Echoes of Wonderland

Angels like you

Red's POV

I lie in bed, staring at the faint light seeping through the cabin's old, dusty windows. Sleep feels like a distant memory, replaced by an endless loop of thoughts and feelings I can't quite shake. Last night was a whirlwind—emotionally draining, raw, and terrifying in ways I hadn't expected. I've never been good at letting people in, at exposing my vulnerabilities. But Chloe has a way of making my walls crumble, leaving me bare and unguarded, which is both exhilarating and terrifying.

I turn my head slightly, watching the peaceful rise and fall of Chloe's chest as she sleeps beside me. The late-night conversation we had keeps replaying in my mind, her voice echoing with gentle reassurances, her touch grounding me when I felt like I might spiral out of control. She insisted on sleeping beside me, holding me close, as if her presence alone could ward off the darkness that threatens to consume me.

And it worked, at least for a little while. Her warmth kept me from completely unraveling, but now, in the quiet stillness of the morning, all the fears, doubts, and guilt from the night before are creeping back in. We can't stay like this—wrapped up in each other, ignoring the chaos that awaits us outside. Auradon is still in danger, and we're no closer to figuring out how to save it than we were yesterday.

But there's one thing I know for sure: Chloe is the one good thing that came out of all of this. I'm not sure I would've ever found the courage to admit my feelings if it hadn't been for the drama and danger that threw us together. And now that I have her, I'm not about to let her go. No matter what it takes, no matter how much it costs, I'm willing to fight to save Auradon again, even if it means putting both our lives at risk.

The thought of losing Chloe makes my heart clench painfully, but I can't let that fear paralyze me. I have to be strong, for both of us. We'll face whatever comes next together, and this time, I'll make sure we succeed. I won't let Maddox or anyone else tear us apart.

I shift slightly, careful not to wake Chloe, but the movement is enough to make her stir. Her eyes flutter open, and she looks up at me with a sleepy smile that makes my heart ache with how much I love her.

- Morning. - She murmurs, her voice thick with sleep.

- Morning. - I reply, forcing a smile. - Did you sleep okay?

Chloe stretches, her gaze meets mine with a mixture of affection and curiosity.

- I did, but I kept thinking about last night. I'm just glad we're together. It feels like... like everything might be okay.

Her words make my heart ache in the best way. I know we have a lot to discuss, and the burden of our responsibilities weighs heavily on me. I walk back to the bed, taking a seat next to her.

My throat tightens. I want to savor this moment, this small slice of peace before we have to face the reality of our situation. But the weight of everything is pressing down on me, and I can't ignore it any longer.

- Chloe. - I whisper, my voice barely audible. - We need to talk about what happened yesterday.

Her smile fades as she sits up, rubbing her eyes.

- Yeah. - She agrees, her voice serious now. - We do. But first... how are you feeling? After everything that happened last night?

I hesitate, unsure of how to put my feelings into words.

- I'm... I'm okay. - I say finally, though the tremble in my voice betrays me. - I just... I can't stop thinking about everything that's gone wrong since we got here. Everything I've done wrong.

- You haven't done anything wrong, Red. - Chloe frowns, reaching out to take my hand in hers. - We've been thrown into a nightmare, and you've been doing your best to keep us both safe. That's more than anyone could ask for.