Twisted Wishes - When Fairytale Dreams Turn Dark

Chapter 5: Lost in the Pages

With a clear head I trudge on.

I see signs flashing the bracelet around Greta's wrist and something gnaws at me. Like I'm overlooking something.

But it doesn't matter because I will never see her again. And I don't know if that makes me happy or not.

It's like I've entered a different world. But that's ridiculous.

Such a thing is not possible at all.

An animal howl breaks the peace and makes my heart skip a beat.

Was that a wolf?

I run to a tree and start climbing. A rustle echoes below me and something pops out of the bushes.

A boy looks around wildly as if he is looking for something. A long dagger is clutched in his hand.

Anxiety gnaws at me. He has to get out of there or else that wolf will come here.

"Psst! You there!" I bend over so far that I am almost horizontal. Then my butt have no grip and I fall down.

The moment the boy looks up, I fall on him and feel something crack beneath me.

Panic sets in and I jump up. I move every part of my body to see if I have broken anything and if not I turn to the boy.

He's sprawled out on the grass and a painful-looking stain spreads across his right shoulder.

His shirt is all torn but the strokes are long. As if they were made by claws.

His black hair falls in front of his eyes and his rhythmic breathing shows that he is unconscious.

The black lip piercing accentuates his sharp itchy bones and full lips. Black ink can be seen on the side of his neck, depicting a piece of a full moon and something else.

The bushes rustle again and I start walking.

To stop afterwards.

Shit, I can't just leave him.

I turn back and grab his hands to drag him into the bushes, which isn't easy as he weighs almost a ton.

Finally he has completely disappeared and then there are three men in front of me. They all wear construction workers' clothes and as soon as they get to me they come to me.

"Where is he?" The man in front waves his hammer at me.

I stiffen and refuse to look over my shoulder. "Who do you mean?"

The second man stands next to his friend. "That beast that prowls around here."

"You mean the wolf?" My body is stiff. I thought I was just imagining it, but when the men nod together, a shiver runs down my body. "I only heard him. In that way." I point to the direction they just came from. The three immediately run in that direction, without giving me another glance.

I turn to the bushes and poke the boy in the side. My eyes keep wandering around the area.

When there is no movement in the body, I raise my arm and smack his cheek with the back of my hand.

His head swings to the side and his eyes pop open. Slowly his hand goes up and his fingers run over the red spot.

His green eyes darken and he raises his upper lip. A growl escapes him and my stomach turns.

When he sees me, a questioning look crosses his face. I grab his shoulder and help him up.

Sweat collects under my armpits and above my eyebrows. "We have to get out of here." Without thinking I pull him by the arm.

He pulls away and raises a sharp eyebrow.

A frustrated sigh escapes me. "You have it your way. There's a wolf around here somewhere so I'm leaving."

The corner of his mouth twitches and he crosses his arms over his broad chest. "A wolf? Where?"

I purse my lips and narrow my eyes. He likes this way too much. Although the three men also went after that beast without a care.

A flash catches the corner of my eye and my gaze darts to his wrist. I grab the bracelet and hold his arm up for a closer look. Greta had exactly the same and -as I now remember- just like Hansel.

My eyes go up and I only now realize how close we are. His chest gently rubs against mine and our faces are so close together I can feel his breath on my lips. The other corner of his mouth also lifts and he grins his white teeth.

"How did you get this?"

The boy shrugs.

Frustrated, I study the thing again. A small inscription is visible near the clasp and I bring it closer to my eyes.

A star with an eye.

I stumble backward and slide farther away from him when he tries to help me. The smile is off his face and in its place is a confused expression.

He takes 3 steps towards me and I crawl back 3 times.

"That bracelet," I blink quickly and swallow the lump in my throat before I can speak further. 

"That star. They stand for the book." I grab my hair and shake my head violently. All the pieces fall into place.

Hansel, the girl with the golden hair and three bears, I am in the stories.

I am in the book.