Toxic Tales

Blood Red Epilogue

I didn't die, as you can see. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to tell this story.

Martha nursed me back to health, or as close to health as she could. The knife wound became infected and though it eventually healed, it still aches every now and then.

Snow White threw me in the palace dungeon as punishment for the murder of her parents. When the guards refused to torture me as she commanded, she had them executed and found new soldiers to do her bidding. Every day, they found some new way to torment me, whether it was burning my feet with hot irons or slicing my body with knives. Snow White always watched, smiling the entire time.

She told a different story, of course. This is the first time I've been able to tell my side of it. She spread the word that I was a tyrannical woman who made her miserable and wanted to kill her because I thought her more beautiful than me. I'm sure you've heard that version of it.

She also told the world that I died after everything happened; that part isn't true. It has been nearly four decades since this all happened, and here I am, rotting away in the dungeon. The new King took pity on me and begged Snow to stop my torture about twenty years ago; she agreed, but she comes down at least once a day to taunt me with harsh words. I've grown numb to it after all this time.

I look at my being here as punishment for my dark thoughts. The dwarves, now appeased, hopefully, were right. In my heart of hearts, I did want my dear friend, the Queen, to die so I could live her life. I got exactly what I wanted, too, but it wasn't anything like I'd hoped, mostly because that fantasy didn't include a murderous stepdaughter.

I know you're still new here...Snow must've hired you when Martha finally passed away a few weeks ago. She was so old and weak, the poor thing. Snow showed her no mercy. I hope you stay strong, and don't let her destroy your spirit, as she has done for so many others.

You know, I can't tell you how nice it is to finally tell my side of this story. You didn't have to come down here and bring me my meal, much less talk to me...but just the fact that you did is enough to remind me that there is still goodness in the world.

Please, never lose that. Never let your heart grow dark.