51 The Madman Had Her Caught
Not very soon after the guard along with his fellow mate spread the news of the escapee, more guards gathered and started to spread, looking for her.
In the meantime, Alice who had managed to get away from the sights of the guards ended up walking farther into the dungeon. As she walked in, she saw a spiral of stair cases leading up to god knows where. On sight of the guards securing the door, she presumed it to be the exit at the end of the stairs.
Upon hearing the loud iron footsteps of the guards, she quickly hurried away to the other side, before she could get caught by any of them. She realized, the further she walked, the colder the place turned out to be because of the lack of torches around.
Through the little caged-like ventilator up high on the walls, she was able to make out that the time was around midday which was why there was little light reflecting down for her to head in. She carefully helmed through the dark way, keeping her ears high on alert trying to catch any noise or movement.
Walking further in, she jumped back with a light squeak as soon as she felt something soft and wet run over her bare feet, lightly grazing her ankle, leaving a sting on it. She hissed as she felt the burn.
She glanced down but didn't catch a glimpse of anything and she assumed it to be one of the dirty liquid in the dungeon. Alice continued, aware that she needed to go fast if she was to find a route out before coming across any other risks.
As she moved further into the dungeon, the dampness in the air became more noticeable, making her shudder given that her dress was nothing but the light sleepwear that she had been in for the past two days that barely kept her warm. Not to say that they were torn with the hem of it damp with all the walkings around the soggy dungeon.
Broken walls and cracked pillars came into view with scattered stones on the ground with dust and spider webs here and there. She had to swat her hands as she went in further.
Though she knew this wasn't the way to get out, she kept moving, hoping for a way out. That lot was her desperate to escape from the scary dungeon that had her on the verge of crying. Her whole body ached with all the injuries. Especially, her back which she was sure was bleeding witchy works of the black witch.
Not soon, she came across rows of deadly cells around with people who were most probably unconscious or more like they were dead. Not a prisoner did she see move to give her the idea that they were alive.
Chills ran down her spine when she saw one such person who stood nearby the rusty iron bar, looking straight into her eyes with a hollow and creepy look, his hands stretched forward as if to reach toward her with his dirty, boney hands. Alicia moved her feet quickly, passing the very cell.
"ALICIA!"
The endearing voice of the one she came to despise the most echoed through the passage having Alicia's whole body freeze.
'She's here!' screamed her mind. But she soon recovered from the shock. Turning around in haste, she quickly made her way through the passage that she had continued to walk in earlier.
"We know you're somewhere around here!" Next voice of a rough man, probably one of the guards.
Not very soon after the guard along with his fellow mate spread the news of the escapee, more guards gathered and started to spread, looking for her.
In the meantime, Alice who had managed to get away from the sights of the guards ended up walking farther into the dungeon. As she walked in, she saw a spiral of staircases leading up to god knows where. On sight of the guards securing the door, she presumed it to be the exit at the end of the stairs.
Upon hearing the loud iron footsteps of the guards, she quickly hurried away to the other side, before she could get caught by any of them. She realized, the further she walked, the colder the place turned out to be because of the lack of torches around.
Through the little caged-like ventilator up high on the walls, she was able to make out that the time was around midday which was why there was little light reflecting down for her to head in. She carefully helmed through the dark way, keeping her ears high on alert trying to catch any noise or movement.
Walking further in, she jumped back with a light squeak as soon as she felt something soft and wet run over her bare feet, lightly grazing her ankle, leaving a sting on it. She hissed as she felt the burn.
She glanced down but didn't catch a glimpse of anything and she assumed it to be one of the dirty liquid in the dungeon. Alice continued, aware that she needed to go fast if she was to find a route out before coming across any other risks.
As she moved further into the dungeon, the dampness in the air became more noticeable, making her shudder given that her dress was nothing but the light sleepwear that she had been in for the past two days that barely kept her warm. Not to say that they were torn with the hem of it damp with all the walkings around the soggy dungeon.
Broken walls and cracked pillars came into view with scattered stones on the ground with dust and spider webs here and there. She had to swat her hands as she went in further.
Though she knew this wasn't the way to get out, she kept moving, hoping for a way out. That lot was her desperate to escape from the scary dungeon that had her on the verge of crying. Her whole body ached with all the injuries. Especially, her back which she was sure was bleeding witchy works of the black witch.
Not soon, she came across rows of deadly cells around with people who were most probably unconscious or more like they were dead. Not a prisoner did she see move to give her the idea that they were alive.
Chills ran down her spine when she saw one such person who stood nearby the rusty iron bar, looking straight into her eyes with a hollow and creepy look, his hands stretched forward as if to reach toward her with his dirty, boney hands. Alicia moved her feet quickly, passing the very cell.
"ALICIA!"
The endearing voice of the one she came to despise the most echoed through the passage having Alicia's whole body freeze.
'She's here!' screamed her mind. But she soon recovered from the shock. Turning around in haste, she quickly made her way through the passage that she had continued to walk in earlier.
"We know you're somewhere around here!" Next voice of a rough man, probably one of the guards.
Beads of sweat trickled down her forehead and her back, burning her wounds that were still bleeding. On sight of an ajarred cell gate that wasn't so far, she looked back and forth, making sure no one took note of her and managed to slip through the gate, carefully trying to lock the gate from the inside.
Alice struggled with the cell gate's latch while frantically attempting to lock it from the inside with shaky hands. With each passing second, the guards' footsteps and shouts could be heard echoing off in the distance. She was aware that she needed to move swiftly to avoid being discovered.
With so much blood rushing up to her head, she felt like she might fall any minute with dizziness. Soon, she ran back toward the far corner of the cell and glanced down at her once baby-pink gown turned into a lighter shade of brown. She bent down and grabbed what looked like dirt and smeared it over her dress, before doing the same to her platinum blonde hair and her face, making sure she looked nothing like herself and covered her ears behind her hair strands.
Now all that she had to do was calm down her heart which was thudding like the drum in a musical festival. She took in deep breaths making sure she made no noise for the guards or the witch who were not too far from her hideout.
"Did you find anything, Enzo?" Alicia heard one of the guards question.
"I think the place here is all clear," said the other guard, "We need to find her quickly. Who knows, we might even get the chance to rank our position to a higher rank."
The guards' eyes glinted with newfound hope. "Yeah, you're right. You see, the girl could be one of the most wanted by His Majesty. If not that, why would he have a mere girl be clutched under such powerful force in nothing but a forbidden cell?" He questioned the obvious as he already had them all dream already, imagining them being ranked and rewarded with golds and whatnot.
Alice's heart raced as she listened to the exchange between the guards.
'His Majesty as in the king? Does this mean the royals were involved in her abduction?'
The mention of her being a wanted individual by His Majesty only intensified the questions that were circulating in her head.
"Have you already gotten her that you've decided to stand by and chit-chat?"
The guards who were speaking leisurely, dropping down the main issue, turned rigid at the gruff voice that came from behind.
"S-sir Decan!"
"Yes, it is I, and what are you measly ones doing here standing idle?" Questioned the knight who was in his shiny armor as he narrowed his eyes at the one who opened his mouth but didn't speak. That only further infuriated him more than he already was.
It had been more than half an hour, yet there was no sign of the missing girl. Decan clenched his fist as he controlled his anger.
In a cell opposite to where Decan stood, a man who nearly looked like a corpse tapped his bare dirty feet on the floor, splashing the dirty water and gesturing something as he pointed with his fingers, having all the guards, including Sir Decan's attention.
Clicking his teeth Decan walked toward the man who seemed to be trying to communicate. Following the prisoner's pointed fingers, Decan's Eyes fell into a cell that was far from the others and was left in the dark along with three others.
As the prisoner continued to babble, Decan questioned, "You mean to say that there's someone there?" And in return, the man nodded his head vigorously.
"Sir, I don't we'll have to listen to that madman. That thing's turned so spending all his years in the prison and there's no way he's-"
The knight raised his hand and started to walk toward the cell, interrupting the guard.
