4 October 2012
My heavy eyes slowly opened. I groaned and tried to stretch out but my feet and hands were tied to a chair with rope. I looked around but couldn't see too much because it was too dark.
"You are awake, Princess." A voice croaked from the darkness. I didn't reply, just looked straight ahead of me. "Welcome"
I still couldn't see him and something told me that I didn't want the light on. "Where am I?" I croaked. My voice somehow seemed to match his, it sounded like I hadn't spoke in ages.
"Just a little place I like to call home, Princess. You wouldn't know much about that would you?" The harshness in his voice made me flinch slightly. His laugh rang out in the room.
"I have business to attend to, Princess. An important matter. I bet your parents are dying to hear from you" He croaked then laughed.
"You leave my parents out of this" I practically screamed.
"Too late. They're already in this" And then all was quiet.
I waited a while. Was he gone? I didn't know for sure but the silence scared me.
"Hello" I whispered.
There was no echo, nothing, just silence. That was my reply and it wasn't the reply I wanted to hear.
"Hello. Hey! Help" I started to shout.
Someone hissed at me, they was telling me to shut up, so I grinned to myself. "Why should I be quiet?" I asked loudly.
They huffed, irritated by me. "I said so, that's why. Do you want Frogface to kill us both?" A male's voice I had never heard before replied in a whisper.
"Anything will be better than him keeping me here" I replied, somehow bringing my voice down to a whisper too.
"I know. It's hard at first, it really will be but it gets better with time" He sighed.
"How long have you been here?"
He sighed again. "I've lost track of time." He replied. "And who are you?"
"My name is Freya" I replied.
"He called you princess?"
I nodded, even though he couldn't see it, then added, "Yes, I am a princess. But who are you?"
He let out a short, humourless laugh. "I don't remember too well, Princess. I've been in here for so long that it messes with your brain. Frogface calls me Charles but I know that isn't my real name."
"Why do you keep calling him frogface, Charles?" I asked.
"Because I don't know his real name" He replied. "Didn't you realise that? You don't remember your real name or your past. What about your parents? Please tell me you remember" He seemed to be begging me now.
"Yes, I remember." I said then sighed. "But I don't remember Frogface's name either. Is that important?"
Charles huffed again, he seemed to be very impatient with me. "Yes, it is very important. To break his hold over you, you must remember his name. Without his name you are as good as dead"
I shut my eyes. "Like Lampton" I whispered.
"Did frogface take him?" Charles asked.
I nodded again. "He did. I was supposed to marry him and I did love him, I really did, but it's too late now" I whispered back.
"I'm sorry, I know it's hard" Charles whispered.
I stayed quiet for a little while, trying to stop the tears from falling. "Did you leave anyone behind?" I asked finally.
Charles took a while to reply but when he did, he sounded so upset that it brought tears to my eyes. "I did. She was my beauty but I got scared and I left her. It was a foolish thing to do and of course I regret it now but there is nothing I can do about it. I loved her, you know? She never knew but I did. It may be a bit too late for me but it isn't for you."
"What can we do though?" I asked.
Charles laughed. It was a deep, menacing laugh that made me wish that I hadn't asked.
Accidental Princess: Part12 • Opuss № I