Beck was sure he'd only been back in the dungeon a few hours, but already he was struggling to keep his eyes open. He had promised himself that he was going to spend his last twenty-four hours awake, but now he was starting to rethink that vow.

No harm in sleeping a few minutes, he said persuasively to himself. I mean, these are your last hours. Do what you want!

Beck eventually gave in to this nagging voice and started to drift off, but after a few moments, footsteps jolted him awake.

Beck wondered if he had fallen asleep and slept through the rest of his time. That, or he had already been sitting there an entire day.

A pit rose up in his stomach, but he was determined to be brave for the audience—again. Though he was part grateful to Jade for trying,—he knew it was Jade. Who else made such rotten oatmeal?—he almost wished she just would have left him to die then and there. He truly had thought he was finished at that moment, and though he hated to admit it, he was terrified. Now he had to relive the terror all over again, and for what? Just a few lousy hours of sitting in a damp, cold, stone cell.

"Beck!" A familiar voice hissed in the darkness. Jade stepped into the cell doorway with a torch a moment later.

"Ah, Princess Jade West," Beck sighed. "Thanks for that little bit of entertainment. It truly was the funniest thing I've ever witnessed, actually, but you needn't have gone through all that trouble, really. One more day in a dungeon doesn't matter much to me."

Jade pulled back her lips in a disgusted sort of manner. "Idiot," she growled. "You think I would have angered my father—who happens to be the king around here—just to buy you one extra day?"

Beck stared at her in confusion. What other motive would there be? "You're angry with your father?" Beck asked blankly.

Jade rolled her eyes. "You really are a moron, aren't you? Come on, we don't have much time." With that, she unlocked the cell door and swooped inside, then began to untie his wrists.

"Jade, this is kind of you and all, but—"

"Not now Beck, I'm being awesome." Jade interrupted.

And so Beck shut up until she was done freeing his arms.

"Come on," Jade hissed, dashing down the hall.

Beck didn't move a muscle. He waited until Jade noticed he wasn't following, and stopped.

"Jade, you can't seriously be doing this," Beck whispered.

"I am!" Jade snapped back. "Don't make me rethink this. Come with me!"

"No. This is… wrong. It's betraying your kingdom. It's helping the enemy. Treason. You can't do this. It's… stupid."

"Then take advantage of my stupidity and get out of here!" Jade stamped her foot impatiently. Beck was surprised that he didn't get any sort of a licking for calling her stupid.

"Jade, listen," Beck began.

"No, Beck, you listen," Jade retorted, cutting him off once again. "Cat made me realize that you're just a kid. Just like me and her. You can't die this young. I know if I were the prisoner here, I'd want someone to help me. So I'm helping you."

Beck opened his mouth to protest again, but Jade stalked forward and grabbed his arm first. "You're leaving whether you want to or not."

You want to leave, don't you? A voice said in his head. So you've unknowingly tricked the girl into helping you. Take advantage of it! This is your life on the line. Get out of here, no matter what your stupid pride says.

Beck gave the slightest nod of his head and followed Jade. He felt bad about using her to get out, but the voice was right… it wasn't as if he tried. This wasn't an underhanded trick he was playing on her.

Still, he felt dirty.

Getting out of the castle wasn't difficult. No one was awake on the inside, and they only had to wait a few minutes at the drawbridge for the guards to shift posts to sneak out while they were gone. The second the two were out the door, Jade whisked Beck away to a shadowy wall beside the castle.

"Your horse, Snowfeather, she's in the stable just over there," Jade told him quickly, nodding to a small building which, based on the smell, was obviously the structure she referred to. "Take her and ride out of here as fast as you can. I brought you these clothes; they're what the pheasants around here wear. No one will think anything of it if you ride out wearing these. Change into them before you leave."

Jade turned to go back inside, but Beck grabbed her hand and stopped her first. "Wait."

The princess turned.

"I'll see you again, won't I?"

Jade narrowed her eyes. "The next time we see each other, hopefully we'll be adults, and at each other's throats, as we should be." She turned away again.

"Wait!" Beck stopped her again. "I want to see you again. I like you."

Jade let out a long breath. "I like you too. But fact is, we're going to be two day's journeys apart—and that's on horseback, if you move quickly! It's not practical."

"But if I were closer… we could see each other then?"

"Sure, whatever. And we will be pretty close, Oliver, if you don't run right now. Do you want to get caught again?"

Beck nodded and turned to leave, but he turned around and stopped Jade one more time.

"What?" Jade exclaimed in exasperation.

"Just… thanks."


Thank you to Tonstaaar, LizGfan25, AcrossTheRiverNotDown, heyitsmelucyxxx, TheBansheeQueen, daniyeahthatsme, LuvBadeForever, What. that. supposed. to. mean, Asian fusion-tike, Icequeen616, WickedWitchOfTheWest3, LizGilliesFanForever, Blondie, heythere, DifferentOne4Ever, Yamile324, and a guest for reviewing chapter 7!

CHALLENGE: I made a subtle reference to another show in this chapter. If anyone can tell me what it is, and where it was referenced, and explain the reference, I will write you a oneshot about the character/couple/situation of your choice (well… some limitations apply, but I'll get to that if someone wins). I really don't think anyone'll catch it, but if you do… tell me in a review, or PM me. ;) Note: My sister, Hazel Martinez, can't enter this contest. It would be too easy for her.

Also, I apologize, but it might be a while till the next update. Like, two weeks or more, maybe. Sorry!