"What was that noise?" Blaise whispered, wings frozen in place and hair shifting into a dark ebony color.

Autumn's eyes remained on the clothes she had once been carrying, now all of them a mess at the bottom of the stairs. The house no longer felt safe, as if her parents' and Dara's words were all coming true in the span of a couple of hours.

She barely managed to step on the last stair before a hand reached out and grabbed her. She squeaked, letting out a sigh when she realized it was only her mother.

"Mom?" she whispered. "What's going on?"

Her mother put a finger to her lips, lightly gesturing toward the kitchen, the direction in which the knocking and shouting was coming from. Then she pointed to the back door, gesturing for Blaise and Autumn to follow her there.

The pouring rain, the shouting, and the knocking at the door made Blaise's ears ring, the sound elevated much more for her than what Autumn was currently hearing.

Autumn had left her rainboots at the kitchen door. Now she wished that weren't the case now. She hoped her mom would know more than she did. She practically knew nothing, so, the bar of course, was low already.

Deep down, Autumn knew what was at the kitchen door, or more accurately, who was at the door. The people they had been talking about only a little while ago had arrived.

"Mom, please, do you know what's going on?" she asked.

Her mother turned her back to the two of them for a brief moment, opening the closet and grabbing a cloak from inside. She swiveled back around to them.

"There would be no reason to sugarcoat the situation to you. Both you and Blaise know who the Red Cloaks are. They are the ones at the door," she told them.

Blaise shook her head. "But that doesn't make any sense. Why would they be here?"

"I agree. I am not sure why either," Alice replied.

"But does anyone have single clue as to why they are here?" Autumn interjected.

Both Blaise and her mother shook their heads. More pounding came from the kitchen door and rain thrashed at the house. Autumn flinched as the lightning once again illuminated the back door. Oh, what a day this was turning out to be! Only an hour ago she had been merely whistling and picking up pastries at the marketplace, and now she was hiding from the Red Cloaks.

"Any ideas as to what we should do?" Autumn questioned, voice low.

"I was going to suggest that we should wait for them to lose interest and leave," her mother answered.

But as Autumn thought for a split-second that they would go away, the knocking at the kitchen door grew even louder. Then the shouting began. Shivers ran down her spine when she realized they were yelling her name.

That was all Alice needed to hear to take action.

"This is what we're going to do," she started, handing Autumn the cloak. "Put on some shoes."

Autumn slipped on the cloak and a pair of shoes.

"You're not thinking of sending me away, are you?" Autumn asked, eyebrows furrowing.

"All I am going to do is send you and Blaise to Dara until they pass. I need you to stay there for now," her mother said. "So, go, and I will try my best to distract them."

"I can't leave you here."

Her mother squeezed her hand. "They're after you, my dear. I will be fine, I promise." More shouting erupted from outside. "Please, you need to go."

Autumn hesitated but gave her mom a tight tug before throwing open the back door. Torrential rain blew into the house and clawed at Autumn's face. Blaise made sure to hide in one of Autumn's cloak pockets. As Alice rushed to the kitchen door, Autumn dashed off into the rain, huge rain droplets pelting at her raincoat.

She would need to cross the bridge again to get there. Hopefully, it would hold up long enough for her to cross.

While she ran, her mother opened the kitchen door, met with five people cloaked in red. They pushed past her, searching every crevice of the house.

"Where is she?" one of them asked, voice stern.

"Where is who?" Alice replied, standing between the kitchen and the entrance to the living room.

"We're not in the mood today. So, don't play dumb with us. We're asking where your daughter is. Not playing hide and seek, I hope?" another one of them taunted.

"Not playing hide and seek," Alice snapped, still attempting to block them from the living room.

The smallest one of the group rushed in. "I saw her! She's heading toward the river!"

They turned their focus away from Alice and made haste toward the kitchen door.

"NO!" Alice cried, grabbing the arm of the tallest Red Cloak.

He sent her flying, and she crashed into the floor. The rest of the Red Cloaks rushed outside.

Autumn sprinted as fast as she could toward the bridge, her shoes sloshing in the mud and water. The cold rain was rough on her skin. She was desperate to reach the bridge, faintly able to see the bridge through the rain.

She leapt over a stone, mud splashing onto her legs and pants.

Glancing behind her, she could barely see the Red Cloaks now charging toward her.

Panic bubbled in the pit of her stomach when she realized she was at the bridge. As her right foot made contact with the boards, the wood gave way. Blaise flew out of her pocket.

Autumn fell through the bridge, only just barely managing to grab the rope that bound it together. She came up sputtering, vision blurry as she tightly gripped the rope. The rushing water was pushing her further down the river. Blaise was hit by a raindrop and fell on the side of the riverbank from whence they came.

The Red Cloaks caught up to them, one of them plucking Blaise from the grass. Another one was able to reach Autumn, dragging her back to the riverbank by the hood of her cloak.

She was still gasping for air, but still protested, kicking and wriggling in hopes that they would manage to let go. More thunder echoed in her hears.

The Red Cloaks barked orders to each other over the rain and Autumn saw their faces as another flash of lightning illuminated the forest.

She caught her breath, yelling for them to let her go. But instead, they only gripped her arms tighter, and blindfolded her.

Her eyes filled with tears when she realized she may never see her mom again. At this thought, she tried to escape their grasp again, but she couldn't.

Now while Autumn was unable to see, Blaise still had her vision, stuck in the tight grip of the leader Red Cloak. Her hair was a fiery red as her eyes focused in on each of them individually. She was nowhere near strong enough to escape them, but there was a burning hatred behind her eyes, as if they were almost glowing a bright green.

She turned her attention to in front of them, eyes widening as she saw a large fortress coming into view at the edge of the forest. She had never seen anything like it, unable to wrap her head around the looming structure. How did people not notice this place on their daily travels? She guessed they did and fled in fear when they saw it.

Her eyes then moved from the fortress and to Autumn. She could tell Autumn was frowning, hair plastered to her face.

"Open the gate!" the leader ordered.

Blaise watched the guards pull the gate open. It screeched, and Blaise cringed at the ghastly sound it made. The rain had slowed down only slightly.

Autumn only then realized she was being carried up the steps inside wherever they were. Inside where? She had no idea.

The leader was barking orders again to other Red Cloaks, and before she knew it, she was being carried up another flight of stairs.

Another door screeched open, and Blaise saw that this door led to a small hall of prison cells. The smallest of the group took Autumn's cloak from her, handing the cloak and pushing Autumn toward another Red Cloak.

The woman raised her eyebrows in question.

"Throw this one in a cell. We'll take care of the little one here while we wait for the boss to give us an answer," he told her. "Finley, you and Wells will need to come down if there is a meeting called."

The Red Cloak named Finley nodded. She took Autumn by the arms and led her to one of the cells. Autumn began to kick and struggle again when she realized they were taking Blaise away to who knows where. Finley locked her in a cell, still blindfolded.

She turned back to the rest of the Red Cloaks, about to open her mouth when another Red Cloak burst through the door.

"The boss—the boss wants a meeting NOW!" he yelled.

The Red Cloak named Wells stepped forward, a teen boy dressed in red as well standing next to him. "Don't you think someone should keep an eye on the girl?"

The teen's breath hitched when he noticed the girl in the cell, standing there with nowhere to go. He knew her. He knew who she was.

"We can leave Felix to watch Autumn," Finley suggested with a shrug.

Wells grumbled in response. "And why would we do that?"

"It's not like he needs to be at the meeting anyway," she said. "He can keep an eye on her while they decide her fate."

Wells reluctantly agreed, pushing past Felix, and following Finley out of the room.

Autumn was drenched, covered in sludge. She was blindfolded, and Blaise had been taken away. Her hands found where the blindfold was, and she pulled it down from her eyes. The cell, to say the least, was musty. She wrinkled her nose at the putrid smell, retreating into one of the cells and shivering in her wet clothes. It occurred to her that not only had her cloak been stolen, but her coins as well.

"This place is awful," she croaked, letting out a horrified shriek when something stuck to her hand from the cell floor.

"I find it hard to argue with you about that statement," a low voice answered a little ways off.

Autumn flinched. "Who's there?" Her voice echoed.

Boots clicked against the stony floor, the sound growing closer. Autumn shifted closer to the cell bars. A boy was now standing in front of her.

"Well?" Autumn asked. "Who are you?"

"I don't look familiar at all, do I?" the boy asked, a hint of sadness evident in his voice.

"Come closer."

The boy was fairly tall, with a lanky build. He had dark hair that flopped into his eyes, and dark eyes too. As Autumn narrowed her eyes at the boy, all at once, the memories of a childhood friend flooded her brain.

He crouched down outside of the cell but took the liberty of not sitting down on the grimy floor.

Autumn paled as his face brought back memories. She thought he had died.

"It's-It's you. You're not, you're not dead. You're here! Felix, what in the world are you doing in a place like this!" Autumn shouted, her face burning.

"Shhh, don't yell. It's okay," Felix assured, holding out a hand.

Autumn brushed it away.

"No, it's not," Autumn hissed. "Here I am thinking these people killed you. These past few years I blamed myself for you disappearing. I thought you were dead! But here you are! With them."

"With them?" Felix sighed. "You think I left you to come here? I would have come looking for you. I would have. I didn't have a choice. Why would I ever want to be in a place like this?"

"If you don't want to be here, then why haven't you left? Why didn't you come find me?" Autumn asked, eyes going blurry. "I looked for you."

Felix shook his head, eyebrows scrunching together. "I'm so sorry, Autumn. But it's not that simple. I would have left if I could have. I would have looked for you. If I had been able to, I would have."

"What's keeping you here?"

"They are. The Red Cloaks are."

Autumn began to say something else, but she remembered Blaise had been taken down to the meeting. Her friend was in trouble!

"My friend, she was taken by one of the Red Cloaks to the meeting. I have to save her, or they might kill her. She's only little after all!"

Felix blinked. "They won't kill your friend. They're not worried about her. They want you."

"But why?"

"That, I don't know."

"No one seems to know anything," Autumn groaned. She locked eyes with Felix. "I have to get out of here—wait—so they are only worried about me?"

"Yes."

"And by worried, what exactly what are you getting at?" she asked.

"Well, to be blunt, they most likely plan on killing you," he answered. "Why they want to would be the part I am not sure of."

Autumn paled. "You said it so casually."

"Did I?"

"Yes! Your expression didn't even change!" Autumn exclaimed, reaching a hand out through the cell bars. "What have they done to you?"

Felix didn't answer.

She folded her arms. "And if they want me dead, then why didn't they just kill me in the forest when they had the chance? I fell through the bridge, was dragged through mud and who knows what, and I was blindfolded, so I couldn't even see what direction we were going in. They could have easily killed me then."

"They didn't kill you because not anyone can just kill you," Felix replied. "There is only one person allowed to."

"Oh really? And who exactly would this person be?"

Silence washed over the crowded dining hall, filled to the brim with Red Cloaks. The large, wooden doors to the dining hall slammed open, and a figure waltzed through the door, hands clasped in front of her. Unlike the rest of the cloaks they wore, the figure's cloak ran all the way down to the floor, following behind her as she walked.

Her dark hair was pulled up in a tight, neat bun, and from Blaise's view, the woman appeared to be around as tall as Autumn. But Blaise couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at her, because she heard people around her saying this was their leader. This was Celosia?

This was the woman who had brought destruction to her family, to her home? She looked about as evil as a daisy in a field. But perhaps this was her strategy; to appear innocent but to be cruel deep within, like a disguise.

"According to a fair amount of you, I hear we finally have Autumn with us," she lilted, her red cloak draping behind her.

No one replied. She reached the front of the dining hall and swiveled around.

"Oh, is no one going to answer me? Everyone was so eager to discuss these matters before I entered. Have we or have we not finally found her?" she asked, glancing around the room.

Wells stood up. "We did find her. Additionally, there was a fairy traveling with her."

Celosia raised her eyebrows. "Is that so? Tell me Wells, where is the other member of your group?"

"I need to get out of here!" Autumn declared, kicking the cell. "This is an absolutely horrendous day."

Felix cleared his throat to get Autumn's attention. "It may be a better day than you think."

"How exactly?"

He pulled a silver ring of keys from his cloak pocket. Autumn gave him a "what are you doing?" look.

"Autumn, I'm going to get you out of here," he said. "And your friend as well."

"And you."

"What?"

"And you," Autumn repeated. "You're coming with us."

"I can't do that."

"Then leave me in this cell," Autumn said. "Get Blaise out of here and leave me here to rot."

"What in the world is your problem? I'm trying to help you escape!" Felix exclaimed.

"And I'm trying to help you!" Autumn retorted. She lowered her voice. "Please Felix. You don't belong here."

Felix groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "So, you're telling me, that you won't leave unless I come with you?"

She nodded in response.

He thought for a couple of seconds, and then, Autumn saw a spark of light return to his eyes. He unlocked the cell door.

"Fine, I will come with you. But this isn't a good idea..."

"Maybe it is, but if I have my two best friends back, then I am willing to risk it," Autumn answered.

"How do you suppose we rescue your friend?" Felix asked.

Autumn gave him a sheepish smile as she stepped out of the cell, happy to just see her friend alive. "I wasn't actually sure if we would make it this far."

"Okay, okay, it's fine. I think I may have a plan to get us out of here."

Celosia was about to announce Autumn's verdict at the meeting when everyone turned to the sound of shouting outside.

"Celosia! Celosia! It's bad!" Felix shouted, pausing at the dining hall entrance.

Celosia frowned. "What are you going on about?"

"Autumn broke out! I don't even know how. I only went to check outside for a brief moment and as soon as I returned to her cell, she was gone!" Felix exclaimed, trying his best to remain serious.

"This meeting is postponed," Celosia seethed. "I want every single one of you to look for Autumn, understand?"

When Felix saw the Red Cloaks beginning to stand up, he pulled Autumn behind the wooden dining hall door. All of the Red Cloaks sped by, letting out a curse here and there at Felix's supposed irresponsible act.

In the turmoil, Blaise bit the hand of the one holding her. He cursed, tossing her aside.

"Okay, the hallway is clear. Let's find your friend," Felix whispered.

Blaise spotted the two of them in the hallway and darted toward them.

"Blaise!" Autumn quietly cheered, giving her friend a gentle hug.

Blaise turned her attention to Felix. "Who's this?"

"An old friend, but that's not important right now," Autumn hastily replied. "What do we do now? We can't just waltz out of the front door like we were here for a nice visit."

"And they'll be back soon and kill all three us of," Felix said. "Are you two willing to—"

"No."

"Autumn, I haven't said anything yet—"

"I know what you're going to say. Are we willing to go out of the window? Well Blaise certainly has no problem with that, but guess what, she can fly! I can't! At this rate, the Red Cloaks won't even need to kill me. I'll just end up plummeting to my death and the job will be done!" Autumn squeaked.

"I don't know this kid. And I'm not sure if I like him either," Blaise said, pointing at Felix. "But I do know for sure that we will be caught if we try to escape through the front entrance."

Autumn cringed.

"Autumn, we need to go. Even if you don't trust me, listen to your friend. We have to go now," Felix said.

A shaky smile appeared on Autumn's face. "Okay, let's go."

The three of them rushed toward the prison once again, dashing up the staircase. Autumn hoped the Red Cloaks hadn't chosen to check the prison yet. The prison was in fact, completely empty.

"The window is this way," Felix said, pulling Autumn in the right direction.

Autumn heard shouting when they reached the window. Felix took off his red cloak and left it under the window. The rain was still pouring down, some of it blowing through the window. Autumn groaned. After all, her hair had just begun to dry. Blaise once again hid in Autumn's pant pockets.

"You go first," Felix said.

Autumn pulled herself up to the ledge, averting her eyes to avoid the view of the ground below. She held on tightly to the ledge as Felix pulled himself up as well. Now the shouting had reached the prison.

"Keep going. I'll follow you next," Felix urged.

Much to Autumn's dismay, the ledge was slippery, but she still managed to reach the next ledge below her. Felix was about to follow her, but a sudden tight grip on his wrist made him lose his balance.

"CAUGHT YOU!" Wells roared from the window.

Felix's left wrist was losing all feeling. His grit his teeth.

"FELIX!" Autumn called out from the lower ledge. She turned to climb back up and help him.

Felix glanced down and his right hand finally found the hilt of the dagger in its sheath. He ripped it out of the sheath and stabbed Wells' hand that was gripping his wrist.

Wells cursed, shrieked, and let go of Felix's wrist. Felix slipped off of the side and grabbed the ledge. Through the rain, he could see Wells had disappeared.

"Come on Felix!" Autumn yelled.

Felix climbed down, jumping from the last ledge. He wiped blood from his hands onto his pants. Autumn hopped down from the last ledge as well, gripping Felix's arm. She felt as if her knees were going to buckle, but they weren't safe yet. She pulled him in the direction of the marketplace.

"Where are we going?" Felix asked, voice carried on the wind.

"Where else?" Autumn replied, now grinning from ear to ear. "We're going to Dara."

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