Chapter Twenty Six: The Ugly Ducky

                                    

                                          
Sketch:

                          
Orion had covered my eyes before I could see what was around the corner, but it didn't think it would be anything pretty. I brought my hand up to move one of his fingers, but he made sure I couldn't see. Was it really that bad? Was it someone I knew? 
                          
But not a second later I was lifted up and it felt like I was flying or something. When he uncovered my eyes, we were back at Orion's room. 
                          
"Stay here, and if anyone comes in that's not one of the guards or maids don't trust them, okay?" he said so I just nodded. 
                          
He made sure I was in a hiding spot, but before he made me go under the bed he gave me a kiss. And it wasn't on the head this time, he actually put his lips on mine and man did it feel nice. His lips were soft and gentle, and I didn't want him to leave. 
                          
I wanted him to stay with me, or at least take me with him. I wonder what was wrong. 
                          
He pulled back smiling down at me before ushering me under the bed. This must be bad, he wouldn't leave me if it wasn't. 
                          
I wish I had Mr. Bear but he was drenched from his wash today. But it was okay, even when I heard the door close shut. It would be okay, Orion would be back soon. He would kiss me again and say it was okay, that I was safe with him.  
                          
It wasn't for another half hour that the door opened and the sound of footsteps had echoed through your the room. The way they sounded in an  untuned manner told me it was more than one person. It couldn't be Orion since he would usually come in alone. Would it be a guard or a maid? 
                          
"Sketch...?" It was a guy that asked but it didn't sound like any of the guards or maids. 
                          
"No one is going to hurt you, we're here to help." This voice was more light and feathery, like a girls. 
                          
I didn't say a word, I even covered my breath to control my breathing. I was scared, Orion said don't trust anyone that isn't a maid or a guard. These people aren't anything like that, and I knew I couldn't trust him. 
                          
I felt a cold hand grab my ankle and drag me out from under the bed. I screamed, trying to break free of the grasp but it was no use. I was too weak, like always. The light blinded me for a second and I couldn't see who it was. I tried to kick, and hit, anything to break from the grip. 
                          
The person let go, and I quickly scrambled to the corner where I could get away. 
                          
"Sketch, it's okay. We came to help you. No one will hurt you." 
                          
I looked up to see two guys and a girl, the girl being a little smaller then the two guys. All of them wore a green cape, that swayed as they walked. The girl was in front, trying to close to me without scaring me. 
                          
She was pretty, with black hair, tied back into a pony-tail. Then the guy on the right had flaming red hair tied back like the girls, and a devilish smirk that was a little weird. Then the guy on my left had normal dark brown hair, cut short in the back, with it longer front. But his eyes were something else, like snakes or something, he looked lifeless almost.
                          
The girl was closer now, and was smiling softly at me and it made me want to trust her. But Orion said not to, so I won't. 
                          
She outstretched her hand to me, but I didn't take it. 
                          
"We have to go, Sketch we have Sam, you can see him."
                          
Sam? My brother, Sam? She knew where he was. 
                          
"Take me to him." I demanded and she brightened and gladly led the way. 
                          
We started walking down the hallway, with the girl holding my hand. We started to jog and the girl was weaving through the halls like she knew them. 
                          
"Squad thirty six is probably in trouble, we should help." The red head said. 
                          
They were running pretty fast, and I wasn't in the best condition to keep up. We turned down the hallway to the next and kept repeating until we had reached a dark hallway. 
                          
But the sound of smashing and grunting of pain had made us all stop from the loud movement and impact. I felt the sudden wind run through my hair, and some of the debris float in the hair. We had turned around to see the red haired guy impacted into the wall. Standing over him was Ducky, Orion's younger brother. The one that liked Cal, he was smiling at us. 
                          
"Ah, ah, ah. You can't take what's not yours." he took his foot from the red heads stomach and turned toward us with a deadly grin. 
                          
"You ugly demon!" The girl spat, pushing herself in front of me and grabbing a small dagger from her belt. 
                          
"Actually my name is Ducky, but don't you dare rephrase that." He moved forward and grabbed the girls throat, flinging her to the side like a rag doll. The guy with dark brown hair started swinging his longer sword but Ducky dodged every lunge. 
                          
"Sketch run!" he called and I did. It wasn't that I trusted them, it was just Ducky looked really scary at the moment, different when I first met him. 
                          
So I ran, and ran. I just wanted Orion right now, I wanted him to tell me it was okay. I hope Ducky wouldn't hurt those humans, but I didn't doubt he wouldn't. 
                          
I ran and ran, until I was in the main hall where I heard talking. Could it be Orion? Would he be here to help me? 
                          
But I wish I never came down this hallway, I wish I didn't see what happened to my older brother. 
                          
I wish I never heard the loud crack of his neck snapping and witnessing the life leave his eyes.
                          
I wish I didn't watch Xanthe snap my older brothers neck, and watch his head fall to the ground, as his final breath left him. 
                          
But I did. 
                          
I watched as Xanthe smiled down at his lifeless body before looking up at me. 
                          
I screamed at the top of my lungs, moving my fingers to my wet face.
                          
My brother was dead, and this time he wasn't going to get up.