The Wolf's Den

Path 3: Tilli, Chapter 4: Part 1

        After she was sure Mr. Wolfe was gone, Tilli shut the door behind her, not liking the white blankness of the room itself. Flashlight still on, she looking into the darkness, relieved to have her flashlight. There were unidentified doors with oak wood, and, further down, a pond. A pond? Was she near the room she'd started with when they arrived ages ago? Running towards it, she stopped when she saw a frog staring at her from a lily pad. "Hello?"

         The frog took a moment to think before nodding the best way he could. "Hello."

         "What are you doing out here? Why can you talk?"

         "I'm connected to this door, but I unfortunately cannot get in, as my princess will not let me in. And oh, what a lady she is!"

         "I could help you, if you like. Do you love this lady?"

         "I do, very much so. Will you really help me get in? I have a curse on me and only love can cure it."

         "I can try. Let me see what happens, alright? Maybe she's seen my sisters' too, despite what Mr. Wolfe said I want to help others and find my sisters at the same time. Poor Miss Snow... I only wanted to save her, but I wasn't allowed to."

         The cursed frog said nothing, only studied her intently and hopped to another lily pad. When he did speak again, he seemed strained to do so, as if asking Tilli to help him get in was a crime. "Then he is following you. He's the man who told my princess to never let anyone in, me included."

         "That's so horrible! Seeing as she's a princess, you must be a prince, or a king, or something. I'll help, and when you get let in, I ask that you help me, okay?"

          "I will do as you say if only you let me in."

          "Okay. Deal.I'm... I'm Tilli, by the way, if a noirette asks for Snow White, not Mr. Wolfe, but a man who says she's her husband, please tell him I'm looking as hard as I can for her and my sisters."

           "Then is as you wish it. I can promise to do my best."

           When Tilli knocked on the door, she wasn't surprised when no one answered, until she dug into her pockets and brought out a doorknob she'd stolen from Mr. Wolfe's pocket, adding it and opening the door. There was, unfortunately, no one in, but the room was immaculate and huge in size. "Go, before he gets here. I don't need Mr. Wolfe seeing this doorknob. I kinda... Stole it from him, which I know is bad, but it saves you, right?"

           With no answer again, the frog hopped in, and Tilli followed him in, pocketing the doorknob and shutting the door silently. "Now, where is there a way out?"

            "Well... A deal's a deal, I can show you out. Sure. I'm not sure where you'll go, but you be safe, alright?"

             "I'll try, and thank you! I'll make sure you're safe if I can help it, alright?"

              "You look out for yourself, and stay out of harm's way. Avoid Mr. Wolfe at all costs."

               "I will!"

                As she shut the secret exit behind her, she heard the frog hopping about, but all she could focus on was that he wished her well. It was enough to make her smile while searching the dark with her flashlight.