When you don't really know the story.

Chapter 1

Mike

"If this is what you want, Kenneth." I told my only friend. We live on the edge of Bethony, a Kingdom that has many secrets. "I promise to never get myself in trouble. But you, you wanting to go be a knight, that is harder than getting a job at the castle." He told me. "Mike, You know I will support you, so you need to support me. I know it's dangerous, but I will take that risk. Like you." He sounded so sure, I was afraid he was going to ruin his life. I couldn't stand that.

The Kingdom is full of rules, they aren't that strict. We have freedoms, but at the castle, it's harsher. Outside of the castle, one mistake will lead to a warning or fine. In the castle, one mistake could kill you. It is hard to get and keep a job at the castle, but they are always hiring. But with my only friend, at 14, trying to get a job at the most dangerous place, I don't know how to stay together.

"I will become a knight when you get a job there. If you die, I die." I told him. "Deal." He agreed. We shook hands on it. He laughed. "We will never die!" I started laughing with him. I feel like he is right, but everyone knows they will die eventually, but we know it won't be from other people.

The next day, Kenneth went to the castle to sign up. For us, nowadays, we need to go through some tests to see if we are worthy to work at the castle. Once, a couple years ago, they just let people into work. That was also the year when the king got murdered by someone working at the castle. The queen had to protect her two children, the prince and the princess, by making some tests to see who is loyal. Only a few make it. The only thing I could do is hope for the best. This is a private testing due to the lack of concentration and other reasons they don't tell us.

I have never worried this much about someone in my life. Kenneth was always strong physically, but his emotional state was always weak. His last girlfriend felt she was hurting him when she talked about the depressing parts of her life because he... cried. She left him because of his over-sensitiveness. I, on the other hand, never had a girlfriend. I am not strong physically, and I am strong emotionally. I was mistreated, misunderstood, abused, and unloved. My family beat me a lot and yelled at me that I was a mistake and is and always will be, useless in the world. I used to cry myself to sleep every night, wishing someone would step into my life and help me.

When I started school, everybody made fun of my scars and my crying. For years. Then I found the only person that was there for me. Kenneth. When I met him, after school in middle school, I was hiding from life behind the building. I cried more then ever. Kenneth saw me before anyone else and tried to talk to me, his face of pure sorrow for me. He tried to start a conversation with me, but stopped short.

He saw the blood dripping down my arm from my fresh cuts, the small blade in my grasp. He asked me what was wrong. I told him everything, even through my tears and choughs, and he stayed for all of it. Listened to all of it. When I was done, he told me, "Don't worry too much anymore. I know cutting feels good and makes you feel like life is better, but it is not a solution." I couldn't help it. My only reaction was to yell at him. "What do you know?! You are mister perfect all the time!"

He frowned, and pulled up his sleeve. I saw cuts, old and new, on his wrist. I looked into his eyes to see tears threatening to fall. "I know I may seem perfect, but I'm not. School is my escape from the abusive family I have to live with." He stopped fighting the tears, seeming to let his problems go. Then he pulled his sleeve over his arm, covering his cuts. Wiping his face free from the tears, he got up and put out his hand to me with a smile. I smiled back, wiped my own tear-full eyes, and let him help me up. From that day on, I swore never to let anything happen to him.

I sat in the corner of my room, thinking about Kenneth and hoping him the best. Then an image popped into my head. Kenneth sent out to do a chore, then getting... murdered. Tears formed into my eyes and my heart lurched. This never happens to me anymore, why now? I wipe my eyes as my father walked into the room. "Son, we need to talk." He looked stern, as always. "Did I do something, father?" I asked. Did he hear me crying? Was I even making noise? I was so scared, but I looked emotionless. "The Queen. She wanted to talk to you. She requested you. Don't ask me why either, because I don't know. I hope you never come home."

Yep, that was my father, mean and not caring about his only son. My mother walked in with a paddle. "The Queen wants Mike?! What did he do?! I swear, if you broke a rule, I will personally hang you!" I just grabbed my bag and walked passed them. The Queen. She asked for me, of all people. I was excited! Maybe she wanted to make me the one to marry the Princess. I wanted to smile, but I had to show no emotion. Maybe I can think about what may happen as I take this long walk.

A/n I have been writing this for a while and I want people to know I work hard on this. My friends have read what I have and they love it so much, so I hope you do, too. Feel free to leave comments that show your feelings. Don't read if you can't stand death or self harm or any of that. I don't want to cause something bad. I have been working on this on a document separate then this so as I create this story, I am actually in the making of chapter 6. Trust me when I say, this story gets weird. Please don't yell at me to update, also. I can't handle that stress. I do this mainly for fun and to make others feel something for people that have to live in similar conditions. So anyway, please enjoy!! ^v^

With love, Not_A_Crazy_Girl