Cal

The undertrain, as the others call it, comes to a stop. With my hands still tied in front of me, Kilorn and another member of the Scarlet Guard escort me from the car onto a platform like the one under the arena. We are still underground from what I can tell.

"Take him to one of the holding rooms," commands Farley.

I start at the sound of her voice; the order she just gave refers to me.

"Cal!"

I squeeze my eyes shut. I don't want to see Mare right now. There's nothing she can do, nothing I want her to do or say.

"What are you waiting for?"

Kilorn's hand tightens around my arm in response.

"Come on, let's go," he says more to his comrade holding my other arm than to me.

"Cal! Kil! Wait a moment. Just let me talk to him."

You've done enough, I want to say but I don't. However, I can't seem to look away this time. I turn to see Mare pushing her way towards me and Shade, her brother, tugging her arm to pull her back.

It's the last I see of her before I'm thrown into a small square room and the metal door slammed shut behind me. I hear the bolt slide home on the other side, locking me inside. It's dark, only a small window in the door lets in the little light there is coming from the hall. The room smells old and the air is moist and stale.

Mare went from rags to riches. And now I went from being the Crown Prince to a traitor and a captive of my own doing. Why didn't I run? I know the answer. I just don't care anymore.