Caellon was ushering maids outside, telling them to leave everything behind. Guards stood, swords drawn, ready to protect the fleeing staff. Caellon noticed Alaric and ran to him, it was a surprise as Caellon was not a young man anymore. Caellon served Alaric's Father when he too was a young boy and Caellon was a young man. Caellon's usually well kept hair was a mess, the uniform he wore was covered in ash.

"Where have you been?!" he questioned, "I went to your room, but it was already ablaze and--" Alaric threw himself at the old man cutting him off.

"They...they were looking for me, Caellon."Alaric said as he released the old man from his hug. Caellon's eyes widened as Alaric explained what happened to him before he met with Caellon. "Caellon, where is my Father?! Is..is he safe?" Alaric asked worriedly. Looking around he hadn't seen his Father make his way through yet. Caellon hesitated before answering, "The Master--he was out of the house when everything happened." Alaric sighed as relief filled him, glad that his Father was not here to witness the end of the manor. Peering around Caellon, Alaric noticed that there was less people filtering out. A guard walks over to them telling them it's time to go.

Outside, maids covered the lawn looking on with sadness and despair. Most of them had never known anything else but the walls of this manor. Shouting was coming from the right as some people were still inside the burning building. Caellon called over a guard to sit with Alaric so he could help in any way he could. Alaric watched silently, the exhaustion of the night finnally catching up to him.

"Sir, do you know who those men were that started the fire?" Alaric asked slowly peering up at the man who stood next to him. As the man looked down at him Alaric froze. "Why, yes I do in fact know who those men are, the man said darkly, "They are part of my mercanary company called Black Wolf and we were paid a hefty sum to come and take a boy from his bed." The man let out a wicked laugh as he looked at Alaric who's face was painted with fright. 

It was him. The man he saw in his room, Kirt. Taking a step back, Alaric tripped over himself and fell with a thump. Kirt looked at him with such distaste it sent a shiver through his body. "Now you listen here, if you make like you're going to run, I will call my men to kill everyone here," crouching down he grabbed a fist full of Alaric's light brown hair, "You understand, right?" he growled. 

Alaric whimpered and nodded, tears falling silently from his eyes. Kirt released his hair and ruffled it, "Good, I am so glad you're a smart boy." He stood up and quickly looked around at their surroundings. Caellon was still occupied with trying to get the servants in order and somewhere safe. Kirt looked back at Alaric and signaled him to stand, "Now, we are going to start walking further behind everyone into that forest over there." He pointed to his left at the line of trees making Alaric's eyes widen looking back and forth at Kirt and the trees. Caellon always told him to never go into that forest. Not only were there wild animals, but many of the staff said it was haunted. They could see something walking around at night and sometimes whispering voices could be heard. With a shove Alaric stumbles forward and catches himself before falling.

"Move it!" Kirt growled. 

Slowly Alaric walked towards the forest he had learned to fear. Just as they reached the forest Alaric heard Caellon shouting for him. He whipped his head around looking for him hoping Caellon saw what was happening. Kirt gripped his sword ready to draw it if Caellon came close.

"Run...." a voice whispered in Alaric's ear. 

Not waiting around he took off into the forest leaving Kirt who shouted after him. Without looking back Alaric sprinted further and further into the dark forest. His heart boomed in his ears; Alaric let his feet carry him as far as they could before they gave out. Hiding behind a large tree he tried to catch his breath. Alaric looked up to see--nothing, he couldn't see a single thing it was so dark. The forest was dark even with the moon out no light seeped through the tops of the trees. Alaric's breathing slowed as he tried to listen to the surroundings; he strained his ears but could hear nothing except his own breathing. There were no bugs chirping, no birds calling into the night not even a wolf's howl just dead silence. 

"....follow....me..." whispered the same voice in his ear again. 

Alaric gasped turning in the direction of the voice, "W-Who said that?.." he stuttered when suddenly a bright figure appeared a short distance away from him. It pointed at him and beckoned him to follow it. Hesitating, he stared at the illuminated figure. 

Should he go? What if it was a trap? He thoughts continue to run as the figure stares back at him. Before he could step forward something grabs his arm hard turning him to face it. 

"There you are you little shit!" Kirt snarls at him.

Fear immediately takes hold as Alaric tries to break free from his grasp.

"Damn that money! I'm going to kill you right here!" Kirt shouts pulling the sword from its sheath.

Alaric shut his eyes as Kirt swung the sword waiting for the end. When it doesn't come, Alaric gradually opens his eyes to see that Kirt is frozen. As he looks closer, the bright figure is holding Kirt's arm causing Kirt to let go of Alaric and try to pry the figures hand off. He screams in agony as it breaks his arm with a snap and falls to the ground clutching his arm.

"YOU WITCH! I'LL KILL YOU!" With a snap of its fingers Kirts head swiftly whips to the right and with a crack his body falls limp to the ground.

"P-Please..." Alaric stutters, "Don't hurt me!" Throwing his arms up to shield himself from any harm.

"I will not harm you, Alaric," she purrs, "I only wish to aid you." 

Steadily his arms fall to his sides and the light dulls around the figure revealing a young woman.

"How do you--" she waves her hand, "Somnus.." Alaric's eyes begin to flutter closed.

"Let's get you somewhere safe." She says as Alaric falls into a deep sleep.