Caged Birds Will Fly

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Chapter Fifteen: The Choices We Make

H E L E N
She slips a violet potion into my hands, "For you", she says. I watch her as she walks away. I clutch my hands to my knees. Lune purrs softly around me. I drink the potion, its sweet taste warming my mouth. I fell into a deep sleep.

M A D A L I N
I watch from the window as Helen drinks the potion. I cry. I don't want to harm the girl who saved a witch's life, who gave me hope and friendship, who clung to someone who could kill her if I dared tired, and who looked at me with no fear nor discrimination. I race out of the room, burst the door open, and run towards the meadow, gripping the antidote in my right hand. She lays with the potion in her hands. She looks so peaceful. She looks kind. I open her mouth and pour the antidote in. I pray for it to work. Time seems so long. My hair falls in my face, but my ebony eyes stay on her face. The scenery is quiet and quiet is silence, but the silence is deafening. A hand brushes my crimson hair. I gaze down at Helen's clear eyes; she holds no anger in them. "Why'd you do it Madalin?".

I cried, the tears blurring my vision.

"I thought if you died then the Witch's forest would be revived"

"Then why did you stop? Honestly, I wouldn't give up on something I truly wanted. I was ready and everything."

"Because I couldn't kill someone so loving. Am sorry, am sorry...please...please forgive me"

Helen hugged me tightly, rubbing my back to calm me. She got up and walked to the end of the meadow, where Witch's forest lay crooked and gray. She stepped in and the most beautiful thing happened: the flowers bloomed, the grass grew green, the forest felt alive. She turned to me and smiled. "I don't want to see you cry sad tears Madalin, so cry happy ones from now on. Okay?". The girl was shining so bright, so pure. I cried, why did I want to kill such a beautiful creature, no wonder Mother saved her

H E L E N
Madalin cried after seeing her beloved home alive once again. I don't even know what I did, but somehow thinking that I wanted to see Madalin smile rejuvenated the forest. I touched one of the purple flowers, making it bloom and twirl. This felt so natural to me.

Madalin apologized to everyone for trying to betray me. Aurous and Ivory were the most shocked, while Mao only let her off with a slap and lecture. Eli looks so shocked at what I had done. Madalin told everyone why she did it. "I suppose I owe you a reason, don't I? I was born in the Witch's forest. I was raised by my mother Dahila, with my older sister Carmine and younger sister Claret. We were called the Red Witches. Life was good. Your mother, Marigold", she points at me and Eli, "was one of the only people who didn't fear us and treated us equally. She held her wedding in Arcaid and invited us to bless the wedding and be her bridesmaids. She was kind and unbiased. But then when she fell ill, her sister Orchid held the witch hunt. My mother was spared, but my sisters were not. I hid in the deepest part of the forest with my mom. Then happened the fire. My mom was scared. When Queen Marigold heard of this, she summoned us. She cried for our loss. She offered her kingdom, everything for our forgiveness. My mom hugged her and forgave her. Then my mom saved her daughter Helen by sending her into another world to live. We created a fake to raise. Orchid, in a fit of jealousy and rage, placed a spell on our forest, saying only after Helen's death will it survive. We were devastated. Your mom died of grief, and your father made his heart cold. My mother died from losing her best friend. I wanted her to rest in peace. I hated you. But after meeting you, watching you, and befriending you, I would gladly give my life to you. You are my Marigold and me your Dahila". Her smile shone with purpose as she hugged me.

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I wait for the letter from my sisters for two hours before it comes.