*This chapter isn't very long. Well, I dunno. It depends what device you're on. EMJOY!*

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After what seemed like a minute of darkness, I open my eyes narrowly. My visions blurry, very, and blood stains my forehead as it slides down to the floor. My whole body was shaken, and paralyzed. I couldn't move. My breath seemed heavy, and as I looked up to a figure, I hear a faint devilish laugh. "You fool," I hear, as I stare at the man. His appearance gone. He's like a whole new different person. Eyes brighter than I ever saw them. "To trust a–" he pauses. "'Human.'" When he said it, I felt regret form inside of me. Like as if magma is in me, getting hotter and hotter by the millisecond. It was Brian. By the way he said human, I could tell. The only "human" thing was Brian. I couldn't believe it. He was right. I was a fool. I'm an idiot. I'm stupid for not seeing it before. I hated myself. Auhg. My head, it killed me. "Now look at what you've gotten yourself into," he says. He kneels down and looks me in the eye, evilly. "You're perfect," he whispers. Confusion runs through me. "Perfect for revenge." Then I slightly hear footsteps, some clanging onto the ground, followed by my name being called. Guards were looking for me. Brian couldn't possibly get me out in time. Right? No, because he doesn't notice until they're close to approaching the door. He quickly beats me up. Leaving scars on my face, on my entire body. Making me feel pain. I panicked. But I couldn't do anything. I couldn't scream. I couldn't yell. I couldn't even whimper. I felt stinging strikes of pain in my back as he turned me over, which caused me to see white sparks fly around. And my vision got darker, and more blurry. Then it stopped. I was half-way blind, deaf, weak, and stupid. I felt a soft, shaking hand touch my back, and my body. I felt my body become numb as the woman kneels down in front of me.

My mother.

She had a tear-stained face, and it was full of shock, fear, sympathy, hurt, and confusion. I saw her lips move, but I didn't hear what she said. I didn't feel it, but I was lifted to sit up, my back against a wall. I felt myself get weaker, and start to loose consciousness. I looked around. Brian was gone, thankfully. My father was speaking to two guards, and they rushed out of the library. My father knelt down, and faced me. He spoke as well, but my focus quickly faded off of his face, and my mind became blank. My breath was slow, my eyes were droopy. I felt this was the end for me. I slowly closed them, in desperation but forced myself to keep them up. My mother sobbed, as she was hugging someone else. I haven't seen him before, and he wasn't a guard. My father spoke. But, of course, it was just a blur. I knew he called for help, but it was too late. Without any control, I accidentally closed my eyes slowly, as darkness consumed me.

***

The moment I wake, I hear yelling of a girl. "You don't understand," I heard. But before I really payed any attention, I looked around with narrow eyes. I was lying down in the bedroom my parents assigned me earlier. I felt a bit weak, but I feel better than I had felt. Whatever they did to help me, it worked. Mostly, anyway. I sat up off the comfortable mattress reluctantly, and continued to scan the room. Two wide, spruce doors as and entrance and an exit, dark purple walls with an even darker shade of purple designing the solid thing with swirls. My blankets were a pale golden color, and so were the feather-filled pillows. A chandelier hung from the rooftop, with lights as bright as the sun. There were some bookshelves around, a silver desk, and more. I snap out of my daze and take notice of the yelling. I slowly I climb off the bed, and stand tall on my feet. I was able to walk, but not very fast. My back still ached from the stings, which made it hard to slouch comfortably. I touch the cold golden doorknob, making shivers go down my spine. It felt good to my shoulders and back. Once I swing open the door, I peek out. Hearing the shouts from another hallway. I walk past a couple corners when I see the action. Two guards hauling a girl, and keeping a tight grip on her. She seemed to struggle on fleeing them. My father was there, shouting at her back. My mother kept quiet, but I noticed sympathy in her face. When I gaze back to the girl, I recognize the voice. And her face. Ellie.

What the heck is she doing here? I thought to myself. What are they doing? My mouth drops open slightly. I didn't understand. Why is she here? Then I remember her telling me about guards whom were after her. She never told me her crime, or crimes, though. For a brief minute the guards release their grip, allowing her to speak with the king and queen, when she notices my stalking. "...Drake?..." She says, confusion and surprise in her voice. Then the guards hold their grip once again, when my father responds for me. My mother smiled at me, and I smirked back softly. "You know him?" he asks. "How?" Ellie takes a deep breath. "The woods," she says. "The woods. He had lost his parents - who, now are dead - and was searching for them, when we came across each other." she finishes. My father just laughs. "Oh, girl," he says. "Those citizens weren't his parents." he says. "They we're his 'adoptive' parents." he said, adding that quotation in the word adoptive. She looks at me, and I slightly shrug my shoulders. "Then who are his parents?" she asks, demanding. "Us," my father said. "Its a long story, but we had to give him up. We told the kingdom he had heart problems, and perished." Ellie couldn't really believe what she was hearing. It was like her eyes were asking, "Drakes a prince?"

"Take her away," my father demands. They drag her until I can't see them, when they pass a hallway corner. I was tempted to run after her, but I didn't have a single thought why. I just sighed. My mother came over and hugged me. She lead me back to my bedroom, and laid me down. Which, I reluctantly did. "Drake," she starts as she grabs a book from a bookshelf for me to read while I'm resting. "What do you remember?" she asks. I pause, unsure if I'd remember even a spark of what I went through. But the horrible part was, I did remember it. Every single moment. From leading him to the library, to being knocked cold by a bright light. I didn't want to do it, but I nodded. She asks me what happened, and I told her everything. I also told her it was most likely Brian. I now remember some features they described to me about him. But he looked much different. Except his eyes. Then, I become curious of Ellie. "Mom," I said, unintentionally. My eyes slightly widened, and my mother looked at me in shock. But she quickly went back to her original state. "Whats with Ellie?"

"Ellie?" she asks. "You know, the one you've just arrested," I say. She nods. She tells me the story of her crimes. Ellie stole from them, the kingdom, and she's killed many, and has caused much chaos. My mother told me that she thinks Ellie has a reason for all of this, but was to afraid to ask in front of her husband. I suggested she could go speak to her, but she rejected. Then I asked if I could go. She agreed after some persuading. She takes me to the last floor of the palace, and I face the dungeon door. I go on by myself for the rest of the time. I walk down a stone stairwell, and face cages upon cages. Well, they seemed like cages. I passed aggressive, drunk, scared, and crazy people on my way to locating Ellie. I ask a nearby guard, and he points to the right, and that she should be seven cells down from where we're currently standing. I walk as fast as I dared, and caught sight of her. She wasn't facing out of the cage, but facing the wall. I ask the guard for some private time, and easy enough, he lets me have it. He gives me a sword, which I set down because I know I won't need it, and the keys. I unlock the iron door, and walk in concealing it behind me. "Ellie," I start. She turns around, and looks straight at me, and stands. "Drake," she responds. "You're a prince." she says.

I just nod. "How'd you figure it out?" she asks. "Home," I say. "I found a journal my... 'mother' had. It was about me, and my biological parents." I answer, and we get quiet. I think about the adventures we had in the woods before this all happened. My "parents" missing. Killing that bitten boy. Feeling something I've never really felt. My "parents" being killed. And more. After a few moments, I speak. "I know what you've done," I say, not making any eye contact. I see her head lift up to look into my eyes, which, she fails. "You hate me now," she responds. "Don't you?" I shook my head. "No," I say. "You had a reason. You have to have one." I finish. We sit on the hard, uncomfortable, straw bed. She fiddles with her fingers. "I did," she starts up. "My family and I had just hit broke. I had to provide for my family. My little brother, and my mother. Though, I didn't have a father. My mother never married." she takes a deep breath to continue. "I had to hunt, and steal. It cost many lives, but I didn't care at the time. Though, I hated what I did at the same time. My family never knew, and I had to keep them safe and hidden from the guards hunting me down. My family died. At least, my mother did. I believe my brother got away from the bounty hunters. I killed them, too. I guess they're real reward was the satisfaction of dead bodies. And ever since, I've provided for myself, and whoever I met I would just leave in about a day. I couldn't afford getting close to anyone," she says. Then something strikes me down.

She never left me. "Whoever I met I would just leave in about a day. I couldn't afford getting close to anyone," she said. I didn't bother to bring it up, though. I felt sympathy for her. Then I knew exactly what I wanted to do.

I wanted to release her from this prison.