"Whispers of the Enchanted Forest: Rita's Mysterious Odyssey"

Chapter 10

There was utter darkness until a light shined brightly. The presence of holiday decorations and the feeling of being in a cozy living room created a warm and comforting atmosphere.

"Honey." A motherly voice called out to me. "Honey, don't just sit there, go and open a present." I looked up. My mother.. She smiled at me.

I walked over to the Christmas tree and picked up the present with the peacock wrapping. Before I opened it, someone walked through the door.

"PAPA!" I shouted excitedly. I ran towards him and he lifted me in the air before hugging me.

"Merry Christmas princess. Say, have you opened a present yet?"

He asked me. "No." I replied giggling. Dad placed me down and gave me a present. "Here you go princess. Open it." I unwrapped it to find a wonderful surprise. "A Barbie doll house. I love it."

"A doll's house baby? Really?" My mother questioned with sass.

"Nothing too good for our 3 year old daughter." My dad kissed my mom and handed her a present. So shook her head and opened her present. She got an expensive peacock pendant. "How much did this cost?" She questioned him. "No amount of money can't be spent to make my family happy." I laughed.

"You didn't answer my question." She folded her arms.

"Baby, let me spoil you, my daughter and soon to be born son." He rubbed her belly. "That's right son. Your father will give you everything you possibly want and need."

"Now, who wants to go shopping? What do you say princess? A family shopping spree." I clapped my hands together and chuckled. "YES!" My dad nodded his hand in agreement "Then it's decided."

"We can't. i-" mom screamed in pain.

"Baby, what's wrong."

"Daddy, what's wrong with mommy." I was worried and so was my father.

"My water broke... MY WATER BROKE!"

My dad screamed in horror and excitement as I covered my ears. Sometime in the evening, we came home with my baby brother in my mommy's hand. "Ryūko, welcome to the family." Ryūko, my baby brother, was sleeping. He is so adorable.

"What a miracle. A Christmas baby and an Easter baby. God has really blessed us."

"Look, your baby brother." I looked at him and he was really small.

I smiled happily with my family. Suddenly, the house started to burn. There was smoke, ashes and crying of my baby brother. My mom ran outside and I saw the door. I ran behind her but I tripped and fell, twisting my ankle. My father picked me up and ran like Flash. Outside, we watch the house burn. I closed my eyes. Cold breeze blows. I opened my eyes to find a forest. Running, my feet started running. The man was chasing me again. I couldn't stop running. I ran off the cliff but the man caught me and started to choke me as he opened his mouth and I was sucked into a black hole.

I moved around violently when I suddenly woke up to find that I was in a large mansion filled with golden walls and a light green painted floor that was smooth. There were peacock paintings on the wall. The smell of freshly baked cookies roamed the air and I ran downstairs. In the kitchen, mommy was making my all time favorite cookies; chocolate chips. My 3 year old brother crawled in the kitchen. My brother may be two years apart but I still love him. Even though he's cried a lot.

"Ryūko, Rita, do you want a cookie?" I nod my head. "Yes mommy." My little brother sat on the ground clapping his hand with a smile on his face. Mom handed me a cookie and fed the cookie crumbles to Ryūko. Outside, in front of the house, I played with my brother. We were in a quiet place surrounded by a lake. When I looked back at the mansion, it turned into a wood cabin, I was confused. My brother hugged me and I hugged him back. He was so adorable.