Click-clock. Click-clock. Click-clock.

Horseshoes tapped on the stone-paved path alongside the marching of estimated a dozen soldiers. The horses dragged a cage, which creaked as it bounced up and down with the dents in the road. Cage is a rather inaccurate word, more like a miniature stone house. The “house” is surrounded with 2 layers of stone walls, fully covered, so no light could enter the small space inside.

I sat inside, crisscrossed on the freezing floor while fiddling with the necklace. I rubbed my thumb on three unpolished gems that hanged onto the necklace, feeling the jagged surface. This was the only possession they hadn’t managed to fish out from me. How fortunate that they didn’t. Truth be told, the necklace is the only thing right now that reminded me of my sanity, of the good old days.

Where’s Tom? That little guy surely has made his escape by now. I could imagine the lanky, blond boy running through the lushy forests, following the small dirt trial and to our haven, the one we discovered and built together. 

What about Ann? Would she forgive me? Can she ever? I messed up, a lot. I decided to let the hunters into our cottage, like leading wolves into a sheep pack. 

Things were perfect when it was just the three of us, in the cottage just on the outskirts of the forest. And there was the day I left. I want to slap myself, for being too naïve, for being so ready to make it into the history books like I always anticipated. I definitely made it in alright, but the fact daunted me. 

The carriage suddenly halted. I listened attentively to the shuffling outside. Something’s happening.

“What do you want?” one of the guards demanded.

“Where’s this thing headed laddie?” a thick female voice boomed out. I froze, my heart skipped a beat. I knew that voice.

“Confidential information,” the guard snapped.

“This’s the one,” Brenda tried to whisper. I imagined her, reaching for her axe. 

Soon, the sound of bodies falling to the floor traveled into my cage. I knew that sound too well to be bothered.

“Dlys, are you alive in there?” a meek voice shouted. Tom.

“I’ve been better,” I lied, this would be one of the best moments in my life.

“Step back Thomas. You too, pigface. Let’s start bombing!!!” Brenda exclaimed.

KABOOOOOOOOOM!!!!! 

“For the last time, it’s a boar,” I rebutted weakly as I swatted away the smoke. Ashes flared up my nostrils and the bright light pierced through my eyes, but I loved it.

“I missed you,” Tom wrapped himself around my waist like a sloth, burying his head into my chest. I mindlessly caressed his blond locks, suddenly aware of Brenda’s presence. I groaned internally. What does she want now?

Noticing my wariness, Brenda explained, “Consider this as me returning a favor to Ann. Plus, if you’re on the chopping block, blondie here probably won’t have the mind to be making those high-quality bombs.”

I opened my mouth to ask how she knew of the bomb making when the sound of horses and shouting emerged from down the road.

“Do they need to come this fast?” Tom murmured as he pulled back from the embrace.  

“Welp let’s get rollin’,” Brenda threw me a cloak, the one I would always wear when I wanted to keep anonymous. More puzzlement, more confusion. How the hell did she get that as well? I caressed the fabric, wrapped it around my neck, feeling the familiar warmth. Before I could question her, Brenda shouted something inaudible and dashed into the forest, Tom following her. I darted after them.