the fall of red

real grief

Chloe wearily trudged back to the sturdy oak tree, her legs heavy with exhaustion. She longed for a moment of respite, but the relentless advance of the sun on the horizon denied her such luxury.

"You should be going to see Little Red now." The tree's deep, ancient voice rumbled, causing Chloe to jump slightly. She knew she would never truly get used to the surreal experience of conversing with a cat, vibrant flowers, and an old, wise tree.

Chloe carefully tucked the small vial of the hatter's potion into her jacket, ensuring it was secure before brushing the dirt off her trousers. "Yeah, probably. Do you think the hatter's potion will work?" she asked, her voice tinged with a hint of uncertainty.

As Chloe contemplated the day's events, a small flower made a lighthearted remark that sent her heart racing. "You better hope it works."

Despite the initial surge of anxiety, she couldn't help but feel a sense of reassurance as she considered the potential outcomes. The thought of reuniting with Red, whether in life or death, brought her a strange sense of comfort. It seemed like a win-win situation in her mind, and she found herself worrying less as she entertained these thoughts. But then again, feeling at peace with death unsettled Chloe as well. She wasn't supposed to be okay giving up and dying. That's not how her story
It should go. Then again, her story wasn't supposed to take her years back in time to save Red's life.

Chloe pondered whether Red would even desire to be saved. Red valued autonomy and making her own decisions, having been deprived of free will her entire life. Chloe grappled with the conflict of wanting Red to survive while realising that by doing so, she would be infringing upon Red's autonomy.

"You better hope it works." The ancient tree replied, its voice resonating like a deep rumble through the air, filled with echoes of wisdom and age.

Red. Princess Red of Hearts. The very thought of her sent a surge of determination through Chloe. Red was Chloe's girl, with her vibrant spirit and fiery personality, even if their time together had been fleeting and marred by loss. The memories of their brief moments together were etched in Chloe's heart, and she cherished them fiercely. Now, with a burning resolve, Chloe vowed to bring her beloved Red back to life while guarding the painful secrets of the past—secrets that she would never allow Red to uncover once she was returned to her side. Chloe's heart pulsed with fierce love, illuminating her path as she prepared to confront the unknown.

Chloe glanced up at the twisting, green vines that had previously served as her makeshift ladder to the castle. They hung thick and tangled, just as she remembered. Today, however, the journey felt unusually brief, almost as if the path had magically shortened with each determined step she took. The vibrant hues of her blue hair caught the sunlight, and a sense of anticipation brewed within her.

With a cautious yet determined demeanour, Chloe navigated her way up the winding path to the young girl's window, the sun casting a gentle glow around her. She paused momentarily, listening to the calming sounds of the day before carefully lifting the window frame. The soft creak interrupted the stillness of the room as she climbed inside, her heart racing with a blend of excitement and trepidation.

Inside, the air was filled with the faint scent of lavender, a calming presence in the cosy space. Red was perched on her bed, enveloped in a soft blanket, her attention fixed on the pages of an open book. She didn't need to look up to know who had entered the room; she could feel the familiar energy that Chloe brought with her

Red looked up from her book, their eyes communicating a myriad of unspoken thoughts and feelings that seemed to hang thick in the air around them. The tension was palpable; if either had found the courage to break the silence, the weight of their shared reality would have come crashing down, making everything too real to bear. Chloe's heart raced as she fought the urge to flee, her feet seemingly glued to the ground. The thought that held her in place was the tantalising possibility of being one step closer to the brown eyes that consumed her every waking thought. Those eyes, warm and inviting, had become her beacon of hope amid the chaos, and the longing to see them again brought both fear and excitement spiralling within her.