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Yarrow

Yarrow watched with horror and pity. The castle was cruel and heartless to do this. The pity for others increased as each person was forced to reveal their regrets.

“Yarrow Olonen.” Yarrow jumped, startled. “Son of Artemis Olonen from Gavonia, divulge your deepest regret.”

Yarrow stood, shaking off the feeling of the now absent restraints. Deepest regret? I don’t know… Suddenly a memory flashed through his mind. An arrow. A friend.

Yarrow sighed and began. “Well Mister Castle, I was hoping we’d be friends but seems it isn’t going to be so.
“My deepest regret… I suppose it would be when me and my best friend fought. It was a pathetic argument, to be honest, but we were young and, well, not the smartest.” Yarrow chuckled slightly. “Anyway, we were fighting over who would lead our hunt— it was a game we played. I… I got angry and lost my head. In other words… I pointed my bow at him. I wasn’t thinking, but once I realized what I had just done… I took off running into the woods.
“So there you have it, castle. Hope your happy.”

The castle wasn’t.

10

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9

…

“But… I just told you! I don’t know anything else!”

The screen flashed red and continued its countdown.

6

…

5

…

4

…

“I don’t get it,” Yarrow said blankly.

…

1

…

As a younger Yarrow and another boy flashed onto the screen, Yarrow felt like all the emotions of that day were being dumped on him.
It played all Yarrow had said. A younger version of him and his friend arguing, Yarrow raising his bow, their eyes widening at the same second, and Yarrow dropping his bow and fleeing.
But it continued, flashing back and forth between Yarrow, running deep into the woods, and his friend, who followed Yarrow, wishing to console his friend.

Yarrow clapped his hand to his mouth and fell back into his chair. “No. No. It can’t be true,” he whispered.

On the screen his friend stopped and raised his bow, a frightened look on his face. But it was too late. The Dintey wrestled the boy to the ground, bound him, and dragged him away.
The screen went blank.

“I didn’t know if it was true. I mean, I know he was captured shortly after but I didn’t know if it was then.” Yarrow said quietly. “Therefore…” he stood a looked up at the ceiling. “I didn’t know if it was true so that’s not fair! But at least you’re happy now, right?”
As he expected, there was no response.