Belle

“Spinning wheels spinning wheels,

Spinning straw to gold,

Growing time growing time

Growing youth to old,

Too long we wait for a prince to come

To save me from my grave

Sad to say my days are done

At sixteen, must I be brave?

How to live when I am dying

Know the time of my last breath

I live while living is lying

As I’m marching to my death.”

The melancholy song echoes in the empty woods, I listen to the sound of my boots scrape against the rock as I climb to my normal perch. It’s been nearly three years since Amphi disappeared. I went out in the woods searching for him every day, but I never found him. Now I come to the woods every day but I know I won’t find him.

Every day my life seems shorter, and now it’s shorter than its ever been. I die in exactly one year. People are stupid sometimes, everyone I know wishes that they knew the exact hour of their death, but I know better. I know that there is not hope for life when you know how and when you are to die. 

I would stick it to Wicked and end it all now, if only to take back my life and feel as though I had some bearing on it; I just want the glimpse of how it feels to be in control. But my parents need hope that I’ll return, if I end it myself there is no hope, if I wait then perhaps true love’s kiss will bring me back. 

In all honesty I don’t believe I ever will come back. I think Wonderful knows I won’t, I think she altered the spell only to bring my parents a small glimpse of hope to grasp and hold on to in order for them to be stronger in the face of fear; but I know better. I’m young, I’m not too old and too worn and too weak to face the truth.

I hear the snap of a twig behind me and I stop in my tracks. The woods are dangerous, there are thieves, murders and demons beyond imagination…it could be anything.

“Drop your knife,” A deep muffled voice murmurs.

I smile a dry smile as my blood begins to boil, “Make me.”

I whip around and catch Jack Woodsman’s hand as he reaches out to grab me. I lift the knife to plunge it into his chest but he catches my other arm. 

“Imagine if I was actually trying to hurt you Belle, you’d be finished.” He says as we stand grasping each other and waiting for someone to make the next move.

“Oh ha ha, as if you could beat me,” I grin.

“Couldn’t I though?” He asks.

Suddenly he sweeps my leg and I fall to the ground landing on my back. Before I can do anything his boot is on my wrist, disabling my weaponed limb, and he stands above me triumphant. 

“You’re getting stronger,” I smile.

“So are you,” He says.

He moves his foot and offers me a hand. I take it, his hands are strong, warm and calloused as he pulls me to my feet. 

“Nice sweep,” I dust off my pants.

“Thanks,” He says, “My father taught me. So where are we going today?”

“Well,” I cross my arms, “We searched the East last time so maybe the West?”

“We’ve been that way dozens of times and never found anything.”

“We’ve been in every direction dozens of times Jack, we’ll probably never find anything.”

“Don’t say that,” He says.

“Say what?”

“The whole no hope spiel.”

“Easy for you to say,” I mutter, “Your days aren’t numbered.”

“Everyone’s days are numbered Belle,” He says catching my hand, “And I’m still not convinced you only have a year left.”

“Hello,” I shout jumping onto a rock and flapping my arms like a mock fairy, “You are cursed to die on your sixteenth birthday!”

Jack jumps up beside me, “But true love’s kiss remember?”

“Oh yeah cause I have so many true loves,” I roll my eyes and sit down.

“Well you still have a year to find one,” Jack hops down beside me, “And who knows,” His tone grows gentle and he takes my hand reassuring me, “Maybe you already found him.”

I stare into his brown brown eyes, they are warm and comforting, every day I’m so thankful for Jack. If it weren’t for him I would miss Amphi so much more. Jack is the older brother God knew I needed.

I lean my head on his shoulder and sigh. He lays his head on mine and we sit in silence for a minute.

A howl breaks the peaceful silence and a scream echoes through the trees.

In a moment Jack is on his feet, his head whips around, I rise slowly and stand slightly behind him. I strain my ears after the dying sound and stay very still, hardly daring to breathe, my hand tightly gripping my knife.

There is another howl and a pitiful cry for help. It’s the voice of a young girl, a familiar young girl.

“Red,” Jack whispers under his breath.

He stands still for a moment waiting for the noise again, and then it comes, a blood curdling shriek. Horrifying and pitious enough to still a hummingbird’s wings.

“Red!” Jack yells, he rushes off and out of sight, tearing through the underbrush.

I follow close behind. It’s a day like any other, the Wolfe is out and it’s not unusual for him to stalk his favorite prey. But my heart drops in my chest as I wonder if he finally may actually have caught her. 

Red

A flash of gray and hot wet snout impede my vision as I hit the ground with a thud. My mouth opens to scream as the beast pins me face up against the floor. There is a scar across his right eye and snot glistens upon his black nose. His red eyes sparkle in the light and his mangy lip curls back to reveal perfectly horrible teeth as long as my ring finger.

I lay on the floor gasping for air. His paws are on my chest and I feel my heart beat as I suck the oxygen into my deprived lungs. Spit drips from his fangs and plops onto my chest, it is warm, wet and slimy. I moan as his claws sink into my left shoulder with a nasty squelching of fresh flesh squishing and skin breaking. I cry out and feel the hot tears begin to come. There is no where to run, nothing to do.

The great wolf’s eyes register my helplessness and he begins to grin. His tail swishes behind him and he proudly lets out a hoarse bark that resembles the laugh of a mad man. 

“Please, please!” I whisper, “You are no wolf, please, do not eat me!”

The wolf bares his teeth and very suddenly arches his back in a great swooping motion and howls at the sky.

But I never hear how the howl ends, for very suddenly I hear the whistle of an arrow and the twang of bow string. The thud of his hyde breaking and his howl turns into a scream. I scramble away as he staggers back and feel strong hands grasp me under my shoulders.

I look around panicked as the wolf stumbles around shrieking and clawing at the arrow in his back. I find my footing and grab the arm of the boy holding on to me.

“Jack!” I gasp startled.

“This way!” He yells, grabbing my wrist. 

Another arrow cuts the air and with a sickening thud it makes its home in the wolf’s shoulder. He lets out a vicious cry and falls back farther. 

“Come on!” Jack yells again tugging at my arm.

I turn and follow him. We leap over roots and duck under branches as we run through the woods. The farther we go the softer the Wolf’s cries become. He is not following us. Thank goodness for that. 

Eventually we skid to a halt in a small clearing. Jack doubles over gasping and I fall to my knees. I put my hands on the ground and breathe in little breaths to calm down my racing heart. With every breath I feel a sharp pain in my ribs, it is so great I nearly cry out.

We hear a rustling and I jump to my feet, Jack snaps upright and his head jerks in the direction of the sound. He steps in front of me and pulls his small axe out of his belt. My fingers reach into my coat and curl around the hilt of the tiny evil looking dagger the Queen insists that I carry around at all times.

But instead of a great monster, Belle strolls into the clearing. “He’s not following us, he gave up after the third arrow his his leg.” She smiles proudly.

“What would I do without you guys?” I ask, plopping to the floor.

“Well, let’s see, we’ve saved your life how many times now?” Jack asks sarcastically.

“Six or seven I think,” Belle examines her fingernails nonchalantly and grins.

“So something you wouldn’t do is breathing,” Jack teases.

I laugh and then quickly groan as a sharp pain stabs my side. 

“You alright?” Belle asks, dropping to her knees beside me.

“Yes, you guys were just a little slow today, that’s all,” I whimper.

“You’re shoulder is bleeding,” Jack says concerned.

“I think my rib is cracked too,” I smile sheepishly.

“Do you want help back to the castle?” Belle asks.

“No, I was going to my grandmother’s house-” I say.

“Well you really should get a healer to look at this,” Belle’s eyebrows draw together.

“My grandmother is the best healer in the kingdom,” Red says, “She’ll know what to do, she’s closer anyway.”

“Well, then we’ll take you there,” Jack says, “Come on.”

I cry out as Jack and Belle lift my arms up around their shoulders to help support me. I realize how unsteady I am as the color drains from my cheeks.