Thorn in the Rose {Book 1 Of The Once Upon A Time Chronicles}

Chapter 13: Someone to Speak To

Trauma often leaves your mind frazzled. When you go through an experience that threatens your life (like being chased by a beast) your mind goes off track and becomes stuck in a loop. One where when you attempt to drift off into the peaceful state of sleep your mind refuses to let you have that peace by playing the terrifying event over and over and over again until eventually, you decide that staying awake is the better alternative.

As I lay in bed, the soft mattress underneath me slowly swallowing my tired and aching body into its gentle embrace I can't seem to manage to keep my eyes closed for longer than five seconds. I've always been one of those fortunate people who can fall asleep within seconds of climbing into bed, my often busy days which effectively drain all my energy are probably the main reason why I have such an ability. But, now even though I am beyond exhausted and in desperate need of sleep, I can't do it for more than five pathetic seconds at a time.

Each time my eyes close all I can see are bright flashes of pointy canines, and razor-like claws thrashing at me. I hear the roar of a beast and see the figure of the woman standing by the window looking out at me.

As terrifying as my experience with the once supposed prince now turned beast was it is the woman who I can't get out of my mind. I can't help but wonder if she was trying to signal me for help. Just because those other two people that I met seemed to be there willingly didn't mean she was. For all, I know that beast could be keeping her captive and those two strange people are helping him.

While a part of me fully believes that she is in desperate need of help another part of me thinks that she could be part of the merry band of weirdos living in that dark and gloomy castle. A small trickle of light pulls me from my thoughts. 

As the sun rises bringing with it a new day where despite the fact I was lost in the woods the day before I still have a job to do if I want to keep earning my own money and keep this roof over my head. Despite my exhaustion made worse by the lack of sleep I drag myself out of bed, slip on some clothes, and with slow and shaky steps head downstairs where none to my surprise Sophie is already running around wiping down tables with one hand while somehow folding cloths with the other. I am fully starting to believe that she has powers or something.

"Morning, I hope you slept well," she says in her cheery voice when she spots me.

I somehow manage to smile back at her and nod my head. I'm far too tired to speak right now.

"Well, that's good. You can head into the kitchen and start preparing the meat for the stew special tonight it needs to cook for a few hours so it falls off the bone."

With a curt nod, I head into the kitchen and start to prep the meat.

The echo of laughter resonates from outside which takes my attention away from the stock of meat and towards the backdoor that links with the kitchen. The handle shakes before it's twisted and the door is pushed open revealing Adrien and... Gaston.

"Oh hello, louve. I didn't know your specialities involved butchering meat." Adrien smirks as he points to the clever in my hand I'm using to cut up the large bovine piece I was supplied with.

"Your mother asked me to get this ready for the stew special," I reply quickly then go back to my work trying not to focus on the exhaustion that is creeping back.

"I thought you were joking when you said she worked here." I heard Gaston say to Adrien to which Adrien chuckled in response.

"You should have seen her the first time we met. She stuck a knife in my face."

"I thought you were an intruder," I quickly come to my defence, a little more aggressively than I meant to.

Both men looked at me wide-eyed at my outburst. This shock quickly washed away and was replaced by smirks like they were proud to get a rise out of me so quickly.