~~~Liam's P.O.V~~~

I sat back after a long day of being the prince and decided to relax in the gardens. I deeply regretted not seeking out my family, but I knew they wouldn't understand.

Kiran was too bubbly and perky to understand the stress of it all.. Ryder is too young to comprehend anything I have to put up with.. Toni was usually with my parents talking to them and honestly just being herself.. and my parents.. would want to try to help shoulder the weight but I couldn't make them more stressed then they already were..

I sighed a bit before going through the list in my head. I thought for a second before realizing who I could talk to. I knew exactly where to find her. I slowly stood up and walked to the fence climbing up it again and walking into the woods. I slowly made my way a bit deeper in the woods where I saw a tree house. I smiled to myself before climbing up it cautiously still kinda freaked out from the snakes that wandered close by.

I slowly reached the top where I saw a young girl in the tree house.

Bright blond curly hair that reached just below her waist. Small strands of bright pink hair that covered her face. She looked over at me her bright green emerald eyes shining with excitement.

"Hey , Lee!" She greeted as she waved me over to join her.

"Hey Char..!" I greeted back.

I smiled a bit as I climbed inside the tree house and sat beside her. It was a small tree house that could barely fit more than two people, but when we were younger, all three of us could fit in here..

I scooted over beside her and smiled at her. Charlie has been my best friend for so many years. She's 1 year younger than me and has always been the most mature out of all of us.

Her father, Harley William Olsen was a good friend of my parents. He is quite kind to my family and I and honestly I just think of him as a back up parent if my parents are busy.

"So... How goes it..?" She asked messing around with a thin rope.

"Eh.. Fine enough I guess.." I said softly as I leaned my head back. She leaned her head on my shoulder and my arm immediately went around her shoulder. 

Now, don't get the wrong Idea. Charlie and me have never been a thing, in fact we swore an oath never to have romantic feelings towards each other. Though some days we acted like we were something more than friends.. but it would never last more than a couple of moments.

"So how's your girl..?" She asked softly. I could hear the distaste in her voice already and worried this would spawn into another argument between us.

I shrugged a bit not wanting to reveal anything about her.

".. Mm, I see not telling me... What was her name again..?" Charlie asked tapping her finger on my forehead. "..Marnie right..?"

I nodded my head.

I find love absolutely idiotic.. I can blame my reasoning of Marnie, Princess of Hell..

No not really, She has a really high status so when her family visited... Well my parents thought it might be good for me to bond with her. I found her nice at the time and we ended up together.. Though as the months went on, every time she came to visit she'd hurt me more and more.

As it is I can't even wear short sleeves unless I want to put on public display what she does to me.

I sighed a bit as Charlie pulled away and leaned her head against the wall.

"I'm sorry.. I just... You know she's awful right..?" Charlie claimed as she pushed her hair out of her face.

No, Marnie was more than awful. I couldn't imagine ever seeing the good in her, the most I could say about her.. is that she's... 'Pretty', not even then, I was never attracted to her but then again many people were.

"Yeah.. I know she is.." I said as I stared down at my hands.

Charlie and I discussed this a lot. She couldn't stand to see me unhappy. Some days she would actually try to come up to me and Marnie when we were walking through the gardens. It wasn't a very fun experience.

"So why are you still with her, Liam.." She asked softly turning towards me.

I stared into her eyes. I never imagined how much concern they held. I only saw 2 emotions she had, happiness and anger.

"... I don't know Charlotte.." I mumbled softly dropping my gaze to the faded dark wood.

"Why can't you just break up with her...? I can't imagine that girl as our next Queen.." She said with a groan.

"Technically she would never be queen... She'd just be princess of Axamedian... She could never hold a higher title than me.." I said with a deadpan voice.

Yeah Liam, if that would make it better.

"Yeah Liam... That would totally make it better.." She answered echoing my thoughts.

I felt my face flush a little. I tilted my head down again letting my bangs fall over my eye.

Charlie shook her head. "Look just break it off with her.. Then you can find someone else... You know? You deserve to be happy, Liam.." She said as she gently placed a kiss on my forehead before she left the treehouse.

I sighed a bit. Not the way I wanted to end a conversation. I rolled up the sleeves to my jacket staring at the cuts and bruises.

I understood that everyone deserved happiness, but did I?

Was I ever going to find anyone?

Was I ever going to be happy with my life?

'Don't be silly Lee.. Of course you won't..' I thought sadly. The voices in my head were getting louder... and I couldn't let them scream any longer.

"What am I going to do..?"

I slowly climbed out of the tree house debating on whether to go back to the palace or take a walk around the woods.

I decided a walk wouldn't hurt..

~~~

I finally decided to rest beside a deep lake after a long walk around the woods. I ran my hand through my curly dark hair not in a rush to go back home.

I felt a small disturbance though.. I slowly stood up looking around. Something didn't feel right..

I noticed that it was with the lake.. I stared at the lake confused.. It seemed different some how.. Everything did.. All the animals and sounds of the forest were gone.. The trees had an unnatural slant to them..

I slowly bent down reaching my hand out to the water, which didn't even seem like water... it just seemed like.. tar... 

I slowly pulled my hand away from the water wiping it on my jacket.

"... That's strange.." I said as I looked at my hand that was still wet. I slowly started to stand up before I felt something grab my hand forcing me to my knees.

I looked at the dark thick vines wrapped around my wrist as I felt myself get pulled forward.

"H-Help..!" I cried out but to no avail, I was too deep in the forest for anyone to hear.

I felt another vine wrap around my waist and leg as I felt myself slowly being pulled into the lake.

I screamed before I felt my head go under the water. I quickly tried to pull the vines off. I had one free hand.. Might as well make it useful.

I managed to get my other hand free, but I was still being dragged down.

I felt a little bit of the water enter my mouth causing me to start choking. Well I guess I tried.. at least the kingdom would be in good hands if... no when... I fully died..

I tried to grab my necklace so I could see one last thing before I died instead of staring into the abyss.. 

I felt my vision go hazy and I felt my eyes about to close...

Only I didn't see darkness.. I saw a figure swimming towards me, I couldn't make out much... Only the dark color of their hair...

'Red..'

🤍🤍🤍

Hellu everyone, I hope you enjoyed this chapter.. I'm not actually sure what the updating schedule will be for this story though.

I might just end up posting the chapters as I finish them, cuz yeh-

I'm probably going to post the next chapter on Sunday, Cuz I actually got to update other stories- 😅

Plus I have another story that I have been thinking about for a long time, and I haven't even finished the first chapter, So Uh... See you peeps on Sunday! O3O

ANyway, Thanks for reading!!