Chapter Two:

Buried Alive

The main dungeon corridor had doors on either side. On one side, they all led into cells that were a bit more accommodating- at least as far as jail cells could be accommodating: windows, lights, decent bedding, etc. On the other side, the doors either led to less hospitable cells, or to corridors and staircases lined with even gloomier prisons than those. Vanellope had been thrown into a cell at the end of one of these side corridors. There was no furniture whatsoever- nothing but a scant pile of old straw in one corner. The only light came through a barred window at the top of the iron door. It was enough, barely, for Vanellope to see the walls, floor, and ceiling. At least it was once her eyes grew accustomed to the gloom.

Her uniform could've been any old prisoner's garb- the usual striped shirt and pants, and slip-on canvas shoes. Except that, instead of being black and white, the stripes were red and white, like a candy cane. King Candy's sick sense of humor apparently, to remind her of sweets when she plainly wasn't going to be given candy anytime soon.

Vanellope technically had freedom of movement around the cell. Technically. As she glitched herself upright, she was reminded of why it wouldn't be easy. There was a solid iron ball shackled to her left leg that had to weigh at least ten pounds. Given her small size, that was more than enough to keep her pinned in place unless she dragged the chain behind her in both hands. She tugged desperately at it in a frantic attempt to reach the door. Inch by painful inch, she crawled her way over. She was halfway there when she collapsed onto her side, breathing hard.

"Hey!" she called, when she had regained her breath. "Anyone out there?"

There was no answer.

"You can't do this to me!" she shouted. "I demand to see my lawyer!"

Again, no answer.

"Are you just going to leave me here?" Vanellope exclaimed.

Still, there was no answer.

Vanellope was quiet for several minutes, listening for any sound. None came.

"You're just going to leave me here?" she said, this time in a normal tone of voice. She rolled onto her back, flopping her arms out to her sides, letting out a prolonged sigh as she did so.

"Alone," she said. "I can take it. I can-"

With a yelp of dismay, Vanellope sat bolt upright.

"No!" she said. "What about my friends? They won't stand for this. Taffyta won't stand for this…"

Her voice trailed off as the realization sank in.

"She will though, won't she? But I didn't-"

Vanellope's next words caught in her throat. She clapped a hand to her mouth as a horrible thought occurred to here.

What if I really did do what King Candy says I did? Then nobody'd care if I got locked up. Not even Taffyta.

"Wait, please, come back!" Vanellope shouted. "I won't do it again!" She couldn't bring herself to really believe that she'd tried to wreck the game. Not fully, at any rate. But maybe if she sounded really sorry…

"I'll be good, I promise! Just please don't leave me here!"

The only response was a deafening silence.

"I can't do this," Vanellope said, this time to herself. "I can't be alone." She drew her legs towards her, tucking her knees under her chin and wrapping her arms around them…

…She sat bolt upright. She'd collapsed onto her back again, and had fallen asleep. A dreamless sleep, but little comfort now that she was awake again, and could see that she was still alone in the cell.

That was it, then. They weren't coming back to let her out. Or if they were, it wouldn't be for a long time. What was it King Candy had said? A few years?

"Years?" Vanellope's eyes widened. Then she shook head. No. She wouldn't break that easily. She'd survive. She'd endure. She'd get by. Then, when they finally came to let her out...

If they come.

She couldn't stop the tears from streaming down her face, and it annoyed her that she couldn't. But she had to face the truth: she was going to be stuck here for a long while. Maybe forever. And there was absolutely nothing she could do about it.

"Oh fudge," Vanellope said. "They're going to forget about me. I'll rot here, and they'll all forget me."

She tugged frantically on the chain, dragging the iron ball after her as she slowly crawled the rest of the way to the cell door. Once there, she slammed her fists against it. Once, twice, three times. Finally she slumped to the floor, her body wracked with sobs.

"I can't do this…" she said. "I wasn't made for this. I need the peppermint trees, the chocolate roads, the sugar clouds…I need to race! I need light! I can't be alone!"

Slowly, Vanellope dragged herself towards the pile of straw, drawing the ball and chain after her. Once there, she collapsed on her back into the straw.

I guess I'm alone, then she realized. I have to bear it.

But I don't have to like it.

Turbo had been sitting on his throne, lost in thought, when he heard a voice saying: "The prisoner is secured, your majesty." He looked up; the only other person in the throne room was a single Oreo guardsman.

"Yes, thank you," Turbo replied. He dismissed the Oreo with a wave of his hand. Once he was alone again he stood up and began to pace.

Its almost too cruel…but it had to be done. I can't have Vanellope interfering with my destiny. I have to please the gamers, and she can't get in the way of that. Maybe after she's cooled her heels for a while, it'll be safe to let her out. Give it enough time, she'll lose her will. Then it'll be safe to show a little mercy. Maybe. We'll see. Either way, I get to race again soon.

At that thought, Turbo stopped pacing. And then he grinned. "Turbota-"

He quickly clapped a hand to his mouth, then glanced around to make sure nobody had heard. I'm King Candy now. I need a different catch phrase. Hmmm. What about…