Chapter 5

Snow

I 've never felt fear like this before in my life. So many different emotions are running through me. Betrayal that my father plans to kill me. His own daughter! I knew he wasn't a good man, but this? He's more of a monster than the ones who lurk in the woods.

Sorrow over the fact that I have to leave Regina behind. I asked her to come with me, but I should have tried harder, insisted that she join me. I've left her behind to defend herself. I only pray that her being the Queen grants her some mercy.

That leaves anger mixed with panic. I shouldn't have to run from my own home. I shouldn't be running to save my life.

But here I am, stumbling my way through the dark tunnels, bags tightly clutched in my arms.

A flashlight, darn it, why didn't I think of bringing one? Stupid, I'm so stupid.

Thankfully, I know these tunnels well enough. I feel the walls, letting them guide me. When I feel nothing but air, I know I'm where the tunnel breaks off. Left or right. Right will lead me deeper into the palace grounds, left is the way out to the forest.

So, I take the left.

After what feels like forever, I reach the exit. I slap my hand along the side of the door, looking for the latch that opens it.

"Come on!" I urge before finding it. With all my strength, I shove it open.

The moonlight hits my eyes, and I squint, needing a second for my eyes to adjust.

The wind howls widely, the rain stinging as it pelts against my face. I pull the hood of my cloak up before ducking my head to try and protect myself.

Of all the nights for a storm, why now, why tonight?

I do my best to shut the door in my haste to get away and take off into the woods.

What do I do? I can't find a place to ride out the storm; it leaves them time to search for me, to find me.

No, I have to keep going, I have to get as far away from here as I can.

I've never been in the forest this late at night with only the moonlight to guide my way. Even that doesn't offer me help as a cloud moves to block it.

Darkness. It's almost pitch black.

Looking at the palace behind me, I know that the path is somewhere around here. My eyes try to scan the area around me, but I can hardly see a few feet in front of me.

"No," I sob, heart pounding as my lungs scream for relief.

A shout behind me has me jumping in fear, forcing me to make my decision. So, I run.

Tears spill down my cheeks, mixing with the rain as I blindly make my way through the forest.

With no path to walk on, I stumble over fallen logs, sending me crashing to the muddy ground. I don't let it stop me, getting back up and pushing forward.

For hours, I run, only slowing down when the rain does and the sun starts to rise.

I'm so tired. My feet are cold, wet, and sore. My dress is soaked, ripped, and muddy. I'm a mess, a broken mess. I've never felt so defeated in my life.

Only when I know I have to be miles and miles away from the palace do I stop and allow myself rest.

I find a rock and climb upon it, crossing my legs and pulling one of the bags open. Grabbing an apple, I take a vicious bite, moaning as my stomach screams at me in hunger.

There's nothing Princessly about me right now as I take a water bottle, uncap it, and chug the contents until there's nothing left.

When my breathing settles, and my mind is a little more clear, I take a look around me.

All I can see are trees, trees, and more trees. I start to cry as I come to understand that I'm lost. I have no idea where the village is or where the nearest town is.

I could be deep within the forest by now. And that wouldn't be good. Because someone could easily get lost here for days— weeks.

And I don't have enough supplies for that. I only have a few changes of clothes and enough food for maybe a few days if I ration it.

As I sit here, crying, realizing just how grave my situation is, I wonder if I might have been better off just staying back at the palace. Maybe I could have talked to my father and made him a deal. I could have signed something that assured him that I wouldn't take the throne, that it was all his.

But that would have been wrong. My father doesn't care about the townspeople, but I do. If what Regina said is true, and I have no doubt it is, then that throne, this kingdom, is rightfully mine.

I can't, in good conscience, let my people suffer. No, I need to keep going. I can't run. Running would be giving up. What I need to do is find shelter and come up with a plan.

A plan to stop my father before he ruins everything. Before he forces Regina to do things she doesn't want to do.

The thought of him forcing himself on her makes me sick. I stare at the apple in my hand, half-eaten. I'm no longer hungry, but I force myself to finish, I don't have food to waste.

When I'm done, I toss the core and climb off the rock.

I wipe the tears that sting my eyes, shivering as I try and decide where to go. Looking up, I see the sun is rising to my left. That is east. The village is east of the castle; therefore, going in that direction might be my best bet.

So, I take a chance and follow the rising sun.

I'm cold, which is made worse by the wet fabric that clings to me. I pull off my sopping cloak and shove it into the bag of clean clothes. Thankfully, the warmth of the sun soothes my skin as I start my journey.

I'm not sure how long I've been walking before my head starts to spin, my eyes drooping. I need to rest, to get some sleep. There's no way I can continue on this way.

My legs are aching, feet throbbing. How stupid can I be to wear flats when running away through the woods.

After this, I may rethink my love for dresses and start wearing pants and shirts. And even get myself a pair of sneakers. All things I've never worn a day in my life.

Just as I'm about to take a break, I notice smoke in the air. It can't be the village, I know that area far too well.

But smoke means one of two things. It could be someone camping in the woods who made a fire. Someone who could help me find my way.

Or, it's a cottage. I know some people do live in these woods.

As I start to rush towards the smoke, using what little energy I have left, I pray that it's a cottage and I'm not about to walk into a trap of my father's men.

I trip over a few branches and rocks, catching myself on the trees as I go. It leads me up a little hill that I almost don't think I'm able to climb. But when I get to the top, I see it.

I laugh in disbelief. A cottage. A cute cottage nestled deep within the forest.

Seeing it gives me hope and relief. I take off running, nearly falling more than once. I don't care, I'm so close, I can't stop now.

I'm a panting mess as I clumsily come to a stop at the front entrance. Not caring how early it is, I start to pound on the door.

"Hello!" my voice is hoarse like I've been screaming for hours when this is the first time I've spoken all night. "Hello. Please. I need help. Anyone." I bang and bang, but no one comes to the door.

I'm weak, and I know I don't have much longer before I end up passing out. I try for the door handle, and I nearly sob with relief when I find it unlocked.

Pushing my way in, I stumble inside before closing the door behind me. Looking around, I see that it's bigger than it looks from the outside. It's like the cottage extends into the hillside next to it.

Everything looks so... large. Whoever lives here must be big people. Uncaringly, I drop my bags to the floor and start to pull off my dress until I'm in nothing but my undergarments, tossing my soiled clothes to the ground. I'll clean up later. Right now, I need a place to rest.

Making my way deeper into the cottage, I open the first door I see. It's a bathroom, and I groan in happiness as I rush to relieve myself. When I'm done, I quickly wash my hands and gasp when I see the state of my hair. It's a knotted mess. Oh well, it's a problem for another time.

My eyelids start to droop as I leave the bathroom and head into the next room. "Oh, thank goodness," I sigh when I see a big, cozy looking bed.

Climbing up, I pull the covers back and get under. I snuggle in deep, the warmth of the blankets settling over me. So soft, so comfy. This is exactly what I need.

Taking deep inhales of the blanket, the scent soothes me, almost like a drug. I feel high. Happy. Whatever this scent is, I like it. It's like a hug as it settles my body as well as my soul.

It takes no time before I'm slipping off into a deep sleep. I just pray that when whoever owns this cottage gets back, they don't hate me for intruding on their space.

It doesn't even cross my mind that I could be in danger, that whoever lives here could harm me. I'm too tired, and I'm not thinking straight.

And whatever this scent is, it's making me not have a care in the world. Making me feel that I'm safe, protected. It should alarm me, but I'm too far gone.