Hawaii is a wonderful string of islands that has always been viewed as a perfect vacation spot. Except, what happens when the islands' beauty and source of wealth are exploited by criminals? Criminals capable of stealing your free will and getting a...
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"Let's go find Ryan and the boys," Arden declared. She popped up behind me and smiled another perfect white smile.
"Yeah, sure. Rye is probably gonna force me to eat more red meat, but at least I'll have witnesses to his cruelty this time," I laughed as we left the store with bags hanging from both hands and shoulders.
"We will witness, but we shall not intervene!" the little smarty was probably just waiting for a chance to use a big word like intervene.
"Oh, I see how it is Kiara. It's cool. I'll just not intervene when these bags full of colorful clothes fall over the balcony, whoops!" I swung a hand full of bags over the side, pretending to drop them.
"Noo!" she cried and made a grab for the bags. I started laughing like an evil movie villain. "You wouldn't dare!"
"Oh, but I would!"
"But that scarf was so pretty! Have a soul," Julie exclaimed suddenly. I had a feeling she would join in on the charade.
"I have no soul anymore. All of the protein and exercise has turned me into a monster that you all ignored for too long," I didn't even have to try too hard to put on a wicked grin. "Mwahahaha!"
Julie pulled Kiara and wrapped her arms around the little girl, covering her eyes. "Don't look, dear innocent child. You should not have to witness this cruelty." Her performance was drawing a crowd so easily, that it fueled something in me. I'm a performer too after all.
"No! Let the princess watch and behold the tragedy. This was partially her doing as well!" I held onto the bags in my right hand tighter and swung it in a fancy spin.
"He's right! I have a responsibility to keep my eyes open," Kiara said, pulling Julie's hands away. She puffed up her chest and walked out of Julie's embrace.
"Milady, no! You're too young. Let me, your humble maiden, protect you."
I could see that Kiara wanted to giggle like crazy, but she held on. Throwing her arms out to both sides and spinning on her heels. My eyes widen in surprise genuinely. She wasn't too bad on her feet for her age. "I can handle it. I am the Evergreen princess after all! Just look at all of my people watching as well. How could I be the only one to hide?" she asked, facing the loose crowd of shoppers that had stopped to watch. Some had even taken out their phones to record. Now the stakes were raised.
"Look at how brave you have grown, princess. But I do not care for your bravery now." I took a long step back and pulled the bag as if I was preparing to launch it over the side. I winked and shouted, "Now say goodbye!"
Before I could move, Kiara did that same incredible dash forward I'd seen earlier. She swept behind me and snatched the bags out of my hand. "Not today, you evil king! Now that I have my scarf back, I can rule the kingdom with peace and prosperity." She pulled the light green scarf out of the bag and held it high above her head. The tourists actually began cheering, but Julie wasn't done milking the attention.
She ran over happily and embraced her princess. "Milady, you've actually done it. You defeated the evil king! Please, may I see the majestic scarf of peace?" these girls watched too much tv, but I wasn't going to be the one to break character first. Even if I don't remember how any of this started.
"Of course, maiden. Be gentle with it," Kiara beamed blissfully. The poor girl didn't see the trap she'd walked right into. As soon as Julie's hands closed around the scarf, she snatched it back and leapt away from us both.
She unleashed a truly wicked cackle that even made me back up. "Yes, princess! I shall be gentle and take care of it like no one else. Because I have waited for so many years and suffered through so much to get a chance like this. My family have been slaves to both of your kingdoms for generations and now, now I shall make it worth our long wait. With this scarf, everyone will know the name of the Ortegas!"
I was blown away, so my reaction was genuine. "I don't believe this..."
Kiara said just as stunned, "But, Julie...I thought we were friends. We've been through so much." Her voice sounded genuinely sad and it was obviously a result of Julie's convincing performance. The actress was pulling us into the story by force now.
"You thought we were friends? Ha! Friends do not call each other slaves or maidens!"
"I cared about you, I loved you," Kiara cried.
"Oh really? No-"
I took a loud heavy stomp forward to silence them both. "Enough of your babbling!" I roared like an angry Ryan and deepened my voice.
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Special chapter! I made some new banners, and decided to roll them out. leave a comment to let me know how they look so far.
