A Moment’s Respite

The river swallowed them whole. Rapunzel barely had time to register the icy shock before the current yanked her under, the water rushing around her like an unrelenting force. Her limbs flailed, fighting against the pull as she tried to find Eugene. Panic surged in her chest as bubbles escaped her lips, but then, a hand.

Eugene's grip found hers in the chaos, strong and unwavering. With a powerful kick, he dragged them both upward, breaking through the surface into the crisp air. Rapunzel gasped, coughing as water dripped from her hair and lashes. The river roared around them, carrying them downstream with terrifying speed.

"Hold on to me!" Eugene shouted over the churning water, pulling her close.

Rapunzel clung to his arm as they were swept forward. Ahead, jagged rocks jutted out from the river's edge, and fallen trees lined the banks. The current was unrelenting, offering no time to think, only react.

Eugene's sharp eyes scanned their surroundings. "We need to get to shore!"

Rapunzel nodded, paddling hard alongside him, but the water fought against them. A sudden drop loomed ahead, whitewater rapids surging downward in a fierce cascade. They had seconds.

"There!" Eugene pointed toward a fallen tree partially submerged near the left bank. "Grab the branch!"

Rapunzel stretched her arms, fingers brushing the wet bark, but the force of the current made her grip slip. Eugene lunged, wrapping one arm around the branch while the other caught her wrist in time.

With gritted teeth, he hauled her onto the tree, the wood slick beneath them. They scrambled onto its thicker trunk, clinging to it as the river rushed by below.

For a moment, they just breathed.

"Okay," Eugene panted, shaking water from his face. "That wasn't the most fun I've had."

Rapunzel let out a breathless laugh, her heart still pounding. "Let's never do that again."

"Agreed." He offered a grin, but the relief was short-lived. A rustling from the trees above them made them both snap to attention.

The royal guards had found them.

From their vantage point on the riverbank, torches flickered between the trees, and voices called out orders. The clanking of armor echoed through the forest.

Eugene sighed. "Of course. Can we get just five minutes?"

But instead of immediately running, he hesitated. The guards were still some distance away, and the river had put them off their trail, at least for now. They could afford a brief moment to catch their breath.

Eugene turned to Rapunzel, his expression softer now. "You okay?"

She nodded, though she was shivering. "I think so. Just... a lot has happened."

He sat down on the trunk, patting the spot beside him. "Then let's take a second. Running's no good if we drop from exhaustion."

Rapunzel hesitated before sinking down next to him, pulling her knees up to her chest. The river murmured beside them, the trees whispering in the evening wind. For the first time since escaping the tower, she felt the weight of it all settle onto her shoulders.

"Eugene," she murmured, staring at her damp hands. "What happens after this? After the lanterns?"

He studied her carefully before shrugging. "I guess that depends on what you want."

She bit her lip, her mind swirling with uncertainty. All she had ever dreamed of was seeing the floating lights. But now, with freedom stretching ahead of her, the future seemed vast and unknown.

Meanwhile, far away in the tower, Mother Gothel's world was unraveling.

The moment she had pulled back the curtains to find the bed empty, dread had settled deep in her bones. Rapunzel was gone.

"No," she had whispered, refusing to believe it. She had checked every corner of the room, every inch of the tower, hoping, praying, that Rapunzel was merely hiding. But the truth was undeniable.

The satchel was gone. The rope was missing. Rapunzel had left.

Fury boiled inside her, but she forced herself to remain calm. This wasn't over. Not yet.

She moved quickly, grabbing a hooded cloak and shoving supplies into a small bag. Rapunzel would not get far. She had raised the girl in complete isolation, there was no way she could survive out there alone.

She reached for the dagger she kept hidden beneath the floorboards. Just in case.

Then, with one last glance at the empty tower, she disappeared into the night.

Back by the river, Rapunzel shivered slightly, the weight of an unseen threat pressing upon her.

Eugene nudged her gently. "Hey. Whatever happens next, we figure it out together, alright?"

She looked up at him, warmth spreading through her chest at the sincerity in his eyes.

She nodded. "Alright."

For now, they had a moment's peace. But danger lurked just beyond the trees, and their journey was far from over.