The Return of The Nutcracker

Chapter 13

   The clock tower could be heard for miles. It chimed seven times. I slowly opened my eyes. The bed sheets were tangled up with me. I quickly freaked out. Jumping out of bed, looking around the room. I was back home. No....

It was Christmas day. My window was wide open. Fires were burning. People walking up and down the streets. Kids were running down the sidewalks. Laughing and smiling. My heart felt crushed. He got what he wanted. I searched for my nutcracker. Why was I even bothering? Eric was back in the throne room. Maybe a part of me wanted to know that I wasn't dreaming it all up. If I did find it, then my soul would be shattered into pieces forever. Footsteps could be heard coming up the stairs. No, not yet! I needed time to think. I quickly took a chair from the corner of the room and shoved it against the doorknob. Whoever it was, tried to open the door. The chair didn't even move an inch. The knob started jiggling. "Clara. Enough of this! Open the door. We don't have much time to waste." I was ignoring their pleas and continued searching. After a few minutes of looking, he wasn't here. Sighing with relief, it was never a dream. I suddenly remembered that there was something win my hand before I left. Searching in the bed, under my pillow, nothing. I lifted the sheets up. Something hit the wooden floors. It was the blue tube April gave me.

Use this only when you have no other solution...

     Now was my best bet. There was no other solution. I quickly opened the tube. Someone shoved their body into the door, causing the chair to fall over. Pouring the liquid into my mouth, the door swung opened. I turned around, after swallowing every drop. Aunt Drosselmeyer and Mary came into the room. Aunt Drosselmeyer seemed calm. I hid the tube behind my back. "Enough of the games. You are getting married soon." She said sternly. I could feel it disappear from my fingertips.

Shaking my head, "You have no idea what kind of a man he really is Aunt Drosselmeyer. He's an evil horrible man!" Mary's eyes widened as her hands covered her mouth.

Aunt Drosselmeyer's eyes went to the ground, "I was nervous too marrying your uncle and..."

"THIS ISN'T THE SAME THING!" I shouted. "He tried to kill my friends!" Mary walked over and placed her hand on my shoulder. Aunt Drosselmeyer silently stared at me. I needed her to listen. This would be my final plea. "Why would you want your own niece to marry someone this bad? He already told me he wasn't going to treat me well!" I puffed in anger. Then I started dancing around the room. Twirling, short leaps. But when I glanced over at them. Both of them were unmoved. It must only work there. I stopped and threw my arms to my sides.

     A knock came to the door. My heart dropped. Alexander stood in the doorway, smirking. "Can we have a minute alone?"

"It's really bad luck to see the bride before the groom." Mary spoke up, nervously. Aunt Drosselmeyer seemed to be in a trance. Maybe she was actually thinking about what I was saying. Alexander's eyes beamed at Mary. "She's going to marry me if she wants to live a good life." Aunt Drosselmeyer silently pulled Mary out of the room with her and shut the door. His arm was still missing, but no one seemed to notice. "Happy to be back home for a little bit?" Crossing my arms, I refused to answer. "Don't worry, once we go back. I'll start redecorating." I just stared at him. He grinned from ear to ear. He was happy to finally get what he wanted. I didn't care what he had to say. "No objections this time?"

Slightly turning away from him, "I have nothing to say. I will not marry you. Your threats are useless here." He got in my face, pulling me closer. Our eyes staring at each other's for a few silent moments. I had to be brave like I was there. April would have been proud of me.

Alexander gritted his teeth. "You will either marry me, or I will kill what little family you have left. Then you'll really be alone." He shoved me to the ground. "And to prove to you that I still have power here." He held up his hand, a vase flew up into the air off of a small dresser. His hand turned and the vase fell to the ground, shattering into pieces. He stormed out of my room and slammed the door shut behind him.