I woke with a start when the banging at the door grew fiercer. Clank. Clank. Clank. It couldn't have been more than an hour past midnight. I felt the room chill. It was coming from the main door. Discipline was the one keeping watch, and he slid across the floor with the movement of the barricade giving. The tall boy's eyes filled with terror and he yelled for help immediately. "Sir James!" Jewel flew across the room to help steady the barricade, her dress fluttering behind her.
I scurried back into a corner feeling as if the shadows of the room might conceal me. Tact had joined the effort as Sir James hoisted the last table available and crammed it with brute strength against the rest of the fortress.
I stilled for a moment, then I stood suddenly, making my way across the room, listening intently. I felt eyes on me. Surely I looked odd. I let out a cold shuddering breath. "There are more."
Someone let out a sob, Charm or Virtue perhaps. Reason who looked like he hadn't slept a wink was calculating. "What's that noise?"
"It's the metal of the knight's uniforms," said Sir James, his body pressed tight against the barricade. Despite that, his form bounced back with each thrust against the door.
I wanted to laugh. Hysteria or not, I could not believe this was my reality. I'd die here. Cramped, chilled, and captive. I felt my resolve weaken. Perhaps I would just let those things take me. But then the image of my parents greeted me unkindly. Their threats to marry me off, the night they told me they'd send me away as punishment for what I had done. I thought of the night I tried to escape the estate, and how that plan had failed immediately as I was taken hostage by our family coachman under my parent's orders. I'd die here. And it would be their fault. I refused to be another one of their casualties.
Like hell I would wait here for death.
I sauntered to the middle of the room and addressed the people I had the misfortune of being stuck with. "You might all be alright with dying here. But those things—" I pointed at the rattling door, at Sir James, Discipline and Jewel who all struggled against it— "are getting through. Tonight!" My voice picked up in volume as the wheezes seemed to follow.
Miss Lidia attempted to approach me, she smelled of fear, "Miss Rose!" I held the knife up, pointing it at her. She stopped her approach. "Compose yourself!"
"I'm not dying for any of you," I said. I nodded over at Charm and Virtue, the two younger girls huddled together, covering their ears. I smiled, "You think they'll be of any help? We're screwed!—"
A voice began to yell alongside my own, "What the hell are you suggesting!" That obnoxious boy was meddling again. Reason's chest heaved up and down, he ran his hands through his hair. "Drop the god damn knife, Regal!"
I pointed to Charm, "She will die." Reason's nostrils flared. "Do you want that?"
"Are you threatening her?!"
I scoffed, "You've changed, Reason. You have no concept of a bigger picture. Where has all that cunning gone?"
Reason looked to Sir James. When Sir James simply looked at him in return, with no words of rebuttal, Reason gave him a look of disbelief. "No way you're entertaining this!"
"They're getting through," Discipline whispered, pained and tired.
Reason grit his teeth, "Then what's the god damn plan?!" He turned to me and stepped forward, ignored the knife I pointed at him. "Well, Regal?!"
I raised my chin. "I don't have a god damn plan, asshole."
Before he could reply incredulously, a new voice joined the fray. "Reason," it was Calm. The taller boy looked at the younger seriously, "This isn't like you. Get a grip." His voice was commanding, so unlike the quiet boy we all knew him to be. Reason held his gaze for a long moment, and then looked away.
Calm's gaze met mine and I felt inferior. I only raised my chin higher. "What a good handler you are," I said.
He gave me a disappointed look. "Don't antagonize my brother."
I could have sputtered if the situation were less dire. "Of course he is." I looked back to Charm, who tried to gather herself but flinched each time the door rattled. Another matter for another time.
Calm removed himself once the heat in the room died down, but the cold returned, and with it the grime fate that awaited. "Continue."
"I have no plan." It was the truth. Then I turned to the boy who did. I pointed the knife at him too. "Enlighten us, Tact." Tact was helping with the barricade, but he had been listening all along. I couldn't help but notice. I made up my mind to part ways, and yet I found myself watching everyone regardless. "Why haven't you said anything."
Tact moved rhythmically with the barricade. He answered simply, "Because no one would listen if I did." Then he shot a smile at me with a raise of his brows, "Now they will."
"Someone, take his place," It was the first words Sir James had uttered in a while.
I stepped forward, "Someone relieve Sir James as well—"
"No need," Sweat dribbled down his temple.
I swallowed before shrugging. "Fine."
I caught Reason's eye as he passed by me to trade positions with Tact.
I lowered the knife when Tact took my place. I backed away, following the distressed cries Virtue let out. Charm was trying her best to collect herself, Calm at her side.
Virtue greeted me as I settled beside her. She looked ready to cling to me, but thought better of it. My gaze lingered too long on the top of her pink ribbons holding the puffs of her hair. I tore my eyes away. I wasn't a coddler.
"That door's no good," Said Tact. He looked from the front door to the door leading to the blocked kitchen, only Miss Lidia kept watch there. That door opened from out here. "But that's our way out."
"How sure of this are you?" asked Jewel, her face blotchy and red.
"Somewhat." At least he was honest. "It's our best bet. There's only one of them there." The dead man from town.
Miss Lidia paced in worry, "Then we send Sir James."
Reason shook his head, "No. Sir James is the reason this door hasn't given way. Anyone else can take our place. No one can take Sir James'." I felt like an idiot. So that's why Sir James hadn't wanted to trade places. But I would comment no longer. The extent of my role here was done.
Tact reached for a candle. "At least two of us should go. For the best outcome, three." We all looked among each other. I saw Sir James' teeth grit. Was it in exhaustion or frustration? Finally Tact shrugged, attempting to seem nonchalant but his leg shook impatiently. "I'll be the first to volunteer."
More silence. Discipline was the next to volunteer. Sir James shot him an indecipherable look. "No." Was all he said. Final. My mind struggled to grasp the situation. Why was he against this? Jewel looked away, tense.
Reason looked up at Charm and Calm from the barricade at the front door, but before he could speak, Calm stepped forward. "I'll go."
One more. One more. I felt eyes on me, I looked resolutely at the shaking door. I would not be volunteering. They had the wrong impression of me if they thought I would. Miss Lidia was too old, Charm too sheltered, and Virtue too—
"I'm fast, I can help…" Virtue said from beside me, shaking like a leaf. My head snapped up. It was an unprecedented development.
I felt my lips part.
"No, I'll go," said Jewel. She had an odd look on her face. She was looking at Sir James. Her eyes held a challenge. I settled back into my spot. I felt relieved. Perhaps that there would be three going. It made for a better chance at success.
It was decided. Tact, Calm, and Jewel would go.
Maybe they'd kill it, or subdue it. Or maybe they'd die.
Regardless, I had set it in motion.