Just Another Fairy Tale

Chapter 2: Escape

Later that night I lay sprawled out on my bed sobbing. My dress, filled with salty tears. My mascara running down my cheeks dropping to my pruned fingertips.

I looked to the side of my bed to see an old friend, Antony. I think that he had climbed through the window. I live on the first floor so it is pretty easy to break in. That is probably another doing of my goddamn stepmother.

"Hey, what's wrong?"

"My father is under some kind of love spell from the queen and is planning an arranged marriage with me and someone I don't even know! Anyways, where have you been? I haven't seen you in like, forever"

"Caught up in a hell lot of work lately."

"Oh... well... I was gonna run away but my father..." Antony cut me off.

"Who says you can't? Come with me, to my town, to my people."

"But my father..."

"But what? You said it yourself, he's under a spell so why would it even matter if you left? He wouldn't care."

" ... uh... huh..." I took a long deep stride of air.

"Well come on, pack, and meet me at the pine tree in the forest."

"Okay!" I leaped to my feet in gracious pride.

I was so elated to leave home but at the same time had this sinking feeling in my stomach. Well, this is what is best for me, I don't believe I could ever feel happy in any other way with her in my life. I took my suitcase out from under my bed and filled it with all the necessities. Toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, body wash, hair shampoo and conditioner, face wash, etcetera. When I was done packing I rushed to the kitchen to grab a hot tea and biscuit for the road.

The walk to Antony's village was a two hour trip through the forbidden forest, I know right! Already sounds like your average fairy tale. I don't know where I've heard that name before but whoever named that goddamn forest had to have used copyright. All the sudden I heard someone walking behind me. I turned around with an ax in my hand and fear in my eyes to see no other than the palace guard, Naomi (Ni-ome-ee).

"What the fuck are you doing here?!"

"Watch your language princes. I've come to warn you of some strange goings-on in the place."

" ... um... what and how did you know where I was?"

"I was keeping watch when I noticed you leave to premises but it's good that you did. I heard the Queen discussing something very very bad with the King."

"What? What?"

"The Queen wished you gone, and for your father, he doesn't have much time left," Naomi spoke in an airy voice, "She said... she said once you have been married off she will take over the throne and turn your father into a lobotomy!"

" ... huh... How could he let this happen! How! How on Earth could he agree to this! Tell me! Tell..." Naomi cut her off.

"Shush! The Queen's guards are searching for you at this very moment."

"How?"

"The King went in to discuss the marriage with you when he found you missing he called a search party."

"I'm out, I'm out of this! I ran away to be free and I am not gonna be pulled in by my family just like that."

"Fine, it's better that way. Then you don't have to worry about all the missing signs and palace guards hunting you down to near death."

"Uh uh," I cleared my throat in anxiety and worrisome, "See you never Naomi."

"Great, wish the same for you! Don't get into any more trouble than you already are ok?"

" ... ok..."

I began my escape once more after that strange and frightening encounter. I really am starting to worry, my father is at stake now. My life is at stake now. My kingdom is at stake now. Things are falling apart under my feet to quick to fix and too dangerous to live. Why does life have to suck so damn bad? I ask myself that question every single day but no response. I guess that's just how things are and how things always will be.

So later I came to stop at an old broken down farm to rest my legs for a bit, about an hour thirty after I saw Naomi. I walked in to see five chairs, a circular table, and some recently placed cards. I knew the second I walked in there that there would be trouble so I begin to rush out but an old farmer grabbed my arm.

"Hey fine lady, this you?" He said it in the creepiest way as he pointed at a paper that said 'Missing; Zofia Mayweather, age 17'.

He was an old man, about 75 or so with gray whiskers and a cigar in his hand. He was dressed in red plaid overalls, a sky blue button-down shirt, and big brown clocky mountaineering boots.

"Um... yes?"

"Is that a question or an answer you might be throughin' at me?"

" ... um..."

"Ah ha! It is you ain't it lady."

"Fine, it is..."

"Well, I should just go ahead and turn you in. Reward money be fifty sacks."

"Oh, oh please don't! I... I could give you duple the dough if you let me leave."

"I, I don't know if I can trust you, madam. Give me one reason for you to ever wanna come back and give me the hundred."

"You could come with me."

I know that that move was risky, letting someone I don't even no just follow me around to Antony's but it's the only chance I have got to get away from this creep. Well, for him to let go of my arm that is.

"Fine. Fine."

So on we went on, and he wasn't as bad as I expected. Still a bit of a creep but less so. We went on, and on, and on, and on until we finally reached the tree Antony would meet us at... but he was not there. Know where to be found!

"Antony? Antony where are you?"

"Who be this An of the Toney fella you be talkin' about?"

"Friend, old friend. He was supposed to meet us here and then bring us to his village."

"Oh, so that be why you running away ain't it."

"No, no I'm trying to get away from my killer stepmom, Queen of the land."

"Wow, you moleniolas live a way more complex life than I ever could. For breakfast, I had oatmeal and then picked some carrots. I'm a carrot farmer you know."

"First of all, I am not a moleniol and second, please shut up and help me find Antony!"

"Fine, okey lady."

We waited there for about twenty minutes after looking for what I am gonna say was just a long time. Afterthoughts ten minutes when by Antony finally shows.

"Finally!"

"Hey, hey! I didn't expect you to be so early okay?"

"Ok..."

"Who is this?"

"This is someone who is gonna turn me in if I don't pay a hundred sacks."

"What do you mean 'turm my in'?"

The farmer held up the winter poster to Antony.

"Well, you're lucky it hasn't reached my town you Zo."

"Yeah, I know right!"

After that Antony showed us to his place which was actually pretty nice. Honestly, I didn't expect it to be clean, last I saw him he was a natural born slob and his house was a rut. Every time he came over he would bring the whole slob with him and leave it with us.