As much as I tried to fight back against the mysterious man who kidnapped me and took me away, he managed to keep ahold of me. Soon, he threw me into a dark room with big locked wooden doors. But it didn't look bad inside-- in fact, it was almost like a fancy bedroom in a castle. But I was alone. Where did my kidnapper go?

I then thought for a moment... what if this kidnapper was actually a good man? Who knew about what was going on in my life over in Ellyria, and decided to take me somewhere else where I didn't have to worry about my parents, who I hated? It was later in the night now, since I had just gone to bed back home before he snuck into the castle and kidnapped me. So, I lay down on the bed and tried to make myself at home.
          About an hour of unsuccessful attempts at getting some sleep later, I heard footsteps coming to the door. It opened, and in walked a man, about the same height as I am, but looked much older, like maybe in his late thirties. He looked like the one who kidnapped me. "Why did you take me away from my home just as I was about to get some sleep?" I asked him.
          "Because it sounded to me like you were having a bad life over in Ellyria," I answered.
          "Where am I now, though?"
          "Neighboring kingdom, Halbelle."
          I knew this kingdom's name. It's the neighboring kingdom to mine that is always at competition and battle with mine! "You never said a word to me yet. Who are you?"
          He sighed, annoyed by my questions. "I'm an outlaw of the kingdom. The name's Hank."
          "Do you know who I am?" I sassed. I enjoyed annoying him with my questions.
          "Yes. You're Princess Evelynn from Ellyria. Your family was unsupportive of your wishes, right?"
          "Yeah. How did you know that?"
          "Because I spied. It's my job as the kingdom criminal. But I did it to try to break our kingdoms' tight rivalry. That would be nice, right?"
          "Well yeah, but... wouldn't it be a better idea to unite them through a peace treaty or something like that?"
          "No more questions," he sighed. "You're gonna love it here. Just you, alone in peace. And me to care for you. You don't have to do anything at all. Just relax... and express yourself as you like." He made my possible new life here sound so convincing.

There has to be a catch, though. My family does not know where I am at all. They're probably asleep now, but when Ellie wakes up in the morning without me here, she'll go frantic to find me! I let it go for now, knowing that I needed to make myself feel more at home for a little while and try to sleep.

The Next Morning, Ellie's POV

I woke up the morning after Evelynn's birthday and checked the time: eight a.m. In the summertime, we have no daily lessons. But it is still just as boring because I'm still allowed no technology or time to enjoy myself without Mom and Dad shaming me for my interests. So, I immediately went to Evelynn's room and knocked on her door. No answer. So, I quietly and slowly opened her door. And when I walked over to her bed, she wasn't there!
          She's probably already downstairs at the breakfast table, I thought. But when I walked downstairs to the table, she wasn't there either. Every bathroom was empty, too. I looked out windows and walked outside to look for her, but she was nowhere near to be found! I told Mom and Dad: "Good morning. Do you guys know where Evelynn went? She's nowhere here at home. I'm worried about her."
          "I was thinking that, too. Look at the paper, though," Dad answered.
          Mom then held up a newspaper and let me read the headline: "Princess Evelynn of Ellyria Kidnapped by a Notorious Criminal in Neighboring Kingdom of Halbelle!"
          I gasped in horror at that, immediately heading back upstairs to grab my shoes and jacket so I could go find her and save her. "We better go save her!" I yelled to Mom and Dad as I arrived upstairs.
          "No, you're not going anywhere!" Dad yelled. "It's not safe for a young damsel like you to go on that mission. Save that job for a strong man, a prince who will save her and marry her after!"

That made me stop for a minute, infuriated. If he wanted a strong man to go out and save her, why didn't he just go out and do it himself? Plus, I love my big sister with everything I have in me; she's the only person I know who truly understood me and was there for me. "Dad, she's my sister! Your daughter! And you don't want me to go out and save her, or even you to go out and do it yourself, because you only care about she and I adhering to rules and stereotypes!?"
          "It's for your own good, Ellie! We don't want you dead out there," Mom answered.
          "There's a risk of that strong man prince dying out there, too!"
          Mom and Dad only breathed in annoyance. "It's unladylike for a princess like you. Just go to your room," Dad replied, teeth gritted.
          Just to avoid more trouble with them, I obeyed. And I ate breakfast then spent the rest of the day as I normally would spend a boring old summer day in the castle.

Later, Evelynn's POV

I'm starting to finally feel peace. I slept well in my captive room; I felt more captive and trapped back home in the castle with parents who wouldn't respect my wishes. Hank isn't really providing any actual love or support, but at least he is giving me food, water, and things to do: I got a journal and pencils to write and draw with, an electronic device to listen to music with (which I have grown to love), books to read, and even small sports balls to throw around.

I fiddled around with the distractions for a few hours, still enjoying my time for a while. Then I thought: is the door open for me to see the rest of the building I was in? Or, to see the rest of Halbelle? Part of me enjoyed being kidnapped and kept here, away from the pressure to meet my parents' high expectations, even if just for a day. But part of me still longed to be more free. I knew I was gonna be stuck here. No windows to look out, no doors to be able to open, nowhere else to go.
          I didn't even know what kind of building I was in. Was I in the Halbelle Castle? A secret dungeon? The basement of someone's house? It was dark outside by the time I got picked up and taken here, and I was too busy fighting to get away from Hank, keeping my eyes closed most of the time, to pay attention to my surroundings.

Well, here I stay for a while. Until some strong man prince comes to save me, as my parents always say they want for me...