Chapter 21
3 hours earlier
Eugene runs his hands through his hair as he paces aimlessly along the shore. The dirt crunches under his boots as the gentle waves crash against the rocks by his feet.
The sun had gone down hours ago. The deep blue sky reflects onto the open ocean before him, the moonlight glistening atop the calm ripples. Nothing can be heard except for the waves and the crickets that chirp on the edge of the forest behind him.
He's wandered far away from the hideout by now, but he can still see the faint lights of the city across the water.
Corona seems so small from here, and Eugene finds himself unable to look away once it catches his eye.
Despite how beautiful it all looks from a distance, all he can focus on is the enchanting castle positioned atop the hill. It's peaks tower high over the village, illuminated with lights that sparkle in the night.
For years, Eugene imagined what it'd be like to live in that castle. He'd spent many nights since he was a kid just staring at it from afar and dreaming of a better life.
He'd thought having endless fortune would somehow prove to the world that he was so much more than a poor good-for-nothing thief.
Now, everything about that castle seems somber to him. There's a darkness to it now – one that he thought could never exist.
Rapunzel is up there. He wonders what she's doing at this moment.
Whatever it is, she's probably forgotten all about him by now. It's clear she wanted nothing to do with him after today. If she did, she would have stopped him from walking away. She would have said she'd come with him, and the two of them could be together right now. But she didn't. Because she's already engaged to someone else.
He convinces himself this is all for the best. She has a responsibility. Rapunzel has a kingdom to run, and a prince to marry.
Eugene groans to himself again. How could he be so stupid?
Whoever the guy is, Rapunzel is probably better off with him anyway. Princes have all the money and power in the world – basically everything that Eugene doesn't have. And what does he have to offer her? A lifetime of being on the run never knowing where they would sleep every night?
Rapunzel deserves more than that.
His argument with her earlier only proves it. He's an orphan, a thief. That's all he'll ever be. He was foolish to believe he could ever end up with a princess. Rapunzel had said it herself - they aren't meant to be together.
If only she weren't so stubborn, maybe she would realize that she doesn't always have to do everything for everyone else. Eugene supposes he could admire that in a person. Though, watching her cast aside her own feelings so easily hurts him just as much.
A few more hours remain until Eugene is meant to meet Lance at the dock, far on the other side of the mainland. They've been planning it for as long as they can remember. It wasn't until Eugene had snagged the crown that the two of them realized they actually had a chance at making it out of here.
After that, they'll be out on open water and sailing further and further away from this place –away from Rapunzel.
In an attempt to take his mind off it, Eugene grabs a pebble from the rocky shore and turns it over between his fingers.
He stares up at the castle again in the distance, then clenches the pebble in his fist. He tosses it in the air and catches it, before chucking it into the water with all the frustration and anger that has consumed him since Rapunzel left.
He watches it skip along the ocean's surface, jumping further away until it sinks to the bottom. The ripples linger until they fade into nothing.
Eugene peers over his shoulder when he hears rustling in the brush behind him.
There's a movement from the trees, and Eugene's hope gets the better of him, "Rapunzel?"
For a moment, nothing happens. Then a shadowy figure emerges from within the dark forest, slowly sauntering out onto the shore.
Eugene's eyes widen as he recognizes the burly silhouette coming toward him. The man's ginger sideburns and the glistening sword sheathed across his back makes Eugene recoil with nervousness.
The last time Eugene had seen him, they'd been running for their lives from guards after getting away with the crown. Eugene had left him behind along with his twin counterpart in a successful attempt at saving his own skin.
The deadly scowl on the ruffian's face sends a shiver down Eugene's spine but he forces a wide grin, genuinely surprised to see his former partner here.
"Oh, it's you!" Eugene exclaims with false enthusiasm. "Here… and not… in prison. See? I knew you could handle yourself back there! Otherwise, I wouldn't have… left you behind to fend for yourself," Eugene winces. His voice trails away awkwardly and he chuckles to cover it up.
Sideburns stops directly in front of him, glowering down at Eugene with heavy brows. His fists are clenched at his sides, and his expression is emotionless. Though, when has he ever not looked like that?
Eugene clears his throat, his tone remaining casual, "Listen, I just wanted to say… there's no hard feelings, but I think it's best we just go our separate ways. I mean, you know how it is out here, right, buddy?"
Sideburns' fist rams directly into Eugene's abdomen, causing him to double over with a grunt.
The wind is completely knocked out of him from the sudden burst of pain. Eugene begins to melt to his knees as he clutches his stomach.
He's knocked instantly to the ground when he feels a second blow against his face, his shoulder falling roughly into the dirt.
Through the haze of what just happened, Eugene sees Sideburns' hefty boots stepping calmly toward him as he lays on his side, crunching loudly in the gravel. They're practically taunting him, toying with him, but the throbbing in his face prevents Eugene from moving or getting up.
Then one of them kicks him directly in the mouth, and his head snaps back from the impact.
Eugene coughs painfully as he slowly writhes onto his back.
He squeezes his eyes shut from the ache in his head and his hand reaches up to touch his nose. When he lifts his fingertips, they are dripping with blood.
He can't see a thing through his blurry vision and his mouth suddenly tastes like copper. He rolls onto his shoulder and briefly lifts his head off the ground, spitting a heap of blood onto the dirt.
"You know what's funny about traitors, Rider?" Sideburns' deep and gravelly voice reaches his ears, but Eugene can hardly decipher the words as he groans in pain at the man's feet. "They'll do anything to save their own skin. Only when it's the other way around, they always act so surprised."
Eugene sees his own empty satchel being tossed to the ground and landing on the ground in front of himself. He'd been wearing it before, but he doesn't remember when or how it had been taken off him.
"I bet someone'll pay a pretty penny for this," Sideburns mumbles hoarsely.
Eugene notices Rapunzel's crown glistening in the moonlight as the man turns it over in his hand, as if he's been waiting for this moment for a long time. He admires the golden intricacies of the treasure with a satisfied smirk on his face.
"The king won't take too kindly to finding his most prized possession in the hands of a thief," he continues.
Eugene struggles to understand what he means, but he doesn't have the strength to find his voice. All he does is lay there and attempt to block out the ringing in his ears, tasting warm blood that drips from his nose. Is he talking about the crown?
There's movement in the corner of Eugene's eye, coming from the woods that neighbors the beach. An identical silhouette steps out from between the trees, emerging from the shadows.
Eugene recognizes it as Sideburns' twin counterpart wearing an eyepatch over his scarred face, only there's another person hoisted over his shoulder and held underneath one muscular arm.
He drops her onto the ground a few feet away, and Eugene feels his heart stop. "Rapunzel!"
Her eyes are closed, and she isn't moving. Her face and clothes are covered with dirt.
Ignoring the pain and how weak he feels, Eugene tries to run to her.
He manages to crawl for a second before rough hands grab him and pull him to his feet. The sight of her getting further away from him instead of closer makes him panic.
He struggles against their hold with every ounce of energy he has left, but their strength combined is no match for his own.
Eugene's eyes don't leave Rapunzel as they push him to the ground with his back against the side of a tree trunk. He feels them restraining his arms to a branch above his head. The rope digs into his wrists and burns his skin, but he only continues to call out to Rapunzel laying ahead of him.
"Don't bother running this time, Rider," Sideburns tells him calmly once they are done.
Eugene grunts as he yanks his arms, but the knots only become tighter.
"The guards are already on their way here. We're just making sure you don't get away." The twins look to each other deviously as they stand over him, the crown in Sideburns' hand sparkling at his side. "What kind of sentence do you think they'll give for kidnapping the princess?"
Eugene's eyes widen with dread. His heart pounds as he realizes what they mean to do.
"Think of this as us returning the favor."
Suddenly, Eugene feels a blow to his head, and everything goes black.
A/N: Angsty Eugene was hilarious to write.
We are approaching the final chapters of this story! I'm guessing there are 3 left, maybe 4.