Shoe
Faster and faster; he had to run faster. Behind him he could hear the snapping of the dogs' jaws as they barked angrily behind him, along with the pounding of hooves and men shouting. His feet ached, and the fall night was cold, seeming even colder to him as he ran quickly through the woods. Jumping over trees, dunking under branches- Alfred couldn't stop for anything.
His extravagant suit, a rich, royal blue accented with shimmering gold, caught onto the branches and tore at some places, but that didn't stop him either. His blood was pumping, fear was coursing through his veins- he needed to hurry.
But, as he picked up his pace, running faster and farther from those who searched for him, his food caught onto a risen root on the forest floor. Alfred fell to the ground, but didn't let the ache in his limbs get to him as he quickly stood again, only to find his foot caught under the root.
He could hear them getting closer, and when he threw a worried look over his shoulder, he could see their lanterns coming towards him. Alfred tugged back his foot with all his might, but it wouldn't budge. Realizing that there would be no way to get out but one, he knelt down, wiggling and moving his foot about until it slipped from the glass shoe he wore. With another quick look thrown over his shoulder, Alfred leapt over the root and took off once again into the night.
Soon, horses and men filled the area, and their lanterns illuminated the small space. A beam of light caught onto the glass shoe wedged under the root, making it shine and catch the attention of the search party. One man dropped from his horse: a tall, rather angry looking man, with rage filled eyes and clenched teeth. His royal attire of silver and violet were askew from the fast and rough ride he had just partaken in.
He moved closer and bent down, grabbing onto the glimmering heel and pulling it out from under the root. He examined it closely for a moment, then, a wide grin crept upon his lips. He chuckled a dark chuckle, one that held more sinister meaning then pleasant.
"Ah, my little sunflower. You have not escaped me, and I will see to it that you never can."
With that, the crazed prince stood and looked back to his men, the smile still on his lips as he spoke,
"I want all the young men of the kingdom rounded up and brought to the palace at once. Those who refuse are to be killed." He said with a childish tone that was too gruesome for the situation, "I want him found before the week is out."
With that, the prince tucked away the slipped and remounted his horse, calling his now fearful and trembling men back to the castle as he turned and trotted back the way he came.
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