so scared, but I have no time left
The carriage wheels creak on the cobblestone road. For the first time, I'm beyond the stone walls of the palace.
Through the gap in the curtain, I see the city's chaos: children's shouts echo in narrow streets, market stalls overflow with colorful fabrics and fresh fruit.
Families chat merrily, vendors call out to hawk their wares. It's as if this world is made of nothing but joy and peace. From the outside, everything seems perfect. But I wish it were as beautiful as it appears. I wish I didn't see the darkness behind this false cheer.
But I see it. Because this kingdom, my kingdom, is built on a lie.
Nobles sip wine from golden goblets in their lofty castles while the people struggle with hunger and misery.
From the palace, I learned from servants' whispers: our human kingdom is home to a suffering people.
The war with the demons ten years ago changed everything. Four years of war brought blood and ruin. My father, the king, made a desperate deal for peace. Two thousand people were sent to the demon kingdom as slaves. And these were not the nobles' children. They were the innocent sons and daughters of the lower classes: farmers, blacksmiths, fishermen… chained.
The war ended, but the pain didn't. The kingdom began to suffer a labor shortage. Fields went unplanted, mines fell silent, cities crumbled. Those who remained were worked under the lash, tamed by hunger. Women begged to feed their children, men died for a scrap of bread. And in the midst of this oppression, the temple rose. White-robed priestesses addressed the people:
"This is the trial of the gods. Endure, persevere. If you pass this test, your place in paradise is assured."
How could the people resist? The priestesses spoke as if they were the voice of the gods. They promised the demons would be punished, cast deep into the earth. But they didn't know… the greatest demon was the snake they harbored in their bosom.
Nobles grew richer with taxes collected from the people, laughing and feasting in their halls. Golden platters, silk garments… their world knew no famine.
The people, meanwhile, trampled each other for a handful of wheat, their children's cries of hunger echoing through the streets.
Inside the carriage, guards sit beside me.
One is Carl, the other a nameless shadow. The metallic clank of their armor echoes with every jolt. They watch me, their eyes weighing my every move.
"We're returning to the palace," one says, his voice cold.
I'm not free. The palace walls have been my prison since childhood. But now, I want to escape. From this carriage, this city, this kingdom. I know I should stay, but a voice inside me screams, "Run!" I must find a way to end this oppression, but first, I need to be free.
The carriage slows as it nears the city square. I peer through the curtain: a crowd has gathered, loud and chaotic. Guards have pinned a man to the ground, kicking him. He's frail, clad in filthy rags.
"Bread!" he cries, his voice breaking. "My children are starving, just one piece of bread!"
One of the guards lands another kick to his face.
"This is the punishment for theft!" he roars.
The crowd is silent. Some turn away, some murmur, but no one acts.
My hands tremble, anger swelling like a lump in my chest. I'm the prince, yes, but these guards serve my father. What would happen if I defied them? Our kingdom is fragile; it can't withstand another rebellion. But this sight, this injustice, breaks something inside me. I can't stay a bystander any longer.
This is my chance.
Carl and the other guard are focused on the commotion in the square. The carriage stops for a moment, guards shouting to disperse the crowd. My breath quickens, my heart pounding in my ears. I slowly open the door, unnoticed.
"Hey, you!" a guard shouts, but it's not at me it's at the crowd.
I slip out of the carriage, blending into the crowd. I've never left the palace; these streets are alien to me, but fear drives me forward. The crowd's clamor, footsteps, shouts—it's all like a nightmare. I hear Carl's voice:
"Where's the prince?"
They're after me. I run. I dart into a narrow alley, my breath ragged. The streets are a maze, stone walls closing in around me.
I'm in the city for the first time, every corner menacing. In the palace, servants spoke of an abandoned warehouse in the city's north, a hideout for thieves and fugitives. I have to reach it.
But Carl and the guards are close; the clank of their armor echoes behind me. I duck behind a vendor's stall, crouching in the shadow of wooden crates. I hold my breath, sweat dripping down my forehead. Carl's voice rings out:
"Prince Noan!"
My heart feels like it's about to burst. I stay still in the shadows, waiting as the footsteps fade. I get up, running again.
The streets narrow, the crowd thins. I'm nearing the city's north, where buildings turn to ruins. I find the warehouse: a rotting wooden door, rusted chains.
I push it open, and it creaks. I slip inside, the dark, dusty air filling my lungs. Broken crates, cobwebs… this place is safe. Carl and the guards must be scouring the streets outside. My father hasn't been told yet, I hope. This buys me time.
Inside the warehouse, I lean against the cold wall. My breath steadies, but fear still grips me. The floor is damp, the air heavy.
Distant shouts of guards echo like a faint hum. I sit in the darkness, my hands trembling.
My anger still burns, but now I must hide. A wooden crate creaks in the corner, making my heart leap. Just a rat, but every sound keeps me on edge.
Carl is out there, searching for me. I imagine the clank of his armor, his steps scouring the streets. But here, in this darkness, I'm invisible.
I hear a sound outside, a metallic clang. Guards? My heart races, and I sink deeper into the shadows. The warehouse door creaks, but no one enters.
Maybe the wind, maybe a shadow. I hold my breath, waiting. Silence returns. The danger hasn't passed. Carl and the guards are out there, combing every corner.
The warehouse's chill seeps into my bones, but it's safe, for now. Every shadow, every sound feels like a threat.
My hands press against the wall, nails scraping the stone. I've escaped, but I'm not free yet.
Night falls.
The sounds outside fade, but the guards' search doesn't end. Carl is still out there, tracking me. This hiding place is just a pause. I'm scared, yes. But I have no time left.
I'm scared. But I have no time left.