Charlotte came to see me that evening, but I refused to open the door. She said she just wanted to talk, to sort things out a bit, but I wasn't having it. Theses people spoke only crazy words. If I listened the them I would surely end up just being told more lies. So, I remained seated on the bed with an unlit torch as a club, narrowing my eyes at the locked door without a word. Eventually, when she realized I was in no mood to talk, Charlotte was forced to retreat and I was left alone once more. Thankfully, it didn't take long for the sun to set, and soon the sky turned orange, then purple, until finally fading to black. Shortly after that, the hustle and bustle of the castle faded too and everything fell silent. Now was my chance.

After pulling on a sweater, I took the single hairband I had and tied my hair up to keep it out of my face, pulling it into a messy, but secure, bun on the top of my head. Then I weighed the club in my hands. It was a little heavy and I'd have difficulty running while carrying it, but it was better than nothing. I held it to my chest and then went for the door. The handle seemed menacing when I looked at it and I hesitated, but only for a second, before taking the door knob and pulling the door open slowly. I poked my head out and looked around. The hall was entirely empty, not a person in sight. I breathed out a small sigh of relief and stepped out of my room. I could do this, I told myself. Then I started making my way down the hall.

The castle was almost eerily silent as I tiptoed as quietly as possible through the winding halls in search of the stairs. It took me much longer than I thought it would to find the staircase and I almost started getting worried I was lost. All these corridors looked the same. But then the familiar marble railing came into view just ahead of me and I practically ran to it. Thank goodness. I hurried down the steps and up to the front doors. Then I stopped, my hand inches from the handle. These doors were far too heavy for me to open alone, and even if I could, I might wake someone up and be caught. I pulled back, biting my lip anxiously. What to do. What to do... Then I remembered how Xic had brought me through the kitchen from a side door that first night. I could use that door to get out.

Quickly, I turned away from the main doors and hurried through the halls, looking for the kitchen doors I'd seen my first time here. It was hard to find them since I was taking the route in reverse, but eventually I spotted them. I was careful to make sure no one was inside before I went in. The pots and pans seemed somehow creepy in the secluded darkness of the kitchen and I shivered, scurrying past them, towards the door to my freedom. I was almost there. Once outside, all I had to do was make it through the town to the trees and I was home free. No one would be able to find me in the woods, not if I had a head start. I didn't really know how to get home from there, but I wasn't going to worry about that now. First and foremost was getting out of this place. That was my top priority. 

As I wrapped my hand around the door knob, I prayed it wasn't locked. Then I turned the handle and pulled. It opened freely and a rush of ease poured over me as cool night air brushed past my face, pushing back a few stands of loose hair to curl behind my ears. I stepped out slowly and took a deep breath. I did it. The club suddenly felt heavier than before and my knees weakened. This was it.

"Where do you think you're going?"

Instantly, I swung the torch with my eyes clenched shut, aiming for the voice to my right. The club came to a thudding halt and I opened my eyes in shock, staring at Xic as he held onto the other end. He was leaning against the castle wall, the club inches from his face. His eyes showed absolutely no amusement as he narrowed them down at me. Then he wrenched the torch from my hands with one sharp movement, as easily as he would from a child. He looked at it with disdain before turning his attention back to me. "Weapons are dangerous things for a princess to wield," he said with a chill to his tone.

I stepped back, afraid of what he would do to me if he realized I had snuck out with intention to run away. "I-I'm not a princess," I said shakily. 

He snorted, tossing the club aside. It clanked across the stone cobbled ground. "Obviously," he saud. Then he straightened up and stepped towards me. I moved back. He frowned suspiciously. "What are you doing out here? The king would be displeased if he found you walking about by yourself."

I frowned at him, trying not to show my nervousness. "I just wanted to take a walk," I lied, lifting my chin. "Why are you out here?" I asked. He didn't respond and crossed his arms. I averted my eyes quickly. This was bad. He was blocking my exit. There was only a gate behind me and it was too high for me to climb.

On top of it all, he didn't look like he believed me either, his eyes looking me over coldly. "A walk? In those clothes?" he asked.

I looked down at my pants and shirt, feeling caught in my own lie. What should I do? At this rate he'd catch me for sure and I'd get locked up with guards posted outside my door. I looked back up at him cautiously. "I figured I'd blend in better," I said, trying to ease myself past him.

He eyed me with uncertainty, his arms still folded across his chest. He looked like he was trying to decide if I was lying, his lips pursed in an unhappy frown. Then he glanced at the kitchen door. "Whatever. I guess, I'll walk with you-"

"No!" I said too quickly, surprising him. Damn. I cleared my throat, peeking behind me at my escape. "I mean, I don't need you to come with me. I'll be fine by myself."

"The king wouldn't like it," he said.

I held back a frustrated sigh. "Well, you don't have to tell him," I said, stepping back to put some distance between us. I already knew I couldn't outrun him so my best shot was talking him out of following me. "Today was... a lot. And I really just want to clear my head. Alone," I added. I did my best to smile kindly. "You understand, right?"

He studied me, facial expression unaltered by my attempted persuasion. I couldn't tell what he was thinking and it made me shift uneasily. Then he sighed and his eyes drifted out across the town. "If I get scolded for this..." he grumbled, pulling something out of his pocket. He walked towards me. "At least take this," he said as he handed me a small blade. "And stay away from the men. You not cute, but the drunk ones won't care."

I took the dagger with an amount of surprise and looked up at him. He didn't smile at me, but I could see the genuine concern in his eyes. "Thank you..." I said.

He looked away, rolling his eyes. "Don't thank me. Just be back before sunrise or we'll both catch hell from Charlotte," he said, taking up his position against the wall again. 

For a moment, I felt bad about leaving him there like that, with the intention of never returning, but that moment was only just and soon I turned and hurried away as fast as I could. The streets were quiet except for the occasional laugh from bars and saloons along the way. I kept the dagger hidden in my sweater as I ran. Thankfully, I came across no one on my journey through the village and made it to the edge of town without much trouble. When I reached the fields, I slowed, looking for the most hidden path to the barrier. There was a patch of apple trees just to my right and I decided they were the safest option, running through them as I came closer and closer to the mysterious barrier just ahead. Almost there. 

When I finally made it to outskirts of the fields, I sighed in relief. I was going to go home. I approached the barrier slowly, it was visible from this side, and I watched it warily as I got my breathing under control from all my running. Reaching out, I let the barrier swirl around my hand. That was still a little freaky and cool at the same time. However, strangly it soothed me, and after taking one last look at the kingdom, I turned my back on it and steeled my nerve. This was it, I told myself. I was going home.

Then something grabbed my hand and dragged me through the barrier.

*******

Hey everyone! This was one of the easiest chapters I've ever written. I don't know, it kind of just flowed out. Before I knew it, I had finished it and it came out pretty good! Hope you enjoyed this chapter! AS ALWAYS, VOTE, COMMENT, FOLLOW, AND STAY AWESOME!

-Nekoco