The next day it was like any other. Today, however, would be different. The students were doing their usual thing, until coming out of the gymnasium windows was something white falling like snow. Only the snow was not just white, but black too. They were pictures: pictures of Once-ler with his horrid growths out of his pretty face. They weren't just a few, but there were copies of them, too.

Students were catching them and everyone had different reactions. There was grimace, laughter, and shock. Some of them landed around Once-ler and the two Madrigal sisters. He slowly picked up the first one that landed near his feet. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. That Eugene had the gall to actually spread the photos? His breathing was quietly trembling with rage as he squeezed the picture with his shaking hand. Fitzherbert had to pay.

"Ladies," he commanded with calm fury. "Do me a very big favor." He turned to the women with cold eyes. "Do not make me repeat myself, so listen closely."

"Man, to see his face right now," Eugene laughed in the room's bench. "Serves him right."

Suddenly, the door opened. It was Rapunzel, looking worried, running to him. "Eugene, listen to me," she whispered urgently. "You need to hide. Now!"

This alarmed him. "Why do I-" Before he could finish, his hand was grabbed by her, forcing him to run with her at the other way of the door away from the crowd and into the arts room running in the halls.

"What's going on?" he panted worryingly.

"You're being hunted down!" she warned.

Did he hear that right? "Hunted? Who is?"

"It's the Madrigals! I overheard Once-ler talking to them! He was so mad, he was shaking! "They want you dead!"

"What?!" He didn't want to believe it! "He's joking, right?"

"I thought he was, too," she said. "But he was serious! He's ordered them to kill you!"

Outside, Luisa and Isabella were walking around, trying to hunt him down with sick anger in their eyes. How dare that Eugene cross their beloved Once-ler? The students not only saw that in their eyes, but also that they were starting to have bags in said eyes. No one wanted to stand in their way, being Once-ler's lackies an all. Reaching the arts room, they decided to split up between the two halls, with Isabella taking right and Luisa taking left. In the hall, Isabella spotted Rapunzel casually at the door. She knows she hangs around with Fitzherbert.

"¡Oye!" she ordered her. "Where is he?"

"Who?" Rapunzel feigned confusion.

"Eugene Fitzherbert. Where is he?"

"Oh," she acted. "He said he was at the track in the football field."

"Gracias," she thanked angrily and walked away.

Once Isabella was gone, Rapunzel eventually saw at the window the two sisters walking out. She exhaled to calm her nerves and walked in the photo room. Inside it was another room surrounded with red light: the darkroom.

"Alright," she said. "They're gone. They left."

He came out from under the taper which thankfully had a tablecloth on it. "Thanks Raps," he said gratefully despite the fear in his voice. "I definitely owe you one." Even though they were safe, he was still shaken. "Why would they kill me over some petty thing I did?"

Rapunzel couldn't help but look and feel guilty. "I feel like I'm responsible for this. If I hadn't ask for those pictures, none of this would happen."

He didn't want her to shoulder the blame. "No, it's not your fault," he assured. "I spread those photos around, not you."

"By the way," she wondered. "Why did you do that in the first place?"

He blushed with embarrassment. "Well," he paused. "He gave me the green light to do so, but...mostly, I was jealous." He knew he owed her an explanation for this mess. "Now this may not be the best time," he mentioned as he went back under the table for his satchel. "But when it's safe," he mustered when he pulled back. "There's something I-"

Before he could finish, something long pulled him back by the neck, choking him! It was soft, but it quickly tightened by the second as he was trying but failing to pull whatever it was off his neck through his chokes and gags!

"Die!" Despite being unable to breathe, he knew that voice now trying to strangle him: it was Rapunzel! She was strangling him with a long shoelace! "I'm sorry, Eugene!" she cried! "It was Once-ler! He trembled when he looked at me and told me to kill you!"

He couldn't believe the girl of his dreams was trying to kill him right now, and under Once-ler's command! He also couldn't believe the strength she's got despite her petite size, and now he was arched back until he was off his feet and kicking!

"I'll do anything for him! Anything!" She growled loudly, keeping the lace tight around his struggling neck! "You'll never be my type compared to my gorgeous Once-ler!"

Each second was costing the last of his breath! With one hand trying to pull the lace off, he used the other to search for something – no, anything - to stop the strangulation! He knocked down a few trays and films! While that distracted her, he spotted an open bottle of chemical solution! He never wanted to hurt her, but his life was at stake! With his last strength, he grabbed the solution and splashed it on her face!

The splash caused her to instantly let go! She was now screaming bloody murder as the solution was severely burning her eyes! "My eyes!" While she was writhing, Eugene dropped to the ground, gasping and coughing as he caught his breath again! Through trembling legs, he managed to open the door and stumbled out onto the floor! Catching deeper breaths, he watched in horror what he did and what she tried to do, but he knew he had to get away. What if she tries again? With his strength returning, he got up and ran out the room, ignoring her cries and screams and not daring to look back.

Back in his apartment, Eugene grimaced at the sight of the bright red ring around his neck in the bathroom mirror. It was still a lot for him to process what happened yesterday. The Madrigal sisters were sent to kill him, and Rapunzel attempted to kill him. He couldn't believe he had used the solution to stop her. All because of Once-ler. A lot of questions were in his head. Was her trying to protect him a front? How could Once-ler easily get someone to murder for him? Did he have that much power of which he was unaware? What he did know was that college wasn't safe anymore with him still around. No doubt Eugene would expect an expulsion for blinding Rapunzel, and he needed incredibly good luck explaining that to his dad on the phone eventually. He was, however, truly fortunate that he was still alive.

As he was putting on his deep blue pjs, he looked out the window to gather his thoughts, but he gasped and quickly ducked down. He saw someone he'd never expected to find his apartment: the Madrigals again! They were standing there waiting.

"Luisa and Isabella?" He whispered nervously. He never told them his address, so how did they find him? He turned around to see the hall, thinking of quietly locking the door, but that idea was dashed. He froze on the spot. There at the door was Once-ler himself. How did he get in? He didn't even hear him come in. He was just standing there holding a plastic bag with a warm smile.

"Eugene," he said. "We should talk. Just you and me."