A Getaway

As Katherine was huddled over the toilet, she felt movement around her neck. She realized Charles was holding back her hair for her.

Her body felt unbearably hot, yet she felt goosebumps raise all down her arms.

She closed her eyes and focused on getting air in her lungs. When she was sure that she would not be sick again, she leaned back and sat down on the cold tile again.

Charles let go of her hair, but he remained uncomfortably close to her. Katherine could see the concern in his eyes, and then suddenly he took his hand and rubbed up and down her arm to try to comfort her.

The last thing she wanted then was for him to touch her, but she felt dizzy and was not sure she could stand.

"What's going on?" he asked her, his face still twisted with worry.

"I don't know, let's recap, shall we?" she began with her voice full of sarcasm and vexation. "My dad is dead, my mom is still missing, I'm the Queen, people can't seem to read the room and keep congratulating me as if this is something to be celebrated, I know people are still trying to kill me, and I'm set to marry someone against my will. Is that enough going on for you?"

Katherine could feel the anger that was drawn on her face, and she was sure with the crazy outfit and makeup that it looked ten times worse

Charles did not look shocked by anything she had said, and he did not look upset with her insult towards him. Instead, his face showed understanding, which in turn, shocked Katherine. His hand remained on her arm, but it was still after her outburst.

He was quiet for a moment, and the two of them sat surrounded by the intensity of Katherine's words until he finally spoke.

"There's nothing I could say that could make any of that better for you. I truly am sorry for everything that has been thrown your way recently," Charles sympathetically said.

He seemed to have a way of remaining cool and collected while Katherine was always like fire and chaos. In reality, even Katherine could see that they complimented each other nicely.

It was very unlike her relationship with Jasper, in which they only seemed to add fuel to each other's fires. They both were filled to the brim with hot passion at all times.

"I just don't know what to do," Katherine said in a small voice. She looked down at the crown that had been thrown to the side on the bathroom floor, hating it and the life it brought her.

"Do you want to get out of here?" Charles asked suddenly.

Katherine looked up at him and could see the hope in his eyes.

"I can't take two steps without someone following me. In fact, I'm shocked one of the guards hasn't broken down this door yet looking for me. Where exactly do you think we could go where they wouldn't find me?" she tiredly responded.

"Wait here," he said as he stood up and opened the bathroom door to leave.

She could hear mumbling outside of the bathroom, and suddenly the door swung back open and Charles held his hand out and said with urgency, "Come on! Quickly!"

Katherine stood up and took one look at the crown before deciding to leave it behind. She grabbed Charles' hand and rushed out the door as he dragged her along down the hall.

"Where are we going? Who were you talking to?" she asked as he started to move faster.

She had to pull the front of her dress up so that she didn't trip on the black lace while their speed increased.

"Shhhh!" he whispered as he kept his eyes peeled for anyone roaming the halls.

They reached a door that led out back to the gardens, and he eagerly pulled her along.

"Wait, wait, wait! I can't go on grass with these heels," Katherine said as she put the breaks on and tried to free her hand from his.

"Then take them off. Come on, we might not have much time if they see us through the windows." He let go of her hand and she took the heels off before she stepped with bare feet on the cold, wet grass.

It was night now, and dampness seemed to fill the air. It was dark outside as no one ever went into the gardens at night, so lighting had never been installed.

"I can't see anything," Katherine said as they continued into the darkness. Her eyes did not seem to be adjusting well.

She felt his hand on her arm, and he led the way until they reached a door that was hidden among the bushes.

"Where are we? What is this place?" Katherine asked, but it was no use. Charles ignored her as he opened the door that revealed a secret garden.

Patio lights and twinkling, white lights that looked like icicles filled the small space. All four walls were covered in vines that went higher than Katherine could see. A large oak tree was at the center, and from it hung a wooden porch swing.

Katherine felt her jaw drop, and she slowly turned in a circle to take it all in.

"How did you find this place? I didn't even know it was here," she asked in disbelief.

"I found it a couple of years ago by accident. My family had been visiting so our parents could discuss official business together, but my parents also had used that trip to drop some heavy news on me," Charles said before he sat down on the swing.

He looked across the way at Katherine, who was still by the door, and he patted the spot next to him.

Something about his innocence in his constant vulnerability made her trust him, so she closed the space and sat on the other end of the swing, her eyes never leaving him.

He smiled slightly when she sat next to him, but he looked forward and broke their eye contact before he continued, "My parents never told me bad news when we were home because they did not want anyone to overhear or see my emotions. Apparently I wear my emotions on my face and am bad at hiding them."

He gave a sad chuckle and sighed. "So the bad news at that particular time was that mom was sick and probably didn't have much time left. They had seen every doctor in all of Titanus, and none of them had hope that she would survive. Obviously they were right, but at the time, I didn't believe it. I was in denial, and I was mad at my parents for giving up, as what I interpreted to be, so easily."

He swallowed hard and Katherine could see the heartbreak fill his features. "I ran out of the castle, and into the gardens to be alone, and I came across this place. It's small, but somehow I always feel free here. I figured you could use some of that too today."

Charles looked back over to Katherine and gave her a small smile.

"I'm sorry I couldn't be there for you with your mom like you were there for me today with my dad," Katherine admitted.

She knew that he had probably felt just as alone at her funeral as Katherine had at her dad's. Marcus obviously would have been by Charles' side at the funeral, but he had always been a cold father who never showed love; that was obvious to everyone who came across them.

Charles reached over and gave Katherine's hand a squeeze. "At least we have each other now."

Not knowing what to say, Katherine looked away.

Charles was obviously a nice person, which only caused her to have even more conflicting emotions around him. She knew she didn't want to marry him, and she also didn't see how she could be his friend with the expectation of them getting married one day looming over them. Yet, there was something so comforting about his presence, and Katherine did enjoy his company.

They sat in silence, gently swaying slightly in the swing, both lost in thought. Katherine had not even realized that they were still holding hands.

The ringing of a cell phone jerked them back to reality, and Charles let go of Katherine's hand to reach into his coat pocket before he brought the phone up to his ear.

Katherine could hear someone speaking frantically on the other end, and Charles used his other hand to pinch the bridge of his nose. He sighed and answered, "Yes, she's safe with me, you can tell them to call off the search."

After more frantic voices came from the other end of the phone, Charles apologized and said a polite goodbye before he ended the call and looked back to Katherine.

"We've been busted, time to go back."