Sickly Sweet

What Now?

Sophie sat against the cool stone of an abandoned factory. She was clutching the phone so tight that every once in a while she would accidentally dial someone. Her other hand fingered the key, rubbing it as if this would show her its purpose.

What could it unlock?

Desolate brown eyes stared ceaselessly at the hard-packed dirt. Her mind was spinning: thinking, solving, asking.

What now? Where was Lana? Was it safe to return to Martek's? What now?

Sophie's skin was paler than it had ever been before. Her sweet brown eyes were hard and merciless. Full pink lips forced into a white line.

She wanted to get home. She would get home. And nothing could stop her.

~*~

Briskly walking through the gardens, she pointed her nose at the sky. Many people smiled at her, recognizing her as the happy girl who liked to sit and stare into space dreamily.

She inwardly cursed them.

Many animals ran over to her, wagging their tails or rubbing against her legs. They recognized her as the girl who would always bring them treats and cuddle with them.

She inwardly bashed them.

Many toddlers squealed with joy at the sight of her, waddling over to hug her. They recognized her as the girl who would always pull silly faces at them or bring them bouncy balls and sailor hats made out of paper.

She inwardly smacked them.

Sophie was gone. Sophie was dead. She had died when Martek had betrayed her. She had died when Lana left. She had died when she realized she was never getting home.

So she needed a new name. Something unique. Something fitting.

So Circe walked.

She arrived at a movie theater, deciding she needed inspiration.

"One ticket for 'The Ringing of the Bell' please."

"The Ringing of the Bell' was a thriller about a young man who has a wife and they birth a little girl named Circe. Circe grows up as a good child, but seems to have an odd addiction to a miniature schoolhouse with a brass bell.

Her parents discover that Circe is casting spells upon ordinary people and trapping them in the schoolhouse. She tortures each in a different way on the playground and learning equipment, and whenever one dies she rings the bell.

The movie ends with her parents walking in on her torturing her latest victim. The girl casts the spell on her parents and strangles them with the swing set chains.

She then realizes what she's done and casts the spell on herself, impaling her stomach with the pointed cupola top on the roof. With her last dying breath she rings the bell, and you hear the ominous chime as the scene fades to black.

Circe walked out of the theatre satisfied. She now knew what to do, and she had her namesake to thank for it.

Circe smiled to herself, a smile tinged with evil. Sophie was gone. And Circe was here to stay.

~*~

Lana woke to the singing of bluebirds outside her window. "Chirp-ity-chirp-chirp-chirp!" one sang. He was plump and cheery, smiling at her.

She smacked the window and groaned as he flew off.

"Stupid birds." Lana grumbled.

Tearing off the sheets, she gasped when she glanced at the time.

"8:47! I slept all the way through the night!"

Rubbing her forehead, she yanked open the dresser and pulled on a soft pink gown. Lana peeled off the nightgown and replaced it with the powdery pink one.

After washing her face and teeth, she walked out the door, mood improved. Smiling at her Pops as he greeted her in the dining room, she sat and her mouth watered as a plate of pancakes and bacon was placed in front of her.

Devouring the food, Lana moaned in ecstasy. The chefs at the palace were the BEST. Finishing off the last piece of crispy bacon, she downed the orange juice and finished before her parents even got the chance to sit down.

"Manners!" Coraline hissed through a smile aimed at the photographers. Lana rolled her eyes and pushed back the chair. Turning to the bright lights, she went up to the window and smiled brightly.

Then she smashed the window.

Not with her hands, of course. Lana had snuck a knife from the table and used it to shatter the beautifully crafted masterpiece of a window. Golden-hued crystal rained on the paparazzi while Coraline gaped at the scene.

Some of the mahogany window frame had been uprooted by the glass and was falling in bits and pieces that impaled their pupils.

Finally they got what they deserve.

"I'm so sorry!" Coraline apologized while stepping on Lana's foot. "She must have had a rush to the head....I need a nurse! The Princess has abnormal behavior!"

Lana glared as she was whisked away by two women in crisp pink uniforms. They asked her endless questions about her sanity and health until she was finally free to escape to the gardens.

Smelling a full pink blossomed rose, she sighed and thought about Sophie. Where could she be? Still at Martek's? Did Sophie miss her?

Lana decided to find out.

Gathering her skirts, she rushed into the palace and all the way to her room while dodging nosy journalists. Diving for the closet, she rummaged through and was able to find a warmish worn and comfy jacket.

While yanking the sweater on, Lana shoved snacks into the pockets. Grabbing a final bottle of water from the mini-fridge, she looked in the mirror and declared herself ready.

The Princess looked nothing like a princess. Her hair was pulled into a messy bun and dark circles aligned her eyes. Small scars on her delicate face from poking pimples stood out against her elegant skin. Chapped lips smiled with sweetness but not beauty. Pale golden cheeks were stretched against the bone from anxiously skipping meals.

But she looked more like herself than she ever had.

Racing out into the hallway, she uttered a slurred 'goodbye' at Pops's door before running down the red carpet. While hiding her face from reporters, Lana thought of where Sophie could be.

Perhaps back at Martek's...or maybe the park...

Wherever she was, Lana was going to find her.

(A/N)

IM SORRY! Extreme case of writers block so this took me forever :( will def update more tommorow. Hopefully a longer one. Love you all! Comment what you think my trademark should be :)