TWISTED

26: Kidnapped

Ella spotted some people her age playing at the centre of the village. Beside them, children were running here and there with empty cans and dry sticks. Ella identified Patty and Sam playing with the bigger children.

Patty was the one who first saw Ella. Grinning, she waved at Ella who waved back and walked to where they were.

"Ella! Are you here to play with us today?"

Ella shook her head, pained by the sad looks on their faces. "Unfortunately, no. I'm looking for someone."

Some of the children lost interest in whatever Ella had to say and went back to playing.

"Who." Sam demanded.

"Eric. Have you seen him around here?"

Patty cocked her head to the side like she was thinking. Then: "I caught a glimpse of him heading over to the waterfall a few minutes ago."

"Was he alone?"

Patty nodded. "Yes."

That was enough information for Ella. Without a waste of precious time, she hurried to the waterfall.

Pascal was right. Ella spotted Eric, perched on a rock in pensive mood. He threw pebbles in the little brook flowing by and watched the water splashes. The atmosphere was quite serene today. Besides the roaring of the water as it cascaded down to link up with a stream flowing eastwards, no other sound was heard.

Ella wiped her sweaty hands on the front of her black trousers, anxiety filling her with the prospect of speaking to Eric. Her finger brushed against the bump of the little bottle Cathy gave to her.

She needed a plan if she wanted to administer the potion to Eric.

"Are you just going to stand there?"

Ella dived out of her reverie upon hearing the Prince's voice. His full gaze was on her now.

"I didn't-"

"Come and sit." He gestured at the space beside him. Ella sat, keeping away from the jagged edges of the rock.

"How are you?"

"I'm fine. What are you doing here?"

"I came to think. Glad you could join me." Eric's eyes were trained on the waterfall straight ahead.

"Do you care to share your thoughts?" Ella asked.

Eric heaved. "I'm thinking about my family. The King, the Queen, the Princesses. I feel like I'm failing them."

Ella watched the side of his face while he kept on staring at the silvery glitter of the water.

"Everything will be fine. We just have to hang on a little longer. Be optimistic."

"Do you never feel weak?"

"I do. But I've learnt to live above my weaknesses. There are some things we can't help so it's best we stop worrying too much about them." Ella tactfully took out the potion from her pocket.

"I like you a lot, Ella. I've been having this feeling of emptiness for these days I've not been around you but now that you're here, I don't know what to feel anymore."

"Find a way to administer the potion to the Prince without him suspecting a thing." Cathy's voice re-echoed in Ella's ear.

Eric's words were getting to her head and she fought against them. This wasn't the Eric she knew. His eyes were a little dreamy like he was under the influence of alcohol.

"It will have no effect on others but the person it was intended for." Cathy's voice sounded in her ears again.

Ella fake sneezed. "Excuse me. I've been having allergic reactions and my mom prescribed a sort of herbal mixture for me."

Boldly, she sprayed the mixture on her nose and pretended to feel better. Eric was watching her all the while, a curious look on his face.

"Could I get some?" He demanded politely.

Internally, Ella was rejoicing at the turn of events. Just as she stretched out her hand to administer the potion on the Prince, he gripped her wrist firmly and snatched the potion bottle out of her fingers.

Ella's heart thumped hard against her chest. "What-"

"Nice try, but I know what you're trying to do." It wasn't Eric's voice she heard but some other person's voice behind them.

A little scared, Ella glanced back to see a white-haired young woman glaring at her.

"Who are you?" Ella asked, noticing how relatively calm Eric was.

"Oh sweetheart, you already know who I am." Ella noticed the large ring on the woman's index finger and the tiara on her hair. Her red robe pooled around her feet, touching the earth.
"Willow?"

Her fears were confirmed when the stranger started chuckling. Her chuckles intensified and then before Ella knew what was happened, she found herself falling and when she landed on the earth, blackness enshrouded her.

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Ella could barely feel her hands when she stirred again. All she was sure of was that she wasn't dead yet. And although her vision was quite hazy at first, the haze soon cleared out and she could see her present location-A storehouse, empty save for a few crate boxes here and there and a couple of rusty cans littering the floor.

Scrunching up her nose at the stale smell the room gave off, she stared down at her body tied to the chair she was sitting on. Her hands were tied behind her, proving the reason why she couldn't feel them. Her neck felt numb probably from the awkward position she fell asleep in.

There was no one else in the room.

Just then there was a tiny squeak and a large rat scurried across in the room with a little one behind it.

Yuck. Ella grimaced.

Her thoughts immediately went to the Prince. Where did they take him to? What was Willow going to do with him now? She wished Romera and Cathy would come to their rescue right now, or anyone. So long as she got out of this wretched place.

While Ella dealt with her thoughts, the door opened, revealing a dark-haired man wearing glasses and
a young lady with brown hair.

"And she's awake." The lady smiled.

Ella didn't smile back. "What do you want from me?"

She rolled her eyes. "Just shut up, we're taking you to see Willow. Jacob, untie her."

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The rest of the cast members will be in the next page. The other names will be showing up in subsequent pages.

And I'm sure you're wondering what's going to happen next? Any guesses?

Take a deep breath because a lot of events are going to take place within the four chapters that are left.

Yeah, there are only four chapters left and then the epilogue😳