Escaping From Reality

chapter 1

My father is the King and my mother is the Queen and that makes me the princess.

I'm now 16 years old. Waves of dark hair flow down by my bloody red cheeks. My sky-blue eyes fly around the room as I try to sleep.

"Cornelia! Cornelia!" someone shook me awake. Of course it's 8 year old Christiana, my little sister. Green eyes stared at me as her acorn hair was all over my face. She's a playful and an energetic girl, living her childhood to the max.

"Chrisy! Are you kidding me ? It's 3 in the morning." I shouted.

"Sorry.. But I found something in the King's room!" She said.

"What is it?" I said as I helped myself to sit.

"I don't know. Let's check it out"she said seeming excited but also frightened.

I got out of bed and walked with her along the hallway. It was too long with pictures hung at every corner. It was dark. Our footsteps echoed , breaking the silence. Both of us were moving slowly when Christiana suddenly held my hand.

"Cornelia! Did you hear that?" She said , sounding terrified ,her voice so quite like a whisper and her hands shaking.

"What?! I heard nothing" I said, trying to calm her a bit.

"It's like someone is following us " she said and I immediately looked behind me. No one was there. I turned back and suddenly found Stephan in front of me. A handsome cherry-haired teenage boy with crystal blue eyes that shone during daylight. He's 20 years old who is aiming to be a knight in the royal army. He is rather selfish , enjoying being the elder brother - who would be the king later - . I screamed the moment I saw him and he immediately put his hand on my mouth to quite me and gave me an angry look.

"What are you doing in the king's private part at a time like this?" he said sounding serious and angry. He is one of the king's guards.

"Umm... It's our castle ,isn't it? We are the princesses. And the king is our father! So, I don't think it's a private part for us." I said.

He smiled and said " Oh Cornelia ! You never change. But fath- the King has ordered me to guard his room and I have to obey or I'll be punished!" He stopped and put his hands on my arms "you don't want me to get in trouble , do you?"

"Of course not! " I said and immediately hugged him. How could I cause trouble to the kindest brother?

"I won't tell anyone that I've seen you here" he stopped , gave a look at Christiana and smiled "And I won't tell anyone that Chrisy was in the king's room" he said and she suddenly reddened.

"But I found something! It's like -"

"A map! "He cut her off and said quickly ,sounding serious an then continued " you better stay away from here!"

"Chrisy! Go to your room ! " I whisper to her.

The moment she left ,I asked Stephan "what's in that map?"

"The Blo-" he stopped and then said "nothing"

Why did he hesitate? What's in that map? What is he hiding from us?

Questions filled my mind. No answers. Curiosity controlled me and the trust between me and Stephan was starting to crack.

"Fine" I said ,turning back and leave.

Back again in my room , I sat on bed and closed my eyes. Thinking but this thinking was cut off by a nightmare. It looked so vivid like there was a canvas covering my eyes.

* nightmare *

I was walking with Christiana in a strange place. Away from the castle. Running together. Playing. Exploring. We were in front of a sign saying "danger ...do not enter" but we entered.
There was a huge red waterfall. It was made of blood. Another sign was there. Near the edge of the waterfall saying "The Bloody Waterfall ...beware." I was too close.

"Cornelia! I'm scared" I heard Christiana say as she held my hand.

"Don't worry ...I just wanna know what's in there!" I said.

I stood closer ..on the edge and I suddenly heard Christiana scream.

* end of nightmare*

I woke up with a scream.

"No no no! Not now ! Why did she scream ? I need to know! This can't be the end of the dream !" I said to myself, confused.

Wait!

The Bloody Waterfall!?

Stephan said " The Blo-" and stopped!

Could that be it! Could this nightmare be real !? Could this really happen?!

I don't know! I need to know! I need to know why she screamed! I need to know the meaning of these signs ! I need to know what Stephan is hiding from me! I need to know the truth!