The gardens surrounding the old decrepit castle expanded nearly to the horizon. There were paths leading off towards gazebos, fountains, other parts that were hidden around the back. The lanes were filled with gravel that crunched beneath her boots as she ran. Even if she had to go on foot, she was going to get as far away from this place as she could. Nothing would stop her.
"Please, wait!"
She looked back once again. He was standing above her, on a balcony above the door. There was that glimmer of longing in his eyes.
"No," she shook off the feeling rising inside of her. This was not where she belonged. She had to get back to the place where she would feel safe. What if that place is here, the thought tossed about inside her mind, taunting her.
Placing her hands against her ears, she took off down the path. Rushing past bushes cut primly to make the castle seem more appealing and other structures that were supposed to resemble animals; past simple trees that were barren, rose bushes with sharp thorns where the flower had faded. Past neatly laid out patches of ground that instead of bearing flowers now only bore shambles and weeds. It was as though the gardener had merely left his plow and walked away. All of the decay around her filled her with remorse that refused to release the tension on her heart.
Ahead of her she could glimpse the forest that border the castle on each side, keeping it snug and far from prying eyes. How a palace as this could go forgotten by the people in the surrounding towns and villages seemed impossible. The size of the gardens alone could be seen from any of the nearby mountains. How had such a place escaped form the modern world?
"Stop!"
Her feet dug into the ground inches from the stone gate that would lead her out of this haunted nightmare and back into the dark forest. She longed to continue running, yet something in his voice made her pause.
Turning around she watched him approach. How he'd managed to catch with her, especially since he'd been barricaded in and on the second level, caused her more curiosity than confusion. As he got closer she inched towards the exit until he stopped. There was enough distance between them that he wouldn't be able to reach her if she bolted from here. She waited for him to say something. He merely stared at her in confusion. Above them the sun reached its zenith, leaving no shadow to hide behind. She could clearly see the curved horns, the dark hair, the piercing blue eyes. Why did it – why did he appear so familiar?
"How did you get into my castle?"
She expected him to be angry, yet his voice was soft, casual. There was a curiosity that began in his eyes and ended in his voice. Something inside her longed to draw close to answer that curiosity.
"I don't know. I woke up there this morning."
She didn't have any other explanation than that. It was the truth, whether or not it sounded fantastical.
"I'm certain last night I went to sleep in my own bed, though," a drift of fog wafted through her mind. She pinched her eyes closed to try and make it go away. "I don't remember where that was. I don't remember how I got here, so I might have come through the forest, or been dropped her by someone; though if that is the case, you would know more about it than I."
There was something of alarm flickering across the blue in his eyes, alarm and concern.
"I can assure you there is no other resident of this – place – than I." He sounded bitter, angry. "I would have noticed anyone who may have brought you here. Though that in itself is unlikely."
"Is it?"
He looked back at his crumbling estate, "No one in the outside world remembers this place. It will soon fade from time, taking me with it."
Surprised spread through her eyes. Looking past him at the maze of grounds leading back to the spiraling, confusing castle, she wondered how anyone would want to forget a place as wondrous as this. There were so many things that could be done to make this a happier place.
"What happened?"
They locked eyes once more. She felt her curiosity was matched in his eyes, mirrored back into her own. He gazed beyond her, through the gate and into the deep woods. Turning her head she followed the path to where it bent in the undergrowth. Even the path towards this place seemed neglected, misused.
"You should leave."
She snapped her eyes back to his, but he had turned away from her. He took a few steps away, hardly making any noise against the gravel.
He paused a moment, "Before you no longer can."
