I Don't own Tangled and please note that next if i say next week, I mean a whole year. Dont trust me, when it comes to updates XD
Enjoy. :)
Chapter Seven
Rapunzel didn't move. She placed her hand over her mouth, finding Eugene motionless on the ground. The man stood there breathing heavy. He looked around then back to Eugene before he started to walk towards the door.
Her jaw dropped, seeing the man coming towards her, she's going to be caught. But the door was swung open to the right. She slowlyhid behind it and hoped the she wouldn't be seen. He pushes the door to walk out. Rapunzel inhaled deeply and held her breath as she shuts her eyes tightly. if she's caught, Eugene would probably be in more trouble. She listens quietly to the stomping of his feet, going down the stairs. She then heard a slam from the entrance door. Rapunzel exhaled loudly in relief and able to breathe again. She slips out where she was hiding and walked in the room.
Immedialty, she ran to the unconsious Eugene on the floor. She rested him beside the pillar. The sunlight beamed on his face. Her hand flew over her mouth, seeing his left eye andhis lips bruised and his perfect nose was bleeding. Rapunzel couldn't believe what happened to him. What did he do wrong?...
...oOo...
Eugene couldn't move. he was in so much pain. He wanted to scream. His head hurt; he was trying to put the pieces together from what happened about...not sure how long ago. He felt sick to his stomach, he wanted to groan in pain. In his head he had a flashback from what happened...
His Uncle walked in and they were talking about something that he doesn't remember. It was going well. But, Eugene asked the question, the question that he hates.
"Why can't I go out there? What's wrong with it?"
He started to get angry and he started to explain, cruelly to him. That's when he yelled at him. Never in his life he yelled, especially at his Uncle. He was saying about how he can't take it, being in the same room for the rest of his entire life and told him that he can't keep him locked up there. That's when everything happened. Just thinking about it made him feel sick again. He then remember seeing green eyes looking at him, scared. It was Rapunzel.
Rapunzel?!
He was fighting to get out of darkness and back to reality, he needed to know that Rapunzel was alright. He couldn't think that she was caught by his Uncle. He couldn't bare it.
Wake up Eugene. Wake. Up!
He kepted on trying to get up thinking of a way. Soon, a faint whisper spoked. "Eugene"
He couldn't tell who it was, but it was calling for him.
...oOo...
"Eugene?" Rapunzel whispered softly. Her voice was soothing yet worried. "Please wake up." She squeezed his hand for a moment before she got up to soak a cloth to clean his wounds. She went to the water pump and wet the cloth. As she was, she heard a moan. Her head snapped at Eugene, who was still not moving. She dried her hands on her dress and ran back to his side, placing the cloth over his forehead.
His eyes flickered and then he started to cough. Rapunzel helped him to sit up. She brushed his hair away from his face. Eugene looks up and sees Rapunzel's eyes staring.
"Rapunzel?" he murmured.
She gave a small smile but didn't respond. He sits up in a better position, only until he yelped and griped his waist.
"What is it?"
"My side, he kicked me there." He pointed where it hurted. Rapunzel nodded and looks down, playing with fingers, not looking up at all. "Are you alright?" She said in a quiet tone. It was a silly question.
"Sore, but I'm alright. I'm used to it."
Her heart ache after that last sentence. Tears welled up but they soon stopped. Still looking away she respond.
"You lied to me." Eugene saw how upset she was and started to feel guilty. He'd never lied to anybody before. But he did, to his only friend. He lied about everything. "Your Uncle doesn't know about me, you never told him did you?" He nodded. It was silent for a couple minutes. Rapunzel finally looks up and stares at Eugene, with his head down, full of guilt. "How long has it been since you went outside?" She knew that he hasn't been out there for a while. She could tell, she overheard his uncle.
"Fourteen years." There was a long pause. Still looking down, he spoke again. "The only time I ever went out there, was the day I met you...Were, were you wondering where I was?" He took a glanced at Rapunzel to see her response.
"I was wondering. I was actually worried. I didn't know where you had gone. You were waiting for me, I came back and you were gone."
"I tell you why I left. I will explain everything." Eugene was about to, but he sat there frozen, trying to remember what happened. It was a awful memory he wanted to forget. He took a deep breath, then exhaled before he'd began...
Flashback
Ten year old Eugene peeked behind the barrels and watched the eight year old girl running back with a group of kids at the end of the ally. She turned back, smiling and waving before dissapearing with the crowd. He looks at hill across the meadow and glanced at the castle on the other end of the ally. He sneaks behind the barrels, tucking his knees to his chest and wrapping his arms around himself.
He sat there quietly, inhaling the sweet fresh air and thought how amazing the outside was, unlike where he was. Stuck up in that dusty, and small attic room. And he made his first. She was a pretty girl. He loved all of her stories about her adventures. If only he were brave as Rapunzel, he wanted to be an exploror like her.
A child was counting, this time he was counting faster. Eugene didn't know how long Rapunzel would be but he smiled, excitedly for her return.
Suddenly, a dark shadow blocked his sunshine and it was darkness that was now surrounding him. Eugene slowly lifted his head and his eyes followed the shadow and saw a man in a fancy outfit. A black collared shirts and a silver vest. He had dark brown hair and greish eyes. His eyes were serious as he glared at him, angerly.
"Eugene?" The man groweled. Eugene gasped when he found out who it was.
"Uncle!" His amber eyes, filled with horror. He stood up and didn't take his eyes off on the man. "I-I was...I was" His heart was pounding and having a hard breathing. There was no words. He was shaking and felt like he's melting slowly from his fear.
His Uncle finished his sentence, "Trying to get in trouble. Do not explain anything, you're coming with me." His Uncle pushed a barrel away that was seperating him and Eugene with no problem. He reached over and yanked him out by the arm, dragging him out of the ally towards a wooded area near the castle. People didn't notice them. There was no one around. Except the people that were harvesting near the meadow, which was the other end of the ally.
Eugene stared behind him, seeing the princess not there. Looking ahead, he spotted two tall, muscular, men awaiting for them. He knew them right away by the glares of hatred. One man was pale skined, and brown hair and a beard. His eyes were deep, dark brown that they were hard to notice that they were a color. While the other, had black hair and side burns that were touching his jawbone. His eyes were hazel, but more yellow. They were staring at Eugene no matter where he was looking as if they were staring into his soul.
His Uncle released him, tossing him to the ground. He sat up, brushing the dirt off himself but never looking up.
"Bring him back home. It seems that our boy haven't learned his lesson." His Uncle snarled his words, sending chills through his body like a cold breeze. Eugene looks up, seeing two pairs of strong arms that grabed him and forcefully lifted him onto his feet. One of them gave him a push, telling him to walk. While the other gripped his arm. As his Uncle lead them deeper into the woods. Eugene looks behind one last time, never to see the kingdom again.
They reached the house and Eugene's heart beated faster. As they enter his prison, The two men dragged him to the stairs. His Uncle growled.
"Take him upstairs, I'll be up in a minuate." The men nodded, taking him to the room.
They got to the top, finding the door creaked opened. He didn't shut it all the waywhen he escaped. They pulled it open and yanked him in. He tried to squirm out of thier grips. He wanted to fight back, but he couldn't. It was three against one. He was scared.
They turned him around, making him face the doorway. There, his uncle stood, with his silver vest off but still wore his black shirt. His sleeves were rolled up. Eugene looked at one arm that was behind his back. His eyes widen, he knew what was coming. He looked at his Uncle's face that was now serious.
The two men tightly held his shoulders. His Uncle nodded and his heart pounded quickly, uncontrolably. He shut his eyelids tight and tighter, hoping that he won't feel the pain...
...oOo...
His child screams echoed through his mind, remembering the rest. He opened his eyes, as they were welling up in tears of pain. But stopped after, finding Rapunzel sitting beside him, sadly glancing down. She looked up after a moment of silence. He didn't continue.
"What did he do to you?" she asked.
Eugene bit his lip and stared at his lap. "He...He um...He whipped me."
Her eyes widen. Her hand flew over her mouth, silently gasping. Her voice went dry when she spoke. "At ten year old?" he nodded.
"I-I lost count after fifthteen." She ran her fingers through her hair and buried her face in her hands. she was about to cry. A boy was being whipped more than fifthteen times. It killed her deeply. "I don't remember how long he did it for."
Eugene closed his eyes, visonlizing him recieving his punishment. His thin whists were trapped in thick iron shackles on the pillar, with his bare back facing his Uncle. He pulled out an old whip that was used for prisoners many years ago. It was horrifying. He raised it up, ready to strike. Young Eugene tightly shut his eyes and buried his head in his arms. The first hit on his lower back and was on fire. He screamed loudly...
Rapunzel inturrupted his thoughts. "How long has he been doing this to you" She asked.
"Almost my whole life. I mean after my parents' deaths, he took me in. He let me wonder around the house. But, ever since I started to crawl and talk, he would get grouchy easily at the simplist thing I did. Around the time I was five, he told me to stsy up here and never leave. Of course I obayed. Around eight I started to see his anger get worst on me. That when he stared to hurt me but never badly. Until Ten. He whipped me not long before I ran off, The same day Ihad met You. It wasn't easy after that."
"What have you done to deserve this. You can't live like this, you have to stop this."
"I can't."
"Why not? Euegene, don't you see what he is doing to you?"
"I know. But you dont understand. I can't stop my uncle. He's..." He sighed. He can't find the words.
It was silent. He kept looking away, everytime he was thinking for an answer. "I don't want him to do this to you anymore."
"I'm...just scared."
"If you leave now he'll never hurt you again. We could leave now. You can come with me." She stood up, taking Eugene's arms, helping him up.
He thought a moment. A feeling of what it would it be like to not seeing stern faces and being struck everyday. But he couldn't he was threaten the night after his punishment and years after that. At eighteen, men came upstairs one night. harrassing and humiluating him the entire night. His uncle was up there, watching him. Not stopping the situation. He tried not to remember it. He won't tell Rapunzel. He never wanted to tell anyone. 3
With that thought, he yanked his arm from her grasp and fell back on the ground. "No". he said. "I-I can't I'm sorry."
She kneeled beside him. She wanted to say something but tears were streaming down her cheeks. Why would he stay here, after what his Uncle did to him.
He saw how upset she was. He couldn't bare to see her cry. He sat up on his knees, took her face in his hands and shushed her. "Hey, Shh. It's okay". He dried her tears with his thumbs and for her. "It'll be alright, as long I'm in here. Nothing is going to happen to me." She was about to speak but he placed his finger on her lips. "I'll be alright. I promise. Besides, A great exploror doesn't cry." That made her chuckle through her sobs. He grins back. He strokes her hair for a second to calm her down. they stare at eachother for a moment until Rapunzel dries her eyes and exhales loudly.
" I feel better now." He nodded as he lays back on the pillar and relaxed.
Silence.
He didn't like it. Never had. He still couldn't believe after twenty four years being in this house and never leaving didn't cause him to go crazy...or have a meltdown. He never thought about it but Rapunzel was here now to be with him. However, He was worried, that she'll forget about him one day, or give up on him when years go by and he still never left this prison. He tucked his knees up to his chest and wrapped his arms around them, placing his chin ontop.
"Are you cold?" She asked.
"N-No. I'm fine." He was worried about Rapunzel leaving him, but she thought he was cold. She unbuttons her cloak and puts it ontop of his shoulders. "Thank You."
"Eugene, If there is anything I could do for you, tell me."
"Rapunzel, that's is really kind of you but I dont need anything." She nodded and glance at the broken window.
"Don't you get cold at night?"
"Not really." He remember how it broke. But it brought back memories. He changed the subject. "Rapunzel, How come you came so early?"
It took her a moment to remember. "Oh I Um...I had a conflict with my parents back at home. I ran off. I'm not happy with them, I actually thinking about not going back."
He didn't ask what happen but continued. "You should go back. They'll worry about you."
She gave a quiet scoff, "I doubt it. I don't want to go back. I want to spend time with a friend." She said, Indicating Eugene. He smiled and felt his cheek heating up. "I'll go back. Probably later than my usual time."
"You-You're going to stay here?"
"If you don't mind."
"No, No i wouldn't mind at all. I would love if you can stay. Please, we can talk."
She nodded. "Alright then. So, what would you want to talk about?"
He smiled. "I been wondering what the 'Greatest Female Exploror' been on any knew adventures lately." She smiles and chickles. "I want to hear more stories from her."
"Actually she did."
"Would you tell me. I want to know where she has been." His eyes lit up and smiled. Rapunzel remembered that face from the little boy in the barrels.
"Alrighty." She exhaled in relief. "Are you ready?"
He nodded and she bagan...
...oOo...
The sun set and Rapunzel stayed until he fell asleep. She want to leave the cloak for him to keep warm but his Uncle would get curious and make everything worst. She wanted to tell him goodbye, But he was sleeping as if he was finally at peace. He was happy when she told him stories. She told him about the kingdoms and SouthHill (Basically the hill that blocked Kingdom One and the banned land that they couldnt traspass). He enjoyed every bit like he had before.
It was getting dark quickly, Rapunzel had a hard time finding her way home. She did eventually with the help of the fires that the people had gathered around for warmth. Laughing joyfully. Though half were drinking to much. She liked how people got along.
She reached the castle and went inside, without a guard seeing her. As she was tip-toing to the stairs, she heard a cry.
"Rapunzel!" she turned around, finding her mother's arms wrapped around her. "Oh, Rapunzel. You had us worried." she broke the embrace and placed her hands on her daughter's shoulders. Her mother's eyes were filled with worriness. Eugene was right.
"We had guards searching for you everywhere." She finds her father behind her mother, place on hand on his wife's shoulder. "Where did you go?" His voice was firmed but his eyes were scared.
"I'm oaky, I wanted to be alone." she didn't think before she answered. "I was with a friend." She bit her tounge.
"Friend?" They were silent. Their daughter actually made a friend, they were surprised.
"Yeah I met them a while ago." She tried to take a step back, she wanted to run off before they could questioned her about him.
"Oh, that's great. And we are glad that you are alright. But please don't do that again, Rapunzel." Her father demanded.
She nodded. "Yes, Father."
They stood there quietly until Rapunzel insisted that they should go to bed. She went up to her room. She laid in her bed, thinking of her friend...
...oOo...
He couldn't take it no more.
No More. He thought as he woke up and lost it. Eugene went behind the curtain and found the corner of the area. He walked there and flew up a big piece of the floor board, revealing a pit, that was forming. Eugene started it when he was eighteen. He tared the boards one by one and build an under-ground hole, that could fit a full grown man.
He took out a dagger out of his boot. He had it from his last life threaten attack. He continuistly carved the wood. He carved harder and harder as memories flashed back, from his aweful past. His head was pounding and his heart was racing. By the time he reached his end, he was done. A smile spread across his face and covered it up.
Tomorrow it'll start. No more hatred. No more pain. Never to see his Uncle again. He'll leave and be free one day and it was about to begin.
"Never again." he whispered as he sat against the pillar and stared at the window, waiting for the time come.
Hello Again. I really loving all the reviews from everyone. I'm still happy that I cant stop smiling :D :D :D
I Was having a busy break that i didn't have time. But on the bright side, I was able to write more of this. I felt better after when i did. It took me longer because as I got older, i found that the story sounded really kiddish so i made it more a tween-teenish story line.
So if theres any questions you would like to ask about this chapter or anything about the story I will answer them if i can. Anyway thank you for reading and if I recieve more of those wonderful reviews of yours, I will update as soon as possible. Sorry I talk to much i'll let you guys go. Again, Thank You so much. Goodbye.
*Smiles* ~ DreamGirll :)