Robin

I am the son of a monster.

I've always had this realization but it has never stared me in the face like this before.

Blood paints my body. I wipe it from my face only to spread it more. It dries under my nails. I would rather not know if it belongs to me or not.

I'm running. My legs pump harder and harder, they burn, telling me to stop. I don't know where I'm running to. Probably because I'm running away. From my father's workers that have ambushed the ball, and from myself.

I can't breathe. My lungs are still crying out from the non-stop running and from being punched by an attacker. Sweat stings my eyes; I push my hair back with a bloody hand. My tight clothes that once looked nice threaten to rip apart.

I am uncertain of a lot of things at the moment. Though, I do know that the rest of my friends are behind me. Friends. I don't deserve to call them that. I know I'm on the east side of the castle. I've traveled a long way from the kitchen but people could be anywhere. The thought is frightening.

"Where are we going?" Fox shouts from behind me. I whip my head to the side briefly to see she is right next to me. I don't dare to look at her. It only took one glance to see fear written all over her face. Her empty hands swing quickly to run faster. I have her dagger. It feels heavier in my pocket. That dagger saved me. She saved me and she might be killed because of my father and me.

I can barely talk, let alone think. I've been running for so long I don't know where I am. Focus, I need to focus. Find a place to hide. We can't go outside the castle; it is too big of a risk right now. I cautiously lead them around a corner. A large painting of a lady comes into view. I recognize where I am.

"Guest bedroom." I croaked to the others. The guest bedrooms are the closest. They're empty, I know that, so we can hide in a room. I fear that if we are found then we could be trapped there. I decide that's the only option at the moment and continue to run in the direction of the bedrooms.

There hasn't been anyone in sight since we left the kitchen. Everyone was in the ballroom. Now, some of them won't ever be able to come back. Images of workers strangling and fighting young

royals flash in my mind. They didn't care if they hurt them, their body was enough. Enough for my father. I couldn't do anything. They were gagged, attacked, and dragged out the windows. All I did was nothing.

Finally, we reach the guest bedroom section. We slowed our run to a stealthy walk. We creep through the living room area and into the hall with the actual bedrooms. It is dead silent and almost eerie. The lack of people makes it seem abandoned.

"A key," Eden sniffles from Arlo's arms. I'm surprised he managed to carry her this whole way. "I think we need a key to get in one." I nod and Fox checks one of the door knobs that doesn't turn. Eden is right. We need to find a key to get into a room.

I nod and retrace my steps to the reception desk in one of the previous rooms. Eden is back on her feet. She starts looking through the desk drawers once we reach it.

"Great." She says quietly, almost to herself. She pulls a clear box from the desk. A box full of keys.

"Oh good!" Fox exclaims, but Eden shakes her head, "No, not great at all. The box is locked too."

I can't help but let out a groan of frustration. Everyone's heads hang low, defeated. I can't think of other places we can hide. I drag my hands down my face, trying to silence all wild thoughts. Fox gives Eden a side hug, rubbing her shoulders to comfort her. Arlo lets out a sigh and leans against the desk.

Arlo's sighs turn into an "Oh". The table slips backward from the pressure of sitting on it. He stands up to get off of it and he kicks something on the ground in the progress. Tiny metal clanging sounds coming from the floor.

Arlo dives down immediately to pick the piece up. A key. He has a key. Relief and happiness fills me. I haven't felt those feelings in a while. It's brief but I'll accept it.

Gasps of excitement come from the sisters after they realize what Arlo has found. We rush back to the bedrooms and find which room matches the number on the key. We all rush into the room quickly after he unlocks it.

Doing the same drill from in the kitchen, I lock the door and prop a chair under the handle. I'll take more safety measures later, but this will do for now. The others have found spots in the room to process. Don't blame them, I should sit as well. Instead, I move to turn on the bathroom light. The bedroom only consists of one main windowless room with a tiny bathroom attached. I would rather not turn on the main room light because it might be visible from the outside of the room. I illuminate a hanging lantern in the bathroom and leave the door open. That works well.

The room is much more visible now. There is a small table in the corner. I assume that is what's considered the kitchen. Across from it is a couch in the color of depressing gray. On the far side of the small room, there is a single bed and a small nightstand next to it. There are a few decorative paintings and a rug, but besides that, there is nothing else in the room except for us.

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Welp this is totally going well for them (sarcasm) anyways, hope they have access to therapy if they survive.