"This is a terrible idea. The closer we get the worse it becomes." Tewkesbury muttered, his eyes roaming over the estate he once called home. "Why are we doing this?"

"Unlike Octavia, and most well-bred ladies, I was never taught to embroider. I never molded wax roses, hemmed handkerchiefs, or strung seashells." She began, fire blazing in her eyes. "I was taught to watch and listen, to fight."

She turned around, a burning ember of pride and determination in her voice. "This is what I was made for."

"Inspiring speech, Enola." I said, picking up my skirt and walking towards the front door while sniggering. "But as you mentioned, this was certainly not what I was made for."

"You'll manage Octavia. If I recall, you made quite a burn when you swung that kettle over the inspector's head." She grinned, a glimmer of mischief in her eye.

"We need to do this. We need answers." She turned her eyes over to Tewkesbury, who sighed.

"If we die, I am so going to kill you." He rolled his eyes jokingly, before gulping at the door. He reached out to the door, hesitant to open it. But at his gentle touch, the door creaked open ever so slightly, revealing the hauntingly beautiful hall.

"It's unlocked..." Enola murmured, stepping into the grand mansion.

"Suspicious. Shouldn't we turn back?" I asked, eyes glancing at the plethora of shadows around us. "We've only just got you back, Enola. I wouldn't want to lose either of you once more."

"No one achieved anything without risk, Octavia." She replied, surveying the stationary armour on display. "And this...this is a risk we'll have to take."

"Mother?" Tewkesbury called out, his voice echoing into the massive hall. It was answered with silence.

"Where have all the servants gone?" He furrowed his brows.

"Welcome to the future." I sniggered, hands trailing on the gold details of the pillars.

We continued our careful walk up the hall, every sound of the night making my heart rate spike in fear.

"What's happening?" Tewkesbury whispered, opening the door to the next room, which contained dozens of metal, armoured knights lining the corridors. I froze, thinking they were human, before realising that they were just empty shells.

"They know we're here." Enola replied, prowling over the opulent items on display. She paused at a crystal ball, gazing intently at it's gleaming surface. Her eyes widened in horror as she spotted something in it's glassy reflection.

"Down!" She screamed, shoving all three of us under and onto the ground. Not a moment too soon, a thunderous gun shot was fired, and shards of the misty glass rained down on our heads. I paled, breathing frantically and knitted my hands through Tewkesbury's in fear.

Enola moved around, behind the pedestal where the once beautiful crystal ball sat. I followed, heart racing and eyes fearful. Multiple more gun shots rang out, flying so close they nearly grazed my skin.

"Run!" Enola scrambled to the front door as another shot flew at us. I followed behind, making sure Tewkesbury stayed in front of me. It's him they want after all.

"It's locked!" Tewkesbury hollered over the gun shots that pierced through the air. One smashed into the armour of the still knight that stood right next to us. I gazed past the damaged metal, and stared right into the eyes of our attacker.

The man in the bowler hat scowled at me, cocking his rifle and aiming for another shot. I ripped my eyes away from him and ran for my life to the other end of the hall.

The man followed, his eyes piercing through the dark as he shot another round of bullets at us, each shot getting closer and closer to where we were. One shot pierced through the glass, making it rain crystal over us once more.

Enola sidetracked, running into the wall and pressed herself as tightly as she could between the statues, as if she wanted nothing more then to disappear into it. Tewkesbury and I did the same, our breaths heaving as the man got closer with every second. The statues lining the walls provided cover, though it was limited as a bullet smashed one, making it fall to the ground.

Another shot rang out, this time hitting the armour on our other side. Pieces of the shiny metal fell to the ground, the sounds clanging against the smooth floor.

Enola tugged at us, and pointed at the man, who reloaded his empty rifle, filling it with more bullets. The man grunted and began to walk right at us, closing in on our location.

Enola grabbed a piece of the broken statue, and aimed at the man, eyeing for the perfect shot.

The broken piece flew into the wall on the other side, on the other end of the hall. I gasped slightly, thinking that Enola had flunked her shot, but it was not in vain, for the man shot at the empty space where the statue piece lay.

"Smart thinking." I mumbled as Enola ran out into the hall while the man was looking the other way, his eyes hoping to glimpse us.

"Stay there." She mouthed, now hidden on the other side of the hallway, opposite to Tewkesbury and I. I gaped at her, what exactly was she about to do?

I did not have time to think, for the man was now walking in our direction. I fumbled for Tewkesbury's hand and held it tightly, pressing myself against the wall as tightly as I could.

A shot flew, decimating what was left of the statue next to us. The metal shuddered, smashing into the ground. Among the rubble was a metal chest piece.

I saw Tewkesbury's eyes light up, his eyes glimmering as he stole the armour chest piece. He shoved it under his coat, providing a secretive extra layer of protection. I gave him a thumbs up as he smiled, looking around for another piece to hand to me.

I shook my head frantically, and rapped my hands slightly on my stomach, mouthing the word 'corset'. His eyes glimmered.

"Turns out corsets do have more practical uses rather then looking pretty for gentlemen." He whispered, quoting my words from the night we made a bonfire and ate a feast of plants.

I rolled my eyes, even in a life or death situation he still managed to be so...so...

... the man had finally found us, his gun cocked and aimed straight at Tewkesbury. I growled and shoved myself in front of Tewkesbury, protecting him from the coming shot.

But it was not needed, as Enola attacked the man from the other side of the hallway, punching and hitting him in any way she could. She moved in a way only a soldier could, dodging and attacking at just the right moments.

The man reared back into the wall, and shoved Enola off, sending her flying into the ground. I scrambled to help as the man kicked Enola in the face, a sickening crack bellowed as he made contact.

His arms were raised, ready to deliver the final blow, but Tewkesbury got to him first, tackling him off her and throwing the man's rifle to the side. I raced beside Enola, who was bleeding from her temple. A couple of tears found their way into my eyes, but I wiped them off harshly.

Stay strong, Octavia. For Enola.

I ripped off a piece of my skirt, applying pressure to the cut. Another sickening crack sounded, and I whipped my head round to see Tewkesbury crumple to the floor. My heart crumpled along with him, more tears flowing down my face.

No.

The man glared at me, advancing towards me, ready to attack once more.

This is not how it ends.

I sat there, Enola's blood staining my skirt as I frantically tried to think of a way out. I was helpless, only managing a futile punch to his stomach.

The man kicked me aside, my attack so mild it didn't seem to impact him at all. I me plummeted into another metal knight, my body aching and sore. The armour crashed around me, colliding with my body and sending extra waves of damage radiating through me.

I tasted metallic blood at the back of mouth. Joints ached with every slight movement. I had to heave breaths with effort, dizzying me so much I could barely make out what was going on.

My brain was screaming at me to just lay there, to accept defeat. My heart was racing regardless, telling me to go, to stand up, to fight. I was so tired....it all hurt so much....

...But in the distance, I could just make out Tewkebsury being strangled. He gasped, alone, with no one left to help her.

Help him....help him....

I slowly dragged myself out, little by little, so as to not attract the notice of the man. But Enola was already there, her face bloody, her joints aching, but helping with all she could.

Enola met my eyes, and instantly, I knew what she was to do.

From my nasty attempt at an attack earlier, I knew I was no good at offense.

But Enola was.

She hooked onto the man's leg, twisting at an angle and forcing him to fall onto the ground. His head made contact with a sharp artifact, causing a disturbing thud to sound. Blood trailed from his wound as his eyes stared blankly at us, unmoving.

Everything was still for a second, disbelief spread on Enola's face as she stared at the limp man. And then it was broken, my sobs mixed with relieved joy.

We had won. We had finally won.

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