Curse Reverse

Rose

"The woods."

"The woods?", he asked, slightly shocked.
"Forgive me, but that is a dangerous place. Any place you wish, except there.", he requested.

I was still a bit confused. I felt like there was an urge for me to go to the woods. I was unfamiliar of any place as well. But..

"U-umm.. Yes! The city! I'll take you there. You'll love it."

Though disappointed, I nodded. His enthusiasm cheered me up somehow.

The neat white stallion that we mounted ran hastely and beautifully as well. I gently brushed its smooth hair with my fingers.

"Pretty Josephine.", I whispered.

"She likes you. That's rare.", Blue inserted.

"Maybe because you match. Both a beauty..", he added in a slight timid voice.

That surprised me. "Tha-that's not true!", defensive words slipped through my mouth in great abashment. But come to think of it, how dare he compare me to a horse. Hilarious! Anyways..

"Hahaha! How cute." His eye-smile showed as he giggled. I stared at him. What a beautiful creature. He turned to me, catching me gazing upon him. My eyes widened and I immediately bowed my head and held his stomach tighter, refusing his gaze.

Somehow I have this creepy feeling that I can tell he's grinning. I felt my cheeks burn up. Subconsciously, a smile stretched on my face.

I should stop myself from this nonesense!

For about a quarter minute, Josephine slowed her pace down. The city was already in sight.

Near the entrance, Blue unmounted Josephine. He suddenly stretched his arms towards me. His face was so close. I was feeling uneasy.

I was about to protest when he grinned as he pulled my magentalic red cape, wrapping it around me and covered my face with its hood.

"The princess should stay hidden in order to avoid attention from the crowd."

He then pulled Josephine's rope as we slowly walked towards the gates of the city.

"Welcome to the City of Imanity!"

I was still mounting Josephine while Blue hiked as we strolled throughout the city. I looked in different directions. Vendors, shops, merchants, food stalls, markets were to be seen in different corners. The people seemed lively. We stopped by a fruit stand. Blue bought an apple and slowly threw it to me. I caught it anyways.

"You're well now.", he smiled and took his first bite of his apple.

We rested for a while. Looking around and enjoying the joyous view, a person hiding from a corner of an alley caught my eyes. He wore a brown cape. I knew he was looking at my direction. Then he immediately pulled his hood down covering his face more, making me unable to recognize him. He turned back and walked away.

"Creep.", I murmured, munching an apple.

"Shall we go?", Blue stood up and offered his hand to assist me. I nodded and mounted Josephine once more.

In the middle of that city was a charming circular fountain. Josephine walked towards it to drink water. There was a nearby flower shop. I was attracted by the bloody red rose sold there. I kept staring at it.

"Wait here, 'kay?", Blue excused himself.

After a minute, I heard a man shouting..

"STOP! YOU THIEF!" The man grabbed a stone. He must've been referring and aiming for that rusty-looking kid bringing a bag and is currently running towards..

My direction!

The kid dodged the attack, and just ran by, escaping to an alley. The stone hit Josephine's back instead. In great shock, the poor stallion that I was currently mounting, neighed loudly and ran towards nowhere!

"HEEELP!", I screamed as I held tightly. No good! I was about to fall. I was so afraid, I closed my eyes. But instead of the cold hard cemented road to hit my back, I felt soft arms carrying me.

I slowly opened my eyes and in front of me was the face of a young man wearing a brown hood. He was that guy from before! From my view, I was still able to see his face. He had deep jet-black eyes, fuzzy brown hair and firm lips. For some reason, it feels like I have met him somewhere.. sometime.

He stared at me with his painfully worried look. What a familiar look.

"A-", I was about to speak when a sudden pain struck my head. It was aching bad.. So bad.

"Aagghh", I mourned while squeezing my temples and grabbing my head. God, it was atrocious! This has happened before. Back at the castle when I was starting to..

Remember things.

"Veronica!"

I heard Blue's voice screaming for my name. The hooded man raised his head towards the direction of Blue's voice as well. He then immediately placed me down and ran off swiftly.

"Wait!", I begged. He never paused or looked back but I knew my voice reached his ears. Blue then rushed towards me. He was running with his gentle yet worried look. He stopped, knelt, bowed his head in exhaustion and held my shoulders with both his arms. On his right hand was a bouquet of red roses. Though they were ruined probably because of his hastety sprint. He was still catching his breath. He took one deep last breath and raised his head to face me.

"You worried me!" He nonhesistantly hugs me tightly. I was starting to tear up from everything that just happened.

"B-" Before I was able to speak, he held me even tighter. His hands gently brushed me from my neck and caressed my hair. For some reason.. the pain in my head went away. Slowly.. slowly.. I became so sleepy. I felt myself fall into unconsciousness.