History of Fictitious: Volume Three

Chapter 5

I successfully tear off the boards covering the window. At first, I was afraid someone would hear, but they really didn't consider I could have been in this room the entire time. All I have left is to break the window and try climbing my way down without falling.

Before I fling a chair at the glass, I realize the window is not a window at all but two doors. More importantly, the doors aren't locked. I hop with delight before I run out onto a balcony. Daylight is falling, so I can make a run for it by the time I get to the barrier.

Looking down at the ground, I see spirits searching below. None of them are looking up, and most head to the front of the castle while I am at the back.

"Good luck," someone says behind me.

I panic as I turn around, but then I relax when I see Fern standing by the enchanted rose. "Oh, Fern. Please help me!"

She comes closer, looking down at the long climb I would have to survive. "As I planned to. I may be unable to fly you down there as is, but I can possess one of these objects."

"You would do that?" I say, touched by her offer, "What about becoming a part of the barrier?"

She smiles, "Like I said, I would rather do something right than stand idle as my final act."

"Alright then, I'll take your offer," I say.

She nods and turns into a purple glow, flying towards a chair. The once-still chair comes to life and hobbles over to me. Slowly, I sit on it, and then it jumps onto the balcony's railing, leaning forward. I grab onto the armrests, staring at the ground below.

"Um, Fern? You can fly as a chair, right?" I ask, still leaning forward, "Fern?"

Then we drop. Thankfully my screams are sucked right out and cause no alarm. Just as I'm about to plunge right into bushes, the chair leans back the other way and starts to slow down, but definitely not enough to stop me from dying. However, the bushes below grab onto the chair and halt it. My heart pounds as the bushes set me down on the ground.

I stand up, my legs shaking. Then Fern appears from out of the shrubbery. I make a tiny squeak, realizing she possessed the rose bush.

"You said you were going to fly me down!"

Fern hushes me and whispers, "I know, but when we were leaning forward, I realized that carrying you down here would be difficult. I was there the entire time so I could slow you down, but then, at the last moment, I finally chose to switch over to the bushes. I'm a middle-aged woman who overestimated her strength."

"You could have killed me," I say, still shocked.

She waves a finger. "But I didn't."

Fern's smile dies as she gazes at the plants ahead of us. She points to them, drawing my attention.

"By this time, the barrier is inactive. However, spirits will be in those bushes at the edge. If you can get past them, then Master is the only remaining threat. Ned and I will distract them as much as possible. Now run!"

She transforms into a cat and dashes away. I follow her lead, making it two-thirds of the way before being spotted. I keep running as spirits shout out for Beast Shane. When I get to the edge of the grounds where the bushes are, I can hear him in his beast form sprinting after me, but he is far enough behind that I still have a fighting chance.

Like Fern warned me, the spirits take control of the bushes. They attack me, scratching at my arms and legs, but I break through. Just as I leave the castle grounds, one bush wraps itself around my ankle, tripping me to the soil. It starts to draw me back in, but then a spirit dog appears and bites at the bush. The bush lets go of me instantly.