Elisia took off running. She didn't know if Anson would follow her or not, but she was not taking any chances. She kept facing forward and ran for all she was worth. She couldn't let him catch her or she would never make it to Abdullah's.
Anson was beyond angry. No way was she going to humiliate him by offering herself as a prostitute to the man he had engaged his two daughters to. He would never live down the scandal. How could she do this to him he thought chasing her out the door. Well he would make sure that she never reached his house if he could help it. When he caught her he would lock her up and treat her like a disobedient wife should be treated. He would hate to do it, but he would treat her no better than a prostitute until she learned her place again. She would lose all status as his wife, and he would bring her before the town to disgrace her.
Meanwhile:
Meanwhile:
Charmaine ran for a while with no destination in mind. Where could she go? Now she kind of wished she hadn't left on an impulse. She wanted to go home, but her father would probably take her back to Abdullah's anyway. Should she risk it? Would her mother help her? She didn't know what to do.
Feeling alone and unsure of what to do, she pulled out her best friend Riley who she had since a little girl. Nobody believed that he was real, but he was. He did talk to her, but after getting whipped one time for telling her mother that "what her mother termed a whopper" she never told anyone again. He only would talk to her so she couldn't prove he was alive.
Charmaine: Riley, I don't know what to do. If I go back to father he will whip me and take me back to Abdullah in disgrace. Abdullah will give me worse than anything Dad could do to me. I can't go back to either place. Where can I go? I have to leave this town, but I don't know what is out there besides back home in Simerica. Riley I wish I knew what to do.
Riley wanted to chide Charmaine for being so impulsive, but knew that wouldn't help.
Riley: I wish I could walk like I can talk, and that I had your form as I would then take care of you. If I was like you, I would marry you and take you away. He sighed. But that is just a dream. I promise you that I will always be here for you in spite of your troubles. I think you need to find somebody to help you.
Charmaine: The people in this town won't help me. If they do they risk Abdullah's wrath for doing so, and even if I did find someone willing, I couldn't put them at risk like that. I know how horrible he is when he is angry. Oh how I wished I hadn't left. It was bad there, but at least I had a roof over my head. Now I am sitting on this cold sand shivering, with an empty belly and I am a little sleepy.
Riley: Why don't you go to the marketplace and I will tell you how to get some food. It will be risky, but I promise I won't let any harm come to you.
Charmaine: How would I get some food I have no money?
Riley: There are ways to get food without money you know.
Charmaine: You mean stealing?
Riley: Well how else?
Charmaine appalled: I could never do that! I may be on the run, but I am not like the urchins in the street. They have no morals and are filthy beasts. I will not stoop to their level.
Riley: Well pray tell how will you get something to eat then?
Charmaine: I suppose I could ask and I am sure some kind merchant would help me.
Riley: The same merchants who see these hungry urchins as you call them starving, and turn them into the religious police for daring to steal food to stay alive? I hardly think that they would help you. Besides they might wonder why a clean well bred child is begging for food. They might have heard how you ran away from Abdullah. I am sure Abdullah would offer a generous award for the return of his most beauteous fiancé.
Charmaine hated to admit it but he was right.
Riley: Look Charmaine you must keep going now. The night is waning soon and you have not gone near far enough to get yourself out of Abdullah's clutches.
Charmaine: Riley, I don't know what to do. If I go back to father he will whip me and take me back to Abdullah in disgrace. Abdullah will give me worse than anything Dad could do to me. I can't go back to either place. Where can I go? I have to leave this town, but I don't know what is out there besides back home in Simerica. Riley I wish I knew what to do.
Riley wanted to chide Charmaine for being so impulsive, but knew that wouldn't help.
Riley: I wish I could walk like I can talk, and that I had your form as I would then take care of you. If I was like you, I would marry you and take you away. He sighed. But that is just a dream. I promise you that I will always be here for you in spite of your troubles. I think you need to find somebody to help you.
Charmaine: The people in this town won't help me. If they do they risk Abdullah's wrath for doing so, and even if I did find someone willing, I couldn't put them at risk like that. I know how horrible he is when he is angry. Oh how I wished I hadn't left. It was bad there, but at least I had a roof over my head. Now I am sitting on this cold sand shivering, with an empty belly and I am a little sleepy.
Riley: Why don't you go to the marketplace and I will tell you how to get some food. It will be risky, but I promise I won't let any harm come to you.
Charmaine: How would I get some food I have no money?
Riley: There are ways to get food without money you know.
Charmaine: You mean stealing?
Riley: Well how else?
Charmaine appalled: I could never do that! I may be on the run, but I am not like the urchins in the street. They have no morals and are filthy beasts. I will not stoop to their level.
Riley: Well pray tell how will you get something to eat then?
Charmaine: I suppose I could ask and I am sure some kind merchant would help me.
Riley: The same merchants who see these hungry urchins as you call them starving, and turn them into the religious police for daring to steal food to stay alive? I hardly think that they would help you. Besides they might wonder why a clean well bred child is begging for food. They might have heard how you ran away from Abdullah. I am sure Abdullah would offer a generous award for the return of his most beauteous fiancé.
Charmaine hated to admit it but he was right.
Riley: Look Charmaine you must keep going now. The night is waning soon and you have not gone near far enough to get yourself out of Abdullah's clutches.
Charmaine hugged Riley. You are the only one who has ever loved me or tried to help me Riley. I love you so much. I will be with you forever. I would marry you if you were real. How I wish it was so.
Riley hugged her back and wished that somehow he could find a genie in a bottle to grant him the dearest wish of his heart. He wanted to be real so he could marry Charmaine and protect her forever from all who would harm her.
Riley hugged her back and wished that somehow he could find a genie in a bottle to grant him the dearest wish of his heart. He wanted to be real so he could marry Charmaine and protect her forever from all who would harm her.