I ran to my room and got some things that I might need: another sword, my complete armor, and daggers. I ran out, hanging the two swords at my back with the small bag I was holding.
"Are you done?" I asked Alvin, entering his room. "I told you we have to travel light until we get out of the palace," I said, looking at the big bag.
"But…"
"Get rid of these things and meet me at the entrance. If you see any of those people…" I said, throwing him a sheathed knife. "Stab their heads," I said, walking out.
I went to the stables, hoping that they wouldn't attack the animals. Bean's stable was empty. I ran out and whistled; he came running in minutes.
"Hey, Bean, we have to go," I said, rubbing his head. I drew my sword and went back to get another horse. I took them to the entrance and saw Alvin pointing the knife at the air with shaky hands. "Let's go," I shouted, and he jumped.
He climbed onto the horse, but some of the people came toward us. I climbed onto Bean and hit Alvin's horse to start running.
"From the top of my head to my fingertips," I said and released another attack. "Let's go, Bean," I shouted, and he neighed before running off.
I bent and slashed all those that were in my way. I soon caught up with Alvin and hit his horse to move faster. We got to the gate, but it was locked; the area was clear, which meant they didn't know what was going on inside.
"Open the gate," I shouted, reaching the guards.
"Do you have a permit?" one of the guards asked.
"Get out while you can and lock the gate so that they won't get through," I said, looking back.
"Who? What are you talking about?" he asked.
"The palace has been attacked, and people are acting like beasts. Get out while you can," I said.
"What nonsense are you saying?" he asked, looking back.
"Open the gate," Alvin ordered.
"Your highness, but…" He was about to argue, but the moans were enough to shut him up. "What's wrong with them?"
"Open the gate," I shouted, and he nodded, gesturing at the people standing at the tower. "Let's go," I shouted. We ran out, but they were already close and were attacking the guards. "Close the gate," I shouted.
"Wait, don't leave me… ahh…" one of the guards shouted as he turned to a feast for the dead. I tsked and ran back to break the chains to lock the first gate. I fought off the ones that came after me, but they were too many. The third gate closed, then the second; the numbers reduced, so I could fight them off easily.
"From the…" I said, panting. "…top of my head… to the sole of my feet," I said and jumped over the gate to the pillar. "This way," I said to the people inside. They jumped out with me, and I managed to get everyone to land safely.
"What's going on?" one of the guards asked.
"I don't have time to explain. Just make sure you don't get bit," I said, climbing onto Bean.
"Wait, are you leaving? You can't leave us here," he said.
"There are two horses and eight of us. How will that work?" I asked. "Find your way to safety; I'm not obligated to save you," I said, hitting Bean. But one of them stepped in front of us, and Bean made a forced stop that pushed me down.
"I'm sorry, but you'd have to give up those horses," he said, pointing a dagger at me.
I stood up and dusted my clothes before checking on Bean. "I don't want to kill you, so move aside," I said, drawing a dagger from my back.
They ignored my warning and charged at me. I sighed and blocked their attacks easily. I gave them injuries on their hands but nothing lethal; they didn't relent, so I was forced to slit their throats.
I climbed onto Bean and hit him to get going. We rode for a while and rested because it was too dark and the horses needed to recuperate.
"You didn't have to kill them," was the first thing Alvin said when we stopped.
"I did," I replied.
"No, you didn't. You could have…"
"That naive mentality will get you killed, your highness," I said, standing up. "Rest up; we'll go to the Bureau of Knights in the morning," I said, and he nodded.
…
I stayed up all night to make sure that none of them escaped from the palace, and luckily they didn't.
We rode to the city, and fortunately, it was unaffected. I couldn't do anything on my own, so I decided it was best to get the knights involved.
The minute we reached the main gate, I perceived that smell again, like something dead.
"Your highness, I think it got here too," I said.
"What do we do?" he asked.
"We'd still go inside, but be careful. Be ready to run at any time," I said.
We strode in with careful steps, looking around the quiet fields. I heard a silent growl, then the moans. I looked up and saw a group of knights approaching us.
"Shit, let's get out of here," I shouted, dragging Bean so he'd turn. We turned, but another group was behind us.
"Hey," someone shouted, and they turned their attention to one of the buildings. "Come over here," he shouted.
"This way," I said, hitting Alvin's horse to run fast. "Go," I said, getting down from Bean. He ran off as well.
"Come on, come on," he kept shouting. They moved toward the voice while some followed Alvin, and some came after me. I slashed their heads and went after Alvin; it was hard because hitting them anywhere else was pointless. "Hey, don't turn around; come on."
Bean ran around and came back for me. I raised my hand, slashing through the dead to clear the path, grabbed the rope around Bean, and jumped on his back. He ran after Alvin's horse quickly and slowed down when we were close so that I could hit the dead attacking them.
The horse neighed and dropped Alvin as it started running around maddeningly.