The Cursed Princess Club fanfic: The Secret of The Plaid Family

Ch.19

He's in a brightly lit room. The walls, covered with books, stretch miles above his head. His body rocked gently back and forth as he felt each wave lap at the hull of his mind home. He should feel scared, but he doesn't. Serenity had nestled itself in the conclaves of his soul and murmured its assurance to his fibers.

This was ok. He was safe.

Libraries had always served as a place of sanctuary for the teen, An escape from the bullies, the expectations, and his father. A voice made him turn his head, but he saw no one, only more books. The hushed voices scratch softly at his ears seemingly coming from the shelf. He leans in, thinking that the sound was emanating from the other side touching a book as he did. A song cleanly cuts into his brain; a song the boo hag remembers. It was a silly ditty he had made up as a child. A smile is brought to his face at its recollection. He touches another tome, hearing more past voices and feeling their preserved emotions stir his heart. He laughed at some humorous ones, rolled his eyes at some boring ones, and growled at ones from military school. But there were some that he touched that made him pause because they seemed to stir no memory at all. Their emotions were there but they came in faint pulses like the beating of a weak heart.

Suddenly, a frigid breeze snaps across his neck, coaxing a shiver from him. He rubs at his arms as he feels his heart sinks; the warm comforting air rushes out in an instant, leaving a cold void. He catches something in the corner of his vision and turns to see that a hall of the brightly lit library was submerged in shadow. At first glance, it appeared to be stagnant like a light had just been snuffed out. But after a few seconds of staring at it, Frederick saw that darkness was inching slowly toward him devouring the light as it did. His heart rate quickened as he took some steps back. The mass, seemingly responding to his movement, shot out its jagged dark fingers and stabbed at the wood floor making a loud crack.

The sound was like a starter pistol to him because it got him running. The books blurred into hazy streaks as he shot down the hall urged on by the piercing cracks that echoed through the room. Then in a second the scenery changed; Books melted into a drab green wallpaper and shelves morphed into an oak boarder. He was now darting through a hallway that was dimly lit and growing darker with each move the shadow bulk made. He couldn't have cared less. All that mattered was getting away from that thing. With its snarled fingers that ached to tear into him and pull him apart down to his essence. He ran faster heart pounding in his chest pressing up against his ribs with each thud.

Then he hears someone.

"Hey! This way!"

He turns and sees another hallway had magically manifested to his right. Silhouetted by the dim light, was a tall girl in knee length dress and long riding boots. She was waving him over and it only took a quarter second of thought before he darted to her. They both sprint down the hall; their footsteps echoing around them somehow overshadowing the cracks of the faceless beasts own noise. Against his better judgement, he looks back. The writhing darkness still follows them closely and from its depths he can see a pair of solid white eyes. In that moment, something strange takes place. While he is terrified, his new companion is less so. Before his eyes, she sticks out her tongue and blows a wet raspberry at the thing. Despite himself, a giggle burst through his lips. The action brings back a familiar feeling; one he felt when he fooled the nobleman in the village so long ago. A giddiness that made him bubble with energy. The girl turns to him and gives a slight nod. The she takes his hand. They turn a corner and are greeted by sunlight emanating from a set of French doors; its warm reach chased away the darkness. Empowered by it, Frederick lets out a happy yell. He turns to the girl and is greeted by a sight that slows the world down. Her hair, wild and long, glowed in the light like fresh buttercups in spring. Her eyes twinkled with a nervous delight like a child going on an amusement park ride by themselves. Frederick felt a torrent of emotion rise to his chest as he stared at the girl with his face.