too late (Thia)

School went by mostly the same as it usually did, except for pre-Christmas break test time getting closer. I was only just nine but I was clever and curious. My birthday was the fifth of November and the tests started at the end of November. Everyone said I was smart and I liked to show it too, so whenever test times came close, I'd stay behind after school to study for them. When everyone else but the teachers had left, I'd be in the library, reading, or looking something up online. I know people said it wasn't safe for me to be out alone but I wasn't overly concerned. If the true-beeins had got the technology working, they weren't doing much with it. There'd been a few minor robberies and kidnappings but nothing much else and I'd always make sure I was back before dark.

This time, it was different. Perhaps I was a bit too curious. When I left of the school and began walking along a little bit, I began hearing faint voices. I stopped to listen. It sounded like two men were having an argument around the corner. I tip-toed closer. Around the corner, there was a little alleyway with few lights. No one ever walked down there, least of all late at night, except to use it as a short cut if they really had to. But it wasn't night yet, so I wasn't afraid. These two men were clearly not using it as a short cut.

"Hello?" I called out, turning the corner cautiously.

The voices stopped. When I looked fully around the corner, the alley was empty. I looked around, walking a little down the alley, then I heard a voice behind me.

"Well, hears a pretty little prize."

I turned around in shock. There was a tall man standing at the end, all clad in metal armour, from boots to collarbone. I didn't have to guess to realise that armour was part of our upgrade.

"She's too small and scrawny for us to bother." Said another voice. This one was fat, and strong. He had a length of rope in his hand, holding it like a whip.

"Don't you know who this one is?" the tall one said. "This is the commander's little bitch." He walked closer to me. "People are calling you the princess around this city. Did you know that?"

I was barely listening. I wanted to scream, to run but my voice seemed to have left me and my legs, which were usually so fast, had completely failed. These men were kidnappers, I knew, and now they wanted to kidnap me…

The tall man moved closer still. Out of nowhere I found my voice. "You know who my father is. Then you should know he'll find me. He'll come for you." I wanted it to sound threatening but I don't think it did and it certainly didn't work.

"I hope he does."

I shook my head and began to move backwards, when the fat man came up behind me and grabbed me under the arms, forcing me upwards. Before I could cry out, he put his mailed hand over my mouth and then he had his back to the side of the alley, holding me in front of him, with the tall man in front of me. I wanted to fight. I tried to. First, the fat man put a rope around my mouth, so he didn't have to hold it shut. Next, he did my hands, tying them first to each other, then to my legs.

After that, all he had to do was hold me still while the tall man tied my legs.

When it was done, the tall man went away for a while and came back with a small sack.

"Well, it wouldn't do for the city to recognise their princess."

I tried to fight. The fat man was still holding me against the wall. Please I wanted to cry. No, please, don't. But what could I do. I was just a girl of not yet ten and I'd fought enough.

No, a voice inside me said, after they'd put the sack over my head and the fat man had hauled me over his shoulder. A few seconds later, I felt them plonk me down on the floor of some van. Your more than that the voice spoke again you are the daughter of Annubuss Crugga. The Shadows daughter. The Princess of the city. And you will never stop fighting.

'I will never stop fighting.' I promised in my head back to them.