~ PANDORA

It was Pandora's worst nightmare. She thought it was something that came to pass a long time ago... but to her horror, it was happening right in front of her eyes.

"Oh my," Howard said in a haunting voice.

"These can't all be Regalia's farmers. Just how many citizens live past the walls?" Gregor asked.

Weary humans were trudging towards the walls of Regalia, some with packs and some with nothing at all. Some traveling in groups, perhaps their families, others were alone. The air reeked of mildew from still-damp clothing. Pandora was sure she saw several water-logged dead bodies on the back of a cart.

Children with sad eyes and sagging shoulders walked behind their parents. A little girl held the hand of a boy about her age to keep him walking in a straight line. He seemed to be in such a state of shock that all he had the capability to do was put one foot in front of the other.

What had these people gone through? Where were they all coming from? Surely, they weren't Regalians?

"These are citizens of the Fount," Howard said quietly, worry creeping into his voice. "Why are they all here?"

"That's what I'm afraid to find out," Pandora answered.

"Come on," Gregor said. "Let's make it to the palace. Who knows what everyone thinks of our disappearing act?"

"Poor Nike. I told her to come and pick us up once the meeting was over. How worried sick she must be. This is the second time she has left me alone and I've gotten lost." He gave a little laugh. "She's not going to want to leave my side for the rest of time."

As they hurried past the people making their way to the Regalian gates, Pandora tried her best not to look at anyone. She had seen enough in her dreams. The entire scene was dismal and depressing. It seemed lately that everything about the Underland was that way. Heck, her whole life. Would it ever get any better? She tried to stay hopeful and keep faith all her life; why hadn't she gotten to a point yet where she decided enough was enough?

Even now, even though the scene was grim and the outlook not much brighter, Pandora knew it would someday all make sense. All this tragedy and pain and suffering would somehow evaporate. Not just hers, but everyone's. She just knew it. It had to.

The palace was an overcrowded, disorganized nightmare. Pandora could barely make out which floor they were on, must less which hallway they were in. All she could see were people.

"Frederick!" Howard called out to a young man slumped against a wall. "The Fount. Has it been evacuated? What has happened?"

"It wasn't evacuated," Frederick explained, looking up at Howard with a haggard expression. "These are the survivors."