The Selection ~ Next Generation ~ Fanfiction

Escaping From Reality

"So, I'm sure you are all wondering why I've brought you here." Prince Edmond starts. When no one says anything, he continues. "Well, after the recent staffing changes, we need new maids."

Wait. Did he just say maids? No, no, no, no. A maid? He, the prince of Illéa, wants me to be a maid. Me-a free-spirited girl who lives in Kent-to be a palace maid. Every way I arranged it in my head made it seem worse. I could not be a maid. No, I would not be a maid. Why couldn't they just leave me at home? I never signed up for it anyway. Besides, there were no perks of being a maid, except that they get a small fortune. Usually, people don't sign up unless they want to be treated fairly.

Now it all makes sense. No memory of how I ended up in the carriage, the smell of cookies, and the palace basement. I wasn't here for the Selection. I was here to be a maid. Grams volunteered me, and then bribed me with cookies. That has to be why. Then, I must have put up a fight. No wonder I had no memory. They probably had to knock me out.

Without hesitation, I stand up-run towards the door-and leave. I have no idea where I'm going, but I'm sure as heck it's not where the prince is. He ruined my life. I was minding my own business at home, before he sent guards to pick me up. I was loving my life. My life of working in the daisy fields, eating Gram's amazing food, and writing stories. Why had Grams volunteered me? Surely she loved me. It wasn't fair.

I turned down a corridor with a red carpet. Having no idea of my whereabouts, I followed the carpet. Where the carpet was leading me, I had no idea. Considering stopping to check where I had planted myself was risky. Instead, the shouting voices behind me told me to keep going.

I ran for a while before the carpet stopped. Looking up, I realized I was at a door. I was so mad that I couldn't think straight. I opened the door and threw myself in. My fingers carefully found the bump and pushed it in, accomplishing what I've wanted all day. Privacy.

In the room, there is a grand piano. I let out a short sigh. I loved the piano. My mom had taught me when I was very little, and ever since, I've practiced. I flexed my fingers back and forth, placed my hands on the white keys, and began to play.

Immediately, I was introduced to a whole new world. I wasn't at the palace anymore, in fact, I wasn't on earth at all. The world around me vanished and the only thing by me was the piano. My fingers gently stroked each note, and played effortlessly. Soon, the song range increased and I was playing higher and lower. Closing my eyes, I began to play the one song that I had completely memorized. It was one of the first harder songs I'd even learned. Mom had taught me that I needn't know the notes, but only the melody. If I knew the melody then my fingers would flow on their own. I was in the world again, only me and the piano. When I finished, I took a deep breath. I imagined a crowd clapping, and as soon as I envisioned that, I could almost hear it. But the thing was, I could hear it. Blinking quickly, I turned around to see a figure walking right towards me with its hands clapping graciously. I wasn't alone anymore.