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Mid-Evil Pompeii in the Modern Day (Joshua)

SLIGHT ANGST

2.8K Words

*****

The laughter in the room increased in volume as the men and women in the throne room ridiculed the man standing before them. The young man pleaded with the king to plan an evacuation, telling the king that tragedy would strike the island. The king just laughed harder.

“We’ve been here for centuries, never has danger come from Mount Shjin.” The king told the young man as he looked down from his gold throne.

“Your majesty, I’m begging you to see the signs.” The young man repeated, glancing between the three thrones sat atop the extravagant staircase.

“You’re funnier than our jester!” The king boomed, starting the laugh fest again. The young man sighed, giving up his warnings.

“Thank you, your majesty.” The young man took his leave as the throne room continued its laughter.

I watched from my throne as the young man walked from the palace with his head down low. I believed the young man. Mount Shjin had been doing odd things lately, causing my worry for our island to increase.

After the royalties were dismissed for the day, I quickly made my way to my room, fully intent on asking the young man exactly what he had found. The sun was already setting when the royalties were dismissed and nightfall was fast approaching. I changed from my fancy gown to my comfortable house wear. I packed a few things, expecting to be gone for a day since the young man’s hometown was somewhat of a travel.

Once the castle fell to sleep, I made my way down to the common area. The table had been cleaned of our night’s dinner and already prepped for tomorrow morning’s breakfast. The kitchen attached to the common room was also cleaned. Cleared of food remnants, organized for easier access in the morning, and all signs of life gone for the night.

I walked down the stairs, which led to a door that was tightly closed, the door to the stables. This door was hardly used, granted that we usually take the walk outside so as to not startle the farmhands, but they were all asleep in their beds, so no worries of scaring a poor boy.

I entered the stables and quietly walked past the stalls. At the end of the stables was where all the horses were housed. Eight stalls holding eight horses, illuminated by the moon. The only horse awake neighed at me from his stall at the end, almost begging to be let out. I tiptoed over to the horse called Gypsy, reaching my hand outward for him to smell. He placed his nose fully onto my hand, stomping one foot against the brick flooring. I was quick to get him saddled and ready for the trip to Sebut.

We rode towards the north, following the road to Sebut. The moon rose higher in the sky, illuminating the uneven path leading to the poorer countryside where Sebut was. The further Gypsy and I traveled, the more evident it became that we were getting further from the castle. The houses became more run down, the weeds grew high, the animals roamed freely through the towns, and the road begun to become more and more unruly.

The sun began to peak above the horizon as Gypsy and I strolled into the town of Dreary, the town next to Sebut. I felt the drowsy feeling surfacing, not having any sleep finally catching up to me. I look towards the center of the island where Mount Shjin stood, the black cloud that had been rising to the skies in the past few weeks had grown in size, even from when I had left. This gave me a worried feeling, making me forget my tiredness. Gypsy and I sped up, spending the last of our energy on the last leg of the trip to Sebut.

Gypsy and I rolled into Sebut just as the rest of the sun peaked above the horizon, showing us its entirety. The town sign that read Sebut was dangling dangerously off the wooden post it had been chained to. The town was really run down, buildings cracked, roofs with holes through them. The animals roamed the streets and it looked as if no children were in school, for they were all rolling in the dirt and playing their child games. One of the children, a little girl with bright blonde hair and green eyes, approach Gypsy.

“Can I pet him?” She asked cutely, looking at the horse with so much love even though she had just met him.

“Sure.” I smiled at her. “He loves people.”

The little girl petted Gypsy with a huge smile. I looked around again as she petted Gypsy, looking to ask where the young man would live.

“Excuse me?” I got the girls attention. She looked up at me curiously, her eyes shining with innocence. “I’m looking for a young man, he has brown hair and brown eyes with an interesting shaped head.” I described the young man best I could remember. “Is there a man as such that lives here?”

“Joshua.” She told me. “He calls himself a mountain doctor! He has been trying to make Mount Shjin feel better!” She explained to me excitedly.

“Can you bring me to him?” I asked her with a smile.

She nodded before she ran into the direction towards the water. Gypsy followed behind her closely, not once letting her out of his sight. We walked for a short while before we reached a small house overlooking the water. It stood atop a cliff side. I could hear the waves crash against the giant rocks and the birds singing their song in tune with the waves. The little girl stopped at the top of the hill overlooking the house.

“He lives there.” She told me. “Goodbye!” She said abruptly, then leaving back the way we had come.

I watched the girl for awhile before she disappeared into the forest we had gone through. Gypsy and I continued down the rocky path to the small house. The front of the house was cracked and damaged like the rest of the town, but I could tell that work had been done to fix it. I got off Gypsy and tied his reigns to one of the wooden poles stabilizing the well that stood outside the tranquil home. I placed some grain in a pile next to Gypsy, which he immediately began to eat.

I approached the stone house, ascending up the small steps that sat just before the door. The door was made of old wood that had been excellently crafted, fitting the door frame perfectly. I slowly rose my hand to the edge of the door frame. I strongly hit my knuckle against the wood, causing an audible knock to sound through the small area. Silence came about through the small hillside, even the waves had stopped crashing against the rocks. I waited for many minutes before I, once again, brought my knuckle to the frame, pounding it a little harder, causing a louder sound to emit from the wood. I waited again, not hearing any noise come from inside the small house.

Facing the reality that the man didn’t seem to be home, I turned on my heel, walking back to Gypsy. I stopped quickly when I saw a man next to Gypsy. He petted the horse gently, whispering to it softly. I felt time slow at that moment, seeing him like this, a soft, patient man, instead of the frantic, terrified man I saw at the throne room, but there was no denying this was him. I was brought back to reality when he looked in my direction. He stopped petting the horse and his smile disappeared from his face.

“I’m sorry, I’m a very busy man at the moment.” He told me, beginning to walk towards his door, not looking in my direction again.

“I know.” I told him quickly, turning towards him. “You’re watching Mount Shjin.”

“How did you know?” He asked quickly, facing me.

“I noticed it.” I began, watching his face tilt slightly in confusion. “and you came to tell the king.” I pulled the necklace around my neck forward, showing the royal element dangling from a gold chain. “You ran away so quickly, I didn’t get a chance to ask you about it.”

“Come inside.” He told me, smiling at me, making time slow once again.

He held this hand out to me, the smile never once leaving his face. “I’m Joshua by the way and I know who you are, princess.” He said with a sweet tone, one much different than what I’ve ever heard from a man.

He brought me into his small home, which was much nicer than the outside was. It was clear that the howl inside of the house had been redone recently. Joshua leads me through the house, showing me a room with pictures and writings all over the walls and ceiling. It was his evidence he had collected over the past few months, which he showed and explained to me. The pictures he had taken showed something truly disturbing. Mount Shjin was growing in size. The base begun to expand and it was only getting bigger in a faster amount to time.

“There is some sort of pressure weighing on Mount Shjin, and sooner or later that pressure is going to need to release.” He explained to me. “And I don’t know how it will release, but it can’t be good.”

“We need to show my father this, this will surly convince him!” I exclaimed.

“He didn’t believe me.” Joshua told me. “I tried already, he told me to never show up at the throne again or I would be put to death.” He told me sadly.

“How long do we have before the pressure releases?” I asked him with concern evident in my voice.

“Not long.” He told me. “I was just about to make the trip to the other side of the island to try to sail away.”

“You were going to leave everyone here?” I asked with irritation bubbling over. “You were going to let everyone die?” I crossed my arms defiantly.

“I tried telling people.” He argued back. “No one believes me and all they do is laugh in my face, I’ve given up helping others.” He turned away from me, beginning to pack some things up.

“You know, I met a little girl in town.” I started, watching him continue to pack his things. “She doesn’t understand this concept of destruction. You want to leave her here to be in the middle of the pressure release?”

Joshua stopped packing. He faced me and grabbed my upper arms. “I tried.” He told me with sadness in his eyes. “I really did, but no one will listen.”

“Try one more time. Please.” I begged him. “I’ll be there, I want to help these people to get away.”

“You truly are noble, my princess.” He smiled sadly. And with that he finished packing his things and we rode into town on Gypsy. “I am not much of a rider.” He had said, prompting him to sit behind me while I took the reigns.

We warned the people in Sebut. They did just as Joshua had said, laughed and ridiculed us. I tried and pleaded with the town, using my royalty as an advantage and still, they all just laughed. Even when I looked back to Joshua’s knowing eyes he did not patronize me, even though they did as he said. He simply shook his head sadly, not meeting eyes with any of the townspeople.

We continued are journey through each town, trying to get people to listen. None did. Each town did the same as the last. Laughed and called us foolish, not a single person believing our words. We continued our way towards the castle, feeling defeated at seeing everyone’s face for the last time. I didn’t want to speak to anyone else, but my morals kept control of my actions, leading me towards the castle to tell anyone who would listen. However, Joshua and I both knew they wouldn’t. They didn’t listen to him when he first came and they wouldn’t listen now.

Joshua opted to stay outside the castle with Gypsy, not wanting to anger the king by his presence. I walk into the throne room alone, bowing respectfully to my parents as I prepare my piece to present before them.

“Mount Shjin is increasing in size.” I pause, waiting for my parents to process the fact that I had been missing for breakfast but made an appearance before them in the throne room.

“What is the meaning of this?” My father interrupts, standing from his seat to tower even more over me. “Is this that same nonsense from that man from Sebut?”

“Father, he’s right.” I jump in, standing my ground courageously. “If you would look into the skies and see the darkness engulfing it, you’d realize the danger we’re in!” I shout at him, gesturing as I spoke to emphasize my point.

“You stop this ridiculousness.” He threatens me, staring me down with his anger flared.

“We have to leave to the boats.” I tell him, plead with him. “Please, follow me to the docks.”

My words only cause the king’s laugh to echo through the gold lined room.

“I do wish you’d come to your senses. You’re the princess after all.”

“I’m right about this.” I glare at him, my confidence reaching my eyes.

“If you’re so confident, then leave the island by boat.” The king smirks, looking down at me with victory in his eyes.

“Then I will.” I state calmly, bowing before turning on my heel and walking out of the throne room.

I reunite with Gypsy and Joshua, not saying a word as I quickly mount Gypsy to continue the trek to safety. I could tell that Joshua wanted to speak, but he stayed silent most likely worried he would anger me further. Joshua and I made our way down to the docks at the end of the island. There, floated a small wooden boat, tied to the dock. As I direct Gypsy next to the shore, the sudden weight of all that was happening hit me. I began to shake, feeling excruciating pain at the thought of all the people still left on the island.

“We haven’t got much time, princess.” Joshua spoke as he dismounted Gypsy, grabbing his things to place them on the boat.

I look behind me, seeing the smoke begin to cover more land, watching the skies turn dark. I began to hear the screams of fear and worry, making my heart ache more.

“Princess?” Joshua laid his hand on my shoulder, beckoning me off of Gypsy, which I follow.

“How am I supposed to leave them all?” I asked with tears threatening to spill.

Joshua sighed, grabbing my shoulders to look him in the eye. “They didn’t listen. I know it’s hard to leave, but you realized the signs, you deserve to live.”

By this point tears had begun to fall from my face. Joshua watched me with sad eyes, the sorrow reaching his eyes as they glassed over with tears.

“I still feel awful.” I sobbed, covering my face with my hands as Joshua continued to hold my shoulders.

“You have Gypsy, that’s a good reason to keep living.” Joshua smiled. “Heaven knows I don’t know how to take care of a horse.”

I laughed slightly, wiping the rest of my tears away. “I’m still scared.” I admitted as I look to the boat that swayed with the waves.

Joshua nodded in understanding, releasing my shoulders before speaking. “It will get better.”

Surprisingly, those words did bring some comfort to my mind, giving me enough strength to continue to the next challenge. I nod at Joshua, signaling I was ready to leave. He smiles back before we began to load the boat, all while the smoke from the air began to choke our airways. We coughed as Joshua, Gypsy and I loaded into the boat, pushing off quickly to get away from the black clouds.

I watch the island get smaller and smaller the further we float from it. My mind flashes to all the people we warned along the way, making my chest hurt. I looked to Joshua, trying to focus on anything other than the people of the island.

“Are we going to be okay?” I asked finally, worried about our journey through the sea. “I’ve never left the island before.”

“I haven’t either.” Joshua confessed as he rows. “But we are safer out here than on the island.”

I nodded in agreement looking out the vast sea. I wasn’t sure if we would be okay. I wasn’t sure if we’d make it to another land mass or if we would even survive. However, even with these scary thoughts plaguing the back of my mind, I felt like things would be okay. All the pain my chest felt slowly continued to dwindle and in my mind I believed that we were going to be okay.

SEVENTEEN MASTERLIST

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