The Kidnapped Princess

"Serena! Hurry up or you'll be late for school!" Rini couldn't help adding," Again!"

"Alright you little brat, I'm coming!" Serena hollered back, as she joined Rini on the stairs and headed out the door. "Serena! You forgot your-" the door slammed shut- " permission slip." Serena's mother sighed. " 5,4,3,2,1.….."

Serena burst through the door. "Oops almost forgot my permission slip!"

"You wouldn't want to do that, you'd miss the field trip to the planetarium."

" Nope 'cause then I would miss my chance to see the moon up close and personal!" Serena said as she headed out the door for the second time.

"Serena? What's with this fascination with the moon all of a sudden? You've always hated school but when you heard about the moon special you just had to go."

"Umm… I gotta go mom I'll see you after school! Love you!" the door slammed shut behind her. Her mother sighed, "Oh Serena….."

"Rini? Rini wait! Wait for me!" Serena ran to catch up with her daughter.

"Yeesh for someone who's supposed to be my daughter and a princess you sure don't listen very we-"

" Oh stop picking on me Serena! That's all you ever do!" Rini snapped.

"What! That's not all I do!" Serena exclaimed

"Other than pig out on your moms cooking, yes you do! Why cant you ever be nice to me?"

Rini burst into tears of anger. Serena stopped in surprise.

" I'm sorry. I guess I do pick on you a lot." Serena bent to hug her, but Rini pulled away.

"Don't touch me," She cried angrily. "You don't even like me!" With an angry cry, Rini ran away as hard and as fast as she could, as far away from Serena as she could.

" Rini wait! RINI!" Serena ran after her and promptly tripped.

"HEY watch were you're- oh Darien! Its you. I'm glad I ran into you. There's something wrong with Rini!" Darien's face hardened.

" What happened? Serena tell me what happened!" And as Serena told what had gone down between the two girls, neither of them noticed the skulking shadow, lurking, waiting, and smiling its victory.

"Serena Ill try to talk to Rini later, but for now you need to get to school."

" Oh no! I have to go or Ill miss the planetarium!" This time when she ran she actually managed not to trip. "Don't forget to talk to Rini!", Serena yelled behind her. "Don't worry, I wont!" Darien yelled back. "Just hurry Serena!" She ran like she had never run before. "I… cant miss….this….field…. TRIP!" She yelled at her self she saw her school loom up ahead. The bus was still there, waiting. She smiled to herself but, didn't slow her pace. " I'm …..gonna ….make… IT!" She threw herself up the stairs on the bus just before the driver slammed the door and took off. She lurched to the back of the bus were Mina was saving her a seat. "Whew! Made it!" She muttered to herself as she collapsed in the seat.