No one ever taught a princess how to run. They were taught etiquette. How to sit, how to stand, how to walk, to pivot, to bow, to dance.

  But with human instinct and the right amount of fear, anyone could. Anyone would in her situation.

  It was cold as the rain grew heavier in the autumn evening. Marina's feet felt like they were both frozen and on fire as she ran shoeless into the darkened city streets. She gasped and panted as she moved her legs with all her strength and adrenaline, the weight of her soaked and now ragged white dress feeling like a ball and chain as she fled. She could hardly hear the sounds of whistles and dogs in the distance behind her over the heavy, rapid pounding of her heartbeat in her ears. She wouldn't dare look back, for the sight of her castle growing smaller would only make her stomach turn more. She only knew she was heading away from it as the buildings grew smaller, the architecture less royal and detailed, the streets less paved and polished.

  But damnit, she could hardly breathe! She fought with the ces of her corset, but her fingers slipped and struggled from the movements of her body racing through these forbidden streets.

  The kingdom was about to turn into an uproar with every step she took. Every step was forward; was freeing, but every step grew tiresome. As the streets grew more impovershed than what she was accustomed to, she finally ducked into an alleyway, pressing her back against the wet stone exterior of some building, her legs taking her down to the even wetter ground.

  She panted, her lungs and feet burning. She looked down at the cuts and scrapes, wincing as she touched a tender one. Then in the pools of water filling the rocky alleyway, she saw herself. Her hair was damp and tangled, bck mascara lines smeared down her pale cheeks, and her lipstick smeared. The sight alone made her feel like crying again, but she was quickly interrupted when she heard the voices of guards nearing, her adrenaline picking her up to her feet in an instant. She rushed out the other side of the alley, ducking into another as quickly as possible. She hunched over as pain began to creep in against her ribs and in her feet, the adrenaline not doing enough to soothe it. In a fit of desperation, she groaned as she pried once more at her corset piece. No one ever taught her how to undo her clothes. No one taught her anything about self-preservation. Now she was cold, wet, injured, and emotionally drained as she cwed at her suffocating clothing, not even realizing a young woman was standing there with a bag of trash, and a look of fright on her face, startling the life out of Marina.

  "Oh my Gods, are you okay???" The woman dropped the garbage and rushed over to her, kneeling down. Marina felt the panic hit her like a train.

  "Please, don't tell anyone I'm here... please..." Marina whimpered, the corset finally beginning to come loose. She felt her ribs and her lungs able to expand wider and wider with each pant as she continued to thrash at herself.

  "Let me help you..." The young woman reached over without hesitation which made Marina flinch involuntarily. The young woman held up her hands to indicate friendliness, then drew her hands to the corset, undoing the ce and peeling it off her. "There... Gods, you look like a wreck...! Your makeup and..." She gasped as she took the sight of her in further. "Oh, your poor dress... It's so gorgeous too... What happened, sweetheart? You look like you should be at a wedding..."

  Marina didn't respond as she clutched the clothing piece, she simply leaned back against the side of the tavern to catch her breath. The young woman just stared at her, unable to speak or move as she processed the miserable sight.

  "You look... kind of familiar..." The young woman started, before they were both startled by the sounds of the guards' voices drawing near. Marina leapt to her bruised and bloodied feet, almost knocking the stranger back onto the ground. The young woman leapt up with her. "Woah, woah, hey!"

  Marina whipped around to her. "Please! I can't be seen... I can't... I- I...!" She stammered like she was about to burst out crying. She gasped as the voices draw nearer and shadows of the soldiers began to dance across the alleyway walls. The young woman moved quickly and with force, pressed her through the backdoor of the tavern, then swiftly bent down to gather up the trash bag.

  "You there!" The guards hustled over to her, shouting over the rain. The young woman spun around with the bag over her shoulder.

  "The Royal Guard? Is something the matter?" Her eyes darted between the two armored men, putting on her best frightened peasant act. In truth, she was sick of the royal guard... or of any royalty in general.

  "Have you seen a girl passing through here? She's wearing a wedding dress? Bck hair?" They loomed over her as if they were trying to sniff out her scent on her.

  "I... Uhhh... A-a girl? Wedding dress? No sir, I can't say I have... I've just been working all evening. Why? Whatever has happened?" Now her heart was racing... as sick as she was of them, she still feared them, and she just committed an offense by lying to them.

  "Princess Marina Amon has gone missing. If you have any further information regarding her disappearance you must address a royal member at once! Understood?" One barked quickly to her, the other already making his way down the alley in pursuit. The young woman could practically feel the anxiety in the air, and she felt like her breath was sucked from her lungs.

  "Missing..." She echoed, her feet frozen to the ground as she watched the guards hurry off into the rainy night. Once she got her bearings she released a breath and hauled the trash bag into the dumpster, quickly making her way inside. As the warmth of the tavern backrooms hit her, she wiped her wet hair out of her face, and looked around the dimly lit room. She spotted the white fabric from the girl's dress in the corner amongst a bunch of cardboard boxes. She was shivering and trying not to sob. The young woman stared down at her with wide eyes as the revetion falls upon her.

  "Princess..." She excimed softly, and immediately dropped to her knees, about to go into a low bow. How could this be possible!? The princess herself... Here!?

  "Aaaahh...! No, please don't do that! Please don't, oh please get up...!" Marina whispered, anxiously stumbling out from her cover to grab the young woman by her arm, lifting her back up to her feet. Her hands were as cold as ice. She looked nothing like a princess right now... more like a wet, helpless animal.

  "Your highness, forgive me, I didn't recognize you...!" The young woman bowed from her standing position, to which Marina insistantly stopped her once more.

  "Please, keep your voice down...! No one can know I'm here, please..." Marina took hold of her hand like it was a life-line. "You didn't tell those guards did you???" Her eyes widened in fright.

  The young woman's eyes widened with hers. "No... I... Oh Gods, I lied to them... Oh, Gods, what was I thinking!? I could get arrested...!" The young woman began to panic, fanning her face as it started to burn hot.

  "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry...!" Marina fell backwards and crawled back into her corner, her hands covering her head like it might explode, tears escaping her once again... What more could she ruin?!?!

  The young woman stopped and stared at her... She might be the Princess, but it's clear she was frightened just like her... in fact more than her... It began to click into pce for her, remembering the announcements of the royal wedding taking pce. She didn't even realize that was today... But whatever happened!? Whatever was she doing here!? Why was she running!? Nonetheless, she took a deep breath, held it, and released it, then moved to kneel down before the frightened girl.

  "I'm sorry... I'm just a bit frenetic right now too, this is all happening quite fast... Look, I can try and help you but you need to tell me what's going on..." The young woman softened her voice, inching closer to the Princess like she were a stray dog. Before Marina could answer, a low, booming voice sounded from the kitchen of the tavern.

  "REMORA! GET YOUR ASS BACK IN HERE YOU HAVE 3 TABLES TO CLEAN AND I'VE CALLED ORDER UP TWICE NOW!" The voice startled both Marina and the young woman. Marina whimpered and sunk back into the boxes further. Remora turned back to her and put her hands up to signify her to calm down.

  "That's my boss... I have to go... Just stay here, okay? We're almost at closing anyways, so I just gotta go finish my shift-" She was about to stand before Marina grabbed her frantically by her arm.

  "Please don't leave me, please... Please don't go tell them..." The Princess begged with wild, gssy eyes, pulling her back down. Remora felt her heart race, but schooled herself to keep her expression soft and reassuring.

  "I'll be right back, I promise... Just hide here in those boxes and don't make a sound... I won't tell a soul. I promise." Remora put her hand on the Princess's, what felt like an incredibly odd and possibly illegal thing to do, but what was important was keeping her calm. Marina stared up at her, her grip still tight, searching Remora's eyes for deception. After a few quick breaths she eased up, hesitantly releasing Remora's arm and settling back into the boxes...

  "Promise...?"

  "Promise." Remora repeated.

  "REMORA, NOW!" Her boss barked once more.

  Remora swiftly picked herself up, squeezed the water out from her hair and used her body to push through the batwing doors. "Yeah, yeah! I'm coming!!!"

  Marina crawled further back and sat amongst the pile of empty boxes and wrapped herself up in the fetal position. She felt the tears streaming from her eyes once more... and just when she thought she couldn't possibly cry anymore after the day she's had... She covered her mouth with her hand, feeling her body hiccuping involuntarily as the adrenaline melted but the dread and guilt remained tched onto her, brewing inside her chest like boiling water. And she waited there as the sounds of the tavern's patrons could be heard from the other room.