Hiding In Plain Sight

Chapter 1

The light from all the candles lights up the dining room all the way up to the high ceiling. There are echos of laughter bouncing off the decorated walls. Food freshly prepared lays neatly all over the hand crafted cedar table, seating a dozen guests. Most of which, I barely recognize.

"Oh, William, you're such a dear," my mother says to the Prince of Felicite. I don't understand what she sees in him. He's got a chiseled jaw and bold eyes that make his face look mishapped and wrong. He also isn't funny or even charming. He's just a rich brat who wants to get in my bloomers.

"Would you mind passing me the turkey, Bea?" William smiled in my direction. I scoff.

"Don't call me that," I demand, pushing the plate of turkey in his direction.

"Beatrice! Be polite," Mother snarls at me.

"Sorry," I mutter, focusing now on picking at my food with my fork.

"How are things looking for the celebration tomorrow?" Father asks in my mother's direction.

"Fantastic! The parade has been scheduled and the markets will be booming." My mother's face is full of pure excitement.

"Can I go?" My voice trembles.

"Only if William takes you," Father insists.

"What? But I don't want to go with- with him!" I feel my eyes begin to sting.

"That is no way to speak about your fiance," Excitement turns to rage.

"He's not my fiance. And he doesn't own me," My fists hit the table.

"You do this every year. It is not safe for a princess to be out in such a crowd,"

"You never let me do anything. I just want to be a normal girl," Tears stream down my cheeks.

"But you're not a normal girl. You are a princess and you need to act like one!"

Without another word, I stand up and speed walk out of the room, barely able to see through the tears.

Nearly running through the hallways, I tear off pieces of my gown and rip pins out of my hair. By the time I'm back to my room, I'm in only my slip and wool socks, my hair in tangles and my makeup smudged. I slam the door behind me and look in the mirror on my vanity. My green eyes sparkle beyond the watery charcoal. I wipe my face with the handkerchief laying on my table. The remaining makeup comes off in just one swipe. I grab a sheet off my bed and wrap it around my nearly naked body, creating the best tunic I can with the materials I have. I grab an old, dark green cloak from my closet and wrap myself in it.

I slide on a pair of black boots saved for archery days and fill my pockets with small necessities. Loose change, a small knife my father gave me, valuable jewelry, and my lucky plush doll.

My cheeks burn a bright red when I hear footsteps coming down the hall. I look around for the safest exit, but there is only a window. A window three stories up. Fuck it. I tie two of my sheets together in the fastest knot I can manage and tie the end around the edge of the window.

Bang, bang, bang,

As I hear them knocking on the door, I grab one end of the sheet-rope and jump out the window.

It feels like time slows down. The wind beneath me makes me feel as though I'm flying. I close my eyes and the feeling becomes more intense. Then it stops.

I'm dangling about one and a half stories above the ground. If I jump, I'll end up in a rose bush, but if I don't, I will be surrounded. With a deep breath, I release my death grip on the sheets. I'm flying again. Then I'm stabbed. Tiny thorns cut through the fabric and hit my skin. Sharp, freshly trimmed branches penetrate my back and neck, where I landed. I reach around for a stable object to grab into and find a statue. Carefully, I get up, trying my best not to place any weight on the bush. I can feel thorns and branches ripping through my skin and clothes as I jump up.

I pat my pockets once to make sure I didn't lose anything and run. I run like there's a bear after me. Over the castle gates and through the market. I mumble "sorry" to each person I manage to stumble into.

I begin to worry when I see two guards standing at the entrance to the kingdom. It's the only entrance. The entire kingdom is surrounded by tall, stone walls. I quickly tuck my hair into the collar of my tunic and pull up the hood of my cloak. I make sure not to expose any of the wounds I was left with.

Stepping through the gate, I don't let them see the worry in my chest. I watch them glance at me then look back ahead of them. I open my mouth and breathe easy.

There's a dirt path outside of the entrance. It forks and I have to decide which way to follow. I feel a force pulling me to the right. I take one last look at Perdue and decide that this is for the best.

××××

I must've been walking for an hour. My feet began to ache and my head grew tired. I nearly gave up hope when I saw it, a small town. There is no wall, or castle, or anyone dressed in their nice clothes. It is a dirty, disgusting peasant town. I love it.

Men and women dressed in neutral robes are all about. Some women are tending to the garden while others are conversing in small groups. Men lug heavy barrels of produce. Children run around, laughing. It's a beautiful sight.

The ground is soft as I enter their happy domain. It's rather large. Worn cobblestone pathways connect the dozens of houses. In the center, there seems to be a bustling market surrounding a tiny well. The houses are simple, round stone huts with beautiful wood details. I am blown away by the view.

Suddenly, my world feels as though it's crashing down. Literally.

I feel something hit my side and before I know it, I am on the ground.

"Oh, sorry, I didn't see you there!"