ANNOUNCEMENT: Now that summer break is here, updates will (hopefully) be quicker! Joy! Also, just going to say, this has got to be one of the longest chapters we've ever written. We hope you enjoy it!

Thanks so much for all the support shown to us as we progress through this story. I am also here to remind you of a 35th comment prize! *I changed it from the original prize* It is, once again, A shout out to a story you have written, or a story you have read and want others to read! I will include a summary of your choice. Review, Read, Enjoy!


It was midday. People were milling about the city of Torrborro, buying things, selling things, and admiring the kitten statues littered all around. A typical day. No one noticed Liam and Marissa on the horses trotting through.

They had both decided they could talk and take off the hoods. They were far enough away. Plus, it was very hot.

Liam steered his horse towards an alleyway. "My father told me of Strander Burrows they found in alleyways and houses. He mentioned one in an alley right next to a huge statue of a cat licking its paw." He gestured towards a statue just like that.

Marissa nodded, and they both got off of their horses. Liam went to a chubby man selling apples in a stall and gave him a few silver coins, asking him to keep watch over their horses.

Once he agreed, Marissa and Liam tied up their horses next to the stall, and they made their way down the busy street to the alley way.

Once they reached the end, they saw nothing but old wooden planks, A ragged, torn, dirty blanket, and a few empty sacks.

"This isn't much," commented Marissa.

"Well, it's hidden. It wouldn't just be in plain sight," Liam responded, getting on his hands and knees and brushing away the empty apple sacks.

And just as Liam had hoped, there was a dusty wooden trapdoor underneath.

"Well that was poorly hidden," he mumbled as he tried to crack it open. But it wouldn't budge. It was too heavy.

"Let me help," Marissa said as she also got down and wedged her fingers in between the ground and the trapdoor to pull it open.

They both heaved, and the trap door swung open with a CREEEEEEAAAAK!

A dark tunnel was revealed and awaiting them.

"Listen, I will go in and see if the kids are really there. I won't try to save them or rescue them, I will be there to spy."

Marissa shook her head, her beautiful golden locks of hair bouncing around her.

"No, I am not letting you go alone. I'm coming with you."

Liam was about to argue, but changed his mind when her emerald eyes sparkled with defiance. He knew there was no point, she would just keep pushing.

"Fine. But you have to be careful," Liam begged. Marissa nodded.

"I'll be quiet as a mouse."

And so, without another word, they both slipped into the tunnel, and Liam closed the trapdoor behind them.

It was dark, and it smelled musty and earthy.

Liam immediately felt Marissa's hand on his arm, then she jumped back.

"Sorry," she mumbled. "I was trying to see where the walls were."

Liam was glad the darkness hid his blush. They moved forward, their hands on the dirt wall.

Once they reached a split in their path, Liam decided to take a risk.

"We need to split up, but only for a little while. And keep your hand on the wall."

He sensed Marissa shuffling to the other side of the wall and placing her hand on the wall.

"Okay, count to a thousand steps, and if we still haven't found anything yet, come back to this spot," Liam instructed.

"Alright," Marissa agreed, and they went their separate ways.

Liam walked a bit, and he was at step number 361 when he tripped over a wooden plank and flailing face-planted in the ground. As he lay in the dirt, he saw a doorway to his right, on the wall where his hand had been.

He pushed himself up from the ground and grabbed the doorknob and turned it. The door opened with a creak, and Liam looked around to make sure no one had heard it. He slipped inside and found himself in a small room. With a cold, thin light, he saw an empty bookshelf, a crudely cut wooden table, and a few rotten crates on the side of the bookshelf. On top of the table, there was a half shuttered lamp and a box of matches with only four matches left in it.

Liam lit the lamp and held it up to his gaze so he could see better. There wasn't much, except for a few bread crumbs and a dead cockroach on the bookshelf. He was about to snuff out the lamp and continue his search, when to his horror, he heard voices. And footsteps.

Fear coursing through him, he blew out the lamp, set it back on the table and threw himself behind the crates near the bookshelf. He prayed to the Maker that the voices outside wouldn't pick this room to walk into.

He desperately pressed himself against the wall, trying to disappear in the shadows.

Please, please, please, please... Liam begged.

"...and then he said, "Sir Render!" would be his name! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"It wasn't even that funny of a joke."

"Aw, it was better than the banana one!"

"We do not speak of the banana joke!"

The footsteps and voices were getting nearer.

Please, please, please.

And nearer.

Please, please, no!

Nearer still.

Please.

Through a hole between the crates, Liam saw the doorknob turn.

NO!

The door swung open, and two burly men bursted in. One had a curly brown beard and hairy arms, and the other one seemed younger. His boyish face was still clear of any facial hair, but his yellow-toothed grin was missing a front tooth and muscles adorned his arms and legs. He had to be a little older than Liam.

Liam felt anger rush through his veins when he recognized the older Strander. He was the one who had punched him in the face the night Itzel and Arthie were kidnapped!

Liam held his breath, not sure if he had ever been more terrified in his life.

"I think this is the room where they wanted it to be filled with dirt instead of collapsed. Said there was a house right atop it," the older Strander said.

Collapsed?

"That will take ages!" the young man complained.

"Too bad! Now, grab the crates and haul it out. I don't know why they're still here, they should have been moved out long ago when they abandoned this tunnel."

Abandoned?!

His hand went to his sword, ready to fight his way out. He would have the element of surprise, at least.

The younger Strander moved toward the crates.

Then, before he could think, the Strander's face came into view over the crates, then he gave a shout of surprise when he saw Liam.

"Oy!"

Liam jumped up and slammed into the young Strander with his shoulder to move him out of the way. The young Strander gasped as his breath was knocked out of his lungs, and staggered away.

Liam grabbed his sword and unsheathed it and he ran for the door.

The older Strander's eyebrows shot up when he recognized Liam.

"Grab him!" he shouted as he tackled Liam to the floor.

The young Strander was too fazed to obey. Liam pushed the older Strander from on top of him and kicked him. Then he rushed into the hall, prepared to shout for Marissa to get out and him to escape as well, when his arms were grabbed by two other Stranders that he had no idea were in the hall outside the door.

"No!" Liam shouted as he was tied up and forced on the ground. He struggled to get free, but the strong bonds were too tight.

The other two Stranders burst out of the room, slamming the door open and glaring at Liam.

"That is the Throne Warden's son! He's a royal! Just look at his sword!"

Another Strander grabbed the sword from the ground and inspected it, eyes widening from the jewels sparkling on the hilt, the sharp and shiny blade, and the gold imprint that read, "The Royal Wingfeather Family"

"He IS a royal! Worth a fine price, might I add!" said the Strander, viciously smiling at Liam.

The other Stranders started talking, when all at once, shuffling sounds were heard down the hall. Liam looked up and saw a struggling and tied up Marissa being led down the hall of two Stranders.

"Let me go!" she shrieked.

"No," Liam mumbled. "Marissa!"

Marissa met his eyes, a pleading look on her face. Asking him to help her.

Liam had seen that look before.

He fought back the tidal wave of memories, but the flashbacks were too strong. Itzel begging him to help her. He wasn't strong enough. Fast enough. He hadn't been able to save Itzel. And now, he wouldn't be able to save Marissa.

No, no, no, no, no!

Her eyes filled with tears as they pulled her hair to force her to the ground.

"Look at this pretty little lady. Is she your little girlfriend, boy?" the Stranders sneered.

"Shut up!" commanded the one with the curly brown beard. He stalked closer to Liam. "Now, boy, you are coming with us. You are going to answer some questions."

He was going to be interrogated!

"Wait!" Liam shouted as they started to force Marissa down the hall.

"What now, boy?!"

"Don't take her," Liam fake sneered. "She's a nobody. I am someone actually worth something. Don't waste your time on her, just let her go."

Marissa turned to him, a sickeningly hurt look in her eyes. Liam's heart broke with every fake hurtful word he uttered.

"Just let her go. Like I said, she is a nobody. If you were smart, you'd know not to waste your time on such a commoner."

Marissa stared at him, her eyes watering. Liam tried to muster up a defiant look in his eyes to sell the lie. He just needed to save Marissa. He couldn't bear to lose someone else because he couldn't save them.

The Strander with the brown beard scoffed. "You know what? Whatever. Let her go, he's right. We're collapsing this tunnel anyway, she won't find it again."

That explained the poorly hidden trapdoor.

The Stranders untied Marissa and shoved her down the hall. "Go on, find your way out!"

Her hurt gaze remained on Liam for a moment more, before a choked sob erupted from her as she fled.

Liam's heart broke. He couldn't bear the lie. He realized that even if she returned home, she would be questioned about where she had been. Ah might not get paid as punishment, and she might lose her chance to inherit her Inn. He had ruined her life.

Liam hung his head.

The Stranders gagged him and told him to get up and walk.

But Liam didn't obey. The last thing he wanted was for them to lead him into further doom.

"Argh! Stupid child!" growled the Strander with a burly brown beard, and he punched Liam in the face.

Liam saw stars for a moment, pain making him dizzy. Then he blacked out.

The Strander threw him over his shoulder, and they all shuffled down the hall.