Wallflower

Four

          I couldn't sleep. It was early morning, but my mind refused to sleep. I decided to get up and turn on the television. 
          The bright screen blinded me for a couple of seconds before my vision adjusted to the light. Then I really saw what channel I had on. The news.
          You may think I was being one of those sassy girls who refuse to watch the news and only watches the DIY network. Nope.
          The news wasn't just anything. It was my castle, the head of the kingdom. Then it changed to be the evil man that was after me. Standing in his arms was Rue with a knife to her throat.
          Rue was the young girl that was meant to die in my place. She was a daughter of one of my many servants and had effortlessly volunteered to do the job.
          Blurred in the background was Rue's mother, and my father, holding her against his chest. He acted as if Rue was his daughter. A sob could be heard.
          The man from the other kingdom was speaking over the multiple servants crying. "Ladies and gentlemen, standing before you is the Princess Nia." He said no more.
          Servants behind him went silent as Rue called, "I would do this a million times for my kingdom." She was then murdered on live television, a knife slicing through her neck and blood oozing out.
          I hadn't realized I was crying until Sonya was sitting next to me with her arms around me. She' s dead; that could have been me, Rang through my brain as the tears fell. 

<<<<<   

          I had sat on the couch the entire day, until neighbors arrived to greet us. My seat was taken and I was moved to a small rocking chair on the other side of the room.
          Our neighbors brought a housewarming gift. The warm smell of cookies filled the room. My neighbor began to introduce herself and her family to us. "My name is Jessica, this is my husband Lucas and my daughter Kay. She's only eight, but would love to play with you someday, Amber."
          I nodded. "That would be great." 
          "Kay, go play with Amber. I need to talk with Miss Sonya."
          The small child responded quietly to her mother. "Okay."
          I stood up and showed the little girl to my room. She didn't say a word. "What do you want to do, Kay?"
          Startled, she backed away from me. I didn't mean to scare her, but I really would have liked to listen to the grown-ups talk. It would have been much more interesting than this. 
          "Do you dance?" she asked me, her eyes as innocent as Rue's when she died.
          I hesitantly nodded and started the music. The first song on the radio was "Shut Up And Dance" by Walk the Moon.  
          "Kay," I whispered. "I'll be right back. I need to use the restroom." 
          She nodded and instantly began dancing. And the dancing was incredible. 
          I left the room and felt a breathe of freedom fill my lungs. My neighbors are already ordering me around and I haven't been here more than twenty-four hours. I snuck my way into the bathroom at the edge of the hallway and listened to the hushed conversation in the living room.