Rescuing her heart

Chapter Four

I wasn't going to waste time crying anymore. I was going to do something. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine Noah to be such a monster. Noah was my first and only boyfriend. He was the only one in my life that made me laugh when Arthur left.

He always visited frequently and we just bonded. I was just a hopeless romantic teenager and he was the only male in my life so it was easy to develop a crush on him. I would be lying if I said a part of me didn't miss Noah. The old Noah. He was my

first love and would always be my first love. It's funny really, I had fantasized about my marriage with Noah hundreds of times and now I was actually marrying him, I was as miserable as ever.

I had to escape.

I had been thinking of an escape plan since Arthur and I's trip to the garden. I just didn't expect the wedding to come so soon. Who knew I'd be getting married before Princess Delphine? I was glad the wedding was taking place during the night, it would make my escape so much easier.

Looking at the wall clock, it read forty-five minutes to eight. The wedding was to start at eight pm sharp meaning I had only fifteen minutes before the maids came to get me. I had to think fast.

I looked out my window, considering a jump. Maybe I would make it with a few broken bones. I peeked out again and realized I wouldn't even be able to check for broken bones. My body would be plastered to the floor and I'd be lying in my own pool of blood if I make the jump. At this point, I'd give anything to have Rapunzel's hair. It wasn't like I knew how to climb down a wall, much less using my own hair as a rope but having it would have provided a quick solution.

Suddenly, I remembered Arthur and his secret passage he always used to escape when he didn't want anyone to know he was leaving. He would always return before the c***k of dawn back then. It was a faint memory but it was my only way out.

I quickly made haste out the door, heading straight for Arthur’s room. Arthur had requested to change his room when he turned sixteen and I never knew why, his old room was bigger and much more comfortable than this room but after he finally let me in on his secret, it all made sense.

His new room had a secret passage that led to the back entrance of the castle. When I was younger, he let me come whenever I pestered him alot.

I was already halfway to his room, the available maids were all too bust scurrying around to get their work done. No one wished to oend the king and one way to oend my father was not doing work perfectly. Soon enough, I made it to Arthur’s room but I wasn't exactly too sure where the secret door was.

Great.

I started touching, feeling and pulling everything I could find on the wall but nothing worked and I was running out of time and patience. Out of frustration, I pushed some of the books on his book shelf and sat down on the floor to cry again.

I wasn't even able to cry for a second or curse Arthur for abandoning me again thanks to one of the books falling on my head.

“Ow!”

Rubbing my head, I looked up and noticed something stranger behind the shelf

then I remembered...

The door was behind the bookshelf!

I have never been so happy about a book hitting me before. I quickly got up and pushed the book shelf to the side. Pushing the wall a bit, it shifted and created a little space to the entrance and boy was it dark! It was a straight path so I didn't have to worry. Fortunately, I wasn't afraid of the dark but it would have been nice to have a source of light. I looked down at my watch, realizing I had ten minutes remaining.

I closed my eyes and braced myself then I started running. Unfortunately, I had forgotten I was wearing just one heel, it made me run kind of funny. I did try to shake it o but it wouldn’t fall o so I endured it and continued moving. I held out my hands to avoid crashing into a wall and my speed decreased. Soon enough, I felt the wall at the end of the tunnel, giving a little push, it bulged. I peeked out and checked if the coast was clear before stepping out and pushing the wall back in place.

Checking my watch again, seven minutes left. I sprinted through the palace fields, my eyes frantically searching the whole place. I couldn't remember where I was supposed to go to find the secret exit. I had only done this once or twice with Arthur and that was years ago.

Time was ticking and being an important day, the security was going to be heavier than normal. I had to think fast. Looking around, I spotted a tree very close to the wall. Bingo!

I have never climbed a thing in my life but it was my only option. I made a run towards it and the worst thing happened... my foot got stuck in the mud.

“No no no no no!! This can't be happening!” I cried. My heading was spinning and my heart was pounding fast.

I tried pulling but it wouldn't bulge. I pulled hard and ended up falling on my bottom but at least my foot was unstuck. The mud however was pleased to keep my heel which I didn't have a problem with.

I made it to the tree with my bare feet and stared at it. “Okay Anna, you can do this. You've seen a lot of movies. This will definitely be a piece of cake,” I said to myself, trying to boost self confidence with some sort of pep talk. It clearly wasn't working but I held the tree and started climbing anyway. It was dicult! This gown was not suitable for climbing trees but I had no choice.

After struggling a bit, I was finally able to get somewhere and reached the branch closest to the wall. I stood on the branch, taking deep breaths. I was very tempted to close my eyes and jump but I knew how that would end.

I braced myself and jumped... ...

...

I didn't make it.

I found myself dangling o the wall. It took everything within me not to scream for help. I was panting, gasping and desperately holding onto the wall for dear life, hot tears were already welling up my eyes. And as if that wasn't already enough, I heard a few guards making their way over.

“This has got to be one of the biggest weddings of the year!” one of the guards exclaimed.

“Oh come on! This isn't anywhere close to how luxurious other weddings in bigger kingdoms are held.”

“Can both of you shut the hell up and get back to work?” “Yes sir.”

It got quiet after that and a minute later, I spotted another guard and he spotted me. I squeezed my eyes shut as if not seeing the guard meant he couldn't see me but unfortunately, that's not how reality works. I re-opened my eyes and he was still gaping at me. Confusion and shock was clearly written all over his face.

I shot him a pleading look, hoping he'll understand. He nodded and gave me a weak smile and walked away, taking the two other guards with him before they had the chance to see me.

I gathered all my strength to pull myself up but my arms weren't having it. I couldn't blame them, they were quite delicate but I wasn't going to give up. I tried again and again and eventually, I started to make some progress.I got myself up the wall.

I was still trying to pull my right leg over the wall when I slipped and fell over, landing on a nearby bush. I was grateful it wasn't a rose bush. I knew I had sustained a few minor bruises but it was a small price to pay for freedom.

I groaned, gently pulling myself o the bush and standing on my bare feet. When I looked around, a realization hit me.

I was out!

I had made it out!

After a little victory dance, I realized only one tiny problem.

I had nowhere to go.