The Choice

Ch.23

I cried. I cried until I thought I possibly couldn't cry anymore, but then another round of tears came. Hot salty tears streamed down my face staining my shirt and running into my mouth. I collapsed on the bed and sobbed myself to sleep.

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I woke up to the sounds of chirping birds, and screams. Shooting out of bed I ran to the bathroom. I quickly changed into my clothes that I came here in.

I rummaged through the drawers of the bathroom and found mascara, I don't need it but I decided to put it on.

After that, I went to the door and tried opening it. The knob turned with ease, and I was able to open the door. I looked down the hallway and saw a small window in the corner at the end of the hall. My exit. I ran over to the window and creaked it open. The cold wind and snowflakes hit my face, chilling my nose at the touch. The window was only about three feet tall, and two wide, but I was a smaller person, so I could easily fit. I was halfway out the window when I heard foot steps. I looked down to the ground. It was a good ten feet down away from my feet, dangling from the window. Then I let go. Standing up I quickly checked myself for injuries, but I seemed good. Other then a slight pain in my right arm I was unharmed. I started to run. I ran as fast and as hard as I possibly could.

Once I was out of sight of the mansion, I checked my pockets. One tube of chapstick, one hair clip, and a crumpled piece of paper. I took a second to look at the paper. It was the note, the note that made all of this happen. In anger, I ripped the note apart and threw it in the dirty snow pile at my feet. Then I kept running. Where am I even? I looked around for landmarks and recognizable buildings but I found none that I knew. I finally gave up and walked into a drug store on the corner.

"Hi! How can I help you?" I perky teenager asked from behind the counter.

"Um, what town am I in?"

"You are sure not from here are you? Beldoni." She answered. I shook my head. "Well are you going to buy anything?"

"I-I don't, have any money on me."

"Well I can't have any street rats in here. You claim you have money, but that's what they all say. Now get out before I catch you shop lifting!" She turned cold in an instant, pointing at the door.

"But-"

"Out!"

I quickly ran out the door and sat on one of the close by benches. My lips were getting dry from the cold air so I grabbed the Chapstick and opened it up. Without looking I tried to apply it to my lips until I felt a papery thing brush against my lips. Looking down I saw several thousands of dollars worth of money rolled up and tightly packed into the small container. I took it out and counted it, 9,000 dollars of hundreds rolled up. I gasped and ran into a different shop. I shoved all the money into my pocket and picked myself out a purse and a wallet. The man took the bill without question, gave me the change and smiled as I went out the door.

I organized my new purse and money, before I went to go get a latte. When I was done, I ran over to a phone booth stand and used my left over two dollars, the only split change I had, to call Alex on her cell phone.

"Pick it up. Pick it up." I mumbled into the phone as it rang.

"Hello? I swear to god if this is another telemarketer I will report you." her slightly angry voice filled my eaar.

"No! This is Lily!" I yelled before she hung up.

"Oh! Where are you? You kinda missed your wedding!!" She screamed.

"I-I was kidnapped okay! I stayed in the Warren's mansion but now I got out with 9,000 and I don't even know how I got it."

"I put that there, in the Chapstick. I knew something might happen to you and you would need it."

"Ahhh," I drew on knowing my time was wanning, "Tell Christian that I love him." I told her.  "I'm going to get a cab back to the palace, or should I go to my parent's house?"

"Here, your parents are here too."

"Okay, but I don't know what to do. "

"Just do what you think is right." She said and then the time ran out.

I rolled my eyes and hailed for a cab. One pulled over and I hopped inside.

"Where to?" a younger man with a flat cap on asked.

"The royal palace," I said. He looked back at me in astonishment, but then I saw the recognition in his face.

"You are Lily! As in Lily, the princess." He exclaimed.

"Um, well not quiet, but let's make a quick stop at 3452, Grass blv. New Verda."

My old home.