The Forbidden Princess

Chapter 6: Reality

We were an hour away from the castle when I had jumped out of Caleb's moving car. I ran and kept going, without hesitation. All I could see were dozens amongst dozens of trees. I had no idea where to go or how to get around these woods. I just had to find a way back to the castle and safely.

I took a quick scan of the area and found nothing within a mile radius of me. This was going to be way harder than I thought. I stopped to take a deep breath and hid behind a tree.

I thought about my parents and how severely they would punish me if they ever found out I left with a complete stranger to go to the city. They probably would disown me or take away my ownership of some items in the castle. But don't let my Aunt Celine find out. I wouldn't hear the end of it until I'd be gone.

I always let fear cloud my judgment and I just let it happen again. One step forward and now I'm back fifteen steps. I didn't regret anything so far, because they were all choices made by me and me only.

The flowers growing on the ground looked bright and colorful. I've never been deep in the woods before like this and I felt a reconnection. The tree bark smells unusual, but it was natural. Everything within my reach was all nature. I was in the aroma of nature and its beautiful creation.

I continued to walk in hopes of finding a sign or direction. All I could pick out were huge tree stumps, where I laid flowers on to leave a trail for me for when I need to come back.

I looked at my watch to see that it's been almost an hour of me just walking around, with no sense of direction. Nothing to find or link to possibly finding the castle. I hadn't eaten all day and it was just about catching up to me. I found another tree stump to sit on, while I held my stomach from aching.

I laid my head down on my lap and closed my eyes.

My mind started to slowly go into a spiral again, and I had to let it happen this time. I can't fall to the ground if I'm already sitting down, can I?

As I tried to ease my mind from spiraling, I felt a tap coming from my shoulder.

I ignored it and brushed it off as a possible heavy breeze. Probably came from a nearby tree branch anyways. But I began to start feeling constant taps, with more pressure each time. They didn't stop and continued to have more pressure.

I slowly lift my head up, to see a bright light and what appears to be static in front of my eyes. The static was in regular black and white and didn't go away. My ears were picking up sounds just fine, but the sounds felt like they were farther away and fading out. It felt like echoes trying to be found. My movements started to feel delayed and my feet were falling asleep heavily.

The static eventually started to disappear and I could finally draw out some form of an object. This object looked like a person. I soon could tell that the person was a girl. The girl had similar features to mine.

“Paige."

“Can you hear me, Paige?"

“Pay attention, Paige. I'm right here."

A voice started fading in, coming from the girl.

My initial reaction was to panic and run, but I couldn't. My body felt completely frozen and my voice wasn't making any sound. All I could do was stare into the light until the girl became more noticeable.

My head was pounding and my hands felt like they were in a bucket of sweat. I couldn't control any of my senses.

The girl started to look more realistic and had a familiar face. The light was beaming and bright. I started getting my touch back in my hands and started rubbing my eyes. One by one my senses were coming back, I got my voice then my movement.

“Paige. Please don't go back.." The voice spoke.

“How do you know my name and who are you?" I asked.

“You need to stay away from the castle and go to the city." The voice continued.

“Get out of my head! You don't know what you're talking about!" I yelled.

“It's Yassy...Please listen, go with Caleb!"

It can't be.

Yassy is a nickname I called my sister.

How is she speaking to me and how does she know who Caleb is?

“We will meet soon. Do not worry." The voice cut off

completely.

Once the voice cut off, my mind went pitch black and caused my body to jump. I was able to see clearly again and was still in the woods. I still had my watch and backpack beside me. Nothing out of place.

What the hell just happened?