After Ever After

Chapter 2

I woke up on the swinging bench.

It was misty outside and snow had begun to fall in the late November sky. The sky was a cream white as if the moon man forgot to paint it, and the trees were bare, stripped of their leaves.

I rubbed my droopy eyelids and looked above me. I rested my head on the backrest of the bench and sluggishly tried to lift my feet.

My eyes had closed again from the calming scene but I was still half awake. I wandered what Nick, Nandini, and Abhijit were being so secretive about.

"Neighh!" I could here a horse in the distance.

Wait, why was a horse in the woods?

I slipped into my red coat and got up to go see what the ruckus was all about.

I had reached midday through the woods when I saw a glint of silver in the woods and strained my eyes to see.

A tall man, or rather a knight on top of a horse's silhouette was made out through the vaporing mist.

"What are you doing here?" I shouted.

The knight grunted and jumped off of his horse. He didn't bother to respond.

"I asked you something. What are you doing here!?" I demanded a little louder.

He turned around and sat on a rock, sharpening his sword with a stone.

It made the most unpleasant sound and I shivered. I stomped right up to him, trying to forget about the cold water that was soaking my socks and boots.

I grabbed his helmet by the feathers and threw it behind me to reveal his face.

The dark hair and sharp features were familiar and I recognized the sign of mischief in his eyes.

"Abhijit?" I asked.

"Hey Red." he stated.

"Red? I asked, putting my knife down

"Long story." He said as he swung one leg over his horse. "You comin?" he asked, putting his sword away as the horse grunted in agreement.

I grabbed the saddle, not bothering to reach for his extended hand, and swung one leg over the snow white body and rested my hands in my lap.

"Onwards!" Abhijit shouted.

I made a mistake putting my hands at my side, I almost fell off the horse if I hadn't grabbed Abhijit's shoulder last minute.

"Rookie mistake." he stated.

"So why did you call me Red?" I asked. "Is it my coat?"

"Somewhat. You are Red Riding hood." He said, giving the whip a crack in the air.

"Yeah, and your Prince Charming." I scoffed.

"Was it that obvious? I should get better disguises."

"Wait. I need proof." I stated.

The clip clopping of the horses hoofs died down and I felt sick to my stomach. I squinted my eyes at the sight of a really bright light.

I tumbled off the horse onto the ground. I pried myself from the sickly green grass.

The sky was a mystical blue with whips of licorice and light blue. Crystalline stars appeared head and there and the birds sing a quiet song. I felt I was in a dream.

"Come on." Abhijit groaned. "There is a storm coming."

How could a storm unearth in such beautiful scenery?