101 At las (1/2)

Abi felt the difference the moment she entered the newly opened path. The ground didn't feel like the same dirt ground as the dungeon. It felt cold and smooth, the same as the marble floor in Alex's house.  But that wasn't what gave Abi hope. It was the melodic music that seemed to be coming from inside the room. This was the melody that she had been following!

Abi winced in pain as she limped further in. Once she was a few steps away from the entrance, she heard a rumbling noise. She could only deduce from the sound that the door was closing.

Once the noise stopped, the dark tunnel became quiet again. However, Abi felt that the oxygen was much better in the place where she was now, compared to the damp, earthy smell of the dungeon. A light of hope emerged in Abi's heart. There was still hope for her! Maybe she would be able to leave this place alive and she would get to see Alex again.

Determined, Abi continued limping in the dark, her heart filled with hope. She focused all her attention to the sound and followed it through the twists and turns of this dark tunnel.

As Abi hobbled further inside the tunnel, the sound became more defined and she realised that it was music. Someone was playing a flute! Abi thought that whoever was playing that flute must be her guardian angel.

Abi's tears started to flow as she followed the sound, hoping it would lead to life.

---

Back at the dungeon's entrance.

”Alex, please… have mercy. You promised us that you would never claim the life of any member of the Royal family. Please, let Mira go… we can imprison her and punish her, just please… let her live,” the queen frantically begged for her daughter's life.

However, the glacier didn't even bat an eye.

”That lover of yours… you have only just been with her for a few days. She's only a commoner! My daughter is royal blood. That girl's life can't be compared to Mira's life.”

What the queen said was the truth in the ears of everyone who was present. They all thought that whoever the girl was, her life could never hold a candle compared to the princess's life. They had already heard about Alex's new lover. They were also aware that Alexander was fond of her and that he even made her live in his house, protecting her from any harm. But knowing Alexander, they all believed that that girl would still end up like all the other girls in his life in the end. They all believed that Alexander was just not capable of loving anyone.

But then, Alexander's sardonic laugh echoed upon hearing the queen's words. The man's already deadly gaze intensified far beyond redemption as he looked at the queen. This was the first time Alexander ever looked at the queen this coldly.

”Just a commoner, huh?” He stopped laughing before he looked at everyone with absolute danger and real threat in his eyes. ”Listen to me very carefully… If I can't find her before the sun rises… If I can't find her by then… alive…” for the first time, they heard a desperate emotion in his voice, ”I will destroy the house of Reign until there is nothing left but ashes.”

As everyone froze in fear, Alexander left the dungeon, taking the only key with him. This was it, the disaster. They couldn't believe that a woman would make Alexander declare such a terrifying thing but there was no doubt in everyone's mind that Alex was more than serious.

”Sire, I truly think we should call Prince Ezekiel to come now. This matter is extremely urgent!” one of the court officials present at the scene urged and the helpless King simply nodded. If there was anyone they could depend on at this point, it was Ezekiel, but, unfortunately, the prince wasn't in the country right now. Would he make it back in time?

…

In the palace underground, Abigail was starting to lose her strength.

It had been hours but the end of the tunnel seemed to be unreachable. She was slow because of the darkness and her throat had dried up. She wanted water so badly.

She had long stopped thinking and all she did was continue hobbling along in the dark. Her mind had gone hazy. She was exhausted. She felt like her body had gone numb.