Escape Route

Prologue

It was a stormy night on the planet of Zanna, which wasn't unusual, especially during the spring and summer.

Queen Édith cried out in pain. A cry only heard by her husband, King Léon, and her maid, who stood at the end of the queen's bed with a look of worry etched into her features.

Sweat covered the queen's brow as the pain of childbirth consumed her. The lack of medical supplies made it impossible for any supplies that could numb the nearly unbearable pain.

"You're almost there, just one more push," the maid encouraged as the queen cried out again.

The king also was holding a face that reflected pain. His wife, as fragile as she looked, had a grip of steel. Her small hand grasped his, her nails digging into his pale skin.

Suddenly, the wail of a small baby pierced through the air.

"It's a girl," the maid breathed, showing the newborn princess to the king and queen.

The heart monitor that was attached to the queen began to beep furiously.

Handing the baby girl to her father, the maid began to use her limited medical supplies and training to try and steady the heart rate of the queen.

"Léon," Édith called weakly to her husband.

"Yes, my love?" he responded, trying to calm the wailing baby that thrashed in his arms.

"Autumn. Her name should be Autumn," she breathed out.

The heart monitor flatlined, showing that the queen no longer had a heart beat. She let out one last shallow breath as the king watched as the life left Queen Édith, the only love of his life.

An idea began forming in the king's mind and he held Autumn. There would always be a threat against her and she was the future of the universe.

"What's your name?" Léon asked the maid.

"Annalise, your highness. Annalise Benson," the maid stammered, unable to make eye contact with the king, out of fear.

"Well, Annalise. There is something you must do, for the sake of the royal family and the future of the universe," he said, handing over the small baby who never had the chance to be held by her mother.

"Anything."