5 YEARS LATER...

The old tavern smelled of hard liquor and sweat. Men and women spoke loud, trying to talk over one another to be heard. Magnolia didn't mind, it kept the attention completely off of herself as she walked up to a barstool and sat down, waiting for the bartender to assist her. The material wrapped around her head hooded over her forehead, shadowing her beautiful eyes.

She tossed a few coins onto the rough wood, exchanging them for a drink. She rubbed her boney index finger up and down the side of the glass, lost in her raging thoughts. A big, muscular hand settled on her shoulder, startling her. She jumped back in fright, narrowing her eyes at the man. His eyes were rather small for his head, his face bearded with long dark hair. He breathed heavily as he stared into her face, shoving her hood off.

She immediately reached back to pull it back over her face but his hand stopped her, gripping onto her thin wrist. She struggled to pull it out of his muscular hold, listening horrifically as his coarse voice rang through the liquor-scented air.

"You're the-" He began, but was immediately cut off when Magnolia threw her free fist up into his cheekbone. He released her other wrist in shock, giving her the time to throw her hood back on and begin her escape out of the tavern.

"Not so fast, there." Another old man grabbed her waist, yanking her back, announcing her identity to the whole bar.

"It's the lost Princess!" He shouted, every head turning to look. At once, about twenty men and women came running at her, trying to grab onto her. Magnolia tried to run, but the man wasn't giving her a chance.

"Do you have any idea what price the King has on you?" He whispered into her ear, tightening his grip and throwing her back into his chest.

"She's mine, I got her first!" He shouted at his growing crowd. The original man that she had hit began flashing his arms around, yelling harshly.

The arms around her waist suddenly let go of her, and Magnolia spun on her heel, watching a young man beat the other up. He wore a dark green flat bill hat, his long dark hair peeking out of the bottom of it, curling slightly. He spun the older man around until he was on his knees. Twisting his arm, he kicked the old man in the back, causing vomit to spill out over the wooden floor.

The young man turned and looked her sternly right in the eye, the look making her shudder. She turned, ready to run, but once again, was in another man's arms. The young man held her against himself, pulling out his gun and revealing it to the rebellious crowd. Everyone halted in shock.

"Come one step closer and I'll shoot you." He announced, his voice amazingly deep and smooth. The mob stops where they were, freezing at the sight of his gun. He slowly backed out of the tavern, not once lowering his weapon.

When they were finally away from the bar, he loosened his grip, to instead tie Magnolia's hands behind her back.

"Seriously? I just saw you fight back there, I'm not going to try and pick a fight with you. Just please let me go." Magnolia tried, watching him look at her out of the corner of his brown eyes.

He just grunted, sweat trickling down his tan forehead. He had seen her punch back there as well, and didn't want to risk the fortune he had in his hands. He gripped her hard with his rough right hand, holding onto her upper arm. He shoved her along with him, off the dirt road, and into the dark woods.

Magnolia took in her surroundings, trying to figure out where he was taking her. She noticed every other tree had a solid X cut through it, an easy mark a sharp blade could make. The young man maneuvered her through the tall trees, not once speaking a word. "Who are you?" She asked, looking towards him. He quickly glanced her way, making eye contact for a split second before turning back to the trees.

"What's your name?" She tried again. He didn't answer, just picked up the speed.
She couldn't fight him, and she couldn't run, assuming he was a fast runner. She decided on begging, even if it was useless, "Please let me go. I'll do anything, just please don't-"

"Shut up." His deep voice made Magnolia jump, causing his grip on her arm to loosen. The tone in his voice scared her, so she listened and quit talking. The twigs and leaves beneath her weak shoes cracked and crumbled. She was wearing her black t-shirt material nightgown she ran away in. The dress met her thighs, the sleeves reaching her elbows. Her long light brown hair waved down her back and almost met her waistline.

She looked to the right, determining if she had the strength to maybe outrun the man. She didn't have much time to think, so she just did. She forced her arm out of the young man's grip and began sprinting to the right, her hands still tied. Her hope dissolved when she felt his body land on top of her, her head going straight into the dirt. She groaned in pain, the man pulling her up against himself.

"That was a stupid decision, Princess." He whispered in Magnolia's ear. He yanked her up unto her feet, turning her towards him. The corners of his mouth twitched slightly at the sight of the dirt and leaves all over her face. He pulled his flat bill hat off, running his dirty hand through a pile of greasy dark hair. He placed the hat back on his head, his eyes searching hers.

"I'm not the Princess. Not anymore." Magnolia said bitterly.

He raised his eyebrows, "Yeah?"

She didn't answer, just looked aside, stopping the depthening eye contact. He put his hand back on her arm, a little tighter, guiding her through the trees.

The unknown man stopped, forcing Magnolia to do the same. She looked at the destination, her jaw dropping in shock. A large spot of the woods was taken up by small tents, a burning fire, and a whole lot of teenagers. Everyone looked up from what they were currently doing, staring at Magnolia. They examined her up and down, eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

Magnolia gulped, not understanding what was going on. Her head began pounding, reminding her of the unrelenting headaches she got.

A skinny teenager, with straight brown hair that was brushed to the side walked up, twisting a knife around his fingers carelessly, "You got yourself a girl, Dakota? A note of advice, maybe release the ties on her hands before-"

"Shut it, Slate." Dakota growled, shoving Magnolia forward, as if she were to explain something. She looked back at him questionably. He took one glance at her with those dark eyes before turning on his heel, and speaking to the six others before him.

"This is the lost Princess," He began, as everyone raised their eyebrows in shock and re-examined her, "She stays with us tonight and we set out for the castle tomorrow."

"We're splitting the payment?" A darker-skinned girl asked. Dakota nodded in response, yanking Magnolia toward a tent.

"Sit." Dakota demanded, his voice getting deeper. She obeyed, yanking the dress over her kneecaps, huddling them against her chest.

"Try to escape, and it might get yourself hurt real bad, so take my advice and stay in here." He glanced one last time her way before ducking out of the tent. Magnolia searched the tent expectantly, finding a few blankets, a wooden cup of water, and a pouch of weapons. She scooched over to the cup of water, her throat dry. She planted her face in the cup, unable to hold it without her hands. She licked it desperately, as a man strolled in.

At first he chuckled, and then quickly knelt and helped her drink. She examined his features as she sipped the lukewarm water. He looked Chinese, was tall and had spiky dark hair. He smiled as he lowered the empty cup, and it was comforting.

"I'm Archer." He introduced, pulling out a knife. Magnolia tensed and backed up quickly at the sight of it, and he shook his head.

"I'm just cutting your ties, don't worry."

Magnolia relaxed as he released her hands and tucked the knife back into his pocket.

"Um, I'm Magnolia."

Another smile, "I knew that."

"You're not worried he's going to punish you for releasing my hands?" She asked.

"Dakota? No, I'm not worried. He looks tough but I think it's all an act. Maybe not, but I don't know." He shrugged, chuckling. Archer sat down across from her, searching her sad eyes.

"Why'd you run away?" He asked after hesitating. Magnolia dropped her eyes, expressionless.

He nodded understandably, "I get it. You don't want to talk about it, that's okay."

"Who are you guys?" Magnolia questioned.

"Runaways, like you. We all ran away from our homes, towns... castles." He added, winking at her.

"So you guys all found each other?"

"Something like that." Archer shrugged and smiled before standing up, "Want to come outside? The fire is warm."

Magnolia slowly stood, following Archer out of the tent. She re-examined her surroundings, amazed.

Archer pointed from afar, introducing the others. Magnolia determined their personalities as she watched them.

Hudson Stone, age eighteen, had caramel-colored wavy hair, bright blue eyes, and was a head taller than Magnolia. He was sitting by the fire, rubbing his hands over it for warmth. Magnolia decided he was pretty calm compared to the others.

Phoenix Black, age sixteen, was a pure blonde. He was arguing with his younger fifteen year old sister, River Black, who had green eyes and straight brown hair. After the argument, his light brown eyes brightened in joy as he embraced her, and Magnolia wondered what it felt like.

Slate O'Malley, age seventeen, had greasy straight brown hair that was carelessly brushed off his forehead, brown eyes, and looked skinnier than the others. A metal chain hung around his neck, and it looked like a dog tag. He was chucking knives at a bullseye he had carved on a large oak tree. He looked like someone you did not want to mess with, but yet Magnolia wanted to understand him.

Brylee Sarke, age seventeen, was an Indian girl with dark complexions. She was pulling herself up and over a long branch that hung out from a large tree, exercising. Her muscles were building, sweat dripping from her clothes. She didn't know when to stop.

"And I'm Archer Ree, nineteen years." Archer added at the end. He searched her eyes, trying to determine what she thought of them. Magnolia wasn't paying attention to him, she just could not stop pondering one question, What made them all run away, as I did?

She was about to ask when he added, "Oh, and then there's Dakota Foster, of course."

Magnolia focused her attention on him. He was standing, his back pressed up against a tree, the bill of his hat covering his dark eyes. His arms were crossed as he was watching everyone else. Magnolia guessed he was like their leader, always on the lookout.

"How old?" She asked.

"Twenty-one I think," Archer answered questionably, "What about you? How old are you?"

"I lost count but... twenty?" Magnolia shrugged, forgetting she was still looking at Dakota.

He turned, realizing he was being watched himself. His eyes met hers, and he stormed over. He didn't want the runaway princess to get too comfortable.

"I thought I told you to stay in the tent." He scolded at Magnolia and Archer stepped in front of her defensively.

"I invited her out, Dakota. She's one of us."

Dakota looked at Magnolia, and almost looked sad. But the anger returned quickly when he glared back at Archer, "She is not one of us, you hear me? She's being returned back to her lovely castle and we'll all be able to start new lives with the fortune."

"She ran away from that lovely castle, Dakota. That's like returning all of us back home. How would you like that? Have some grace for the Princess."

"I'm not the Princess. I'm Magnolia." Magnolia intervened sternly. Archer and Dakota both turned and examined her again.

"It doesn't matter that she ran away. She's going to help us-" Dakota started, but Slate walked up, wolf whistling.

"If you don't mind, she'll be fine sleeping in my tent tonight." Slate smirked. Dakota was immediately furious as he shoved Slate backwards.

"Shut up, Slate! She's not going anywhere with you." His deep voice scolded. Slate put his hands up in surrender, "Fine, fine, I get it. She's yours."

"You dare-" Dakota started, but stopped as Archer began talking over the both of them, "She ran away like the rest of us, and deserves to choose if she wants to go home."
Everyone walked over now, joining the huddle.

"The amount that's on her for being returned is not worth discussion." Phoenix spoke up, looking at Dakota. Dakota didn't say anything, just shuffled his feet.

"We leave tomorrow, like we planned." Hudson muttered, turning away and walking to his tent. He ducked in and disappeared.

Brylee looked over Magnolia, "Agreed."

"I think she deserves to at least tell us her story and why she ran away. We can at least give her the chance to change our minds." River stepped up, pulling her long straight hair out of her face. She looked straight at Magnolia when she talked as if to give her the signal to start speaking.

"This is the stupidest idea you've ever came up with, beautiful." Slate smirked at River. Phoenix immediately stepped in front of Slate, being an overprotective brother. Slate sized him up, not sorry at all.

"Okay everybody, calm down!" Dakota's voice boomed through the air. Everyone turned and listened.

"We leave tomorrow, it's about a six days travel. She has six days to change our minds, but I doubt it." He turned on his heel and walked away, everyone nodding silently and leaving to their tents.

Magnolia followed Dakota, "Wait!"

He ignored her, ducking into his own tent. Archer lead her to a bare tent, "I'm sorry about... them." is all he could say before leaving her to sleep. He made sure to tie the tent up, securing her.

"Thank you." She muttered once he was gone. She huddled herself into a corner, immersing into a deep sleep, the dreams seeping back. To some people, they would seem to be good dreams. But to Magnolia, they were nightmares.

Young Magnolia skipped down the large green hill, laughing as her brother chased her. Her light brown hair blew in her face, but she didn't have a care in the world. The bright green grass blew in the direction of the wind, the sun warm on the earth.

"Catch me, Ev!" She squealed, tripping on her own feet, stumbling into the grass. She rolled down the hill, not stopping her contagious laughter.

"Maggie!" Evan shouted behind her, running to help. He grabbed her small hands, lifting her up. Her white lace dress swiveled around, grass and dirt entangled in the sleeves. She continued to giggle, losing her breath.

"Tag, you're it." Evan tapped her before sprinting back toward the castle. The castle that he grew up in. The castle that he died in.