His father stared in realization. His son sitting before him with a blade at his hip. His puffy eyes caged by dark circles due to lack of sleep. His cheeks slightly sunken and red from scratching. Joseph went to say something, anything to try to comfort his only son. But before he had a chance Josiah reached in his back pocket and slid him a small piece of paper.
Josiah finally looked up after handing his father the letter he received last night. He watched as his father skimmed down the page until he finally set it down. Looking him in his eyes,
"My son, you know you can't go. It's too dangerous, more than that think of the kingdom. Who will-"
"I put my advisor in charge In my absence, it shouldn't take more than a couple days. I know it could be dangerous. All the more reason for me to go and save Nyx."
His father shook his head, "That's not enough. Why not bring anyone with you? Even if they couldn't go the full distance they could at least make sure you arrive safely."
"I can't let the public know I'm gone. The note said it's her or this country. I'm going to save both."
"No. You won't. You'll save nothing in the end, please reconsider my son."
His fathers eyes pleaded with him, but Josiah couldn't be swayed. He was going to save her. No matter the cost, he only came here to see if his father could offer any advice. Not deter him from going entirely.
Josiah stood up and started walking towards the door as his father rushed to stop him.
"Josiah! My son why? Why go this far, why not just send someone else to save her? You can see this is a trap right?!"
Reaching the door Josiah turned back to see his father, close to tears himself. Putting the nail in the coffin Josiah coldly replied,
"You would have done the same for mother, nothing you say will change my mind."
His father went on his knees and bowed forward, his voice cracking as he tried to speak and his body shaking with emotion.
"Please.. my son. I've already lost your mother. Don't make me lose my only son as well…"
Josiah stepped out the door with tears of his own, "Don't worry father, I'll come back alive. We both will, I promise."
And before he could have anymore second thoughts Josiah walked out. Leaving his father and returning to his horse. Josiah hated it. He hated the entire situation, but something had to be done. And he was the only one that could make a change. So grabbing the reigns and mounting his horse he set off to find his love…
Nyx heard voices. She had been chained and blindfolded but nothing else had happened yet. Her captors had put her in the basement of some building outside of the city. She knew not the exact location but based off of how the men spoke it must be north.
"So, how long do you think Prince Charming will take? Two days? Three?"
"Please don't bother, The boss already told us once we got her she was ours to play with. Doesn't matter if the King shows up or not. He wanted her dead."
'They.. are going to kill me?'
Nyx started panicking. Her breathing became erratic as she screamed. Pulling against the chains and struggling to escape. But it did nothing more than make noise and alert the men watching her.
"Aye someone shut that bitch up!"
"Actually I got a better idea. You said we have two to three days right? Might as well enjoy them."
She heard their laughter as footsteps approached. She went to speak when a heavy object slammed against her temple knocking her unconscious…
Josiah rode as fast as his horse would allow. He had been riding at such a speed for hours, and finally relented into taking a break. His horse was worn out and he himself needed food. Finding a small river to stop by he lead his horse to water and tied it near the bank. As for himself he started a small fire and had some of the food from his bag. It was a simple meal. Some jerky and a half loaf of bread. Sitting and resting made the sense of urgency even higher, making any productive rest impossible.
Some time passed and night fell. Josiah was in a rush, but not foolish enough to ride through a forest at night. He silently cursed another restless night. Tormented by the whispers, and his own worry. He sat by the fire praying to whoever may listen. Praying that everything would be fine in the end. Josiah wasn't the most religious, but he was willing to ask even the devil to help him now.
As Josiah stared up at the sky. The moon broke through the clouds and stared back…
Nyx had lost track of time. Everything hurt. Her chained and broken body lay limp leaned against a wall. The cuts and bruises covering her body made even the slightest movements cause her immense pain. She couldn't hear anymore. That was the first thing they took from her. Slamming their first into her head until her eardrums ruptured.
Next to go was her voice. Bruising her vocal cords beyond repair though strangling her. Taking away her only way to beg for death. Her limbs bloody and mangled, her body defiled by their touch. She couldn't run away if she tried anymore. Not that she'd get far. She was permanently blind now. Her eyes had been forcefully removed, and her eyelids sown shut. The only senses they left her was taste, and touch. They wanted her to feel everything they did to her. It was a game to them. How much could she bear before she was completely broken.
It's been days of endless pain and suffering, the only shred of sanity she had left was that it would end. Feeling footsteps approaching her once more, she accepted that only more pain was to come.
Praying the reaper would be her savior, with her salvation the warm embrace of death.