The first things I noticed when I came-to were the heavy metal shackles around my wrists and ankles chaining me to the bed I was lying on, and the small flame-- a candle-- flickering in the corner of the room.

It was quite obvious that I was no longer at Elle's. No, I had been kidnapped by someone, and most likely taken back to wherever it was the door in the forest led.

Which meant I had no idea where I was, what was happening to me, or how I could possibly get back. Yaaay.

Even though I knew it was pointless, I still had to try and get out, but first I had to do something about those chains. How barbaric is that? They couldn't just tie me to a chair and duct-tape my mouth or something like a regular kidnapper, no no no, they had to chain me to a freaking bed!

I tugged experimentally on one of the heavy chains attached to the bedpost. It didn't budge. Awesome.

With an angry huff, I sat there for a moment trying to come up with something-- anything! -- that could help me escape this place. I was still a bit woozy from whatever it was my kidnapper had knocked me out with-- again, barbaric! -- so my thought possess was a bit slower than I would have liked. Eventually, I had an idea that might work.

I examined the shackles on each of my wrists. They were kind of big on me, like they were meant for someone larger than I was. Maybe if I wiggled my hands enough, I could slip them out? It might not work, but it's worth a shot... I began to frantically twist and pull on my hands, but they wouldn't budge. C'mon, Maggie, hurry! They could come for me at any minute!

After what felt like an eternity, my wrists were red and sore, so I gave up on that idea. I decided just to try and pull the chain directly from the bedpost again. You know what they say, 'if at first you don't succeed, try try again.'

So here I am. Try trying again. I got myself into a good position and started tugging with all my strength. "Ugh, stupid bed post!" I grunted, beginning to get very very annoyed.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you, Blondie..." The voice of my kidnapper spoke from the corner of the room by the candle.

I lurched in shock, which was just enough to pull the chain free. With a squeal of surprise, I tumbled backwards off the bed, landing on the floor with a painful thump.

I glared up at my kidnapper, who just chuckled at my stupidity and shrugged away from the wall to approach me. I squinted my eyes, trying to get a good look at him, but it was still too dark to see what he looked like.

"Now that you're awake and... out of bed..." He chuckled again and I sat up on the floor in an attempt to regain some dignity. "The King wishes to see you." He finished.

"Too bad." I snapped. "I'm not going anywhere."

"I must have missed the part where I asked your opinion, Blondie." My kidnapper replied sarcastically, then he offered me his hand to help me off the ground. What an oddly chivalrous act after such rude words.

I ignore his hand and stand on my own. "Stop calling me Blondie!" I glare, "I have a name you know!"

"Let's hear it then." My kidnapper shrugged. He then stooped down and wrapped the end of my chain around his hand, like he had me on a leash.

"It's Maggie." I answered curtly. He surprised me by bursting out into laughter. "What's so funny!?"

His laughter settled. "Maggie, huh? I think I prefer Blondie." He replied with another chuckle.

"Fine then." I snapped, and the shackles on my wrists rattled as I crossed my arms.

He moved to the other side of the room then, and because he was holding my chain I had no choice but to follow him.

"And you are?" I asked coldly just as he opened the door, spilling blinding light into the room.

He turned to face me, and because of the light from the doorway, I could see him clearly. No way. I stumbled back a few steps in surprise. This could not be happening.

He smirked. "I'm Kindle, pleasure to meet you."

No. I had to be dreaming. I had to! I mean, there was no way that Kindle-- as in creepy game character who killed me, Kindle-- could be standing right in front of me!

And yet there he was. His curly brown hair, burning eyes, and annoying smirk just as they had been in computer-generated video game form. Although I will admit he looked better as a flesh and blood human-being.

"Yes, yes, gorgeous aren't I? Please try and refrain from drooling " He remarked arrogantly.

I glared, bringing a hand to my mouth. I was not drooling, that arrogant pig! "Just take me to your king."

With another chuckle he turned back to the door and made his way out, towing me along behind him.

Yes, I was dreaming. That was the only possible explanation. I had fallen asleep at Elle's house and dreamed up the noises coming from downstairs. Maybe I fell asleep even before that, and Elle and I never went into the woods at all. That would explain a lot, actually.

I decided to go with that. Rather than panic about this whole situation, I decided I would just let myself believe it was all dream. That was easier than trying to make sense of this chaos.

We walked down hallway after winding hallway, Kindle making sarcastic remarks every once in a while about this place being better than a five-star hotel or whatever. He was seriously so lucky that this was only a dream, or I would have murdered him by now. Actually, I was still contemplating murder, but then we turned one last corner and he brought us to a stop in front of a set of large, white doors.

"Here it is, " Kindle said cheerfully. He didn't knock, as I would expect one should before entering a king's room. Instead, he just pushed the door open and shouted: "Oh, Your Kingy-Kinglyness! I've brought your human sacrifice!"

I stopped walking. Human sacrifice?! I knew it! He was going to kill me!

Kindle turned back to smirk at my terrified expression. "Oh relax, it's a joke."

"Oh, yes, hilarious." I reply sarcastically. 

I look around the large room. The first thing I noticed was that it's very very white. As in: the walls, white. The floor, white. The piano: white. The flowers in the glass vase by the chess board: white. In this mass of white, the few colored things-- such as the books on the (white)bookshelf, and the large, elaborate tapestries hanging on the walls-- stood out dramatically. 

"I think your king needs to fire his interior designer." I stated simply. 

Kindle smirked, "Hey, look at that. Blondie has a sense of humor."  

"Stop calling me that!" Once again, my chains rattle as I put my hands on my hips. "How would you feel if I just went around calling you 'Brownie' all the time, hm?"

"Eh," He shrugged, "Not the worst nickname I've ever had."

With an indignant huff, I walked over to the (white!)couch and sat down.

Kindle sauntered over and sat down next to me, that stupid smirk never leaving his face. He casually placed his arm around my shoulders and I went rigid, wriggling away from him immediately. 

I want. To punch him. 

"You don't like me very much do you?" He questioned with a cheerful smile.

"Gee, I wonder what gave you that impression." I snipped. I was about to say something else, when suddenly the door opened, and in came a man who I'm guessing is the king. 

"What is this." He said, his hard gaze fixed directly on me. I recognized his voice immediately. He was the cloaked man I nicknamed Superior.

Now that Superior was no longer wearing a cloak, I could easily see what he looked like. He was tall, and through the dark suit he wore, I could tell he was muscular. Not like body-builder muscular, but definitely strong enough to snap my neck in seconds if he wanted to. (Not a very comforting thought!) He had longish black hair, which he wore neatly gelled back apart from a cluster of curls hanging down his forehead. His eyes were an icy blue, and the ferocity with which they locked onto me was intimidating. Over all, he was handsome. Scary, but handsome.

Which means he's definitely evil. 

"The girl you wanted?" Kindle answered, an eyebrow raised. "She's the one from beyond the door, so I assume she's the correct one."

Superior took a deep, slow breath before turning his gaze to Kindle and saying through gritted teeth, "I wanted the dark haired one. My plan will fail with this one! She is too plain" He gestured angrily to me.

"Her lackluster appearance can easily be improved." Kindle shrugged.

"Hey!" I cried, but Kindle shot me a look, silencing my protests.

Superior scoffed. "No amount of dressing her up can make her presentable enough to catch Casimir's eye, and even so, I doubt she could dance well enough to hold his attention once she got it." 

"She could take lessons." Kindle suggested.

"From who? I don't believe Trinity would teach such a simpleton." Superior pressed. "She serves me no use, Kindle. Dispose of her." 

Aaaand here's me, sitting silently on the couch, being insulted and threatened by fictional characters. 

"I'll teach her." Kindle shrugged. For once in the brief time I've known him, he's not smirking. He's completely serious. 

"You?" Superior sneered. 

"Give me... a month." Kindle replied calmly, arms crossed over his chest, my chain still firmly gripped in his fist. "She will be ready for a ball by then." 

Did he just save me?

"Fine," Superior relented. "But if she is not able to pass of as a cultured, elegant woman in a month's time, she will die. Do you understand, Kindle?" 

Cold tinged his fiery eyes. Kindle bowed curtly. "Indeed, King Seraphim." 

Superior-- er, Seraphim-- cast one last icy look at me before saying. "Take her to Faye and get some decent clothing on her."

And that's when I realize: I had been wearing Hello Kitty pajamas this whole time.