Thunderbolt of Laurels

Chapter 19- The Fruit of Temptation

Chonker's lands feet first unto the platform, but the landing is rough enough to send us flying off his wooden back, far into a haunting room. "Ow," I say rubbing my the arm I landed on. I inspect it. I'm full of scrapes and scratches which is nothing. We actually made that jump. We're alive. 
"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" I immediately lift my head to investigate the voice's origin. It's the same voice I heard talking to the mirror earlier. I widen my eyes as I scan her.
"Regina?" I ask.
"Uh duh."
"But you're so old. . ." I didn't think King White was into older women. She glares daggers at me.
"Where's Red Shoes?" I demand. 
"You're after them too? Well sorry hun, but you're going to have an issue there. Those red shoes are mine!" She scowls and lunges at me all too slowly. I easily dodge her attempt of an attack. I shake my head. 
"Not the shoes. I don't care about those. Snow White. Where is she?"
"Oh. That brat? She keeps running around the room, hiding from me. Do you know how little energy I have? It's draining."
"Guys!" a voice calls from the corner of the room. Red pops her head out from behind a curtain and runs to us. "She's trying to poison me with an apple!"
"Yeah the mirror told us," I say remembering the conversation from earlier. "Just don't eat it, she can't make you."
"Why do you think I was running all over the room. I can't get out of here, but you guys are here now. You can help me."
"That's why we came Red." She beams and embraces me. 
"Ugh, enough of this. Snow, stop being so stubborn and just take the apple, NOW!" Regina screams in frustration. 
Red Shoes lets go of me and takes a step forward. "No."
"Fine, you had to make this hard." Regina whistles and two large wooden creatures climb up from the ledge. They come straight towards Merlin and I. We attempt to get out of their range, but their oversized arms reach out and take ahold of us, entrapping us in their strong grasp. I try to squirm out but fail in the process, rough pieces of wood digging into my skin.
"I'm going to get splinters," I complain.
Merlin stops squirming in disbelief and stares at me."That's what you're worried about here?" 
"What? They hurt. And They're hard to take out!"

"Snow White," Regina's voice echoes around the room. "Eat this apple and I'll release your friends. If you don't my creatures will crush them." The monsters grasp gets tighter, pain takes hold of my core.
"Ahh. Red, just take off the shoes. You don't need them!" I yell.
"I can't."
"Why not?" I ask, my voice coming out ragged. 
"I mean I really can't." She demonstrates by pulling the shoes off her feet, but they don't come off. "They won't budge."
"This apple will get them off your feet," Regina says, arm stretched out with the apple resting in the middle of it. 
"Oh, why didn't you say so? Give me."
"Red Shoes, don't she's tricking you!" I don't hesitate to yell with all I can. "The magic mirror said it will turn you into a magic tree!" 
Red takes a step back from Regina. "Oh, well I kind of like being human."
"Ugh that stupid mirror never knows when to stop talking," Regina complains. "Eat it or I swear I'll crush them." Red Shoes looks at us with sadness in her eyes and nods.
"No don't do it!" Merlin shouts, squirming in a panic. 
"I'm sorry guys. Make sure you find my papa," she says. She walks up and takes the apple from Regina, bringing it to her mouth.

"Merlin, get us out of here!" I pant. 
"I'm trying, one second."
 It all happens so fast. Merlin finally reaches into his pouch and creates a small blast of lightning. It's enough to stun the creatures, weakening their grasp and enabling us to finally force our way out. The collapse on the ground. Red moves the apple closer and closer to her mouth. I quickly take hold of my bow and reach for an arrow, but there's none. I used them all. I quickly scan the area for something to use. I find a stick with a dull point. Quickly I load my bow and aim for the apple. The stick hits the fruit clean, pulling it away from Red's hand. It bounces off the wall and drops to the floor. But it's too late. The apple rolls slightly and there in the middle, is a bite. I pull my hair up in a stressful manner. No this can't be happening. Just a few seconds, a few seconds too late. There must be a way to undo this, to prevent Red from turning into a tree. I'm terrified to look back at what my friend is becoming. But I must. I have to keep a clear head if I want to find a solution. I take a deep breath and turn. . .

"Spit it out! Spit it out!" Merlin shouts frantically. He's behind her, arms around her waist, pulling inwards. A maneuver to prevent choking. "Spit. It. Out!" He shouts one last time as the piece of the apple comes flying out of her mouth, landing on Regina's feet.

"NO!" Regina yells in disgust and kicks the apple piece to the other side of the room. "You meddling kids. All I want are my shoes which Snow took from me!" she exclaims in an angry manner.
"You didn't have to crush us for them though," Merlin says. 
"Yeah, what the heck Regina! That was uncalled for!" I shout, pointing the edge of my bow at her. She puts her hands up in reflex, but then slowly brings her hand towards me, pushing me onto the ground. "Hey!"
"Don't touch her, witch!" Merlin exclaims, his eyes aflame. 
"Look guys, I don't have much time. My age is accelerating at a rapid pace now, I need those shoes to keep me alive and beautiful."
"Then grow some more without sacrificing a life," I blurt. 
"Ugh, that's not how magic works." Regina summons her wooden creatures back to life once more. Merlin and I look at each other warily. These creatures are huge and there's not much space to fight them. I'm out of arrows and Red can get seriously hurt. We need to get her to Chonkers and deal with this ourselves. I give Merlin a determined look. He reciprocates it. We will fight, side by side.