change it. I have decided that the winner of this challenge will become my wedded husband. You are allowed to decline but for your own good I suggest otherwise."

The crowd then began whispering, possible theories, or maybe even arguments. The guards beside her opened the balcony glass door and she went back inside, where the guards later followed. In rebellion against her father, and mother, she always said she didn't want guards with her. And her rebellion did get her hurt. Currently, her father was absent in the castle, due to him preparing for the games so she had the castle to herself. She walked all the way down to the first floor and went outside where the knight's training was.

---

"Ugh! I can't believe I got stabbed without defending myself!" Isaac said speaking to himself, he took a deep breath and continued on, "Who could have tried to kill me... I don't have a clear vision of who it was, it happened all so fast," he said, "this is all so much stress."

He felt his wound with his index finger circling around it. Lusilla had done a great job so there were no leaks of blood. But when he touched it, there was a sting and it felt like his skin had been ripping apart. So he immediately stopped touching it and relaxed his body. Too much tension rested in his stomach and chest so he took a deep breath, trying to let go of all that and looked up at the ceiling out of boredom and sighed.

He finally decided to get up, so using his left arm he pushed himself up, and he pushed all his strength in his left arm so it could be easier. When he finally got up, he had been limping more than he realized but, luckily, he had enough willpower to force himself to walk. It wasn't easy but it was all in will power... he turned to his left and walked that direction. He searched for Elijah and Lusilla but there was no sign of them anywhere. Even in the dorm he and Elijah shared along with Nazar, he wasn't there. He checked the library and even there, none of them were there.

He wanted to talk with both of them badly, especially Elijah. He didn't feel as close to him as when they were both kids which hurt him. His stomach ached and his thoughts in his head twisted around. One of them being gone would be bad enough, but the fact they're both gone at the same time was worse. They were most likely together because this was no coincidence. He decided on asking the guards later on and he asked him, he said he had no clue as well so that's when he started getting worried not that he wasn't already.

"But I did see them both heading to the library with a man who I've never seen before," he said.

"Oh ok, thank you!" Isaac said in reply.

The guard nodded and he walked away. But Isaac immediately knew this was bad, if they were going to the library it must've been because of the tunnels and where do the tunnels lead to? The factory. These thoughts were very shocking to him, and since the guard had said they were with an unfamiliar man, they must've been captured.

He rushed towards the library and forcefully opened the door. The worker put a finger over their mouth indicating for him to be quiet, but it didn't matter. He needed to save Elijah and Lusilla. Finally getting to the factory he rushed inside, this time many people looking at him. They must've thought he worked there because when he opened the door leading down to the lab, nobody grabbed him like last time. He rushed downstairs and tripped on the last step.

"Ow!" he moaned but looking up he was surprised.

"Elijah!" he yelled.

There was Elijah chained to the wall. More chains than Isaac was in before because Elijah had chains on his wrists, legs, and waist along with a towel in his mouth. He tried to talk but each time he did he sounded like he was screaming in a pillow. It annoyed Isaac for the most part but he went up to him and said, "I'll get you out of here... I promise" he said, but he really needed to find Lusilla.

Elijah somehow read his mind and knew he was thinking about Lusilla and he cocked his head, motioning for Elijah to tell him she was in the room beside Elijah. Isaac nodded and ran to where she was being kept. He opened the door and there she was tied up to a movable bed, in more chains and a towel in her mouth. It had been strange because there were no guards in the room and they left themselves unguarded. How wrong he was because then a bell went off and many men rushed to where he was and got him tied up. It was a setup. And they were the bait.

He didn't bother screaming for help because nobody would help him, he tried to put up a fight but the numbers were overwhelming and he let them tie him up for the most part and waited for what they would do next.

He was weirded out by what they were doing because they brought Lusilla and him to where Elijah was and they said, "Oh you young royals, thinking it would be that easy to enter my building and you failed too! But lucky for you... I am allowing you a chance..." then he looked at Isaac. "I will allow you to either kill one of your friends and two of you survive or save one of your friends and two dies... What will it be?"

The pressure he was under was too immense, his heart rapidly beat and he felt like he had just been stabbed four times. He couldn't choose to kill that was for sure, but he did feel selfish and he was thinking about killing Elijah, but he couldn't be petty over what he did with Lusilla, that would be hypocritical. If only killing himself were an option, he would take it... but he couldn't which made everything all so worse. The only thing he could choose was to save one but they would all go through this together.

"My answer is none." as he said this, both gasped but he continued ignoring their gasps. "In a week, as you know, there will be a tournament deciding the strongest fighter in Lazoreth... I agree to fight for you guys as an exchange for the release of both of my friends..." he said.

"Hmmm. Very bold of you doing that, but I agree to your terms, however... if you lose we will put you to immediate death, if you win, you'll live..." he grinned and continued, "Under the roof of this building."

Isaacs's eyes widened, he looked down for a second and took a deep breath and said, "I'll do it..."

The man grinned saying and had a slight chuckle, "Things are just starting to get interesting."