In Between by Rizonne Alexander (the reading strategies book .TXT) 📕

brothers. Trying to picture where the opening could be brought so much memories back, I remember being covered in my sibling’s blood. My shirt was soaked with blood and that was basically what saved me. I was so badly soaked with blood that one would think I was dead amongst the pile of bodies. Yes, that is what I did. I held my breath until he left, then I sneaked out. Bastiaan touched my shoulder breaking my horrid memory. I eventually found the opening; the lock was hanging which means nobody locked it from the outside. I signalled to Bastiaan to listen at how many heart beats were beating within the room. He lifted two fingers, two hearts only. I slowly pushed the latch open and lifted the cover. The whole idea was for him to save them, but I got so carried away with looking for the opening that I was leading this rescue. Damn Bastiaan, I’m sure he knew that this would happen. I grabbed onto the sides from the inside and lifted myself up. I looked down at Bastiaan and signalled him that we should climb up. I would be the first person my parents see. I lifted myself further up to the inside of the dungeon. I looked around and saw them tied up against the wall with chains. The place was just lit with torches, I moved aside so that Bastiaan could enter. I stood up and went to the other side of the wall. I leaned against the wall with my hands in my pockets while Bastiaan quickly broke the chains off. I did not take my eyes off my mother and father. I could see the shock in their eyes, I could feel my father tremble. I kept guard till Bastiaan led our parents down the shaft. Once they were safely down, I climbed down and locked the opening with a lock. My father kept staring at me like I was some sort of alien and my mother was pale. Bastiaan signalled to them the way, I walked behind, Bastiaan in front and them in the middle. We made it safely out of the tunnel and jumped down into the mud. Within seconds we were in the forest, I walked towards a tree and slid down to rest. Bastiaan took out bottles of feed and handed it to our parents. He threw me one which I catched and indulged in. My energy levels were low and within a few seconds it was up again. Bastiaan walked over to me with our parents. “Rhamaz, my brother. I would just like to thank you for helping me save our parents.” He said to me in front of them. I glanced up at all three of them. My mother was still pale, probably from shock and my father was just completely mute. “It’s a pleasure Bastiaan, so what is the plan now?” I asked. “Well, father. Do you mind explaining to us what happened?” he asked turning to our father. He was quiet for a couple of seconds and then cleared his throat. “Uhm uh, Bastiaan, how is this possible. The whole way here I have been trying to make sense of this.” He replied softly, almost as if he was scared to be heard by me. “What do you mean Father? Why are you whispering? Are you speaking about Rhamaz that is alive?” Bastiaan responded. My mother came forward and kneeled, she touched my hand. I flinched a bit but it made sense that she was trying to figure out if I’m not a ghost. “You are real!” she said amazed and threw her arms around my neck. I sat there unable to move and not knowing what to do next. I did not respond, I waited till she was done. “My son, how can it be that you are alive?” She asked me while holding my hands. I looked at her, then at my father who was looking at me as well. I felt nauseated by them. “Bastiaan, let me know once you leave to the castle, I will go with you. For now, I’m going to take a walk.” I said and walked away from them. “Rhamaz wait!” Bastiaan called from behind me. I turned around to him, “What?” I snapped at him. “they both overwhelmed.” He responded. “I don’t care how they feel. Let me know when you are ready or have come up with a plan.” I told him and sped through the forest so that I was not disrupted again. I was a few miles away from them, away from the castle. If I had to be in their company for a few more minutes I would have probably started to rip their throats out. How dare they even ask me how it is possible that I am alive! Who the fuck gives them the right to even ask that question. I should be dead, I should not be breathing because of my parents. I started to cry, I said down against a tree and threw a rock that was next to me. I promised myself that I would never come back, but here I am. Sitting against a tree crying. I remember the moment I escaped I ran to an area close to this and my tears carried me into a deep sleep. When I woke up the next morning, I had a different heart and mind. I wiped my tears and got up. I decided to walk back Bastiaan, there is no use running away and reliving something that happened years ago.   Bastiaan’s POV – Chapter 8

 

Argh, I feel like I need to cut my soul in half. A piece for my parents and the other piece for my brother who I just found. I tried to trick him into being the saviour of our parents, but it did not work. However, my parents were the first to see him. The reason why I did this was to hopefully start a form of reconciliation. My mother probably almost fainted, I held her hand throughout the whole ordeal. My father trembled from fear, Rhamaz is big. No bullshit, a big muscular guy and one would have to think twice to attempt to mess with him. He towered my father, not only did his face and existence shock my dad but possibly his size as well. The entire walk to the forest was quiet, my mother held my hand like her life depended on it and she kept on glancing up to Rhamaz. I don’t even know what was going through my father’s head, he was on edge and not responding to anything I say to him. We eventually got to a safe spot and Rhamaz sat by a tree. I handed out bottles of feed that I brought along, I knew that our energy would cripple. Everyone stared at Rhamaz and I noticed that he was getting irate by it. “Uhm uh, Bastiaan, how is this possible. The whole way here I have been trying to make sense of this.” My father whispered to me. “What do you mean Father? Why are you whispering? Are you speaking about Rhamaz that is alive?” I responded to him and quite frankly upset that he is whispering. My mother on the other hand did her own thing and went up to Rhamaz and literally throwing her arms around him. He eventually walked away after she asked how it can be that he is alive. When he stormed off, I tried to explain that they are both overwhelmed. It did not help at all, so I just let him go instead of fighting with his emotions directly. He needs to help himself emotionally. I turned around and made my way back to my parents. “Now, father. We need to sort out what is happening at the castle.” I said to him. “No son, you can spare me ten minutes to explain how that, uh how he is still alive!” he responded astonished, shocked. It’s like he could not believe it. “Uhm Father, he is your son. He is not a THAT, his not a monster.” I told him and emphasized. “Can you get to the point Bastiaan!” My mother screamed. Oh, this is going to a long night with these two. “So, Father, mother. I met Rhamaz through his daughter Amber. As you both know she is the one who brought me back from Asylum.” I explained. They both gasped in shock. “So that is our granddaughter? We are grandparents?” My mother squealed with joy. “look I don’t think that you are understanding this whole situation here. Father supposedly killed him years ago remember, Rhamaz is supposed to be dead but he escaped. So, leave all that joy for another day. Rhamaz wants nothing to do with you both, his only here for the sake of helping me get rid of Dregicht and then he is going back to his wife, daughter and life.  “Well said little brother, well said.” Rhamaz said from behind me and clapping hands. “You bet I’m going home after this ordeal.” He said again. “Rhamaz, glad you are back.” I said. “Right, Daddy dearest.” Rhamaz said sarcastically and leaned against a tree. “In order for me to go home to my family I seriously need to know what happened here so that I can help my brother.” He said looking at our father. Our father stepped forward and approached Rhamaz. My heart was beating so fast as if my veins were being sucked dry. “I never thought that I would ever have the opportunity to stand in front of you, you have grown well.” He told Rhamaz. My mother came closer to me and she was crying, I just ignored it. Rhamaz gave no response back. “So, both my sons are here.” Father said again. I could hear a sarcastic humpf from Rhamaz and I just rolled my eyes at him. “Bastiaan, you ordered Dregicht to lead the army into the dark forest and capture all Pixies, right?” He asked me. I nodded my head yes. “Well the moment you left, a group of pixies entered the castle gates to meet with Dregicht. In a nutshell, it was Dregicht who ordered the witch to cut you with the chamber glass the first time. He wanted control, he wants to be King.” He explained. “That fucking asshole! I can’t believe what I’m hearing, but if so, why did he bring me back?” I asked him angrily. “Because he was under a lot of pressure by me and your mother and the community.” He said again. “makes sense, and what about Neriah?” I asked him “Well she is recruited directly by Dregicht, they are lovers and she is pregnant from him too.” He said. My heart grew cold with betrayal and I sped away towards the castle, I gave nobody a chance to say anything further. I am going to kill him, and I will hang his head for I am the fucking King! Rhamaz and my father both chased after me and they grabbed me at the same time. “Do not be foolish my son. It’s a death trap” My father said. “I am going