Crimson Hearts

𝒩𝒾𝓃𝓉𝒽 𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓉𝑒𝓇 ౨ৎ

The day before the dance, Bridget, Ella, Red, and Chloe decided to go dress shopping together. The dress shop was a whirlwind of color and fabric, with mannequins adorned in glittering gowns that sparkles under the warm lights. The air buzzed with excitement as the other girls rummaged through racks, their laughter mingling with the sound of swishing satin and the rustling of tulle. Bridget's eyes lit up as she moved from dress to dress her thoughts drifting back to Hook.

As she held up a deep red gown against herself, Bridget couldn't help but gush to her friends. "Hook is just . . . he's everything I've ever wanted," she said, her voice soft and dreamy. "He's kind, funny, and when he looks at me, I feel like the most important person in the world." She smiled, but there was a brief flicker of hesitation in her eyes that she quickly brushed away. "I just hope everything works out between us."

Ella, who had been thumbing through a rack a dresses, turned to Bridget with a cautious expression. "I'm happy for you, Bridget," she began, choosing her words carefully, "but be careful. Sometimes things that seem perfect can hide sharp edges. I just don't want to see you get hurt."

Bridget's smile faltered slightly, and she nodded. "I know, Ella. But I really in him. I believe in us."

Red watched the exchange silently, her stomach twisting with unease. She wanted to be happy for Bridget, but knowing what she did about the future made it hard to fully embrace Bridget's joy. Still, she forced a smile, not wanting to dampen the mood. "As long as you're happy, Bridget, that's all that matters."

Chloe, noticing the tension in Red's expression, quickly changed the subject. "So, what do you think of this one?" she asked, holding up a shimmering light pink dress. The group shifted focus back to the excitement of finding the perfect outfits for the dance.

༺༻

After the girls had chosen their dresses, Bridget and Red made a quick stop at the pharmacy. Bridget had felt a bit off that morning—a lingering nausea that she couldn't quite shake. As they approached the entrance, the quiet of the pharmacy was a stark contrast to the lively dress shop they had just left.

Just as they were about to step inside, Red caught sight of Hook and Hades standing across the street, seemingly waiting for someone. Bridget noticed him, and her heart skipped a beat. For a brief moment, their eyes met, and Hook opened his mouth as if to say something, but before any words could be exchanged, Red quickly grabbed Bridget's arm.

"Come on, let's get inside," Red urged, her voice tight with urgency. Bridget hesitated, glancing back at Hook, but she allowed Red to steer her through the door. Hook stood frozen, watching them disappear into the store, a troubled expression clouding his features.

Inside, the pharmacy was quiet, the sterile scent of antiseptic hanging in the air. As she wandered the aisles, searching for something to settle her stomach, she couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something was off.

Suddenly, Red winced, pressing a hand to her temple as a sharp pain shot through her head. It was the same intense headache she'd been experiencing whenever things with Bridget and Hook seemed to be interrupted. Red bit her lip, trying to hide her discomfort from Bridget, but the pain was the almost unbearable.

"Are you okay?" Bridget asked, noticing the strained look on Red's face.

Red forced a smile, trying to push through the pain. "Yeah, I'm fine," she lied, though her voice was tight. She didn't want to worry Bridget, especially not with so much already on her mind. "It's probably just a headache from all the excitement today."

But as Bridget picked up a bottle of antacids and stared  at it absently, the pain in Red's head only intensified. She could feel a knot of anxiety tightening in her chest. The presence of Hook outside, the strange sensations she was experiencing—it all felt like pieces of a puzzle she couldn't quite fit together.

"Maybe we should just head back," Red suggested, trying to keep the tremor out of her voice. "Get some rest before the big day."

Bridget hesitated, still feeling a little uneasy, but she nodded. "Yeah, you're right. Let's go." She paid for the medicine, casting one last glance toward the entrance, wondering if Hook was still out there.

As they left the pharmacy, Red couldn't help but feel like time was running out, and the pounding in her head was a constant reminder that whatever was happening between Bridget and Hook was going to come to a head sooner rather than later. But for now, she tried to focus on Bridget's happiness, even as her own fear gnawed at her from the inside.

༺༻

Later that afternoon, Red and Chloe decided to visit Glinda again. Red's headache had been growing more frequent and intense, and she was beginning to worry that something was seriously wrong. The moment they stepped into Glinda's warm, herb-scented cottage, the older woman's keen eyes focused on Red with concern.

"Back again so soon?" Glinda asked, her tone gentle but probing. She led the girls to the same cozy sitting area, gesturing for Red to sit down.

Red sank into the chair, rubbing her temples. "It's the headaches. They're getting worse," she admitted, her voice trembling slightly. "I don't know what's causing them."

Glinda observed her closely, her gaze sharp despite her kind demeanor. "There's something different about you this time," she noted, a faint frown creasing her forehead. "But I don't sense anything dangerous. Not yet, at least."

Chloe leaned forward, her eyes wide with concern. "Do you know what's causing it? Is there anything we can do to help her?"

Glinda's expression softened, but there was a stern undertone to her words. "Red, if you keep interrupting the interactions between Bridget and Hook, this will keep happening. Your body is reacting to the disruptions in the timeline. The more you interfere, the worse it will get." Red's eyes widened in shock. "But why would that happen? I have no real connection to Hook, so why should it matter if I interrupt them?"

Glinda's eyes met Red's, filled with a mix of understanding and something that resembled pity. "You'll find out why soon enough, but for now, trust me when I say that you're more involved in this than you realize."

Red's confusion only deepened, but the seriousness in Glinda's tone made her hesitate to press further. "I'm just trying to protect her," she said softly, her voice tinged with frustration.

"I know you're trying to do what you think is right," Glinda replied, her voice gentle but firm. "But you must understand—there are consequences to meddling with time. You have to let things unfold as they're meant to, or you could end up causing more harm than good."

Chloe squeezed Red's hand, her expression serious. "We have to be careful, Red. We can't afford to make things worse."

Red nodded slowly, feeling the weight of Glinda's warning settle heavily on her shoulders. She knew she had to be careful, but the thought of standing of standing by while Bridget's heart was broken was almost too much to bear. "I'll try," she said quietly, through the resolve in her voice was tinged with uncertainty.

As they left Glinda's cottage, Red couldn't shake the feelings that the worst was yet to come. She just hoped she could hold on long enough to make sure Bridget didn't end up suffering the fate she feared.

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•ok so I think a part here kind of spoiled something that's gonna be revealed- I didn't even realize it until I wrote it.

• that's besides the point but thank you for all the support I've seen comments and it gives such a joy while reading them cs it reassures me that people love my story and thank you so so much for 4K reads I really can't believe it!!