A Fear of Love

Exhaustion turned the sky red and fumbled footsteps. But it was a good exhaustion--the exhaustion of a job well done and a promise of more exhaustion to come. Cat smiled as she stumbled through the dank alleyways to her apartment and dinner. Cat, her skirts swirling as she walked, had been named for the fingernails she kept long and the way she bristled when strangers touched her, rented out a small apartment that was barely one room on the outskirts of the slums. Even the fact that she had to walk through the worst part of these selfsame slums couldn't dim her excitement at the prospect of a real job at the Hungry Boar. Serving wouldn't be fun, but it would be safe and the pay was adequate. Unfortunately, before Cat could think overlong on this good fortune, the smelly rag that was thrust over her mouth and nose turned her thoughts to dust and the world black.
~ ~ ~
Cat awoke in a lavishly decorated room, on the softest bed she could ever have imagined. The room was shaped like an "L", with the bed in one alcove and a small sitting area and entrance in the other. Hearing the door open, Cat sat up. The room lurched and swam, and Cat could feel her stomach rebelling. Lurching to her feet she groaned "I'm gonna be sick..." The stranger, proving to be male and rather strong, half-carried Cat to the bathroom, where she threw up the meager contents of yesterday's lunch. Still heaving, Cat realized that the man behind her was stroking her hair. Shooting to her feet, Cat stumbled backwards through the room until she reached the bed. Glaring at him she demanded "who are you! What do you want with me?" Remembering suddenly the night before, she gasped out "Ye--ye kidnapped me!"
Chuckling at her antics, the man stepped forwards. He was tall--maybe a foot taller than Cat's five foot five, and handsome. Somewhat shaggy brown hair fell to broad shoulders, which topped a muscular chest--muscles that continued on down the rest of his body. Watching her examination of his body, the stranger smirked. "Yes, and a good bit of work it was, too." Cat lunged at him, swiping her nails at his face. caching her wrists in midair, the man smiled at her. "That's no way to act, Cat," shaking his head at her as if she were a small child misbehaving. He knew her name! Cat froze, waiting to see what he would say next. "Since I know all about you already, why don't I introduce myself," he suggested. "I am Prince Alexander the Fifth of L'nolla" he announced in regal tones. Cat yanked her hands out of the prince's and scrambled back into the space between the bed and the wall. Huddled in the corner, she began to shake. Fear dried her mouth and made her limbs seize up. The prince was known throughout the streets as a major power--in fact the only power, to be feared by all. It was rumored that he stole pretty girls from inside their bedrooms and brought them up to the palace to torture and rape. Seeing him, Cat believed it.
Cat squeezed her eyes shut, then cracked them open again. He had stepped closer. She closed her eyes again. Even knowing what was to come, she didn't want to see the hand raised to slap or punch, or the foot moving to kick her hard in the ribs. Instead, Cat felt a warm hand rest itself on her shoulder. She cringed, expecting to be hauled to her feet and off to the dungeons. Inside her head, thoughts of pain flew in circles. Just by moving away from the prince she had probably earned herself one hundred lashes, or a week without food. Curling up and closing her eyes would simply add to the cost she had to pay.
The hand didn't move. Cat could feel the warm breath of the prince by her ear. "You're safe here, Cat. I am not going to hurt you." he murmured soothingly. Fear rearranged the words into messages more sinister, and Cat whimpered once more. The prince glanced around the room, as if hoping some miraculous comfort would spring out from behind a door or chest where it had been hiding. Heaving a sigh, he looked back at Cat. Wrapping his arms around her, he lifted her up onto the bed and tucked the covers back around her. "Sleep tight," he whispered softly, and left.
~ ~ ~
Laying in bed awake, Cat organized plans for escape. Finding her way through the palace without being seen would be difficult, but there must be people carrying things in and out; she could simply follow someone going out, she considered. Once she was outside she would be practically free! There would surely be some easy way through the wall surrounding the palace, what with servants and others going in and out all day. Just as soon as her ears told her the hallway was completely empty, she would go.
~ ~ ~
Late that night, after hours of listening and one of feigned sleep when the prince came back to check on her, Cat sneaked out of the room. Sneaking out of the palace, however, proved to be a much more difficult feat. Hearing voices, Cat would peak around the corner, only to go running for cover when she realized that the speaker was coming in her direction, or worse yet--was a guard. Finally, Cat found herself in an abandoned hallway. Grateful for the momentary respite, she followed it, turning corners ever so often, until she reached a dirty alcove that had obviously not been dusted in months, if not years. Sitting for a moment with her head against the grimy wall, Cat considered her route. Suddenly frantic, she realized that she couldn't remember the order of the turns she had taken; right, left, left, right...put what after that? Jumping to her feet, cat ran back the way she had come.
At precisely the moment that Cat was realizing she had no idea where she was, Prince Alexander discovered her absence. Calling for guards, he told the captains "Find her. Tell everyone off duty--servants too, to search their domain. The guards, worried about the undecipherable look on the prince's face, hastened to obey. Hours later and nearly into the next evening, the guard captains reported her not found, and Cat realized she was truly and irrevocably lost.
Sinking down to the floor, Cat contemplated death. Remembering her lunch from three days before, she thought starvation wasn't really a bad way to go; not if the exhaustion that went with it let you die in your sleep. It was worse, knowing that you would die and hoping that no one brought you food.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------This is the first story I've posted quite like this. Tell me if you like it! If I get mostly bad reviews, I may not continue to post. Thanks!
ps--does anyone know how to get the paragraphs to indent?