There was one time when I was sitting on the ledge of the tower, gazing at the trees as they swayed and danced along with the river, which supplied the most beautiful music. I breathed in the fresh morning air. The birds were soaring and flying and flittering around me, hundreds of them. All twittering and singing joyfully. But the songs soon turned into wails as they came a bit too near, investigating the tower. Eventually I had to go inside because the screeching was horrendous.

It's like that now. For a seconds when I fall, there is the sensation that I am flying. Flying like a bird high up in the sky. But then the coldness comes in. My wings break and soon I'm plummeting towards the earth, screaming like the day the birds came. I can hear their wails as my arms are flailing for one last thing to hold onto.

I hit something hard. I hit it so I hard it knocks the breath out of me so I can't scream or shout or even grunt. I lie there trying to catch my breath, when the thing under me moves.

"Ru."

I look down into his beautiful golden eyes. They are the burning sun setting in west, ending for another night. But he snaps me out of my daydream when he struggles beneath me. I hurriedly get off him, raking my hands slowly through my hair. Maybe this is my chance.

Maybe I can escape.

I think I turn blind when I run through the trees, arms out in front of me to protect my face from the worst of the scratches. But by the time I have fallen a couple of times, my face is caked with mud. The bitter disgusting taste is lingering on my lips.

I hear the thumping of the hoofs on the forest floor. He's coming after me. There's no hope for me now. I should have never turned round. Remember what Mother said? Never turn round, Rapunzel. It will give you bad luck.

But here I am, trying not to turn round to the drumming of hooves as they get louder and louder, shaking the very insides of me. I am running, trying not to trip on the gnarled tree roots that are curling like fingernails.

"Ru!" That's his voice again. It's dancing and swirling like the river to the left of me. "Ru, darling! Stop!"

But I will not stop. I will run until I have no more energy left to continue. I will not give myself up to him. I know what he will do to me if I do.

"Ru! Stop!"

And I think I'm screaming when I see an enormous beast jut out in front of me. I go slamming into it, into a soft lump of fur. My body goes crashing to the floor. The skylight is twinkling through the trees like on every morning.

"Ru. Come on."

I feel his hands lift me up until I'm struggling to my feet, trying to pull away from his tenacious grip. But he won't let go. He's a limpet.

"No," I cry, trying to yank myself away from him. It doesn't work. "Let me go!"

I think of the dull blonde ring I left behind. Sometimes I wonder if my hair really was my source of protection like Mother said, or if it was the fact I was locked up in a high tower, deprived from seeing the rest of the world.

But it doesn't matter now.

I sit in front of him as I try to lean too far when the horse moves. His hands always stop me, tightening round my waist. I can feel every single one of his fingers, stroking the fabric of my dress. He's behind me, warm breath tickling my pink ear.

The flame of hope inside of me is finally blown out. I am lost now. I am in the darkness, feeling my way around.

"Well done, Ru," he says. I can hear the smile in his voice. "You jumped."

We ride in silence through the swaying trees.