And it all Went Wrong

P A R T | 3

WINTER HUMMED QUIETLY, making sure nobody heard her roaming around alone in the palace corridors. She couldn't afford being caught. The last time she had snuck out to see Jacin, she had gotten a long lecture from her guards, scolding her on her wrongdoings. And it was guaranteed that it would be worse if she were to be caught now, when the palace was on lockdown.

Clutching the basket harder, she stopped in front of the door to the cages and took in a deep breath. Today the visit would be better. Today the girl with the red curls would be her friend. Winter put on a smile and skipped in. "Good morning, sunshine!" she chirped, walking to Ryu and patting his fur through the bars, before going to sit on her knees in front of Scarlet, her dress fanned out around her. She pressed her nose to the bars, part of her face seeping into the cage. "Are the nightmares gone?" she asked in a hushed whisper.

The girl cowered away, going as far from Winter as her cage allowed her. Her big brown eyes were wild as they searched around the menagerie. Finally she calmed down, giving in to the fact that she was still in there. She crossed her arms and scoffed. "What? No guards today? Is that so they don't see you when you finally kill me?" Winter frowned, Scarlet's words hurting her.

She felt a strange tingling come up her leg...

She shook her head. "Of course not."

... Up her arm...

"I would never harm a friend."

... And onto her shoulder...

She turned her head warily to the right, her nose touching the fur of a malicious tarantula. She blinked, and turned back to Scarlet. "But, I truly am concerned. Are the nightmares gone?"

The girl shifted in her cage, her movements making sounds against the metal. "It's none of your business," she mumbled looking down. Her legs were crossed in front of her, her hands in her lap. She inspected her pinky-less hand and groaned.

"What other things are friends for if not being concerned for each other's well-being?" Winter asked, confused, tilting her head, touching the arachnid. But Scarlet didn't seem to ask about the brown tarantula, which could only mean she was just not afraid of spiders. Or that it was just another illusion. Winter frowned.

Scarlet scoffed, crossing her arms across her chest. The fabric of her red hoodie was caked with dust and dirt. "Lots of others, princess. You make it way too obvious you never had any friends."

Winter offered her a small smile. "Would you like me to ask the royal staff to wash your red hoodie?" Scarlet glared, getting a disappointed sigh out of Winter. This visit was not any better. She thought that after the visit from last week, the one where she had given Scarlet the note, she would have been more open to her. But no. She tried again, "I never said I hadn't ever had any friends, Scarlet."

"You don't seem like you'd have any."

Winter held back a frustrated groan. Not this conversation again. Winter sighed and began her explanation. "Jacin Clay just happens to be a very close friend of mine, Scarlet. I don't know what I'd do without him," she admitted. "And Selene and I used to be friends. At least before she died in that fire." She wiped a tear away, before it could reach the three scars on her cheek. She leaned forward again. "Jacin tells me she's not dead. And I believe him."

Scarlet looked down, and it was silent for a few moments. Winter sighed, taking out the box in her basket. As she opened it, taking off the lid, a small voice asked, "I thought you said they were coming."

Winter had never seen the girl look so afraid and vulnerable. She set the box inside her cage and brushed a black curl out of her face. "Well, Scarlet, I don't know about you, but I think patience is the most important thing to have in hard situations."

"How would you know? You're a princess, probably the most flattering on Luna. You wouldn't know a thing about hard situations," Scarlet spat, her eyes filling with anger and sadness.

Winter frowned, then smiled. "I'm insane," she stated simply and cheerfully.

The redhead rolled her eyes. "Everyone knows that, Winter."

That was progress, at least. She had never acknowledged her by her name. Winter smiled, and continued. "My father passed when I was small," she said, keeping the tears away from her eyes. Scarlet didn't say anything, and Winter took it as an opportunity to continue. "My stepmother hates me, I suppose you could say."

"She hates everyone."

Winter pursed her lips. "Well, yes. But..." She trailed off. There really were no buts. Levana hated everyone, some people more than others, and there was nothing else to it. "What about you? I'm in a 'lets share our feelings and thoughts' sort of mood." She leaned forward, her legs crossed, and propped her elbows on either of her knees, her palms pushing the skin of her face upwards.

Scarlet kept her gaze down, and Winter thought it would be just like every other day, that she wouldn't say anything. That she'd keep everything to herself again, and just let it all out when Winter was gone. But instead, Scarlet let out a deep breath, some of her curls blowing around. She shifted in the cage and leaned her head against the bars, her eyes closed, her freckled nose wrinkled. "I've been through a lot of hard situations," she stated with an uncomfortable one second laugh. Her big eyes opened. She motioned to the menagerie with her right hand. "Starting with the fact that I'm in a cage with practically no food and no bathroom."

Winter looked at the box she had placed inside. "I brought you hard-candy apples again," she offered.

Her brown eyes focused on the box and she hesitated before taking one out. She inspected the small red apple in her palm and then popped it into her mouth. She looked down again. "Grand-mère was killed by your dear mother's stupid Lunar hybrids. I'm an orphan. I have no pinky. And..." She sighed. "The lust of hard situations goes on and on."

"You seem like you manage them very well," Winter said, eyeing Scarlet, inspecting her reaction. There was no reaction. Winter cleared her throat and stood up, the arachnid falling to the ground, trying to climb up her leg again. Winter shivered. "I have some news. I think you, out of all, will find them especially pleasant."

She opened the cage door, expecting Scarlet to rush out like a wild animal. But, instead, she froze in place, eyeing Winter suspiciously. Winter rolled her eyes. It most likely wasn't the most proper thing to do, but what did it matter, anyway? It wasn't like anyone was watching. "Get out of the cage," she instructed, a tone of annoyance hinting at her words. "I want you to be free for when I tell you this."

And so Scarlet stepped out, warily, and shakily, since she hadn't stood in so long. She brushed off some of the dirt from her clothing and turned to Winter with confusion.

"Those screams coming from the halls... Did you hear them?" Winter questioned.

Scarlet was about to shake her head, but nodded. She crossed her arms, her legs slightly spread out, as if she were trying to seem bolder, braver, bigger. "I did," she said, pursing her plump lips in suspicion.

Winter saw Ryu watching them carefully. Though maybe he was just looking at the spider, which was once again perched upon her shoulder She clasped her hands together. "Wonderful! Well. Remember that... gift?" Again, she nodded. Winter leaned in, her face inches from Scarlet's. "It has to do with that... gift," she whispered, "Your friends are here." Immediately, her eyes lit up and her head whipped to the door. Winter held up a finger. "But," she continued. "You must stay here and wait or else I will be caught and you will be taken somewhere worse than here. Understood?"

Scarlet nodded happily, and Winter smiled. "See you on the news," she said kindly before picking up her basket and leaving towards the door.

"Wait," a voice said, making Winter stop in her tracks. She turned, an eyebrow raised. "Thank you." Winter smiled and left the menagerie. She turned to her right, where the tarantula was now gone.