“Whose Mona..?”

LiJie slammed his hands over his mouth like a bug crawled on him. His heart stopped like he’d stepped on the brakes. A soft yet sharp as a blade woman’s voice met his hears instead of his own gravelly one. The woman wrinkled her brow. “Mona?” Her voice flooded with worry. She pinched the skin on her throat. “How long were you captive?--Did they hurt you?!”

The woman’s wide eyes glimmered with tears. The two locked gazes. Hers was like none Li had ever seen before. Soft, overwhelmed by affection. Li’s heart twisted. He bit his lip and took a very long, deep breath. “I’m alright, Ash.” Ash wrapped her arms around ‘Mona’ so tightly she squeezed the life out of her. Li wrapped his arms around her and closed his eyes.

His brain was torn. “What the hell are you doing…?” One side squabbled. “Aw, do it for Ash. Even if she was a side character you literally had no care for.” His thoughts hushed. His eyes widened and his jaw fell. ‘Oh my god are they actually acting out of their own free will?!’

Ash pulled away. Li rubbed the back of his neck. “Come inside, Mona.” Ash said in a gentle breath, taking ‘her’ shoulders. “My father would be delighted to know you’re okay.. he’s not been doing so well.” Li smiled half-heartedly. His shoulders fell.

“Of course, Ash. Give me a moment.” He sighed. “I just need to recuperate.”

Ash nodded. She smiled a ‘Take all the time you need’ smile and backed up. She glanced around before shutting the door. Li’s legs trembled and gave out. He fell on the stairs and shoved his face into his hands. The door clicked. His floodgates burst, letting all his thoughts flow.

‘What now, Li?!’

‘How do you get home??’

‘Won’t they catch on that something’s wrong?!’

‘What happens if I get captured again, will my death be real?!!’

‘Is this all some sort of sick prank or dream?!’

Well. Li swore he’d never go to sleep again. He stared into oblivion, his pupils unfocused. He couldn’t count how long it had been before his thoughts eventually shut up. Ash opened the door. The creaking burnt his ears. “Mona?” Li looked around. At least the sun was still up. Ash smiled. The exhaustion in her eyes showed as they failed to squint.

“I’m still here.” Li said as humorously as possible. Ash giggled.

“Come inside.”

The table the author had described was there. Just like the story, it was made from deep mahogany wood. The family’s pride and joy—just like the house. The floor boards creaked as the two walked in, pulling at Li’s brain every time. The sweet scent of pie also grew, calming his nerves just a bit. The fading wallpaper hung, exposing shabby wood behind it.

The cottage was only being held together by a string. Ash and her family were no builders. They were exiled from their palace long ago. Ash wrapped an arm around Li, pulling him close as the two squeezed through an archway. A burly man with a big red beard stood up.

He wore a fitted plaid shirt, its orange fabric patched or stitched at every inch. The smell of the woods could’ve knocked Li out. The man’s stone expression melted like ice cream in Summer’s heat. Warmth flooded his face. He ran over, pulling Li into his arms and yanking him right off the ground. Li squeaked out the last sprinkle of air he had. Ash laughed joyfully. Li forced a smile.

The man let him go. Li lurched forward, Mona’s long silk-like hair fell over his shoulders.

“Don’t kill her!” Ash reprimanded playfully, sweeping her bow off the makeshift sofa-bench.

The man shook his head and laughed. He turned back to Li, who composed himself—or tried. He bowed forward in the man’s soft gaze. “It’s been so long. I hope you can heal in peace after what happened.” Li’s gaze fell to the floor. He furrowed his brows.

“Have you heard anything about Alaric?”

That’s what Mona would say. Her head was always wrapped up in that cold, calculating son of a-The man cleared his throat. “Alaric?” Ash almost mocked, grabbing her buck-skin quiver. “You mean the guy who left you for dead to take an army?” Mona’s eyes shot wide.

“Left me.. for dead?” He forced shock into his voice. His heart thudded at his own terrible acting.

Ash sighed. “It’s a long story. Let’s get you fed and dressed. Those rags won’t hold you over.”

Before Li knew it, he wore a flowy white gown. He followed Ash, who cleaned up a few plates on the table. She then dished her two children who Li knew as May and Lily a couple more pieces of pie and sat them down. Ash took a tired breath and leaned against the table. Li leaned back on his chair, looking at his feet.

“I guess it’s time we prepare for the hunting trip, eh?” Ash casually said, cracking her knuckles. Li sniffled. That sweet scent of pie overwhelmed his senses. “Tomorrow’s dinner won’t cook itself.”

Ash’s father nodded. Another woman—named Elsa from a house or two over—came inside. An off-white scarf held up her deep brown hair. Ash’s father walked over to her and the two chatted while Ash turned back to Mona. “I have to talk to you after the trip.” The day’s shock faded away from her fierce but compassionate voice. “Would you be fine with that, love?”

Li snapped awake—as if he were sleeping! He smiled. “You look like a ripe tomato, Mona.” Ash teased, leaning over and patting him on the shoulder. Li chuckled.

“I’d be f-fine with chatting.” He squeaked.

“Alright, See you then!”

“See you then…”

‘See you then…’ Li woke up from his nap. His head was still weighed down by grogginess. Those words rung in his head. Was that what he’d said to Alice last time they talked? Li laid on the sofa bench, staring at the crack-riddled ceiling. If it stormed the family would have more to pay for it than what they had. Li sighed. Gloom washed over him.

What exactly was he going to do here anyway beside be another mouth to feed?

Maybe this wasn’t a dream after all.