He saw two men came out of the tree about ten minutes after he did. One walked toward the castle, but one stayed by the tree, standing guard. He wasn't a very good one though, because he soon sat on the ground and started dozing off. Robin waited ten more minutes to make sure the man was completely asleep before he silently and swiftly climbed down the tree and crept into the hideout. He saw some cut-up ropes, but no Maria. He let go of a breath he didn't realize he was holding in. She had escaped! Now, Robin only had to find her.

He followed the tunnel to the old amphitheater and was extremely relieved to see Maria sitting there. She was sitting by the edge of the cliff, her feet hanging down over the side, and she looked as if she was thinking. "You better not jump off that cliff again. Because if you do, I will have to jump after you, and that would just be suicide," Robin joked.

Maria gasped when she realized who it was. She slowly stood to her feet and backed toward the exit leading to the woods.

"What's the matter?" Robin asked, concerned but confused.

"Do-Do-Don't t-touch me!" Maria stuttered. Her fear then turned to anger. "This is all your fault!"

"What do you mean?" But Maria didn't answer him. Instead, she turned and ran into the woods. Robin soon caught her because he knew the woods better than she did and could run faster. He grabbed her wrist. "Will you just explain to me what it is that's my fault? I have no idea what you meant." He dropped her wrist. "Please." Maria looked him in the eyes, the hurt there evident.

"You were the reason I was kidnapped. Your friend told me. When I ran away from you and bolted the door, some men were waiting. They tied me up and gagged me. I was dragged out of the secret tunnel and to the moon princess's hideout. When I was in the hideout, Elizabeth came in and said that the reason I was there was because of you. She never said why; she only said it was because of you. She left with the men. You came in a little while later and gave me the knife. I sat on the knife to hide it when the men came, and when they left, I used the knife to cut the ropes and escape. I went to the amphitheater, and that's when you found me. Can I go now? I'm not comfortable being here with you."

"Wait, Maria," Robin said. "I have a question for you." When she nodded her head, he continued. "Why did you look scared when I gave you the knife?"

"Because I was scared. I thought you were going to kill me. For all I know, you still could." Maria muttered the last part under her breath, but Robin still heard. Her words stung.

"I would never hurt you. I love you too much."

"You love me?" The shock on Maria's face and the incredulity in her voice were obvious.

Before Robin could answer, a voice behind them said, "No! No, no, no, no, no! Robin was supposed to fall in love with me! He was supposed to love me! I have loved him for years. I was going to get rid of you, little moon girl. Then Robin would be all mine. He would've forgotten you and fallen for me! Why did you ruin it? You know, I'll just have to finish you off now." With those words, Elizabeth pulled out a gun. She aimed at Maria's head, but her shaking hand caused her to miss. Maria felt the bullet puncture her shoulder. She slowly looked down and saw blood flowing freely from her shoulder. Maria felt dizzy. She could no longer support her own weight.

Her knees buckled, and she fell to the ground. Maria couldn't keep her eyes open, but she felt herself being lifted by a pair of strong arms. That was the last thing she remembered before the pain of her shoulder overtook her, and she was lost to the black world of unconsciousness.

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Hey guys, whassup. I finally got a chance to update. This chapter is dedicated to @Valkyrie_Dez cuz he has been voting and stuff, so yeah. That's all. Oh yeah, I just remembered my school/church bought a coach bus. It's super nice compared to our other buses. It will be awesome when we go to youth conference. Every year, my youth group travels to Louisville, Kentucky for a big youth meeting. It's a really long bus ride and the coach bus will be great compared to our old school bus we usually take. Okay, I'm done for real now. Pleas vote and comment.