Chapter 1: TO THE DARKNESS THAT AWAITED
It all happened so fast.
One second she stood on her chair at the table, bouncing slightly as she eagerly looked at the dessert in front of her.
It was lunch and they just had to do tradition before digging in.
Her older brothers, Alec and Bran, twins that they are each held the cake up to her as they told her to make a wish.
Taunting her lightheartedly as they took turns attempting to blow the candle atop her cake.
She giggled as she swatted them away. She was trying to concentrate. She closed her eyes as she blew the candle.
They had spent a good amount of time making it that very morning. Bustling around in the kitchen long before sunrise.
Bran, the younger twin had helped her peel the peaches, her favorite. It had been incredibly hard to find in the markets. They had spent the whole of yesterday trying to find a few.
While Alec, the older twin, prepped the other ingredients. Weighing sugar and cracking eggs as if life was at stake.
Flour had dusted every imaginable part of the kitchen and their happy banter echoed through the halls. Faces glowing in the soft morning light.
Agnes watched her children with a smile even as they made a mess. Wishing they could stay in that moment forever.
As the smoke rose from the extinguished wick, their laughter were replaced by screams. Smiles replaced by looks of terror.
The loud bang as the door was kicked open startled them all. They were faced with rifles raised at them.
Soldiers under the Military Police Regiment stormed their home. Rounding them up one by one.
Her brothers quickly moved to shield her but were soon brought to their knees. The cake a forgotten heap at the table.
Deep inside she was scared by the sudden intrusion. Although, what was happening did not surprise her somehow.
She was insightful and quick to pick up on things for a child her age. Her parents always took pride in the fact that she is wise beyond her years.
For over a few months now, she and her brothers watched worriedly as their father came home, looking older day by day.
The stress taking a toll on him. But what could they possibly do?
At night they struggled to make sense of the hushed whispers that emerged from their parents bedroom. They knew something was about to happen.
Her birthday, was the first time in a long while that joy and calmness filled the atmosphere in their humble home once more.
A welcome excuse to abandon the troubles that weighed them.
An MP came from behind her, picking her up just as she watched her panicked mother try to reach for her. Missing her just by a second.
She warily looked up at the soldier and to her 8-year old mind, he appeared to be smiling kindly. But she saw the hint of sympathy in his eyes accompanied by pity.
“Don’t worry. I won’t hurt you.” He whispered reassuringly making her relax a little.
The soldier knew what fate awaited the family.
He believed the kids should have been spared from this circumstance.
But much like the people inside the Walls, they have nowhere else to go when the nobles turn on them.
She could hear her mother crying, her pleas an endless chant from her lips as her father was dragged from his chair at the head of the table.
She was brought to their living room to join the rest of her family. Stood between her brothers, forced to watch helplessly as the soldiers turned their house upside down.
Papers flew in the air, drawers pulled from their compartments, pillows on the sofa torn, curtains ripped, cabinets toppled, and plates were shattered.
She turned her head just in time to see the soldier that carried her approach the bookshelf by the corner near her room.
Small legs broke into a run, hugging the soldier by his knees as she pleaded. Not those books.
“Please, sir. Don’t destroy them. Please.”
The soldier sighed, gently moving her aside before toppling the shelf.
Tears fell from her eyes as she watched the place she called home be reduced to nothing but broken chaos.
As the soldiers finished, a order was heard for them to be brought outside. The MP easily lifted her again.
Her mother tried to take her from the MP but another grabbed her by the elbow dragging her out their door after her father and brothers.
“Mama...” she had whispered. Small hands reaching out as the MP gently shushed her.
Once outside, he set her to her feet beside Bran. She saw Alec nudge Bran from the corner of her eye before nodding his head towards her.
As she faced the crowd that had gathered before them, she grew uneasy. A man, who she assumed was the MP Commander, stood before them.
He untied a scroll and began loudly.
“Hereby stands nobleman Marius Fords, declared guilty as charged of Treason Against Humanity. The severity of said charges are punishable by death.”
She heard her mother hold back a sob, clinging to her father as she shook. Fresh tears welled in her own eyes as she processed the words.
She felt Bran reach for her hand, squeezing lightly. “Everything will be alright, Claire.”
Bran felt helpless as his sister tugged at his hand. Eyes identical to his, silently communicating the fear she felt.
How much comfort could he offer when he felt the same way? He sensed Alec stiffen but his face remained devoid of emotion.
What was to happen to them if their father was executed?
“Furthermore, he is also found guilty of Abuse of Power and Money Laundering.” Gasps rose from the crowd, murmurs buzzed as people started to gossip.
The Fords family have always been highly regarded. Painted as an image of the perfect family, revered by many due to their generosity and joyful nature.
Perhaps as revered as the King.
But these kind of allegations, proven or not, could turn friends and acquaintances into foe. No matter how kindly they had treated those around them.
The people’s anger could be felt as they began to close in. Curious eyes turned sharp and hostile as they listened.
The MP Commander nodded an order to the soldiers standing guard around the family.
In perfect synchronization, they pounded their rifles to the ground before aiming them towards the crowd effectively silencing them.
“However by mercy of the good King Fritz, he is to be stripped off his title and rid of his riches. More over, he with his wife, Agnes, and children, Alec Matthew, Bran Marcus, and Claire Agatha Fords are to be banished into the Underground City. Effective as of this day, 8th of April in the year 831. Signed, His Majesty, King Fritz.”
Little Claire trembled in fear as she heard the word “Underground”. It’s not that she’s a noble snob but everyone knew just how dangerous the place is.
Her brothers had always told her stories about it. How screams were a constant and how one can never tell night and day. She had always been scared of the dark.
She tugged at Bran’s hand again, tears now unstoppable as she felt panic rise within her. She was restless.
But she saw that her brothers had paled as well. Unable to tend to her for they needed comfort themselves.
She knew now that the stories were indeed reality. And that’s where they’re supposed to go now.
Alec and Bran felt like they could might as well take a titan any day over being in the Underground. They heard that everyday down there was a fight for survival.
Blood a constant sight and crime at an all time high.
Agnes fell on her knees sobbing in disbelief. How could this happen? She thought of her children living a life in that place.
She shuddered at the thought of the dark and damp hell within the Walls.
Marius heaved as he ran towards the MP Commander before going down on his knees. He was certain his heart was going to burst out of his chest.
“Spare the children! Please! They are innocent. Just take me please.” He begged knowing that lives depended on it.
The Commander remained stoic. Eyes trained straight ahead. Ears deaf to the pleas of the desperate man.
Deep down, his heart clenched. He knew this family. He knew the truth. But there wasn’t anything he could do as well without risking himself.
Soon an MP came to bind their wrists in shackles. Linking them before shoving Marius forward while they trailed behind him.
A single drop smeared Claire’s cheek. She raised her head and more followed. It was raining. Was the sky crying for them?
Her brothers always told her rain happens because they skies wept. She believed them.
She was roughly taken back to the present when she heard Alec hiss in pain. Shackled wrists reaching up to shield his head from something.
Then Claire noticed her parents do the same. They were being stoned as the MP herded them. She felt one particularly sharp rock strike her.
Wincing in pain she reached up to her right cheek, feeling moisture on her fingers. The sight of red liquid a more pronounced confirmation of the cut.
Hot fat tears continuously rolled down her face as she kept herself busy looking down and crouching to make herself smaller to be a harder target.
The thunder of the livid mob almost overpowering the angry pitter-patter of the rain.
Little Claire refused to look up. Refused to meet the unfriendly stares of people they once knew or helped in someway.
They were abandoned. Ousted.
She felt cold as her dress got soaked. Her special birthday dress her mother had sewn for her. Bright red just like she wanted turning dark from the water.
Words such as thieves, liars, pigs and traitors were shouted at them. She wondered if they were true.
In her heart, she felt hurt. She didn’t understand what was going on. Why were people saying bad words and hurting them?
“But I’m not bad.” She sadly thought, her lips jutting out in a petulant pout.
She never quarreled with her playmates or ever hurt a fly.
Marius Fords was a generous noble, holding countless charities to help feed many alongside his wife who provided free medical aid.
Their family has always politely greeted people as they handed out bread to old and young alike. Easily gracing everyone they met with kind smiles.
Claire can’t recall a moment her father hesitated to offer assistance to anyone in need or ever hear anyone have anything bad to say about them.
The Fords were always a go-to for people in need. Never ones to turn away or dismiss.
Always approachable for they themselves lived a simple life. Making people think they are one with them despite their status in society.
Even at her young age, Claire knew her family was loved by many.
At least before today.
Why were they being punished?
Marius gravely kept his head down. Keeping silent as he endured the groans of his wife and sons muffled by the rain and the shouts as they endured the stoning. Claire whimpered and sniffled.
Had he been alone, he would have proudly held his head up. An innocent humbly accepting his fate no matter how grim.
But he wasn’t alone.
Blood trickled down his eyebrow, a particularly deep cut obscuring his vision. His felt his wife stumble as she momentarily lost her balance, tugging the chains that connected them.
Alec rushed to help, ulitimately pulling Bran and Claire forward as well until they all crashed together on their mother.
Agnes tearfully reached for their children. Weeping for every cut and scratch that littered their skin. Teeth chattering from the drop in temperature.
His heart broke at the sight of his battered family just as thunder boomed.
Denying the comfort of meeting their gazes, he bent down to try and help. He brought them here and for that he would be eternally sorry.
He could stand his pain with every contact but it wounded him beyond physical for his family to be involved in this.
Soldiers harshly pulled his sons to their feet as the girls were treated a little gentler.
He watched as a soldier stuck close to his daughter effectively shielding her from anymore harm. An arm extending across her small shoulders.
He gave the young man a grateful smile just as he was shoved to move forward.
Despite being innocent he had no choice but to accept their unjust fate. It was better than being executed.
Alive, they could strive for something better once more.
But what hurt the most was that they were still in their neighborhood.
Risking a quick glance around, he noticed those they considered close family friends were nowhere in sight.
People who should have been there to defend them or simply send them off. Instead, he was met with dirty judgmental looks.
Their house was only few blocks away from the entrance of the Underground but they were taking the long way round.
Being paraded in whole city of Mitras, an act to demoralize them and humiliate them for all of the Walls to see.
Coming into the center of Mitras, passing by all too familiar corners, the family sadly thought back to better days.
The shop Alec and Bran frequented with their father, equipments for hunting. A favorite pastime between the men.
The shop owner closed its doors as the family came in sight.
The library Claire practically grew up in as well. Her mother mostly left her to the elderly woman that kept the place on weekends.
Little Claire fondly called her “Nana”. She’d always receive a kiss or some sweets in return.
She had read every storybook when she was younger. The day she had put the last book down she came to watch Nana crotchet.
She had wanted to learn. Ever so curious and eager. By the time her mother came to fetch her, she proudly presented the pouch she made.
Recently she had moved on to history and medicine. She knew what she wanted to be in the future.
A skilled and compassionate doctor just like her mother.
Today, Nana watched from the balcony of the second floor, her heart breaking for the mother and child she had come to treat family.
Agnes had looked up thoughtfully back at her. Nodding as Nana waved goodbye.
Then there was the candy shop the siblings went to when one was having a bad day. Claire’s first time there was when she scraped her knee.
Her brothers had praised her. She was never one to bawl and shriek under pain. She’d tear up silently, stubbornly sniffling or whimpering lowly.
Bran and Alec’s first time on the other hand was a different story. It was when they pitifully got rejected by the girls they liked when they were 4.
The boys had bawled from heartbreak, Marius and Agnes hadn’t known how to handle the crybabies seriously. It was just ridiculous and amusing.
So in they went, then it became tradition.
Today the middle-aged woman that always catered to them stood by the street in front of the shop. Waiting with three bags, treats for the children.
She tried to break through the soldiers acting as barricade between the family and the mob. Catching the one that stood protecting Claire by the sleeve, she handed the bags with pleading eyes.
Alec and Bran had thrown her a grateful smile. Thankful she was there to uplift them just like she always did on bad days. Even if it was the last time.
The walk was long. Eventful nonetheless. The family knew they were close, every step they took reluctantly, feet heavy and hearts dreadful.
But time seemed to be playing a cruel trick on them. Because soon enough they found themselves by the entrance to the Underground.
The sun had just set, enveloping the streets into a moonless night. Lamps dimly lit the city but from where they stood, they could see the roof of their house.
The soldiers unchained them. They offered resistance as they were pushed down the dark stairwell.
This was it.
They just had to arrive on the most dangerous time inside the Underground.
Only two guards accompanied them as they descended. Every step felt like the air was closing in on them.
All little Claire could think of was the extinguished candle wick this morning as they succumbed to the darkness that awaited them.
< *Prologue* | Chapter 2 >
