It was unmistakable. It was her. Ally's blond, wavy hair, poofy sleeves, and soft face were so different from everyone else. She was so shocked, she couldn't even move. Well, perhaps there was someone else in the land that looked like her. But no. It was her. And every second she stared at it she was more and more convinced of that. She took a shaky step back, almost stomping on someone's foot. Ally heard a rough shout. The moment before she could move again, a cold hand clasped onto her wrist. The person dragged her back into the trees, her legs stumbling into each other. She wasn't even really walking, just trying to move her feet. The whole time she gaped at the board, wondering how on Earth they knew what she looked like. What startled her more was that she was already a criminal. Ally had barely even been there an hour.  

The person gripping her swung her around so as to face them. They wore a black hooded cape, which concealed most of them. They clasped their hand on her shoulder and pushed the hood up, just a bit. She could see their face. Her heart fluttered, and she scolded it. She had never liked any guys, and wasn't about to start doing that. 

"Are you an idiot?!" He whisper-yelled. His voice was odd, but in good way. It sounded half-American, half-British, but a little more British. His eyes were a stunning shade of blue, but a bit of green too, like teal. Just like the Shadow Dragon's . . .

"No," she mumbled. "I'm over average," Ally thought it was kind of funny, but clearly, he did not. 

"If any of them recognized you, they might've turned you in!" The boy said, urgently. He looked about a year or so older than her.

"Is that good or bad?" she asked, utterly confused. 

"Bad. Very bad," he concluded. 

"Well, how do you know?"

"I-" he paused and gave an angry sigh. "I just do, okay?"

"Have you ever been, um, turned in?" Ally wondered aloud, not sure what to say or do.

"Uuugggghhh, why would you want to know?" He ran his free hand slowly down his face. After, he caught a sidelong glimpse to the side, and dragged her farther into the trees. 

"Okay, um, why am I here?" She decided to switch the topic.

"What do mean?"

"Like, why was I magically flashed here? To this land?"

"Everyone here has a purpose, that's why they're here."

"Well," she paused, and said quietly, "does it usually hurt? Physically?"

"Only if . . ." His voice trailed off, and his eyes glazed over.

"Only if what?" She demanded.

"Only if you have . . ." Again with the trailing.

It was her her turn to sigh. "Well then, how do I get home?"

"That's classified information."

"Are you in the gorvernment? Do you know?"

"No and . . . maybe."

"You do!" She jumped, "tell me!"

"No!"

"Yes!"

"No!"

"Why not? I deserve to go home, and everyone else does too! Tell me!"

"If I told you, or anyone else, they'd go insane from the effort. You can't just get back home. It takes time."

"Why?"

"What is with you and questions?" He grumbled. "I said I can't tell you."

"Fine. Then what's your name?"

He hesitated. "You can call me Shad."

"That sounds completely believable." Ally said, crossing her arms.

"It's a nickname."

"Then mine is Bob."

"No, it's not."

"Oh yeah? It's Bob." 

"No, your name is Ally."

"What!? I didn't even tell you!"

"Who says you didn't?"

She stomped her foot. "Well then, how is this world magic? Are you?"

"Almost everyone is," Shad rolled his eyes.

"Then what do you do?"

"I never said I was."

"Well, let's say you are. What do you do?" 

"I make rainbows," he said sarcastically.

"And I eat live deer."

"I bet you do."

"Ragghhh! Why am I here? And wanted? Please, tell me how to get home!"

"You're here because you have a part to play, just like me, and everyone else."

"And the poster?"

"Let's just say, the queen has people that can see a 'threat'."

"Why am I one? And what about you?"

He said the next sentence so quietly, she could only just barley pick it up, "because you could ruin her plans."

"Her plans?"

"Queen Sugarblood has taken over a lot of this realm. If she gets--when she gets--someone that is very powerful, she'll take their gifts and power."

"Sugarblood? That doesn't sound very scary."

"She doesn't seem so scary until you see what she's done for yourself. So I advise you avoid contact with everyone else as much as possible."

"Is there something bad about them?"

He glanced over his shoulder again. "No, but if they turn you in, that would be bad."

Ally wimpered. "What would she do to me?"

"That depends on how much she hates you."

"She h--" Ally was interrupted by a loud, angry shout, "they went that way!"

"Come on!" Shad grabbed her wrist, sprinting at top speed. She had no choice but to follow. Ally looked behind her. Big men in black armor were running after them, cutting any shrubbery that came in their path with large swords. They did not look very friendly.

Ally and Shad weaved through the trees, reaching the river. The water bubbled, the mud sucking as their feet sunk into it. They lifted them with deep squishing sounds, and plunged in the river, running as hard as they could. The water swirled around their shoes, wetting her dress and his cape. Ally looked up at him, his hood starting to fly off. His pure black hair whipped behind him as the wind pushed them towards their chasers. He looked like he knew he could do something, but was refusing to do so. 

So, she screamed, "do something!"

"I--" one of the angry guys snatched his cloak, the clasp rising to his throat. He was stopped, and risin into the air. She tried to pry his hand from her wrist, but it clung on, so she was stuck there, too. Shad hung in the air, looking like a cat that had been just picked up by a little kid. Her feet dragged, the river pulling at them. 

The chasers laughed with triumph. "The queen will have great joy with this catch!" The one holding them wheezed. The rest agreed, some pulling thick ropes from their satchels. They crowded around them, tying their hands and ankles. Shad held onto her wrist, they tried to pull it away, but even they couldn't. So, they tied them together. It was probably the most most awkward and terrifying experience in Ally's life. 

Shad's eyes lit up, like he had an idea. Suddenly, the shadows from the men started to swirl, and they began to shout and tighten their grip. A loud clap sounded, and then the big men were left empty handed. Ally and Shad were gone.