Unwanted wish

Chapter 1

                                                                                (At unknown place)

The princess blinked, straining her eyes, but saw nothing. "Where am I?" Her voice echoed back at her, swallowed by the shadows. She tried to move, her hands fumbling over rough, cold surface of wall. Panic stirred in her chest, but she forced herself to stay calm. 

She had been kidnapped, Again. The realization was oddly comforting. As a princess, she was no stranger to being taken by those who wanted power or ransom. But this time was different. There were no guards, no chains, no predictable villain taunting her. Just silence and darkness. This feels... weird.

Her fingers brushed against something—a crumbling wall, perhaps? It felt old, like the walls of a prison. She pressed her hands against it, trying to gauge its strength. As she did, a question gnawed at her mind: Why isn't anyone watching me? Every other time, someone had been there, lurking, ready to stop her from escaping. But now, there was no one. Is this a dream? Or am I under some spell?

She shook her head, trying to clear it. No, this was real. The cold, the rough stone under her fingers, the faint smell of decay—it was too vivid to be a dream or even a spell. As she stood there, uncertain, the distant sound of a crow cawing reached her ears. It was faint, but it was something. She focused on it, using the sound to orient herself. Slowly, carefully, she moved toward it, feeling her way along the wall.

After what felt like hours, she found a small window high up. Light came through, just enough for her to see the room. If she could reach it, she could escape. She looked for something to climb but found nothing to grip. As she tried to pull herself up, a brick fell loose and nearly made her fall. Instead of feeling disappointed, she felt a spark of hope. The loose bricks made a bigger hole that she could squeeze through.

She pulled herself up, scraping her hands on the rough stone, and finally, she was out. The fresh air hit her like a wave, cool and crisp, carrying the scent of earth and moss. But as she looked around, her heart sank. This was no place she recognized. It was desolate, and far from her home. So far away... The thought was both thrilling and terrifying. She had always dreamed of adventures, of discovering unknown lands. But not like this. Not by being kidnapped.

She turned toward the massive gate at the end of the courtyard. She should leave. Run as fast as she could and never look back. But something stopped her. Curiosity. Who had taken her? Why had they brought her here? Without fully realizing what she was doing, she turned back toward the ominous structure and headed to the front gate.

Inside the castle,

The air was thick with dust, and the walls seemed to close in on her as she walked through the grand but decaying hallways. She paused, listening. There was nothing, not even the creak of wood or the scuttle of rats. "Hellooooooo?" her voice echoed, bouncing off the walls, mocking her. "Mr. Kidnapper? Woooo hooo? Where are you?"

Her voice echoed back, unanswered. For a moment, she found herself grinning. If anyone was watching, they'd think she was mad. But the absurdity of the situation made her giddy. She started making noises just for the fun of it, her laughter echoing in the empty halls.

Then, without warning, a hand grabbed her from behind.

She yelped, but before she could react, she was spun around. The figure before her was shrouded in black—black cloak, black boots, even a black mask that covered most of his face. He seemed more a shadow than a man, blending seamlessly with the dark castle.

"What are you doing here?" His voice was a low growl, more a command than a question.

The princess blinked, still dazed from the suddenness of it all. "Uh, that's my question! Why am I here? And why are you so... black?" She tried to keep her voice steady, but she couldn't resist adding a teasing lilt to her words.

He glared at her, then suddenly threw a bitter powder into her mouth. It's taste was bitter and choking. She coughed violently, her voice silenced as she struggled to breathe. The man said nothing, just turned and started up the stairs, his footsteps slow and deliberate. "Drink water from the backyard," he said, his voice fading as he disappeared.

"Wait!" she managed to croak out between coughs, but he was gone. The silence swallowed her again.

She stumbled outside, her throat burning, still coughing as she searched for the water. Backyard? The only water she found was a filthy pond, choked with weeds and stagnant mud. She gagged at the sight of it. He expects me to drink this? Her coughing fit worsened as she realized she couldn't take another breath without soothing her throat.

Then, something clicked in her memory—an old remedy she had read about once. If she could find peppermint leaves, they might help her cough. She scanned the overgrown yard, her eyes searching for the right plant. Among the weeds and grasses, she spotted it—a small cluster of mint growing wild.

As she plucked the leaves, the feeling of being watched prickled at her skin. She looked up, catching a glimpse of the black figure in a window high above, his gaze locked on her. His voice, though distant, seemed to reach her ears as if he were standing right beside her. "You haven't changed... That wildness in you. Things will get interesting from here... Princess."

The words sent a shiver down her spine, but also a thrill. She knew then that this was just the beginning of a very dangerous game. And she was determined to play it...