The man searched around, he ran to the river then sighed. "Phew!"

Asher danced around with his legs twisted. "Can you untie me? I want to pee."

The guy loosened the rope and went back to pack up while Asher took his bath.

A prolonged scream drove the birds on trees into the air.

He paused. "The prince!"

The man hurried to the source and stopped behind a big rock. "Are you okay?"

"A fish is on my butt!" he cried.

A fish?
"Ah... don't panic, I'm coming."

"No! I'm naked," Asher covered his chest, even though the kidnapper had not taken a single step.

The bandit breathed. "Do you need my help or not?"

"Wait... It fell off."

"Your butt?"

"No, the fish!"

"Oh okay... I'm leaving a container here, it'll relieve your pain," the man pushed it to the other side of the rock.

Asher came out dressed after a while. "Ugh! You could've taken my skincare bag along, I feel so icky," he shrinked.

"Can we go now?" the man said.

"Yeah, I'm all set."

Few seconds passed when Asher deviated from the stone pathway, he gawked at the chunks of stones clothed in green moss. He darted to the man to make sure he wasn't looking, like a naughty kid up to mischief.

Asher took off his shoe and felt the green stone with his foot.
It's like a carpet.

Asher applied pressure, he brushed the moss off the surface of the stone, tilted his head and looked under his foot.

He shuttered. "Gross! Dirt."

The man turned back with furrowed eyebrows, he emphasised with his index finger pointing down. "Stay on path."

Asher straightened like a ruler then faked a smile. "Okay."

The ray of light peering through the leaves became harsher. Asher sighed.
This is getting boring.

His eyes twinkled at the bed of roses by the corner, he tiptoed towards it to avoid the man's attention. Asher examined its roots, stem, and petals.

"Hmm?" he bent his neck at the thorns— something he never saw in flowers brought to him. "What's this?" he drew his finger closer.

The guy squinted.
Why is the prince so quiet?

The man darted at Asher. "Don't touch!"

"Ah!" Asher flinched and pricked his finger on a thorn. They guy rushed to him as he yelled in pain. "Are you okay?"

Asher held his forehead at the sight of blood. "I feel dizzy," he inhaled. "I'm gonna die of haemorrhage!"

The guy scowled. "Just lick it."

"Eww! That's disgusting."

The man squatted and opened his bag, he damped a small cloth into a bottle. "Use this."

Asher's eyes widened, like he expected to be ignored by him. "Thanks, eh... mister kidnapper?"

"Tristan, that's my name."
…

It has been a few days since their venture into the forest. The little brown pebbles cemented on the ground crushed under their shoes with the temperature of a basalt.

Asher sighed. "These stones keep piercing my feet, they'll be sore at this rate," he whimpered.

Asher paused, his eyebrows ceased as Tristan crouched.

He turned, staring at the clueless prince. "Hop on."

Asher's eyes sparkled, he jumped on his back like his feet would paralyse any second.

"Careful," Tristan held his legs and stood up. "Better?"

"Yes, much better."

It wasn't even up to thirty minutes when Tristan regretted helping the prince, he now had enough strength to talk like there was no tomorrow.

"Are we ever going to get to this secret hideout of yours? It's starting to feel like mission impossible."

"We will."

"So, what is the place like? Is it a basement? Abandoned house, or the underworld? I bet on the underworld. Oh! Do you perform rituals of any kind? Will I get initiated?”

Tristan exhaled. "It's a normal house, kinda, and no. We'll just take the ransom."

"Awwn, that's sad," Asher pouted. "Is this your only job or do you live a double life? If yes, what do you do? What does a normal day feel like?"

Asher turned to his face after he got no reply. "Ha! You're a cheerful farmer by day, and a ruthless kidnapper by night," he grinned at his imagination. "How thrilling! You know, I've always wanted to live a double life."

Tristan's muscles strained into a frown, his patience hung on a thin thread.

"I've-"

"It looks like you're strong enough to run a marathon," Tristan dropped him from his back.

"What? My feet are still painful," he gasped.

"One more step and my legs will explode," Asher stumbled and swayed like he was about to fall.

The prince plopped on a heap of green grass with a grin. "Let's rest a bit."

Tristan glared.
He's a handful, I need to complete this test before my ears go deaf.

Asher's pile of grass moved for a millisecond, he turned to it for a while then shrugged.

Tristan's eyes widened as a big green snake elevated its scaly head from the grass, behind the prince. He darted to Asher.

"Prince," he called.

"Hmm?"

"Can you close your eyes and count to three?"

"Yes! I love games," he beamed and started the countdown. "1..."

Tristan took a stance, he carefully grabbed the knives from its sheath.

"2..."

He sprinted with a big leap and stabbed its eye. Tristan swiped Asher to his shoulder as the beast writhed around in agony.

"3?" Asher's green orbs broadened at the terrifying scene that seemed further each second. "Am I moving?" he said.

"Yes, hold on tight," Tristan squatted then leapt to a tree branch.

The snake hissed and slithered, its head swiftly parted the grasses. Asher yelled. "It's coming this way!" he squeezed Tristan's neck, panicking.

"Let go of my throat, are you trying to kill me?" he said.

"W-What if I fall!"

"You won't," Tristan tightened the grip on his waist. "Trust me."

The prince took a deep breath and held his shoulders instead. "Okay."

"Thanks, don't freak out, I'll be at high speed."

Tristan swung on branches, grabbing the next mid-air like they were vines.

“Ahhhhhh!” Asher screamed and closed his eyes.