WHO MADE ME A PRINCE
chapter twenty two - fear and battle.

"FINALLY! WE GOT SOME GOODS, lately they raised security so we didn't have any luck!" The other man said as his eyes laid on the girls in the group.

"Oi! Did ya give them?" The man with the chin scar asked as he directed his eyes to Linda.

"Should be any minute now." Linda replied.

Ruby and Willow were trembling. Everyone was scared. Elio was standing in front of Ruby to shield her from those men, even though his own legs were shaking.

Jasper and Lifa although were scared but they quickly understood the situation and were slowly taking out their daggers hidden in their jackets. They were looking at Gunther for the signal to start fighting.

'Two men... They have knives with them.. they have a strong build too ... and who knows if there are other people outside.. Damn it.. Will, Ruby , Eli and Wins can't fight... leaving Me , Cad , Lifa and Jazz as the only ones who can... Oh wait there's Linda too... Does she have a weapon?... What if they capture us? What if we get separated? DAMN IT !! This is all because I was too careless! I should've been careful , I shouldn't have brought them here during such a dangerous time. But I thought that with all the recent events ... some good food might cheer us up... but I was so stupid. Arion–'

Cadell suddenly put his hand on Gunthers shoulder and whispered.

"Jeez.. relax.. We're all gonna be safe at the end of this.. I promise." Cadell reassured him and although Willow was scared, she gripped tighter on Gunthers hand.

Gunther regained his confidence and began inspecting the bakery for something he could use as a weapon. Cadell already had a wooden broom behind him which he intended to use as a weapon, he suddenly felt someone staring at him. He looked around to see Winslow looking at him.

"What? Are you scared too? want big brother to hold your hand ??" Cadell whispered teasingly.

"No , Not really. I was just thinking that you're finally acting your age." Winslow whispered back.

"Hey!" Cadell whispered but was cut by a small and quiet chuckle.

"Agreed." Willow stated Winslow's words after giving a small chuckle.

'Hmph, welp at least you're smiling now.' Cadell thought as he smiled while gazing at Willow.

"OI Ya Brats ! What're ya whispering amongst yourselves! " The chin-scarred man shouted at them.

"NOW!" Gunther yelled.

Lifa and Jasper pulled out their daggers and went into their fighting positions.

Cadell picked up the broom and Gunther picked up some other broom. Ruby , Elio , Winslow and Willow hid behind them.

"Cocky lil' brats, ya think yer sooo strong ehh? Kekeke." The man laughed as he and the other guy took out their knives as well.

"LIFA! JASPER! " Gunther shouted.

Lifa and Jasper both ran and attacked the man from opposite directions.

The man dodged Lifa's attack, but Jasper closed in enough to stab him in the abdomen but was interrupted by the second man.

Gunther joined in on the fight and decided to hold off one of the men while those two took care of the other.

Cadell was protecting the others who couldn't fight and keeping an eye on Linda.

The two men seemed like mere kidnapping thugs but their fighting skills were similar to mercenaries.

The clanging of knives could be heard throughout the bakery. Jasper and Lifa were overpowering the man whom they were facing.

They moved in sync and attacked from different positions and their speed, especially Jasper's, was one to be feared.

Gunther on the other side was being pushed back because the man had more strength than him.The man's knife and Gunther's broom had been in contact for a few seconds now and it was merely a battle of strength.

The rest of the children remained near the walls of the bakery to stay safe, all while watching the others fight.

Cadell upon seeing Gunther being pushed back decided to interfere in the fight by throwing the breads in the bakery's table on the chin-scar man's face to let Gunther turn the tables, which he did.

Gunther put all his strength in one strike and hit the man right in his groin, resulting in the man falling down from the pain and then Cadell struck him on the head to knock him out for good.

Clatter!

At the same time, Jasper and Lifa had unarmed the man they were facing. His knife fell on the floor and his neck was inches away from Jasper's dagger. Gunther stepped in and knocked the man out with a head strike.

All the children's faces brightened up as they ran towards the door to escape.

Elio held Ruby's hand, Lifa held her brother's hand, who did not say anything , as they went to the door. Gunther was keeping an eye on Linda who was still standing on the other side of the counter with a wicked smile on her face.

Cadell picked up the knives of the two men and gave one to Gunther and kept one for himself.

Cadell noticed Willow once again with her head facing the floor and Winslow beside her talking to her. He went to her and told Winslow to get going with the rest of them.

"... Will , I'm sorry , was that scary?.." Cadell spoke softly as he gently held her hands.

"....T-the win–" Willow stopped when she heard someone falling down.

Thud!

'Huh..'

"JAZZ!" Lifa screamed.

Cadell looked back to see Jasper unconscious on the floor... but no enemy in sight. Willow gripped tighter on his hand.

Thud!

"RUBY!" Elio screamed as he placed a hand on her head before she fell.

Linda's smile widened as she picked up a long knife used to cut long loaves of bread. Winslow who observed this suddenly announced

"EVERYONE!! we're following Arion's plan!!"

"Huh?!" Elio shouted confused.

"LISTEN ! EVERYONE WILL SCATTER AND MEET AT THE BASE ! IF YOU GET TAKEN THEN YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO!" Winslow Shouted at the top of his lungs. They all didn't question him and did as he said.

Cadell picked up Willow in the bridal manner and began to run.

Thud!

Elio fell to the ground beside Ruby. Cadell slowly began to feel sleepy as well, but still ran to the door.

Clang!

Lifa was engaged in a fight with Linda who still had a wicked smile over her face. Lifa's movements were slower than before because the sleeping drug in the cookies was kicking in, but she bought enough time for the others to leave.

Gunther , Winslow , Willow and Cadell were right outside the bakery and gave out a sigh of relief as they saw no one outside. Gunther kept feeling guilty leaving the others behind, but Cadell once again reassured him.

"It's okay, we'll get them all back , safe and sound, including Mia. But for now some of us need to protect themselves. "

Gunther nodded. And they once again heard a Thud! from within the bakery. This time it was Lifa.Cadell placed Willow on the ground as he looked at Gunther and said.

"Take care of them."

"Wait what abou–"

"I ate the cookie too. The drug is beginning to work. Plus we need someone to act from inside too."

"But-" Gunther gritted his teeth out of frustration. Cadell ruffled his hair and smiled. Winslow had his head down but nodded at what Cadell said. Willow just stood there quietly holding her brother's hand.

"My , My, you all still haven't left I see." Linda, who chuckled, was now at the door of her bakery and smiled at the four.

"Go!" Cadell shouted.

The three began running away with guilt in their hearts for leaving the rest behind.

Why ?

Isn't there a better way ?

Gunther was once again drowning in guilt while Willow had a river flowing down her cheeks. She was crying but a soundless cry.

Winslow was keeping himself calm but inside his head he was having a clash of emotions.

All three were far from satisfied with this but they didn't know what else to do, except to run.

"YOU'RE LETTING THEM GO?" Cadell asked as he looked at Linda's uncaring expression towards those who ran.

"We already got enough goods. Plus I can't transport that many bodies. And those two pigs are sleeping too now."

Cadell's vision was getting blurry and his head was getting dizzy. But he tried to stand for as long as he could.

"Say what do you guys do with children?"

"Ooh are you scared ?" Linda asked in her usual cheery voice.

"I'm worried about my friends whom you'll be taking with you."

"HAHAHAHA such a loyal friend! welp sorry kid but this is where it ends."

Cadell couldn't fight against the drug and fell to the ground as well.