Jasmine was fading in and out, feeling totally drained from being thirsty and hungry. The dungeon felt awful, this dark, wet air pressing in on her. She was lost in her own head when she heard a key jiggling in the lock. Bam! She was wide awake, her heart going crazy. Was she excited or just plain scared?

The door squeaked open, and a guard walked in carrying a small tray – just a piece of hard bread and some water. He put it down without a word, his face blank, and then turned to leave. Jasmine tried to sit up, and it was like a major workout, but her need for food and water pushed her. She grabbed the bread, her hands shaking like crazy, and tore off a piece to take to her mouth. It tasted awful, like old ashes, but it was food.

The guard glanced back at her, squinting a little, before walking out. Make it last, he mumbled, closing the big, heavy door. The slam echoed in the small room, leaving her feeling grateful and bummed, realizing just how messed up things had gotten. She slowly nibbled on the bread with shaky hands and just sipped the water, forcing herself to go slowly. This heavy feeling of no way out landed on her, but she knew she couldn’t check out.

Time just crawled, the dark dungeon wrapping around her like a super-heavy quilt. She shivered and hugged herself tight as the cold sank in. Jasmine held onto the idea that the king would come back – maybe with a blanket and some more food. She figured she must have done something to get on his good side, or at least she wanted to think so.

Would he show up tonight? The thought popped into her head, a mix of yes! and major fear. She had to admit, his visits made her feel better, though she knew he was with someone else, and she was just caught in a messed-up situation.

The noise of footsteps woke her up – this time loud and on purpose, making her skin crawl. Her heart started racing as she got ready for whatever was next. The door swung open again, scraping on the floor of the stone. Two guards came in, their faces hard to read, and they made her feel totally uneasy.

“Stand up,” one of them said, his voice cold, like she had no choice. Jasmine felt her stomach drop as she stood, feeling super anxious. “W-Why?” she whispered, barely talking. “Where are you taking me?”

Get on your feet, the guard said again, sounding mean. Jasmine's heart sank as she stood, preparing herself to face whatever lay ahead. “W-Why?” she asked again, her voice shaking. “Where are you taking me?”

The king wants to talk to you, the other guard said, not giving anything away. Hearing the king's name made her feel all sorts of things – excited and scared. Why would he want to see her now, so late, and in secret? She remembered how bad he looked last time they met. But could he really be calling her out in the open, not in private? He was the king, a pretty big deal.

Even though she was tired, Jasmine pushed herself up, her legs shaking like crazy. They moved fast, walking her out of the palace and into the dark trees. She felt all messed up, her thoughts going crazy. The trees around them looked like big guys watching, and the path just didn't feel right.

She felt like she was going to freak out, but she bit her lip hard, knowing fighting back would only make things worse. The guards didn’t say anything, their dark presence making her even more scared. Her heart was beating so hard, she couldn't hear anything else around her. She felt like something bad was about to happen.

Please, she whispered, barely audible, where are you taking me?

The guards didn’t answer, just squeezed her arms harder, telling her that her worst fears were playing out.

When they finally stopped, they were deep in the trees, super far from the palace and anything to help her. One guard pushed her forward, and she fell, scraping her knees on the ground.

“This is the end for you,” and the other guard said, sounding mean.

Jasmine felt this heavy weight in her chest; like she couldn't breath. No, she mumbled, Please, don't...

The guards looked at each other, and their faces went hard. “Nothing personal, one of them said, pulling out a knife, the blade shiny in the moonlight. Orders.

Elsewhere, the head honcho was sneaking out of his room, like usual. “She should be asleep, he mumbled, his guard tailing him to the dungeon with a blanket for Jasmine.

But when they arrived, the guards outside were knocked out cold. The dungeon was empty.

The king looked shocked. The prisoner got away! his guards yelled, freaking out.

His heart was pounding as he tried to figure it out. There’s no way she would have escaped.

“Wake those morons up!” he shouted. “Where's Jasmine?” He was getting annoyed and wanted this done right away.

Palace guards were running everywhere, their boots making noise as they looked around the wet area. They soon found the food tray – leftovers from Jasmine's late dinner.

“Someone brought her food, one of the guards said quietly. Maybe someone helped. There’s no way she could've gotten out alone.

The king looked bad. He had sent food with a maid – he knew that it could be a mistake. How could she plan this and get away? She seemed too weak to do something like that.

“She… he breathed, his eyes filled with need to make things right. He went out of the dungeon, his footsteps getting louder, heading toward the wife's chambers.

His guard ran behind him, getting more and more worried. “What should we do, Lycan?”

“Search the palace and everywhere else. In the trees. Find her or else! She's mine, there is no way that is happening!” he told him with force.

And with that, The King entered his wife’s room in a rage. The maids inside were super freaked out.

He spotted the Wife, chilling on the bed, looking a little smug, like she didn't know something bad was going to happen.

Before she could react, he crossed the room quickly, grabbing her throat and lifting her off the bed with ease. His eyes had rage and a real need to get answers.

“Where is she?” he growled, his voice mean. “Where’s Jasmine?”

She was gasping, pulling at his arm, looking really scared. “I… don’t know… what you mean…” she choked out, barely talking as fear looked back at him.