The Stranger Beneath the Crumbling Crown

Chapter 7: Caged Boy? Cursed Boy? No; it was a lonely Rapunzel

We reached the end of the Spring Palace walls. I waved farewell to the innocent girl, the girl oh so different from me. She turned leaving, every-so-often I felt her turning back around, although I didn't care to catch the glances. The glances that would make me feel a never-ending disgust. I couldn't bare it, so I continued moving my feet.

Had I always been the type to run away?

Hah... who am I kidding... of course I was. All I could ever do was run away.

My feet stopped at the thought, as I glanced around. I let out a deep sigh, turning in the opposite direction. It was straight from here, so as long as I didn't wander I should be fine. Despite that thought running rampant in my mind... I got lost... as per usual.

Fuck. Hah... I really am stupid. I glanced around letting out a sigh... and now that I was in the Abandoned Forest, there would be no way for me to even attempt to ask another for directions.

I really shouldn't trust myself with things like this. I don't exactly have many better alternatives though... so it looks like I'll just have to do my best. I looked up, the sun of spring peeking through the cluttered trees. A small ray caught my eyes resulting in me jerking my head away. My eyes landed on the rough bark of the tree beside me. My eyes followed the bark, going further up.

"Like... that time," I mumbled my words as I spoke. High ground should be better, right? I could probably do just fine... climbing about. My eyes moved around the trees... hmm... it should be fine. I looked down at my clothing... it'll be fine... I'll mend it later. I untied the braid in my hair, moving to tie it into a ponytail. This'll be more convenient.

I begun the climb... the higher I got... the less I could feel the disgust. I wonder why... but when I reached the top... I felt a sense of relief. I looked down at the ground from high above the tree.

"It's... only a step away," the words I mumbled caused even myself to stumble. No... no... what am I thinking. What am I, an idiot? I glanced away, adjusting my grip to the tree. I looked around... there wasn't anything.

Ah... but for some reason... I felt a weight lift from my chest. There was nothing but trees... trees and trees. There was nothing but the green and brown. I moved from branch to branch... it... was fun.

I paid close attention to the golden ribbon and drawing in my pocket, but my body I couldn't care less about. Rolling my sleeves up, and my pants too, I got more cuts and bruises from the branches than I thought I would. I couldn't feel it over the other scars, scar upon scar. My body... well... Al's body... were very similar because of that.

Hah... what did it matter... we both thought the same. Our bodies, we never cared about much. The scars and bruises corroborated that fact. Broken bones and stab wounds accounted for my lack of care in my body, and even this one had scars from knives. I felt sweat dribble against my face, as I continued forward. I would either have to find the Caged Boy, or find my way out before my two hours ended. I rushed forward, my legs ever-moving.

That was until... I felt a glance. A title. My eyes darted around, finding a small building. Stone... decrepit and towering. It appeared so ominous within the forestry filled with only green. The windows were boarded or broken, and it had an overgrowth of greenery. It wasn't very large... and almost unnoticeable. The greenery had covered most of it, it was almost camouflaged. A single window, undamaged and closed with glass. A boy, perhaps my age... no... he was most likely slightly younger.

Felix

Cursed Prince - Caged Boy - Abandoned Prince

Flaws: Naïve/Foolish/Ignorant/Ostracised/Socially Inept