Here's another chapter! This is a pretty short story . . . I'm thinking that it will only be three or four chapters long. Well, here is your story!

Hans woke up to the sound of knocking at the door. He rubbed his eyes and called out, "Y- Yes?"

"Go down immediately. The king is almost at the table," a voice replied in a whisper.

Hans jumped out of his bed quickly and stripped off his night clothes. He slipped on a white suit and rushed out the door. He walked down the staircase leading to the entrance hall and made his way to the dining hall. He was about to walk into the room when one of his older brothers stepped in front of him. It was the second youngest.

"Hey," he asked, "what is it?"

"I'm here for breakfast," Hans replied in a small voice.

"Go eat with the horses," his brother grinned. "It's where you belong."

"What-" Hans started. But another brother, the third eldest, picked him up and both brothers ran out to the stables.

The third eldest threw him into a stable and grinned before walking away while saying, "He's all yours."

Hans looked at his brother in fear and gulped as he backed away from him.

"Hans, you and I both know that how they—sorry, we—treat you is horrible. So why don't you listen to me." He inched closer to Hans and squatted in front of him. "Brother, I know that you want out. We want you out as well. So let's make a deal."

"Why would you help me?" Hans asked in a small voice.

"Because you're closest to me. Ever since birth, you know." His brother grinned. "Being twins and all." Hans stared at his brother's cold eyes. "Call me when you want to know what the deal is."

Then he left. Hans stood up shakily but fell down. He whispered aloud, "What do they want from me?"

He heard a whine from the other side of the stable. He stood up and looked around. He walked to the other side and saw a very small horse lying on the cold ground.

"He's sick," said a voice.

Hans turned his head and saw the stable boy who walked beside him and gave a sympathetic smile.

"Why?" Hans asked.

"We're not exactly sure," he answered.

"Will he be okay?"

"I'm not sure."

Hans gave the stable boy a confused look. "What?"

"Sometimes when an animal is sick and we can't help it become better," the stable boy explained, "it dies. Or sometimes we are forced to kill it."

Hans looked at the sick horse in the stall. It was thin. It had a white and black mane and a very light brown coat.

"How long does it take until you kill it?" Hans whispered.

"It depends," he answered. "But the time is nearing for this one."

"Can I help it?" Hans asked.

The stable boy looked at Hans. "You do know-"

"He has a chance," Hans said. "I can feel it."

The stable boy smiled. "Sure, go for it."

THREE YEARS LATER

"Good boy, Sitron," Hans smiled.

The horse ate the carrot from Hans' hand.

"I told you," Hans whispered to the horse, "that you had a chance."

And the horse did have a chance. It now stood on its four legs regally. He was properly fed every day. You could never tell it was a sick filly three years ago.

"Hey," his twin brother had been watching from a distance. "Have you considered yet? It's been three years."

"Right now my only concern is Sitron," Hans told his brother. Ever since caring for Sitron, Hans had been a bit more courageous and would occasionally stand up for himself against his brothers, especially his twin brother.

"Really?" his twin asked. "Then I guess I'm going to have to change up the deal a bit."

"I don't care about the deal," Hans said.

"Oh? Well, that's too bad. Guess you'll have to stay here for the rest of your life, then."

"I'll find a way out on my own," Hans patted Sitron's nose while smiling faintly.

"Um, you're sixteen, right?" his twin brother asked.

Hans ignored his stupid remark and led Sitron to the stables.

"Let's see . . . that would mean . . . yeah, that seems pretty good," his brother thought aloud.

"What are you talking about?" Hans asked.

"I'll tell you in a while."

"How long's a while?"

"About five or six years."

"What?" Hans had locked Sitron into his stall and already started walking back inside.

"Just trust me," his brother said. "I'll get you out of here."

So what exactly is his brother going to do? Geez, he better not hurt him. . . . You'll find out what his brother's deal is in the next chapter! See you all later! Hope you enjoyed!