Beauty

Chapter 2

I walk out and shut the door. I start my journey towards town. The same journey as last week, and the week before. I think I am slowly losing my sanity. I haven't talked to anyone besides my dad since I was 4. I wouldn't even know what people talk about. I observe people and surroundings but I don't talk to them or around them. Not with the risk. I hear chatter but I never focus on one conversation. I huffed a laugh. My mom was married by 15 and I haven't even talked to a boy my age.

I spot a women and man talking by a big oak. I slowed my pace and inched closer to them. I need to learn how to talk to people somehow. When age gives me wrinkles and white hair.

"Charles," the women pushes him lightly while laughing. "I wouldn't have placed you as a joker."

"First glances tend to trick you."

"I guess they do."

"Rebecka, would you like to dine with me tonight?"

"I w---"

There was the sound of horses, at least 20 of them, seeming to appear any second. As if on cue the horses appear about 20 feet in front of me. On top of the horses there are men in black uniforms. I could have been mistaken as one of them, but they all wore the palace emblem and no shadows covered their faces. I sneak away to the side shadows.

The man who seems to be the leader of the group, slides off his horse. His powerful and strong body shows with each step he takes towards the center of the market. He doesn't seem like one to deliver messages for the queen. He has dark brown hair and a pretty but tense face. I'm surprised he hasn't been turned in. He looks young, around 20, but I wouldn't be stupid enough to get in his way. What could he possibly be doing here? I keep to the shadows, but my curiosity makes me inch forward. To where a crowd has gathered, whispering about why the palace has come to our town.

"They could be here to collect a person of beauty." Said a woman next to me.

"They have collected before, but we never see them do it. Why would they now?" Responded an older woman. Maybe her mother.

I duck my head further expanding my hood over my face. I found a tree close enough to hear, but too far away to be noticed.

10 more men get off their horses. Ages and looks vary. The youngest looks around 16 and the eldest around 30. As they walk to meet their leader their eyes wander around the crowd. It looks as if they are searching for someone. My palms become sweaty and my breath catches. I try to calm myself with reassuring thoughts that no one knows about me except my father and he would NEVER turn me in. It works. Breathing becomes easier and my heartbeat becomes normal. I can't look like I am hiding something.

The leader clears his throat to get everyone's attention.

"I am captain Levi here to do the Queen's bidding. The palace hasn't received a turn in from this town in 3 years. Now that could be genetics doing it's job but just in case me and my friends are going to being staying here for 1 week. Checking to make sure this town is how it says it is. Dull. We will start today. Here at this market." Whispers start to rise to protest. Claiming they haven't done anything wrong. One look from Levi has them quiet down. "No one is allowed to leave here until everyone is checked. This should only take an hour."

The captain walks to a booth and the owner's eyes wide and he quickly bows.

"That is for my queen, not me." The captain responds before taking over the booth.

Lines start forming and the captains "friends" start blocking people off from leaving. Making me trapped. I look around for possible exits without causing alarm. I find none. Whoever these "friends" are sure know what they're doing. It's a good thing that while I was in security, I was bored enough to learn new tricks.

I fall further back into the shadows and spot my target. I quietly pick up a branch and walk along the sidewall. When I see him, I fix my grip on the branch and roll my shoulders. It's now or never so I pick now. I swing the branch at the "friend's" head and he silently slumps into my arms. He isn't dead just knocked out. I didn't have much time, so I set him down gently and ran like hell, but you know quietly. It wouldn't be long until his other "friends" noticed one of theirs is down. Like I said before I am an observer. I notice the little things, so when it came to covering my tracks and giving them false ones, it came like second nature. I heard footsteps coming from the market. I found a rock and was far enough away that I hid. I heard the footsteps come to a halt right where I wanted them too.

"She went this way Miles. Through the woods."

Another guy. Miles maybe hesitated before following. I released a sigh. I moved from behind the rock and started to head home when a laugh came from behind me.