Disclaimer: I own none of the characters. I'm purely here to write my version of their stories!
Hi, I just wanted to say that I'm going to try and update as often as I can and will probably update two times by Sunday because I will be going out of town and – most likely – will not have internet for at least a week. And I am SWAMPED with summer work. So, here it is I hope you enjoy it. And please review. Seeing reviews helps me to not only become inspired but lets me know I'm actually being read. Bye!
Need to know: God is involved her because I want to incorporate some truth of this time period into here and hello? It is very religious. Sorry if you don't like it. I'm not forcing you to read.
Rapunzel's mind didn't make sense of it fast enough. By the time she had processed his meaning, she was already being forced to sit on her knees with his hand around her throat. Like before, her hands flew to his hand in an attempt to pry it off. Unlike before, the eye patch wearing brother was able to easily give her neck a squeeze and she would relent on the amount of aggression she put into her attack. "Please!" she screamed. Her tears cascaded down her cheeks, dripping onto his arm from her chin. "Please!"
With his free hand, the brother sharply struck her across the face. The sting gave an estimate as to how bad he really hurt her, but Rapunzel couldn't distinguish the pain of the slap from the pain of the slap on the cuts. "Shut. UP!"
Tightening his fatal grip, Rapunzel felt a growing pressure in her head. It was like being compressed inside of shrinking ball. A weird noise choked its way out of her that was meant to be more pleas for mercy. The brother grinned down at her maniacally. Had he realized this fact as well? Training her eyes on his free hand, Rapunzel watched as he hastily undid the black laces of his pants. It was obviously difficult for him for a number of reasons. One reason was probably because he was using one hand. Another reason was because he was in a rush. The last reason was because of the throbbing erection directed at Rapunzel's face that must have made his pants a tad too small. Through her overwhelming tears, she glared at it in both anger and horror. It was massive. During her time in the tower, she had never really read many erotic novels (save the few she found stealthily hidden beneath Mother Gothel's mattress). And during her time of being both in and out of the tower, Rapunzel hadn't even seen a soft one. So what could she compare it to? What if that was small?
Rapunzel's mind raced back to Mother Gothel's stories of terrifying men. Maybe she'd been referring to these men here. Maybe she'd left out their sword-like limbs. It didn't matter now, Rapunzel realized. Whatever that was (and she knew exactly what it was), no matter what it was in comparison to others, it was huge. Where did he expect to put it? Surely no possible part of her body could accommodate such a limb.
Triumphantly – to the brother – the laces were untied. Rapunzel tried to swallow her feelings but she could hardly inhale around the human noose at her neck. More tears.
Just as the brother reached inside of his pants, drawing Rapunzel nearer all the while, he yelled out at the top of his lungs, "Auric!" and froze. Confused, Rapunzel's eyes flickered upwards – away from her sheathed death. But when she saw that the man himself was staring at something else and hadn't said a word, her eyes drew over to that direction.
Standing by a tree, the other Stabbington brother glowered at, apparently, Auric who was bringing his groin dangerously close to Rapunzel's flushed face. He rolled his eyes, chewing on an apple and then tossed its half-eaten remains to the floor. (Rapunzel couldn't help but ask if they would do that to her one day too?)
"Get off," he shoved Auric away from Rapunzel, "the merchandise!"
Rapunzel broke free of his grip with a tortured gasp followed by a series of coughs.
The brother threw a punch at Auric that was swiftly dodged, "What the fuck is wrong with you! We talked about how we want to use her." The brother smirked and gestured Auric to come close, both brothers ignoring Rapunzel's fit of throaty coughs and sharp breaths. "People pay big money for virgins," he added in a horrible whisper. Auric's eyes flickered over to Rapunzel.
Inside of her chest, she felt her heart stop beating. What did he say? Each breath she drew in, fighting the now occasional coughs, was ragged and broken by some sort of sob. Rapunzel knew what he meant. It was obvious when Auric replied, "Oh, she'd still be a virgin if I had my way with her, just not as pure." The obviousness of his statement didn't stop her from rushing to numerous excuses of what that could also have to do with. It could mean that whoever bought her wanted her to be 'pure' like Auric had said. It could mean that they wanted someone innocent and almost naïve to outer life. They didn't convince her much.
The brothers disbanded from each other. Auric went over to gather the bag in his hands, tossing it as if he were expecting to find some way to salvage the mess he had made. The other Stabbington brother approached Rapunzel, looming over her in all green, scrutinizing her face.
"We're gonna need some other way to hold her."
The brother wearing all green snapped back to Auric, "Why?"
"Bitch wanted to escape. I let her out, and gave her a taste of impurity," he derided with an evil smirk. Although he was turned towards the bag, his eyes connected with Rapunzel. The gaze brought an icy chill that she instantly broke away from.
Bending towards her, the brother grasped her chin in his hands – in the exact same way Auric had just minutes earlier – and turned her face from cheek to cheek. "You couldn't do that without fucking up her face?" Disappointedly, he sighed and thrust her face away from him. "That's gonna scar."
Auric, who had skillfully sliced the bag with his dagger and buried it beneath some bushes, advanced to his brother's side. "Not my problem. Besides, it's a lesson learned." His visible eye became hard, glowering down at Rapunzel. "She knows now who not to mess with." From the corner of his eye, the brother stared at Auric with an expression somewhere between disappointment and understanding. Again his eyes went to Rapunzel, analyzing something she couldn't even begin to understand. What she did know was that it wasn't in a sexual way. Those eyes went deeper than they appeared, into a specific train of thought. Her suspicions were confirmed seconds later when his eyes lit up and he rounded Rapunzel, picking up the messy golden braid dangling behind her head.
"Her hair…" She felt him lift it and then drop it again. A hard laughter hit the air.
"Something funny," Auric inquired skeptically, looking over Rapunzel's shoulder like his brother had gone crazy.
"Young and healthy. That woman said young and healthy forever." Rapunzel's attention snapped to what he said. What woman, she questioned mentally. But none of his statements revealed anything other than the fact that this mystery woman existed. The brother returned to her front, her hair still in his hand and smiled at her. "You can heal yourself, can't you?" Rapunzel's voice caught in her throat. "Can't you," he repeated with a hard edge.
Hesitating before she gave any sort of response, Rapunzel reluctantly nodded. Currently no more external injuries were needed. But, she thought with a bitter edge, what does it matter? She could bring hoist herself up and over the edge of the abyss of death with her powers. What trouble could a few more contusions bring? Rapunzel did admit to herself though that she was upset that it had to be them to point that fact about. That was something very important, and about her no less. In the future she would need to take precious care with her life.
"Oh," he sighed happily, fingering the loosely bound golden locks. "You and I," he spoke softly, huskily, "You and I are going to be good friends." As he lowered her braid down to the floor in front of her, Rapunzel shuddered. "Very, very good friends."
(EUGENE)
Eugene muscles scorched beneath the midday sun. His lungs declared rest from within his chest, protesting with each hurriedly inhaled and just as hurriedly exhaled breath. If it were not for the sweat that drenched his skin and dampened his mucky clothes, Eugene would have passed out from heat and exhaustion half a mile ago. But he couldn't stop. He just knew that it was his last choice but to stop.
When Rapunzel's friend had shown up when someone saved his life, they'd warned him something bad had become of her. He could still hear his words, shouted over thousands of voices, a battlefield inside of the kingdom.
Eugene's hands gripped the cold metal bars installed deeply into the stone casing of the window. Through it, he could see the beautiful landscaping surrounding the vast kingdom of Corona. Trees and flowers blowing freely in the soft breeze… The day was beautiful. Birds sang high into the air and little creatures continued on with their lives as if they lived free of the negative emotions that plagued Eugene's mind today. His sarcasm and optimism had bowed out long ago, leaving him to the darkest of thoughts. Ones most pertaining to Rapunzel…all the others reluctantly drawn to him. No one in the kingdom could have realized that someone would die today. Eugene's hand withdrew from his the iron, lightly dropping on his warm throat.
He wondered pitifully, if she would ever know the truth. He wondered if she would ever forgive his lie in the tragic case that she never uncovered what actually happened last night. The thought sent his stomach writhing nauseously inside of him. She would never let that go. In the same way Eugene would never escape from these stone walls and iron bars. Groaning, he kicked the wall and became flustered at his stupidity in thinking that the Stabbington brothers would ever just accept the crown and turn away. They were very cruel and vengeful men. Out of all the people – criminals – he had worked with, that should have been his lesson. He'd watched them rape and ruin, and pillage and plunder like skin-bound demons ascendant from hell. And not once did he stop them. Not once did he turn them in or feel guilty about his ignorance to the pleas of the helpless and the crimes they'd commit.
His punishment for that must have been something taking what meant most to him. What punishment were they receiving though? Flynn Rider had only watched. The brothers had been the ones to cut limb from limb and the brothers had been the ones to burn flesh to ash.
Forlornly, he thought that maybe it was the ghosts of those he'd watched in patient silence, looking down on him in contempt. Demons from his past meant to execute the work of God himself, earning the pleasure of watching his blood drip on the floor as theirs did however many years ago. From their seats in heaven, they would surely use their divine power to torture him. Eugene refused to believe such nonsense. Not wholeheartedly at least, as he could find no other explanation for his extreme misfortune. Regardless of that, why was Rapunzel the one who would suffer? Knowing the brothers, they had plans upon plans to make over her. Her life would only be rewarded by the gift her hair possessed. Otherwise, they would beat her black and blue and use her until she was too shamed and swollen with child to ever be faced again. It wouldn't be the first time. In recent conquests, they'd raped a whore until death between the both of them. She had been asphyxiated on one end, while the other disgustingly lubricated her insides with her own blood.
If that ever happened to Rapunzel, he wouldn't know if a God even existed to allow such crime against the innocent.
Suddenly, a far cry was heard from down at the end of the hall. A man, cursing wildly into the air, thrashed against metal chains and the stone walls. Eugene ignored it. Concluding the man was most likely on his way to the guillotine, he was returning to his serenades when more voices roared into the air. Cheers and death threats could be heard when all of a sudden a thud and a crash rang on the walls, echoing down to Eugene's cell with a certain motivational effect. Jogging to the bars, Eugene pressed his cheek against the cool metal and looked as far as he could see down the curved hall. The jingle of keys and thousands of voices filled the air. Each one cried set me free, hand those over! And Eugene could understand why, his own voice rising in the excited air. A particularly large thug had broken his way free of his chains and was unlocking cellmates one by one over the bodies of severely injured soldiers, his boots working carelessly over their blood. It wasn't fatal, Eugene could tell that much, but he wasn't sure if they would surface from unconsciousness with the same face ever again.
"Here!" he cried, desperately, waving his arms through the cell bars. "HELP ME, I'M HERE!" Amongst the large crowd of men escaping cell by cell, he finally managed his way to Eugene's door, throwing the keys to him as soldiers began to storm down the halls, armed for war. It was only a second before they charged past the cell before his that Eugene escaped. The keys fell somewhere to the floor, lost amongst the feet of officers as they stampeded like incensed beasts after their prey. Many of the men stopped to fight, for reasons he wasn't sure of, but a few – Eugene included – fled. There was only one reason that could make Eugene quit his escape, and that was one of the reasons he was escaping in the first place.
Unfortunately as he made it out of the palace walls, just barely brushing his way past the gates, something clutched a handful of his shirt and threw him back – hard – against the stone wall. Grunting, he looked up, eyes meeting with one of the friends Rapunzel had made at the bar. His name was lost in Eugene's preoccupied mind. The only thing he knew about this guy was that he was holding him back.
"Let me go, I've got to save –"
Eugene was shoved firmly back into his place by the man when he'd begun to start forward. "You want your girl?" Eugene narrowed his eyes, surprised and slightly infuriated at the fact that he might have something to do with her. "Don't waste time. She's in big trouble, and needs your help." His accent was heavy and it was very obvious he only spoke minor bits of English.
"Wha—? Rapunzel? Where—?" The man dropped him, backing away. His eyes flickered between him and the opening to Eugene's left.
"No time," he murmured and then turned away, running with his head over his shoulder. "Hurry! Save her if you can." And then he was gone, swallowed by the trees.
Never before had he run so hard. Not once in his life, even when he was being chased by the Royal Guard mounted on the swiftest of steads had he moved with his exhibited speed. Eugene himself noted this truth in some vague and distant part of his mind. It was the only part not concerned with his goal, the only part that lacked the determination and willpower that currently dominated his body. There lied greed and revenge, the part of his mind that retained his selfish desires and begged him – in a voice quickly silenced – to slow down and give up on her face. After all, the last time he had seen it, it was filled with uncertainty and falling faith and the last time he had heard about it was when his old partners were informing him on their intentions towards it. It was the part of his mind that refused to go away, like some bad omen meant to torment him. Something he'd only fed with his selfish desires.
But then, when he was sprinting through a blur of trees, expertly working through crevices and over bushes and rocks and logs, it was all her for her. It was all to save Rapunzel. Something, he reminded himself, completely selfless. For her well-being. Because it didn't matter whether or not Eugene made it out of there alive, and it didn't matter whether or not he would never be able to see her face again. As long as he knew that she was okay and as long as he knew that she would free and happy, he would be content with death. He would rather die and let her be happy than live and know she was suffering.
Eugene's mind halted when his eyes flashed towards the familiar shade of vines. Without a second thought, he bolted through them, sprinkled in the night's collection of dew and exited to meet the tower in his vision. It was a sight for sore eyes. Even if it made him sick to think that she could be in there. Not considering anything other than Rapunzel, he called out to her at the top of his lungs. "Rapunzel!" Jogging forward, he heard no response, saw nothing to meet his vision from her large window, and cursed. For his own personal reassurance, he told himself – and almost believed – that perhaps she was upset at him and she was giving him the silent treatment. But could someone in her predicament play such games?
Praying that she was all right, he pulled the two knives from his shoes and began his climb up her tower, throwing more force than necessary behind each stab. The stones were cool, shadowed by the sun. Dirt fell on his face. As he ascended, the air grew cooler and cooler and the selfish part of his mind swore villainously that if she were there he would have heard something by now. He was so close; he should hear something by now! The silence was deafening and only broken by pigeons that scattered upon his arrival.
Hand meeting the edge of the window sill, Eugene pulled himself up and over, rolling gratefully onto the wooden floor. Darkness pervaded his vision. Getting to his feet, he called out, "Rapunzel!" and began scouring the rooms for any sign of her, opening windows for light, pulling at levers and finding some worked and others didn't. It had been so long that people had been there that a light layer of dust was brushed over everything, signifying its lack of usage. Her absence seemed to make the place colder, the light, warm-colored walls misleading. Realizing she wasn't there, Eugene knew he shouldn't waste any more time there looking for her, but he couldn't help himself. Something painful pitched itself in his chest, stinging like alcohol over a wound. Seeing all these things only increased the agony, and he couldn't resist feeling guilty.
It was his fault that she was somewhere she didn't want to be right now. It was all his fault that she'd be used and abused by them when it should be him. Gazing up at the cheerful artwork, ornamenting the walls around him, he felt the pain intensify. She was so innocent, and pure, and better and kinder than any human being he had ever come in contact with. Despite him being a criminal, she had never judged him. She accepted Eugene Fitzherbert wholeheartedly and didn't need someone like Flynn Rider to keep her satisfied. In fact, she had preferred Eugene to Flynn and that was a choice no one made. But her.
His eyes watered as he regarded the painting she had made of herself from the back, staring up at the floating lanterns with her long hair falling in curled tendrils down her back and spilling out onto the floor. Her face flashed through his mind, the wonder and awe spread across her beautiful features as she gazed up at the lantern-filled sky. Those flowers decorating her hair, her excitement when they tore through the library, danced in the square, hid from Corona officers. It had all been a beauty to him and a thrill to her. Rapunzel had trusted him throughout it all. It was his job – no, priority – to keep her safe, and now she was gone!
Fist pounding into the wall, Eugene's hands turned to rage as they began throwing things around the rooms, adorning the floor with broken glass, sewing needles, books, plates, clothes. Nothing was there to hold him back or control him now. He was completely free and unleashed, irate at the fact that he did this. Smash. It was all his fault! Shatter. EVERYTHING WAS HIS FAULT! CRASH. The mirror laid at his feet, wood splintered and glass reflecting his angry, tear-streaked face back up at him. Eugene watched – as if from another person's eyes – himself fall to the ground. He could see the pain etched across his face as he broke down in hysterical sobs, the guilt taking over him and swallowing him in its powerful undertow. His forehead touched the floor, his hands tightly fisted in his hair as he screamed at the world. His own hot breath returned to his face, warming his cheeks against the fierce cold that now owned these vacant rooms. That selfish part of his mind had warned him and it now congratulated itself on being right about this.
"Why?" He questioned, banging his fist on the ground. Keen edged glass jumped up around his hand. "Why?" The question was directed at someone, but Eugene couldn't tell who. God? The Stabbington brothers? His demons? Himself? All of them? "WHY!" As a result of his painful screams, Eugene's throat felt torn to shreds from within. If he found his voice, it would probably start yelling again in uncontrollable anguish. Unsurprisingly, Eugene found himself content with silence and decided to just lay there, not trusting his hands either. His mind, ever split between two sides, gave its condolences and wished his pain upon him. It pitied him and blamed him. But Eugene made an agreement for the two and chalked it up to guilt.
Eventually Eugene realized he was given no choice save to stand and move on, which – somehow – he did. Like always, he got to his feet and prepared to venture to somewhere new. Although this time he was finding the place where Rapunzel was. Because wherever she was, it was essential that he was there too.
He would find her. Not because he had too, but because he wanted to. Rapunzel was his and his alone, and no price could be put over her head. And when he found her (because he was sure he would), he'd never let her go again. She belonged to him and as he came down from her tower, he set out on his journey to save her, knowing the exact place to start.
