"Please let me up!" Faye exclaimed to her captive.

Kian didn't even glance at her as he raced across the bridge. Below, was at least 120 foot of nothingness before a wild rapid waited like a set of hungry teeth.

Faye struggled a little, "I'll be sick!"

Sighing, Kian rolled his eyes and grabbed Faye by the back of her neck in order to yank her upwards, where she could rest in a sideways sitting position. He wrapped his arms around her sides, securing her as he held onto the reins. Faye rubbed her eyes and swallowed as she digested the change of balance; the blood slowly drained from her head and she felt herself relaxing. But it was then, up ahead, she spotted the Town of Ridian awaiting them at the end of the rope bridge. Two guards stood either side of the exit holding spears with long, ruthless blades running along the end of them. They wore beige uniform with small fur hats and welcomed Kian with anything but friendliness.

"Hold there!" They hollered as Kian brought his horse to a slow trot.

They pointed their blades at them and Faye leant back, pressing into Kians' hard chest. The two other bandits came to halt behind them.

"We are merchants from the Kingdom of Uralia. We come on terms of business, to bring goods to your town." Kian spoke professionally.

The two guards subtly glanced at each other to deliberate between themselves. Kian waited patiently until, finally, they withdrew their spears and stood aside to grant them entry. With a nod, Kian nudged his horse and broke out into another heavy gallop along the dirt road that led them through the stone walls and into the busy town were people swarmed the market stalls consisting of foods, clothes, accessories and tools. Faye even noticed a stunning snow tiger, poorly trapped in an iron cage with customers watching and giggling curiously at the frightened creature; Faye frowned in disapproval, but she was soon distracted by more sights and colours of the town. She had heard stories about Ridian, being the most successful place for tradesman and entertainment, but never had the pleasure of actually seeing it.

Kian pulled his horse to a slow walk and eventually stopped outside an old tavern called The Buck, which was tall with white windows and a blue-brick roof covered in moss. He dismounted his horse and instantly turned to offer Faye a helping hand. She refused it.

"We can do this the easy way, or the hard way, red." He warned her, holding his hand up higher to her.

"My name isn't red. It's Faye." She growled at him.

Faye didn't want to take his hand, but his words sparked another wave of worry inside her. She was helpless against him. And so, sighing to herself, she sadly took his hand and allowed him to lift her down from the back of his gracious horse and set her upon her damp feet.

Kian looked down at her, rather cockily, "That wasn't so hard now, was it."

Faye just sent him an angry stare before tearing her gaze away and wrapping her arms around her torso, feeling particularly weak and self-conscious. When the other two bandits arrived, they also jumped down from their horses and tied the reigns to the stump outside one of the tavern's windows.

"Tevo," Kian turned to his blonde friend, "find out when the next bid starts. Gus, fetch the horses some food and water."

Gus, the plump bandit, grimaced a little, "Why do I always have to deal with the horses?"

Kian arched an amused eyebrow, "Because they like you."

With that, Kian turned away, grabbing Faye tightly by the wrist, and walked over to the entrance doors of The Buck, leaving Gus rather irritated and Tevo chuckling under his breath once again. Inside The Buck, it was quite busy either with customers drinking at the bar or eating a steaming dinner at tables. The sun had nearly completely set and so the fire was roaring in the far corner of the wooden building and people were preparing to settle for the night. Faye avoided looking anyone directly in the eye as she was dragged along behind Kian to the front desk where a woman stood, cleaning some glasses.

"Greetings," He spoke charmingly, "I need three rooms for tonight."

The chubby blonde woman sighed in boredom, not looking up, "Ten Vils, please."

Kian reached underneath his cloak and pulled free a small sack which had been tied in place; opening it, he loaded out the coins into his large palm and counted out the required amount of silver coins to give to the woman. Faye watched silently as she turned, fetching three copper keys, and slapped them onto the wooden counter in exchange for the money.

"Upstairs, first right, you'll see em." The woman explained carelessly.

Kian asked the woman to inform his two friends - "an ugly blonde man with no teeth and another fat, short bald man who smelt of rotten cabbage" - of his arrival and to send them up. She agreed with a vague nod before turning away to stock up his money in the till. Kian, still holding Faye, turned, striding across the warm room.

"What are you going to do with me?" Faye whispered as she skipped to keep up with his pace.

"I haven't decided yet." Kian casually answered, moving through the archway of the next hall.

Faye looked up at him fearfully, "Well, what are your options?"

Kian reached the stairway where he stopped and pushed Faye in front of him. He was evidently still being cautious in case she attempted to escape. Faye turned to face him, in question, as she stood on the first step.

"I have three options. One, I could either sell you to a lonely high-bidder," Kian titled his head as he considered the idea, "two, I could sell you to work. Or… three, I could just keep you for myself."

Faye didn't like any of them at all. Her eyes swelled with terror and any pathetic colour which had once existed in her cheeks had immediately washed away. But Kian seemed to be enjoying her fear, as if teasing her on purpose.

"You…-" Faye was rather speechless, "-why?"

Kian was rather struck by her innocent and naïve reaction. Why? It was as if this girl had been hidden away from all the reality of the cruel, greedy world. She looked like a sweet child who had been totally untainted.

Kian almost smiled in amusement, "Why? Well, because… a man has to eat. You'll sell for a fine price."

Faye shook her head sadly, "Why can you not simply let me go? I did nothing to harm you…"

"It's a tough world, red," Kian studied her with interest, "another man's loss is another man's gain."

Faye just stared at him like he had egg all over his face. Kian realised that he wasn't communicating any kind of message to the girl - she was either a complete moron, or totally pure. Tutting with irritation, Kian nudged her and forced her to move up the steps by walking forwards and pushing her onwards.

"Alright, come on, move," Kian sighed, "I didn't kidnap you to teach you the ways of life."

Faye hastily jumped up the stairs with Kian right behind her. He guided her right and soon found the three rooms they had paid for, being the only vacant rooms in that specific hallway. Kian opened the door and gently pushed Faye inside before closing the door and locking it. He then began to remove his cloak and waist-coat, alarming Faye.

"W-what are you doing?" She gasped, backing away from him.

Kian looked at her with a smirk, "Ahh… So you do know a little bit about the real world."

Kian slowly approached her as he begun to untie the strings of his grey, fluffy shirt, revealing his smooth chest. Faye felt herself hit the wall and pushed herself back into it, praying that it would swallow her up and save her. Her heart raced.

"S-stay back," Faye pointed at him fearfully, "I mean it!"

Kian stopped before her with just inches between them. Another step forwards and they would have been touching. Faye, breathing heavily, gulped up at Kian and stared hard into his eyes to search for that promising humanity she had spotted earlier - it was still there, shining back at her, whispering for her not to be frightened. As he stood over her, Faye started to feel the warmth emitting from his body beneath his damp clothes and her heart beat eased.

"Aren't you afraid anymore?" Kian teased her, his handsome lips pouting in amusement.

Faye narrowed her confused eyes, studying his face and the golden flecks in his eyes. He, too, noticed the sparks of green in her hazel pools. There really wasn't any stain in this girls' spirit - she was completely beautiful, in a strange way. Kian had never seen it in anyone before.

"Not of you," Faye finally whispered, in all honesty, "your eyes are true."

Smirking and shaking off her touching words, Kian leant towards her and Faye quickly stiffened in anticipation - had she been wrong about him? What was he going to do next? However, to her relief, Kian had merely been reached behind her to collect the firelighters which sat upon the end of the mantelpiece beside her shoulders. Kian showed them to her, raising his eyebrows arrogantly.

"Don't be so sure of that," Kian tossed them in his hand once, "I may surprise you."

Faye held his gaze, feeling his hot breath stroke against her cheeks and return some colour to them. It was like Kian had created an outer shell to hide away his true self from the world. But Faye could see it.

"Now," Kian turned away from her, breaking the heated moment between them, "you be a good little captured girl and wait here, quietly, is that clear?"

Faye stepped forwards anxiously, "Where are you going?"

Kian smirked to himself, feeling a little flattered at how clingy she had become already. It was rather funny, actually - surely the victim, the captured, would want to be as far away from their captive as possible?

"Man needs food," Kian comically spoke with no tone, approaching the front door, "I might bring you some, if there's any left over."

Faye felt her stomach rumble at the mention of food. She couldn't remember the last time she had eaten, since everything that had happened… Kian opened the door and turned to face Faye, where he suddenly tossed the firelighters into the air towards her; Faye's hand flew up and, in a small fumble, managed to clasp the two stones and pull them into her chest. Kian then wiggled the key at her in between his fingers.

"No trying to escape, now." He almost sang, giving her a wink.

Kian stepped out into the hallway and Faye instantly rushed towards him to object, but he had already pulled the door shut. Faye grabbed onto the iron handle and gave it a desperate yank - but the sound of the lock clicking confirmed that she was too late. She listened to Kian's heavy footsteps thudding down the hallway until they vanished into silence and the impact of Faye's reality kicked in once more.

Turning around, she sorrowfully wandered over to the wide window sill and sat upon it as she peered out, down onto the busy market filled with voices and scents. It was beautiful, yes, but Faye knew that her fate would be in the hands of greed.