Echoes of Wonderland

Stunned

Red's POV

As Uliana's words sank in, a wave of panic hit me. Ella really believe it was a harmless joke, bu this wasn't just a prank; it was a dangerous game. The book had been stolen earlier in the week, meaning tomorrow, Wednesday night, and returned before anyone noticed.
Last time we were here the book was already stolen and been used, but if so, how come my mother wasn't evil when we got back? Why was Uliana and her crew looking for the book, again, in castlecoming night, if she knew she would get frozen as soon as she opened it?

I took a step back, careful not to make a sound, and quickly turned to leave. Confronting them wasn't an option; I needed proof, and I needed Chloe's help to expose the truth and stop Uliana's twisted plan.As I sprinted back through the garden, the serene setting felt like a cruel joke, masking the danger that lurked beneath. There was no time to waste. I had to protect Bridget and Ella from this madness, no matter what it took.

But more importantly, I need to find a way to tell Chloe about this.
I know she hates me, but we still need to prevent the disaster that is brewing.

Chloe's POV

The door bursts open, and Red storms in, her face a mask of urgency and determination. Her eyes are wide, her breath coming in sharp, uneven gasps. I jump up the bed I was crying on for a while, my heart racing with a mix of fear and hope. She tries to explain the situation, but my guilt and regret spill out uncontrollably.

- Red, I'm so sorry for earlier. I was awful to you. I didn't mean any of it. - I say right away, pleading, voice trembling. - I know I hurt you, and I hate that I let my anger get the better of me. I never wanted to push you away, never wanted to say those things.

Red's frustration is palpable. She's trying to focus on something urgent, her eyes locked on me with a fierce intensity. I can see she's not interested in my apologies right now.

- Chloe, this isn't about us right now. You need to listen. - Red states frustrated, trying to cut through. - There's something important happening. Something that involves Auradon, Bridget, and your parents. I need you to understand.

- But I can't just ignore what happened between us. - I interrupt, my voice cracking with desperation. - I care about you so much, Red. You're the only person I want to stay in my life forever. I'm sorry for everything. I should've been better.

Red's face is a mixture of confusion and determination. She's clearly not in the mood for my emotional outpour, and I feel a desperate need to make her understand just how much she means to me.

Chloe, please. I'm trying to explain something important here. Can you just listen? - She says, exasperated.

My emotions, a tangled mess of guilt and unspoken truth, surge to the surface. The weight of my feelings becomes too much to contain. I take a shaky breath, my heart pounding as I try to convey everything I've been holding back. My voice cracks, trembling with raw, unfiltered emotion. And without expecting it, I blurt it out.

- I'm in love with you! - My voice rising with urgency and desperation.

The room falls into a stunned silence. Red's eyes widen, and her mouth opens slightly in shock. The words hang heavy in the air, and Red makes a strange sound, a mix of confusion and surprise. As Red stands there, dumbfounded, I gather the remaining fragments of my composure, desperately needing to explain everything. The urgency of the situation and my own emotional outburst intertwine in a chaotic rush.

- Look, I've never been in love before. - I rush to explain, my voice trembling with a mix of panic and vulnerability. - I didn't realize how strong my feelings were until now. And all of this, everything that's happening with the Sorcerer's Book, Uliana, Bridget. it's just too much. - I pause to catch my breath. - I need you to know that no matter what happens, I care about you more than anything. I can't lose you. I don't want to push you away. I'm terrified that I've already messed everything up. But please, Red, we need to deal with this together. We have to stop whatever Uliana is planning.

The atmosphere is charged with the weight of my confession and the urgency of the situation. Red's expression shifts from shock to a mixture of concern and something deeper. The room feels heavy with the unspoken emotions and the realization of what we're facing together.
Red stands frozen, her gaze locked onto mine, processing the storm of emotions that have just erupted. The argument, the urgency of her news, and now this unplanned declaration—all create a tumultuous swirl of feelings. The atmosphere is charged with the weight of my vulnerability and the tension of the situation.As I stand there, my heart racing, I wait for Red's reaction, hoping that my raw honesty will bridge the chasm I've created and that somehow, despite everything, we can find a way forward.

Red's POV

I stood there, frozen, as Chloe's words echoed in my ears. Her confession was so unexpected, so raw, that for a moment, I couldn't process anything beyond the shock of it. My heart pounded in my chest, the weight of her admission hanging heavy between us. Chloe's eyes were filled with desperation, her voice trembling as she spilled her heart out. I wanted to respond, to tell her how I felt too, but the urgency of the situation crashed over me like a tidal wave. I was still grappling with the shocking discovery I'd made about Uliana and the Sorcerer's Book.
I felt like I was caught between two worlds. The immediate danger of Uliana's plan and the confusing new reality of Chloe's feelings for me. My mind was a storm of conflicting emotions. Chloe's confession was a beacon of hope and confusion in the climax of our crisis. I had always harbored feelings for her, but I had never expected this kind of declaration, especially now.
   I took a deep breath, trying to clear my mind of the whirlwind of emotions. I needed to focus, to refocus on the pressing issue at hand. The urgency of stopping Uliana's plan was too great to ignore.

- Chloe... I need you to understand that what you've just said means a lot. - My voice trembling, but gaining strength. - But right now, we don't have time to deal with this. We have something urgent we need to handle."

   I met Chloe's eyes, my own reflecting the gravity of the situation. I had to make her understand that our personal issues had to wait. Bridget's life and Ella's future were on the line.

   - I overheard something in the garden that changes everything. Uliana tricked Ella into stealing the Sorcerer's Book. She's planning to use it to ruin Bridget's life. Ella was forced into this, and we need to stop it before it's too late.

I could see Chloe's face pale as I told her about Uliana's plan. The shock in her eyes was unmistakable, and she stumbled back slightly, trying to process what I had just revealed.

- My mom? Ella's involved in this? I... I didn't know. - Chloe manages to say, her voice trembling, disbelief clear in her tone. - I thought she was just being coerced, but this... this is beyond anything I could have imagined.

I realize she was panicking, so I quickly recounted what I had overheard. The urgency of the situation made my words come out in a rush, every detail falling into place with frightening clarity.

- Uliana told Ella to steal the book days before castlecoming, when we came last time, the book had already been used. Ella was tricked into thinking it was just a harmless prank. We need to get the book back and stop Uliana's plan. We have to protect Bridget and deal with this before it goes any further.

Her reaction mirrored my own feelings of betrayal and confusion. It was one thing to uncover Uliana's sinister plan, but realizing that Chloe's mother was entangled in it made the whole situation even more complex and painful. I could see Chloe struggling to make sense of the betrayal, her usual poise replaced by a mixture of hurt and disbelief.

- I had no idea she was mixed up in this. - Chloe says stunned. - To think she's been helping Uliana... I need to understand why she's involved and how she got dragged into this.

- I'm so sorry, Chlo.- I say genuinly. - We'll find out more while on the mission, but now we don't have time to chit chat and create theories.

- You're right. We don't have time for that now. We have to stop Uliana and get that book before it's too late.

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Feels like it's all going downhill!
Even when they try... it's just not the right time!

Don't worry.