Phoebe POV

I rinsed out the last plate in the sink, and wiped my hands on my dress. I went back to the counter, and scanned the place to make sure one last time that it was all clean.

I went to the large windows and was just about to draw the curtains closed, before I heard a loud exploding sound, followed by loads of people screaming. Something was glowing orange in the distance.

Fire.

I rushed outside, as the smell of smoke filled the air. Some houses further down the street were in flames, and people were running around in all directions, as the flames engulfed the buildings. "What's going on"?! I yelled to a young woman who was just about to run passed me.

"They've come back! She screamed and continued running. My eyes widened. Oh no.

"Stilts! STILTS". I screamed, running back into the inn and out into the garden at the back. "The fairies! It's the fairies"! 

But the old man was nowhere to be found.

I panicked, as I thought about what to do.

I'd have to stop them without him. We couldn't keep running away like this.

Grabbing my pipe from my pocket, I ran into the street. Archers were already sending their arrows flying, as the swarming mob of fairies circled around in the air, and elves continued to fire out at the village. 

"Phoebe. Such a pleasure to see you again". 

I spun around and saw that on the roof of the inn, one particular elf stood, arms crossed, and a wicked grin plastered onto his face. 

Ivor. The cursed urchin prince.

"You..." My clench tightened around my pipe. "How dare you do this".

His blood red pupils bored into mine."Just tell me where she is, and we'll leave you all alone".

"Where who is? I don't know what you're talking about". I lied. I knew exactly who he was talking about. He wanted Jessika.

"Come on, Pheebs. You know you're terrible at playing dumb". 

A loud exploding noise came from the far left of the town. The place was burning to the ground.

"What do you want with Jessika"? I said, fists still clenched. 

"You know I would never tell you".

"You wouldn't, huh? In that case, say goodbye to your beloved town".

Swiftly, I brought my pipe to my mouth. "That's not going to happen". I said.

Ivor raised an eyebrow. "Oh? So is that how you want to do it, then"? He jumped down from the roof. "You've made a big mistake, pied piper. A very big mistake".