A Chance at A Fairytale

Unearthly

Yixing sighs in relief as he walks through the mirror.

"Rough day?" Jongdae asks, his eyes unusually serious.

Yixing shakes his head and follows behind as Jongdae leads him towards the town.

Baekhyun looks up from behind the counter and grins.

"Yixing!" He leaps off the seat and swings himself round the counter to land in front of Yixing.

"I have a surprise for you but it will have to wait till tonight."

Yixing smiles and greets Baekhyun.

"So what's in store for today?"

He turns to Jongdae whose face still hasn't changed expression.

"I'm taking to the parts of the forest Baekhyun didn't bring you to yesterday. The ball starts earlier today. Apparently, the princes want more time with their guests."

Yixing blinks and flushes a little at the thought of Kris.

They head out to the stables and rent horses.

"Why so serious today Jongdae?" Yixing teases, settling deeper into the saddle as they start up the path into the forest.

Jongdae stiffens.

"I'll tell you soon."

Yixing notes the serious tone in Jongdae's voice and frowns.

They ride in silence down the path and Jongdae relaxes a little.

The forest is eerily silent for an afternoon and Yixing worries that something bad is about to happen. The part of the forest that Jongdae has brought him to is dark with barely any sunlight breaching the thick cover of leaves overhead.

Yixing distracts himself from the feeling of impending doom by tapping into his artist side and admiring the unique shapes of the leaves and the lush greenery all around him.

Jongdae shortens his reins and his horse halts in front of a curtain of willow branches.

He turns to look at Yixing.

Yixing blinks at him in bewilderment.

"Come."

Jongdae dismounts and murmurs something into the horse's ear.

Yixing slides off his horse ungracefully and grips the reins, looking worried.

"What's going on?" He asks, brows furrowing into a frown.

"We go on foot from here."

Jongdae gestures for Yixing to drop the reins and follow him.

Yixing hesitantly obeys and steps through the curtain of branches.

He is taken aback by how dark it is inside the cover of the willows.

"Jongdae?" He calls uncertainly.

There is no answer and he backs up, trying to find his way out.

He reaches behind him, expecting to feel the soft branches behind him but there is nothing.

He spins around and gapes at the darkness.

The branches had been there. He was sure of it.

"Jongdae?"

He calls again, a little frightened now.

A little blue glow lights up before him.

He stares as it hovers in midair, floating every so slightly closer to him.