We didn't know how many times we had passed this street, but what was clear was that I was getting tired of seeing it.
But luckily Rapunzel and we often chatted, even though we were still using paper.
The plan had been going smoothly—or so we thought.
One day, she didn't show up, nor the next day, nor the day after that, and before we knew it, all we could do was look at the curtains covering the window. "What's really going on?" I asked Alice, while eating my parfait.
Alice was silent for a moment before replying, "It seems we were found out and her mother forbade her from even opening the curtains..." She gripped the spoon in her hand tighter than necessary.
Alice looked very frustrated now. We had promised not to pry into each other's pasts, but I couldn't help asking, "You're taking this mission much more seriously than usual."
Alice just stared at her plate for quite a while, and I started to feel bad for asking her that. I had to apologise. "Well... You could say that I used to be quite similar to her," she replied and before I had a chance to open my mouth, she added. "My mother is a very protective person, although she didn't lock me up in the house,"
Silence...
"I also have similarities with her," I started, immediately catching Alice's attention.
"Really?" She tilted her head.
I nodded and replied. "We both... have blonde hair."
My answer shattered Alice's expectations and she threw her fork at me in annoyance, "You little..."
Of course, I dodged it.
Alice wanted to rant, but then she let out a long sigh and seemed more relaxed now. "Red" The sudden call of my name made me immediately alert in case she threw a plate or spoon now.
"Let's go with your plan."
"...Which one?"
"We'll force Rapunzel out of her tower," said Alice seriously, her eyes fixed on me.
"You know very well that it's a house, not a tower, right—?" Before I could finish my sentence, a spoon flew towards me.
The next day, at the market, I was watching an elderly woman with slightly curly brown hair and dark eyes. She was buying fruit at the market, according to Mother, the woman was Margaret, Rapunzel's mother.
I saw her about to leave, and immediately I ran and knocked out one of the fishmongers and took her place. "Madam...! Could you please buy my fish? I've been fishing all day," I said pleadingly, which attracted the attention of the women around me, except Margaret.
"You poor thing!"
"Here! I'll buy it all!"
"Where are your parents, love?"
The other women began to crowd around me, making it difficult for me to leave. And I could see Margaret walking away casually. "How apathetic..." I muttered, and slipped away from the crowd, I put on my red hood and immediately ran toward Margaret
I jumped over her head—summoned my shotgun, and immediately pointed it at her head. "This is a robbery. Don't move or make a sound."
Margaret's expression changed instantly. She raised her hands, and before more witnesses could arrive, I quickly led her into a dark alley. Margaret was scared, her legs were shaking, and she was already sweating cold. "Please! Don't hurt me! I have a daughter at home!" She begged, her voice trembling.
I pointed the shotgun at her head and said, "If you don't fight back, I won't do anything to you."
Great. This way, I could keep Margaret captive as long as I wanted, and Alice would definitely think I was a genius.
Elsewhere, a girl was wailing, "You shouldn't be here, Alice! What would happen if my mother found you?!"
"Rapunzel, calm down," said the girl with diamond-blue eyes, gripping the shoulders of the girl with long blonde hair in front of her. "If we get out of here, we'll help you find the one you love."
"No way! If my mother finds out, she'll punish me!" Rapunzel's hands trembled with fear.
"But... what if your mother doesn't find out?" The words left Rapunzel speechless, unable to respond. "Let's get out of this cage."
"And enjoy the world that's unfamiliar to you!"