Trapped by Alex V. (i am malala young readers edition .TXT) 📕

with tears. She was wearing a blood red dress, the fabric flowing in the wind as her face was splashed with the water of the river in front of her. In one fluid movement, she turned around, looked me straight in the eyes and said one word. Trapped.

Then she slowly, gracefully let herself fall into the cold, rocky water. Her body was now that of the river's.
The scene began to dissipate and another unfolded. I could see the back of a man, shaking and kneeling at the side of the same river, where it began to slow and calm down. The woman's lifeless body lay in the sand, the river water barely washing over her. On her face was a smile, as if she was finally content. Then I realized, this was The Spirit, and her husband who tried to bring her back to life.

* * *

When I woke up, I was too shocked to move, too shocked to breathe. Somehow I managed to walk to my rooms, mindlessly smiling and nodding to passersby. When I arrived in my room, I fell to my bed, letting my thoughts sink in. Now what? How will I ever rule as king again? I don't even have any heirs!

"Shut up. You're fine. I will stay on the sidelines, as an observer... mostly. As long as you keep life interesting and manage to keep me happy you're fine." The Spirit had obviously grown bitter over the years, trapped in her own sadness and despair. In truth, I wasn't scared of her. I truly pitied her, imagining eternal loneliness, but I had a duty to my kingdom that I wasn't ready to give up on. Not yet at least. For now, I could try to live with her, but I couldn't help wondering how long I would last before the inevitable.
Sometime, I would have to break, whether it's now or in twenty years. I couldn't live with... as someone else, keeping both of us happy. Someone so needy, and so quick to act on a moment's whim. I, King Matthew, the one who always thinks things out for hours, days, weeks before finally deciding will now have to deal someone who will make me "decide" right then and there. Knock. Knock. Knock.

"Arden?" I asked wearily.
"Um, no sir-er, my King. This is, ahem, his daughter..." a shaky voice said through the door.
"Come in."
"Uh, m-my pri-I mean King." the girl was small, and she looked familiar. She was obviously nervous. She bowed at my feet awkwardly.
"Don't worry about that. And don't be scared of me, I don't bite. So? What is it?"
"S-sorry my King, I just-"
"It's okay, I won't hurt you. By the way that whole "My King" thing is just what your father does, jokingly, to annoy me. He's practically gotten the whole kingdom into it."
"My father... Arden, he's arranged for 5 of his troops to be guarding you at all times. He-he's very proud of himself. And... I just knew that...you wouldn't like that... I came to warn you." the girl turned around to leave.
"Wait. What's your name? I didn't know Arden had a daughter." I asked.
"Um, it's," she took a deep breath, "it's Alexa."

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Images: trapped - 4.bp.blogspot.com and castle - favim.com; editing - iPiccy.com
Publication Date: 09-11-2012

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