The Ballad of Deceit (YANDERE entity x reader)

The Forest of Hatred

The carriage was still in the same place it was before-nestled among thick brush about half a mile from the inn. The second we were able to sneak into it, we rushed off instantly.

Leo sat across from me, tapping his foot in aggravation and staring at nothing in particular. "Where do we go now?" I asked in a small voice.

"Somewhere." He replied before zoning out into nothingness again.

And, he was right, we did end up staying somewhere. It was the forest of broken hearts-a land plagued by Esmeralda's curse. It's rumored that this is the place where she finally ripped the sword from her shattered core and buried it in the ground-thus condemning the forest to put any and all travelers who passed through in misery.

I assumed he could see how tense I was since he finally decided to speak up. "Don't worry. The forest only affects lovers." Maybe he thought that would make me feel better, but I do have someone I love, even if he's not with me. My shoulders stiffened more. "Just don't step out of the carriage." He told me as he went to leave by himself.

"Why couldn't we go somewhere else?" I asked, staring at the sunlight outside of the window. "It's broad daylight. The kingdom's soldiers will spot me anywhere." As he spoke, I noticed his cloak wasn't draped along his shoulders anymore. He must've left it at the inn. "Besides, we're right outside of town-where Esmeralda hall is."

I nodded and sunk further into the cushioned seat. "Try to get some sleep," He grinned. "I need you to be awake to find my books." I gulped at his sudden seriousness and stared at him in response.

"Where are you going?" I asked quietly. "Nowhere of your concern, queenie." He smiled but it didn't reach his hauntingly bright eyes. And, just like that, he stepped out and shut the door-walked off to somewhere unknown.

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I had managed to sleep, but when I awoke, darkness had fallen all around me. No way I slept all day. I sat upright on the seat and turned to the door of the carriage, but gasped at the sight. The door had swung open and was almost falling off of its hinges. I froze for a moment before carefully stepping out.

I rounded the vehicle, hoping to see the ghostly horse napping in the front, but the ground was empty save for hoof-prints leading into the thick of the wood. I took a deep, shaky breath and slowly followed them.

I felt the sudden urge to call out to Leo, but I also feared that any noise I made would be the cause of my death. I glanced around anxiously as I stepped around thick, squirming vines and bushels of thorns, but suddenly my attention snapped elsewhere at the sound of a horse whining in the distance.

I would call out her name if she had one, but as the cries grew more painful and intense, I couldn't help but sprint forward. Branches and needles whacked me in the face as I ran. Roots and bushes threatened to trip me and pull me to the ground, but I kept running despite the sting along my arms and the tears along my dress.

I could hear the horse more clearly now as I drew closer, but suddenly the neighing switched to an all-too-human voice. And I recognized the it, and I stopped in my tracks. "Y/n! Y/n, help me!" Charleon's pleading echoed through the curling, black woods.

Without a second thought I resumed my stride until a strong hand gripped my hair and yanked me to the ground. I was slammed onto my back and felt the air in my lungs swarm out of me. "Y/n!" He still pleaded and I forced myself to my knees. "Charleon..!" My voice was a desperate plea, "Charleon, I'm com-" An unknown force shoved me to the ground once more.

I landed on my shoulder and winced from the pain. "Y/n." His voice was closer now-but close was an understatement-because I saw two black boots standing directly in front of me. I propped myself up on my hands and looked up.

Charleon was standing over me staring-just staring-before he crouched down with a serious expression. "Y/n." He spoke and I tried to leap into his arms but he moved backward. My hands stayed awkwardly frozen in the air for a moment before I slowly drew them back. "Charleon, are you oka-"
"Y/n~" He sung, bringing his hand to my cheek. I leaned into the touch as his thumb begin to stroke my face.

"Are you having fun?" He asked, but I just furrowed my brows in confusion, still entranced my his sudden appearance. "You are, aren't you?" His gentle touch turned hard before he swiftly yanked it away and wiped it on his grey shirt. "What are you talking about..?" I asked, slightly flinching at his angered expression.

"You left me for him." His angered expression contorted into one of sadness. I instantly knew he was talking about Leo. "No, Charli, I'm not-"
"You don't love me." His tone was bitter and harsh. He roughly stood up and began to walk away. My fingers clawed the dirt before I pushed myself off of the ground. "No, wait!" I yelled, but he had already disappeared.

He doesn't love you, y/n, he never will. You betrayed him, y/n. You disgust him! Everything about you disgusts him! You dirty wench!

"STOP!" I yelled, clutching my ears as a thousand cruel voices tormented my mind. And they did stop-only for me to hear another voice followed by angered, familiar footsteps.

"Y/n~" Charli sung and I could scarcely make out his silhouette in the dark. I saw the gleam of a blade swinging in his hand as a sheath dropped to the ground. "Charli...?" I staggered backward as the voices rang out once more.

He's going to get you for what you did, y/n. You better run, y/n. He's going to get you! He's going to get you!

All I could do was stare at him, hoping the forest was affecting him-hoping it would all soon go away and he'd run to me and embrace me like he always had. But my breathing hitched to a halt as the final voice blew hot breath in my ear.

He's going to kill you.

And I was darting through the woods and trembling as dew dripped along my dress and coated the fabric. I tripped and stumbled through the brush as my heart pounded in my ear, threatening to burst out of my chest. I could hear Charli's manic, angry laughter behind me and the shing of a sword as it sliced through weeds and branches.

"Help!" I yelled to no one, hoping maybe there was someone after all. And I ran and ran and wanted Leo to find me, but I didn't dare call out his name because I left the carriage when he told me not to. And now I was paying for it dearly.

But, suddenly I rammed into a solid chest and arms were placed on my shoulders. "Y/n?" The deep voice leaned close to my face, but when I looked up, I was greeted with Charleon's psychotic grin. I screamed and kicked as the arms gripped my shoulders tighter and held me in place. "Please, no! Don't!" I pleaded and yelped and flailed as the arms slid to my back and attempted to shake me.

"Y/N!" The voice was loud and contorting and completely different from Charleon's. "Little queen, wake up!" And the night around me faded into day along with Charleon's haunting face.

I couldn't see the white film dissipating from my eyes, but Leo's galaxies took it all in. I stared forward in shock for a moment before tears began to spill from my eyes. "I told you not to leave the carriage!" He yelled in anger as he examined my figure. "What happened to you? Why are you cut up?" But I just leaned forward and dropped my head against his chest.

I felt him tense up as I did, but I'd rather it be this way than him seeing my crying face. "Charleon...he was..."
"It wasn't real." Leo finally wrapped his arms around me in a firm motion. "That's what the forest does." He sighed but it wasn't at me. I could feel his head shaking above mine as his chin grazed my hair. "I shouldn't have left you alone." He said before placing a hand on the back of my head and securing me against him.

Don't you wish to know where he was?

A voice rang out in my ear, but I shook it away. No. I thought, forcing my eyes shut.

Of course you do.....Look at his eyes, y/n.

And my crying face contorted into a wide-eyed expression as I slowly lifted my head.