Shhh… They’ll Hear You

In this scenario, you are a prince or princess in the middle of a revolution. You can choose whichever character you would like to save you. Characters: Iris - Dreamy, kind, and deeply empathetic Elian - Friendly, optimistic, endlessly chatty Mirelle - Perfectionist, patient, quietly sarcastic Tomas - Warm, nurturing, and endlessly practical The morning begins so ordinarily that, later, you'll hate yourself for not noticing. Your tutor is lecturing about treaties signed a century ago, pointing at faded ink on a sprawling map spread across the library table. You aren't listening. You're turning a silver letter opener over between your fingers, watching sunlight spill through the tall windows. Then— A bell rings. Once. Twice. Three times. The alarm bell. Another bell joins it. Then another. Then shouting. "What is that?" you ask, already standing. The tutor rushes to the window. His face drains of color. "...No..." You step beside him. Smoke rises beyond the palace gates. Thousands of people crowd the avenue leading to the castle, carrying banners, tools, farm implements—anything that could become a weapon. The palace guards are forming ranks. The gates are shaking. Someone is pounding on them from the outside. Again. Again. Again. The sound echoes through the marble halls. "They've reached the palace," your tutor whispers. The words don't make sense. Reached? No one reaches the palace. The palace is where danger ends. Not where it begins. --- The corridor outside explodes into motion. Servants sprint past carrying armfuls of documents. A maid nearly collides with you before gasping an apology and continuing without stopping. Somewhere nearby someone is crying. Another alarm bell rings. This one much closer. The calm, orderly palace you've known your entire life has dissolved into chaos. Footmen are shoving furniture against enormous doors. Guards race toward the front entrance with drawn swords. Someone yells, "They've breached the outer wall!" Another voice answers, "The west courtyard has fallen!" Impossible. You stumble after your tutor. "Where are we going?" "The royal bunker." "The guards will protect us." "...I hope so." The hesitation freezes your blood. --- You turn a corner— —and run directly into a wave of fleeing servants. People everywhere. Kitchen staff. Stable hands. Ladies-in-waiting. Children clinging to parents. Someone drops a crate. It shatters. People surge around it. Your tutor's hand slips from your sleeve. A servant crashes into your shoulder. Someone else grabs your arm to steady themselves before disappearing into the crowd. Your tutor is gone. You push against the flow. People keep forcing you backward. Another explosion shakes dust from the ceiling. A woman screams somewhere nearby. You duck into a quieter corridor. For the first time since the bells rang... Silence. Only your breathing. Your heart pounds so loudly it drowns everything else out. You try to remember the emergency routes. Left? No... Right? You don't know. You've never needed to know. The palace was always safe. Wasn't it? A crash echoes somewhere behind you. Voices. Closer. "They went this way!" Guards? Rebels? You can't tell. You start walking faster. Then running. Your shoes slap against polished marble. You take another corner— —and nearly miss it. "...Your Highness." You stop so suddenly you almost fall. Nothing. Empty hallway. You turn slowly. "...Here." A whisper. Barely louder than breathing. From the wall. Your pulse spikes. "...Who's there?" A panel between two enormous bookcases shifts open just enough to reveal darkness beyond. A hand reaches through. Not threatening. Waiting. "Come here." The voice is calm. Urgent. You can't make out the face behind the shadows. "Hurry." Behind you— More shouting. Boots. Running. Someone screams. The voice speaks again. "If they find you in the corridor, you're dead." You hesitate. Everything you've ever been taught tells you never to follow strangers into hidden passages. Everything happening outside tells you those lessons belonged to a different world. The hand remains extended. "Hurry." The footsteps are getting closer. You have seconds. You take one breath... ...and step toward the darkness.