Chapter 1: The devil of Castaway

Zuri's POV

I tried to run but I couldn't. For some reason my legs were tied with an invisible rope and even my struggles were meaningless.

I tried again and again and again until it became apparent I wasn't going anywhere which was bad for me because I could hear his voice.

"Come here, boy! You can run but you can't hide!"

The voice was getting closer and I was getting more agitated by the second.

My shoulder was hunched and I tried to make myself as small as possible (as if that would help)

The trembling hands made me focus on my body, it was then I realized…I looked ten again. I wrapped my hands around myself like it would do something about the heart wrenching fear I was feeling and soon, help came as a little crawl space that suddenly appeared in front of me and I dove into it.

I almost made it all the way in when someone grabbed my leg and started pulling.

"Let me go! Let me go!" I yelled on top of my preadolescent voice.

It made no difference.

I felt the first crack of the whip on my feet and I won't lie, it stung more than I wanted it to.

"Let me go!" I yelled again.

Then I stirred and my eyes fluttered severally before I opened them.

Finally!

I was still out of breath and I was still in pain but I couldn't pinpoint where it was coming from.

The pain was all over my body.

Slowly, everything became less blurry and I could focus but I couldn't make out where I was.

Was I still on the floor trying to get away or was I in some other horrible place?

I was confused and again, with the pain!

My mouth was dry…too dry and I would give anything for a glass of water right about now. I tried not to panic as I accessed my environment.

"Great. It's another nightmare"

Thank goodness it was all a dream.

I sounded relieved and then I was irritated because I was terrified to begin with.

I am Zuri Zero Williamson, king of Castaway and the commander of my armed forces, I shouldn't be terrified of anything yet I was still trying to get my hand to stop shaking and my breath to stop quivering.

I closed my eyes to get my heart to slow down but it was all in vain.

Nothing was working.

I haven't had night terror in a while and it wasn't a coincidence it came with the arrival of the girl down the hall - Emily.

Slowly, I sat upright and I didn't object when I still felt pain on my feet.

What was the point of objecting and whining like a little baby?

I switched on the light and checked the wrist watch on the lamp stand.

12:04 a.m

Good. It was time to swim. There was nothing a nice cold swim couldn't fix.

I ignored the pain on my feet and wore the white slippers by my bed.

I opened the door and made my way to the royal pool reserved for the reigning monarch of Castaway.

It was to ensure total privacy as even my personal guards were forbidden to enter.

Briefly, I thought about the sister that showed up a few weeks ago.

There wasn't much to think about, I hardly know the kid and I have no plans whatsoever to get to know her.

She was just a means to an end.

(Except you were worried about her when you saw her in tears!) The annoying little voice in my head reminded me.

Shut up!

Don't we all hate the tiny voices of truth and reason that always show up at the most inconvenient time?

I mean, if I wanted to be rational, I would have been but I chose not to be.

I am the devil of Castaway, afterall.

I made my way to the hallway where the array of expensive paintings were under guard since the birth of the menace fondly called the white knight.

A thief no less who fancies himself to be a present day Robbinhood. Theft is theft in my book and nothing could change that and since I passed the decree that he was to be shot on sight,I thought he would slow its menace except he was somehow standing in the hallway and my guards were nowhere to be found.

I grabbed the antic sword on the wall and I tightened my grip on it.

"Either you are incredibly stupid or brave…you must know you are in my home and there is no way I am letting you go" I told him yet all he did was stare.

"Take off the mask, mister!" I ordered him

I stared at him and he stared at me. He was wearing a long white baggy Jacket with pants and he had a bike helmet on his head.

"Take off the mask!" I yelled at him.