Shadows In The Night 1

The river's current had slowed a mile downstream, allowing Rapunzel and Eugene to finally pull themselves onto the muddy bank. Their clothes clung to their bodies, soaked through, but at least they were safe, for now.

Rapunzel sat back, catching her breath. Water dripped from her long golden hair, forming tiny puddles in the dirt. Pascal shook himself dry, then scurried up onto her shoulder with a grumpy chirp.

Eugene groaned, flopping onto his back. "Okay. That's it. I'm retiring. No more running, no more chasing, no more jumping off things." He exhaled heavily, running a hand through his wet hair. "From now on, I'm a simple man. I sell fruit. Maybe apples. People like apples."

Rapunzel giggled. "You'd be a terrible fruit seller."

He lifted his head slightly. "Excuse me?"

"You'd try to swindle people into buying the most expensive apples," she teased. "And then run off with the money."

Eugene smirked. "That's offensive. I'd at least give them one apple."

She rolled her eyes, shaking her head. The adrenaline from the chase was wearing off, and the weight of everything that had just happened was settling in. The Stabbington Brothers had found them. And worse, they weren't giving up.

Her fingers curled into the damp fabric of her dress. "Eugene," she murmured, her voice more serious now. "They knew you."

He sat up, wiping water from his face. "Yeah, well… I have a lot of adoring fans."

She gave him a look. "Eugene."

His smirk faded. For a moment, he said nothing. Then, he sighed, leaning his elbows on his knees. "It's a long story."

"I've got time."

He hesitated, then finally glanced at her.

Rapunzel watched him intently, waiting. She had trusted him from the moment they left the tower. She had given him a chance to prove himself. But now, she needed to know the truth.

Eugene sighed again, looking down at his hands. "Alright. The Stabbington Brothers and I… We were partners. Sort of. We planned the heist together, you know, stealing the crown." He glanced at her, gauging her reaction.

She didn't flinch, just waited for him to continue.

"I was supposed to split it with them," he admitted. "But once I actually had the thing in my hands, I realized something."

"What?"

"That I work best alone."

Rapunzel frowned. "So… you betrayed them?"

Eugene winced. "I wouldn't call it betrayal. More like… creative business adjustments."

She crossed her arms. "And now they want revenge?"

"Pretty much." He gave her a sheepish grin. "Look, I never said I was a great person, Blondie."

She studied him for a long moment. His charm, his confidence, those things were real. But so was this. The past he was running from. The choices that had led him here.

And yet…

She wasn't afraid of him.

Rapunzel sighed, looking away. "Well, they're not going to stop, are they?"

Eugene rubbed the back of his neck. "Nope."

She exhaled slowly, wrapping her arms around her knees. "Then we'll just have to keep going."

Eugene blinked. "Wait, we?"

She turned back to him, determination in her eyes. "I don't care who you were before. I care about who you are now. And right now, we need to get to the lanterns before they catch us again."

Something in Eugene's chest tightened. He had expected her to be angry, to call him a liar. But instead, she was choosing to trust him.

He didn't deserve that trust.

And yet, he found himself wanting to earn it.

He chuckled, shaking his head. "You're something else, Blondie."

She smiled. "I know."

They sat there for a few more moments, letting the exhaustion settle. The stars above them twinkled, the river whispering softly as it wound through the trees.

Then, a distant howl echoed through the forest.

Eugene tensed. "That's… not a great sound."

Rapunzel swallowed. "Wolves?"

"Probably." He pushed himself up, wincing slightly. "And knowing our luck, they're probably heading this way."

Pascal let out a nervous squeak.

Rapunzel stood, brushing dirt from her dress. "Then we need to move."

Eugene nodded. "Agreed. But first—" He pulled off his wet vest, shaking it out before draping it back over his shoulders. "Let's try not to end up in another river, yeah?"

She grinned. "No promises."

They started walking, following the river's edge in hopes of finding a safer path. The night was quiet except for the occasional hoot of an owl or rustle of wind through the trees.

But somewhere in the shadows, watching, waiting.

The Stabbington Brothers were not far behind.