The Footsteps to Freedom

Chapter 9

By the time night came, Alice was glad for her break. Because she worked so hard, Gregory let her go after dinner, and Alice was glad. She had an errand she needed to run.

After half an hour, Alice stood on the doorstep of her old house, knocking on the door.

"Alice!" Haley exclaimed when she pulled the door open. She rushed towards her, but the guards stood in her way. Alice walked inside, surrounded by her guards, and then said, "It's okay. She's my sister."

The guards refused to believe her and insisted on searching her before they allowed her to embrace the princess. Haley threw herself in Alice's arms as her tears began to flow. Alice did her best to hold them back. Her mother then entered the room, and after being searched, Alice threw herself into her arms. "Oh mom! I missed this warm hug so much!"

"Alice!" her father cried. "How are you adjusting to your new life?"

Alice bit her lip, trying not to cry. "Oh, it's awful! I have to do all this work to make up for the last nineteen years of my life! It is so exhausting! I am not allowed to have any contact with anyone from my old life. I will be in so much trouble if they found out I was here! I wish I could do something. Oh daddy, is there anything you can do to help?"

Mr. Kinsley's eyes filled with tears. "Darling, I wish there was."

Just then, the front door burst open and Haden, who had left the room earlier, came back out of breath.

"What's wrong?" Mrs. Kinsley asked.

"I..." Haden started, panting hardly. He was interrupted by the entrance of someone else.

"Thomas!" Alice screamed, and threw herself into his arms before the guards could stop her. Alice couldn't hold back her tears anymore. She wrapped her arms around him as she cried into his shoulder. His grip was familiar, and Alice relaxed against him. He squeezed her shoulders as his sobs came out quietly.

"A...Alice," he finally spoke. He let go of her to study her face, and then pulled her back in. "Your back."

"Oh Thomas, it's so horrible!" Alice finally let go. "They censored the mail so I wouldn't get any of your letters. I was able to sneak one out this morning, but that's it. I didn't even know you tried to visit me twice!"

"Why would they do that?" Thomas asked, confused.

"They want me to forget my old life," Alice said.

"What?" Thomas cried.

"Yes. And that's not even the worst part! I am to be married to stupid Prince Phillip of God knows where!" Alice sobbed. "I told them, Tom! I told them I was engaged to you, but they wouldn't listen! They said you were no longer a part of my life anymore! I screamed at them, pleaded for them to change their words, but they wouldn't listen! Oh Thomas, I don't want to lose you. I cannot! What do I do? What do I do?"

"That is ridiculous! I will not allow this man to get in between us," Thomas declared. "I will not lose you again Alice. Don't leave. Please just stay here."

"Princess! We must get going. Your father's guard just informed me that he is looking for you. Gregory told him that you were missing!" a guard suddenly spoke up.

Alice faced Thomas. "Thomas, keep writing those letters. No matter what you do, do not stop. I will figure out a way to get them, but just keep in touch with me. They are my only hope," Alice pleaded with him. "I don't care if I am not allowed to keep them. I will hide them. Just please don't leave me!"

"Of course I will keep writing them," Thomas said. "And I will find this Phillip man, and tell him to stay away from you. I will not leave you again. I will keep trying to visit you, even if I have to force myself into the palace."