A/N:

Heyo mayo!!!! How are you guys!!! I'm tired Bc I published this late but here you go anyways!!! God I need a nap and cuddles... x_x
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Chapter Thirty-six:
Turning the Tides
 

•Elsa's POV•

     As the party continues and the families start to come in, I feel left out, so I just head over to the punch table. Jack sees me and comes over to where I am. "Come on." What are you doing?"

   "We're going to the gardens." He takes my hand and leads me out in the hall. "Why?"

      He doesn't answer. He opens the door to the gardens and says,"Your parents are-" He stops.

    "Nothing's out here, Jack."

    "No, it was a surprise. They were supposed to...wait out here." He heads back inside and out comes his mom. They are whispering, but I can hear every word.

     "They were supposed to be here..."

     "I know. Maybe their flight-" A guard then comes out and whispers in the queen's ear.

      Her face loses all emotion and shock is registered in her eyes.

      She shakes her head and tears fall down her face. Jack looks at me, horrified. "What is it?"

      His face falls. "They came to surprise you. But their plane...they're gone. I'm sorry, El. I'm so sorry."

      I break down and fall into his arms.

    •Jack's POV•

      "Dang it! It was supposed to be a surprise for her! And now it's all ruined!" I punch the wall. It was for her...I asked them to come. And now they're dead. It's all my fault...

     •Rapunzal's POV•

     "Are you okay, Punz?" I nod. "Of course, in your arms." I lean up and kiss him. "Good. I love you."

      "I love you, too. I've loved you ever since I arrived here." He leans down to kiss me and everything falls apart.

     •Elsa's POV• •that night•

      I had stayed in my room throughout the rest of the party. I couldn't stand to go back to that party when I knew my parents should have been there. I hear a knock on the door.

      "I don't want to see anyone right now." I shout. He comes in anyway. "Jack..."

     He comes closer and hugs me. "Come here." I sob into his shoulder. "I feel so-" "I know. Just let it out. I'm here." He rubs my back comfortingly. Once I stop crying, Jack picks me up bridal style and sets me down on the bed. He strokes my loose hair as I start to fall asleep. He leans down and kisses my forehead.

      "I'm here for you, El. I always will be." He lies down beside me and puts an arm around me. I turn around so I am facing him and look up. He looks at me fondly and leans his forehead down to mine. We stay like this until we both fall asleep.

    "I wish everything could be peaceful like this all the time...just one day of peace is all I wish."

      Hear I am,
now dry your tears,
Let me cradle you in the       waves.
Down, down, into the deep
Is where your answer 
   awaits.
Sleep, sleep, now say     
   goodnight
To the wishes you thought   
you'd made
Down, down, into the deep
the songs the sirens 
  proclaim.
Wish, wish, upon a star
take it for what you gave
But don't waste it on your 
   thoughts,
For thoughts lead you to
   your...grave.

  •the next morning•

     I wake up to someone shaking me. I look to see it is Leuh, not Jack. Jack had already left.

      "Something's wrong, miss. You need to get ready quickly."

      Half an hour later, I am dressed and ready. I had just taken out my hair from its braid. We head down to a place I am not familiar with: the front gates. A platform is to the right of the gate.

    "That's all the girls. Come on." A guard says once all the girls are here. All except one. "Where's Punzie?" I ask Merida. She shakes her head.

     "I don't know, but I think we're about to find out." I gasp as I see her being dragged out onto the platform in chains, her beautiful white dress torn and ragged. A guard-his name is Flynn, I think-comes out in a worse condition than she does. He looks beaten to a pulp.

       "Flynn!" She calls. Flynn looks up. "Rapunzal!" The head guard comes onto the stage. "These two were caught in a closet yesterday at the party. Lady Rapunzal has violated the rules of the Selection and has committed treason against this country! That is punishable by death, but Prince Jackson has shown mercy to them by having them caned."

       Then they bring out the canes, shimmering from being wet. No. They strike it against the air, the crowd savoring every bit of it.

    "A total of fifteen striker will be given! And they are hereby known as Eights, the lowest of the low!"

     The crowd roars. I look to Jack but he won't even look at me.

     "One!" The first strike goes down and I break apart.

     I have to do something. The cries she is making hurt too much for me to sit back and not do anything to help her. "Punzie!" She looks up for a moment before the cane strikes her hands again.

       I rush up to the stage as close as I can get before two guards come and try to drag me back to my seat. I thrash and fight with all my might. I think I clawed one of them in the eye.

      It takes four guards to settle me down. I just run from the whole scene altogether.

      "Elsa!" I hear Jack call my name, but I keep running. I run all the way to my room and just sit on my bed. He had to have known earlier in the night.

      Punzie was still at the party when I left and that was around ten that night. Jack had came around twelve. He had to have known that morning. I sigh. Why didn't he tell me? Around lunch time, he comes in my room with no warning and slams the door behind him.

      "What was that?" He yells. I back away, a little caught off-guard. "Why do you keep doing this? Why can't you obey the rules for once?"

     "Because you know they shouldn't be a law in the first place! I know you hate the caste system just as much as I do. You don't like the way your father rules."

     "This isn't about me! Why do you refuse to accept that you can't change anything! You're just a Selected."

      "Because if there weren't people that refused to accept they couldn't change a single thing, this country wouldn't be in existence! Nothing would."

      "I've had it. I've been beaten for you, El, but you refuse to accept anything I say. Maybe if you were more obedient your parents wouldn't have died! Sometimes I even think they're better off without you!"

      I gasp, tears falling down my cheeks at his words. How could he? "Jack, it's not that-"

      He comes closer and grabs my wrists. "Don't interrupt me!" I've never seen him like this. He's just like...his father.

      "You need to calm down. You're acting just like your father!" Before I know it, my left cheek is red and burning and I am seeing stars as my body hits the linoleum floor. He hit me....

  
     He seems to snap to his senses seeing me on the floor. "Elsa, I...I'm so sorry. I never thought-"

      "That you really are just like your father? You're right." I shove him outside and slam the door, so angry and saddened by what he did...and what I have done to make him do it.