(Trigger Warning: Attempted rape, ungraphic)

Corinne

Sleep. I don't understand the pleasure.

I don't understand the pleasure of being unguarded and defenseless for hours and hours on end. Sleep is not something I look forward to. It makes me anxious. It makes me fear for my life. It's one of the few things that I actually do fear. Most nights, I can't sleep. At all. I'd lay awake for countless hours, debating, thinking, hoping. It's been going on since I left Paris, and it hasn't stopped since then.

I don't feel weary. It's just one of those things that doesn't affect me anymore.

I let out a breath, watching as the puff of air dances before me in the chill of the night, and wrap my cloak tighter around my shoulders. It's colder than I realized it would be, but I tell myself it doesn't bother me. Most things don't, anyway. Not anymore.

There are some days that I wish that none of this happened to me. There are some days that I want someone else to take my place in this world that's hell-bent on ruining my life. Ask me a year ago what I would do if someone offered to take my place for just one day, I'd do it. I'd take that chance before you were able to blink.

I'm sure Louis would do the same.

Even now, I might even take it. It definitely is a pleasant offer. All this pain, emotional stress, everything would be gone. I could be a normal girl. There would be no greater gift in the world than that. But yet, if ever given the chance, I don't think I'd do it. I've worked too hard to get to the place I am now. And I wouldn't wish this fate upon anyone, not even my worst enemy.

But as soon as I think that, I realize that's not exactly true. I already have wished it upon my worst enemy. No, I didn't wish it upon my worst enemy. I gave it to my worst enemy. I punished him like the bastard should be.

I don't know if Warren's alive, and I don't want to know. Some days I imagine hunting him down. I imagine the sensation of feeling his blood on my hands like so many others. He deserves it. He deserves every damned thing. And I don't regret any of it. I know I never will. I'll relive that day for years to come, and I'll smile every time those words fall of my lips.

Banish.

It used to bring back pain. Hell, it still does. It still hurts, and I know it always will. But when I think it now, it's not my pain that I remember. It's his.

I don't even realize the sun is rising until I hear the familiar clopping of hooves come up from behind me. On instinct my hand goes to my sword, my muscles tensing as I prepare for any incoming onslaught of danger. My comrades always made fun of me for doing it, but being oblivious will be one of their downfalls.

My hand doesn't move even as the stranger comes up next to me. The hood drawn over his face sends me unpleasant vibes. He turns his head slightly, and I catch glimpse of dark eyes before he snaps his reins and urges the horse forward. I look down and notice my knuckles are white and the tiniest bit of blood trickles down my palms from my hands balling into fists.

I release a breath and press my lips against my knuckles. "It'll be okay," I whisper to myself. I move my horse along down the road, just now realizing the market and port is less than a half mile from where I am, so close I can see the storekeepers opening up shop and the merchants setting up their stands.

My fingers tingle in anticipation as I enter the small town. It's the smallest one I could find with a port. I'm still a wanted woman, and since this is one of the poorest areas in England people would turn me in for the smallest bit of silver.

Already, women with their children hurry along the street, scolding them as they pull away. I don't miss the several dirty looks I get. I realize suddenly that horses are coveted in poorer areas, as well as more fashionable clothes. Of course, I never wear anything that can't be fought in, but apparently the mere quality of fabric is considered better in this town.

I was always told to blend in. Standing out is dangerous. And now that's exactly what I'm doing.

I force my gaze straight ahead of me and don't make eye contact with any more people. Fear nags at my stomach as I pass a group of several men that stare me down. I grip the reins of my horse even tighter as I focus on getting to the ticket office. I just have to get to the ticket office. That's it. Just a little longer and then everything will be okay.

I gasp as I fly through the air. For a split second I'm off the ground, the rush of air pulling hair loose and sending shivering spells down my back. And the next I hit the ground with dizzying force. It takes me a second to realize what's happened, but it's not like I can do a lot about it.

My horse hates snakes. Most I encounter do, actually, and the shady-looking men the surround it seem to know that as well, judging by the dead snake one of them holds in their hand.

"You get the horse," one of the men growls to another, "and I'll get the girl."

My vision swims with black dots for what feels like the longest time. I try to stand, but my side screams in pain. I had to have broken something. How wonderful.

Before I'm done trying to figure out what's happening, hands wrap around my shoulders and yank me to my feet. I hiss in pain. I realize then exactly who holds me, and, just as I suspected, it's the damned men that are currently taking my horse.

"Hey, pretty thing," a man drawls, pressing my back into a wall.

I start to panic. My eyes quickly survey my surroundings, and I realize exactly how many men surround me. There's four at least. "Let me go," I choke out, reaching for my sword. One of the men pin my arms above my head. I gasp and try to wriggle from his grasp, but another set of arms forces me back against the wall.

"We're going to have a lot of fun with you," one of them whispers.

I growl plant my foot firmly into his shin. "Help!" I'm not the one to usually scream, but there are certain times you have to let go of pride. "Someone, help me!"

But no passersby even glance my way. I understand then that this is the gang that controls the town and its officials. Maybe they don't even have any officials anymore. These are their officials, and they have to obey them.

"Let me go, damn it!"

"Keep screaming. It makes everything better." He takes out a knife and presses it against me throat. I resist the urge to swallow.

Slowly, he slides up my skirt and trails his fingers down my hip. I clench my jaw and close my eyes. The knife loosens on my neck as he presses further against me. "We'll do it here first, and then we'll take you into that inn and I'll let my brothers have a turn with you."

Andrew was right. I shouldn't have left. If I hadn't I wouldn't be in this situation and everything would be okay. I'll never see Louis now. These sick monsters won't let me out of this alive. It's just a part of their game. They'll rob me, have their way with me, slit my throat, and leave me bleeding in an alley somewhere.

"Please stop," I whisper. My last plea.

His fingers dig into my thigh, and that's answer enough.

"Let her go," a voice says, but I'm sure it's in my head. This is how I'm supposed to die. No one's supposed to come.

The man's fingers loosen slightly. If I survive this I can't imagine what these bruises will look like tomorrow.

"What?" the man says. I open my eyes and gasp as a cloaked man stands behind the group surrounding me.

"I said to let her go," the cloaked man spats. He takes a step toward us to only be met with a knife pointed to his chest. With a tactical brilliance, the cloaked man grabs his attacker's wrist and snaps it. The man's eyes widens and he shouts in pain, his wrist probably shattered. The cloaked man pulls a sword out of his hilt and presses the blade against one of the other's throats. "I'm giving you all to the count of three to run. Leave the girl behind. One."

The group's eyes meet in newfound urgency. I can tell what they silently debate.

"Two."

They're asking if I'm worth it. More like asking if it's worth it for this man to show them up in front of everyone. This is what worried me the most. Men like this don't care who dies as long as they keep their damned honor.

"Three."

In almost a blink of an eye, the sword glistens in the newly-risen sun and slices across the first man's throat. I avert my eyes as he crumples to the ground. Within seconds, every man surrounding me is gone, and I crumple to the ground, my side screaming in pain. As much as I resist it, the man—my savior—lifts me into his arms.

"It'll be okay," he whispers.

My hands shake viciously, a firm reminder of what just happened. "Please… I'm fine. Just let me down."

"Why do women insist these things? You were nearly killed and you expect me to let you go on your merry way? You know you're considered a target now, correct? These men will come and find you and they will kill you. Well, not right away at least. First they'll rape you, every one of them, and then they'll torture you, and then they'll kill you, and then they'll hang your body in the square. Trust me. I know this town."

Despite the spinning in my head, I force myself out of his grip and stand my ground in front of him. "You don't think I know that? I'm not stupid. Besides, I don't know you. For all I know you're one of them."

The man laughs. I snarl at the infuriating noise. "I don't know who you are, girl, but I think it's quite apparent I just killed a man for you."

I narrow my eyes, turning around to walk away. "You say this as if it's normal for you."

I can hear him behind me as he says, "Perhaps it is, though, in my defense, you seem rather unfazed as well."

That got me. I honestly don't realize who dies and who lives anymore. It's all the same to me at this point. I stop abruptly and turn around to face him. "What do you want from me?"

"What?"

"What do you want for saving me?"

"I never said I wanted something."

"You're a man. You always want something in return. What? Money? I'm afraid they took everything when they stole my horse. Sex maybe? Well, I'm stupid and inexperienced."

The man laughs. Though I can't see his entire face, I can slightly see the corners of his mouth twitch up. "I assure you I am perfectly able to get sex without killing a man."

Redness coats my cheeks. I turn away and start quickly walking down the road. I don't bother looking back at him, but I can feel his eyes watching me. Or, better yet, his footsteps as he walks just behind me.

"Where are you going?" he asks, and I inwardly cringe.

"Prying is rude, you know. But if you must know, I'm trying to find a ship."

"And where are you going on said ship?"

"I'm not supposed to talk to strangers."

"Says who, your husband?" His fingers nimbly grab my left hand and raises it up for me to see. "Try again."

"I don't have to answer to you. I don't even know your name."

"Likewise."

I jerk my hand back and start walking faster down the road. "You're a roach. Leave me alone."

"I just saved your life, and I'm the roach here?"

He doesn't get angry like I expect him to. His voice is relatively calm, but there's the slighestt bit of annoyance hanging onto it.

"You're the roach because you're harassing me. Let me go," I demand.

He chuckles darkly and drops my arm. "Just know that you won't find a decent ship here." He turns away from me, leaving me gawking at him.

"Why do you say that?"

"Because you don't have a single crown on you. Did you think about that?"

I blush, suddenly remembering all my money was taken with my horse. Why hadn't I thought of that? I never plan for these things. Again, he turns away, making his way through the crowd. I cringe, knowing what I have to do. "Hey! Wait!" I start running toward him, desperate not to lose him in the crowd that's now forming in the streets. "Please,

stop!" He doesn't stop for me, and I start losing hope. I'm stuck in a strange town with no money, no horse, and men who want me dead. "Please, help me."

He stops dead in his tracks and slowly looks over his shoulder. I stand directly behind him, my eyes pleading. I never thought I'd be this desperate for someone's help, let alone a total stranger.

He faces me. "Where do you want to go?"

(A/N: Hey, guys! Who's ready for a new chapter? I know I am! Ahhhhh. I can't believe it's already been five weeks! There's lots of story to go, so just hang on tight!

Anyway, replies!

Despicable Margo: Hahahaha. You're fine lol. And yes he's hot. He's gotta be hot. Hahaha

Demigoddess8: Thank you!

TorquaTortle: Maaaaybe *Wink wink* Hahaha I drive my mom crazy with Hamilton. Mostly because I play it 24/7 in the car. I accidentally forgot about the "soUTHERN MOTHERFUCKING DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICANS" part in "Washington On Your Side, and let's just say my dad was a little confused HA. No, I didn't! But it's true. He's hot in the painting, which never does the people justice, so I wish I could see him irl. Lmao tbh Louis might do someone on the side. I actually have no idea. I'm still deciding. :'D Did you know Thomas Jefferson made the first spinny chair?! I'M LITERALLY SITTING IN ONE OF JEFFERSON'S CREATIONS RIGHT NOW, MY OTHER TRASH SON. But Aaron Burr is literally a human disaster. Literally.

PrincessGeekelle: I knoooow. Trust me. It's insane. I should be more concerned of my sanity.

Blueheart: Yeah, there will most likely be AT LEAST fifty chapter! It'll be a lot of work, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. Haha Thanks for reviewing!

Esmee-lynn: I knooow, my bby. Ikr it's so sad. Lmao this misconception about women could very well be the death of him I love it. Yeah! I could see Louis and Renée as a couple in some kind of AU, but idk. Marina is absolutely amazing. She's not that popular here, either, but I have met a few people who know her!

Decembra1998: I think I mentioned his name a few times, but idk where haha. Thanks for reviewing!

Lasting Violet: Maaaaybe. Ohhh yeah. Most people don't know about the female musketeers, but maybe that's a good thing. Like, SURPRISE. Thanks for reviewing!

Sorry replies were so short, but I've got a busy day! Hope you enjoyed the chapter!

Weatherbug02)