HOW DO I get out of here? I thought. A piece of fabric had been tied around my eyes, making the world dark. My hands had been tied together, but I couldn’t feel any of my bonds. I couldn’t move if I were untied. I can’t feel anything. I was starting to realize a connection of when I had felt numb, to when Peter was there. He gives me things. I feel numb. He’s giving me a potion. I realized just as the feeling was creeping back through my body. It must have been a mild one, because the other ones lasted for entire afternoons. I started to feel how tightly my binds were wound. There was no way that I could’ve freed myself. I gagged at the bit of fabric that was stuffed in my mouth. My tongue demurred away from it. I gulped air through my nose, barely peeking out of the fabric over my eyes. I felt the wood underneath me vibrate, and I was sent skyward. I guessed we were in a carriage, heading to… somewhere. I tiped my head up to see through the little gap where my nose is. We were in a wooden doublewide covered in an itchy-looking brown fabric. Zarola was next to me, not moving. I guessed she was still being affected by the drug. I heard Peter and Kieser outside the trailer, and immediately fell to the floor, trying to make it seem like I hadn’t woken up yet. “We don’t need to give them anything more,” Peter said, not bothering to test his theory. They went back to the carriage itself. I realized that Louie was right. Peter is just… a jerk. I thought, hating to admit the sad truth. Peter is already betrothed. I glanced around through my blindfold, trying to find something I could saw the rope binding my hands together with, freeing my hands so I could actually see. The rope bit into my skin. I saw a sharp bit of wood sticking up from floorboards. I wiggled towards it, trying to time when I moved to the bumps of the graveled road below me. Every so often, I looked up to see how much farther I had gotten to the splinter, and how much closer I was to freedom. Two paces One pace Half a pace I was there. I turned around, placing the little bit of rope that wasn’t pressing against me to it, moving back and forth. One thread down, I thought as a piece snapped over my hand. Two, I thought as another one cracked around my hands. Soon, the first of the two ropes was undone, but my arms were aching and tired. I heard someone try to speak in the corner opposite of me, and turned my head — still looking up — in the direction of the sound. Zarola! I sawed my way through the other part of the rope, stretching my fingers when my bonds were gone. Reaching behind my head, I untied my blindfold, and took out my gag. I bent down and untied my leg bonds just as Zarola was mumbling again. “Hang on,” I whispered, “just stop. I’ll get you untied in a second.” My fingers fumbled with the rope, mostly unable to untie the last knot. The rope was prickly and rough. The blisters hurt, but I continued pulling on the rope until the knot was untied.
Read ^ FIRST!! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ I squatted, waddling carefully towards Zarola. I got to her and untied the cloth over her mouth and pulled out her gag, swimming in saliva. I dropped it on the ground, and started untieing her hands and feet. It was much easier than untieing my own. I guessed they were lenient with her. I pulled her up, and thought of a way we could possibly get out of here. The carriage went over a bump, sending us into the air and back down rapidly. The cloth over the wooden doublewide flapped open. I grabbed it, and carefully folded it so we could see where we were going. Peter and Kieser were going towards Stonedocliffe. Why are they going to a town? I thought. “Let’s get out of here,” Zarola said, reaching a foot to the ground. I nodded, agreeing that we should leave as soon as we could, and stepping down after her. I looked to the right of us, and the castle came into view. The silhouette towering high above us. I put my other foot on the ground, letting go of the trailer just as the carriage went over another bump, covering our escape. I looked towards the castle again, getting an idea. Me and Zarola could be servants there, and I would be able to see my Louie, and tell him the truth. A tear slipped down my cheek, leaving a trail of saltwater. Zarola looked at me sympathetically, knowing exactly where I was coming from. “What should we do?” she asked, “What could we do? I’m sorry, Hana, but I distrust there is anything we could do, no matter how hard we try.” I sighed. “I understand. I’m… not giving up yet,” I said, determined to find a way I could find Louie. “We could dress up as servants,” she said, thinking aloud. “I thought of that… but how would we get across the moat in the first place?” “I think I have an idea,” I nodded, and followed her to the other side of the heavily guarded castle grounds. After a long walk around the fence, I sighed, and crossed the open drawgate on my hands and knees, dropping whenever a guard passed. It was the middle of the night, and I was determined to find the prince, no matter how hard I had to look. I sidled around the outside of the castle, moat behind me, stone scratching my face as I searched for a kitchen door. All the big buildings had them. I found a knob in the pitch black, and pulled the door open. We stayed next to the fire that night, sleeping on the hay mat spread in front of it. That morning, I arose. Zarola had already gone, probably to the dungeons to be with Braden, who was probably there. I scratched my head, yawning as I stretched. Where could I find servant’s clothing for the Kemarian palace? I thought. Each large business had their own signature servant’s clothing. I stood and walked out of the kitchen into a different room. Nobody else had arrived yet, leaving me alone with my thoughts. On an ironing board, I saw one. A forest green dress with blue underskirts lay on it, embroidered in gold; the Kemarian colors. I grabbed it, pulling my WWP uniform off, and the palace one on. My new clothes matching the others, I wandered back into the kitchen, where the cook had entered while I had gone. “What should I do this morning?” I asked. “Same as always, Sophie!” she said, shoving a tray into my outstretched hands. “Take his High and Mighty the prince his breakfast,” Now I just have to find Louie, I thought, walking out of the kitchen to the entrance hall. A crystal chandelier dangled from the ceiling. A coat rack stood next to the large double-doors, mainly empty. The entire room was empty. “Wow…” I said, stepping up the stairs tiled with gold and white alternating stones. I knocked on the first door I came to. “Your majesty,” I said, hoping it was Louie’s room. It opened, revealing a black-haired, ice-blue eyed Louie. He was looking at the ground, scuffing the floor with his shoe. “Put it over there, Sophie,” he said glumly, pointing at a short coffee table in the center of the room. “Louie,” I replied, obliging. His eyes snapped to mine, a fire in them. “Don’t ‘Louie’ me! You’re just a servant! You shouldn’t be lingering in my room! Even if you are giving me my breakfast! I’m not hungry!” “Louie,” I said again, hoping he would recognize me. “No! Don’t call me ‘Louie!’” he yelled, shoving me towards the door. “But you told me to call you that!” I said, heart racing at his touch, no matter what he was doing. “When?” he accused, stopping to turn me around so that my face was towards his. “When you told me your true identity back at school,” I answered truthfully, not wanting to feel sick right now. His eyes softened. “Hana,” he whispered, his arms going around me. --------------------------------------------------------------- EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!! NOW JUST SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT! (well, after I finish chapter 37... that would be.... very nice. Bye -OREO I understand there are a million spelling errors (in all of my chapters)... buuuuuut... *shrugs*
