Their Princess

Chapter 6

I came home with Zed at dinner time. And for the whole ride home, Zed has been trying to calm me down. But all in vain. 

My stuffie is gone.

Tears do not stop flowing from my eyes. My throat hurts from all the screaming I did to get my stuffie back. All in vain. Nothing matters to me right now. Nothing but my stuffie. I want it back.

“ Baby, please open the door. Let me in.” Zed's pained voice comes through the door. I have locked myself in my room. Zed has been trying to convince me that he will get another for me. 

“ Madam, please open the door. Dinner is ready. I've made your favorite dishes. Come try out.” I hear Neri say in her motherly voice. I'm hungry but don't want to eat anything. I'm angry at Zed, Leya, Lina and mostly at myself for agreeing to go to Leya's house. 

“ I will be back, princess.”

I hear them retreat. I'm falling in and out of consciousness when I hear voices outside my door. My head and throat ache from all the crying I've done for hours.

“ What do you mean she is not opening the door?” I hear a deep manly voice. 

Alerix.

“ I tried. We all did, but she just….” Zed trails off.

“ I can't believe you left her alone in this state. You should've talked to her, assured her over and over again.” Eli says.

“ No, this shouldn't even have happened. Where were you when that little psycho girl was hurting our princess? This is your fault. Because of you now, my princess is suffering.” Rey starts to shout at Zed.

“I don't want that psycho girl near our princess ever again.” Alerix says. “ Zed, do you hear me? If I ever see her around my girl….”

“You won't.” Zed interrupts. “ I will make sure of it.” His voice is filled with determination.

“ And was that friend of yours part of it too? If yes, then she is banned forever.” Eli chips in.

I tune them all out and remember how it all happened. Me screaming at Lina, Lina running. Then Leya giving me a lesson on sharing. 

I was so infuriated with her sickly sweet voice that I threw a pillow right on her face. Of course, no harm was done, but then she started to complain to Zed. I wasn't interested in her lecture, so I started to look for Lina instead. 

I searched the whole house but couldn't find her. When I asked Lina about her cousin's whereabouts, she said she left for her home when I was busy throwing pillows at her face. That's when I lost my cool. I shouted and screamed. Zed calmed me down and drove us to Lina’s house.

What I saw there broke my heart. My stuffie was torn in 2 pieces, and Lina was playing with the cotton stuffed inside my stuffie’s belly. I cried my heart out there on the floor. My stuffie was gone. My limbs refused to move, Zed had to carry me to the car. He left Leya there and took me home.

Tears start to fall down from the memory again, and I can't hold my hiccups anymore. 

“ Princess, are you awake? Open the door.” Alerix voice chimes from the door. Is he alone? Did Eli and Rey forget about me? Did they leave me? 

“ Open the door, princess, please. We will punish that psycho for you. Or if you want to do that part then we will help you. Just talk to us, baby.” Rey says. 

“ Let us in, baby. Please.” I hear Eli’ distressed voice too.

They didn't leave. They're with me. I'm not alone. Somehow, I get the energy to get up and unlock the door. I need them. I need their strength. Alerix is standing at the front. Behind him, Eli, Rey, and Zed are watching me. At the sight of them all dams break loose.