Deadly Beauty

Where is She?: Luke's POV

The sweetest memories pull at the edges of my unconscious mind. A heavy feeling seems to pull me deeper into the memory and won't let me go. I don't know if I want to let go yet, either. The most beautiful girl gave herself to me last night. Thoughts of my girl curling up next to me right now brings out a deeper need than sleep. Desire runs through my body. Precious thoughts of her sweet pink lips kissing mine. A soft warm body pressing up against me. Silky blonde hair teasing my fingertips. A name on my lips.

"Charlie," I moan.

I want nothing more than to spend all morning showing her how much I love her. If I get fired for starting late this morning so be it! I have never been happier in my life than holding her in my arms. She is mine, and I am going to keep her.

I roll over, reaching out to grab her; and I am suddenly fully awake. She isn't here. She had told me last night we were either going to stay together or we would leave together. She wasn't planning on ditching me, I know that! Where did she go? I swear, she was just here! This is where she is supposed to be, and I'm gonna do everything in my power to make sure she is by my side for the rest of our lives.

"Charlie?" I call out. There is no reply, and I start to get a funny felling deep in my belly. Unease slides down my skin causing a sheen of sweat to coat my body.

"Sweetheart, where are you?"

Did I dream it all?

No! I can still see the impression of her head in the pillow next to mine. I can smell her sweet pea shampoo, and I can still taste her sweet lips. A deep ache forms in my chest. Something is wrong!

"Charlie!" I scramble out of bed and grab my sweats I threw off last night. Her clothes are still on my floor... Would she leave me naked? That doesn't seem right, her mother might see her and...

Her mother!

I slam the door open and look around the garden. I see drag marks on the ground and my heartrate skyrockets.

"Charlie!" I scream.

Silence.

I make a run for it, up to the house, but end up running into the gate instead. It's covered in sharp vines holding the old iron in place. I look around and find my pruning sheers. No stupid plant and it's thorns are going to keep my from finding Charlotte and making sure she is alright.

If I had more time to think about it, I might have wondered why the vines grew so big in one night, but it was just too much effort just to cut them back. Even while I'm cutting them, they seem to keep growing back.

Huh.... Only one thing to do.

I get down on my hands and knees and pull at the base of the bloody vines. It's harder than I thought. These roots are deep and strong, but there is more than one way to get rid of a problem! I take the sheers and clip away at the vines until they are a mish mash of green slime and the plant falls away.

I slam my body into the stubborn old gate and it rumbles open. Shoving my way past my impediment, I rush for the back door of the manor house.

Inside, my bare feet slip on a sticky substance. I look down to try and figure out it is. That is when I notice the blood trial, leading up the spiral stair case.

All the blood drains from my head and I feel dizzy. I try to control my breathing but it's all coming out it short pants. Physical pain explodes through my entire body, and I fall to my knees.

What did Edith do to Charlie?

I'm almost too scared to find out, but I push my legs to move anyway. Faster and faster I climb. Around and around until my head is spinning like I'm drunk. I finally make it to the landing, where the door is blocked by even more of those damn vines! These ones are even thicker than the last ones. What is it with this place and all these plants trying to keep my from finding Charlie?

I start snipping the vines away from the door and finally, I'm able to pry enough of those blasted vines off the door to push it forward and enter...

Hell.

Chains hang from the ceiling and the stone walls. Vines have grown through the open window, dripping blood on the cold stone floor. And up against the wall, covered from head to toe in bloody thorns, is Charlie. Every inch of her exposed skin is shredded and torn. Tears are mingling with the blood coating her face.

"Charlie!"

She lets out a muffled moan. The vines tighten around her throat and mouth, strangling her.

Using my sheers I cut away the vines engulfing her neck as quickly as possible. I make my way down her arms and body, finally snipping away the vines crushing her ankles, and she falls into my arms sobbing.

"Shhh, love. I've got you," I whisper in her ear. I rock her slowly back and forth, trying not to cause more pain.

"Luke! I knew you wouldn't forget me..." She sobs into my shoulder.

"Why in the hell would I ever forget you?" I ask dumbfounded.

"The sleeping spell Mother placed on you should have made you forget me..." she wheezes.

Suddenly, Charlie coughs up blood. Her body trembles against mine, trying to pull in the oxygen she need, and my heart almost stops beating.

"Don't leave me!"

She sucks in a deep breath, and relaxes into my body.

"Luke," she tries again. "You need to leave. Now! Before she realizes that you didn't forget me," she whispers.

"I'm not leaving you! You are coming with me... I didn't forget you and I never will! Maybe I'm just immune to her charms," I joke softly.

"The only way it wouldn't have worked was if you really do love me..." she says as her eyes roll to the back of her head.

"No!" I shake her harder than I mean to. She moans softly and the pendant at her neck starts to glow.

I rip the damn flower off her neck and shake it. "This is all your fault!" I yell.

A sudden banging behind me causes me to turn in shock.

Standing there in a bloody red dress is Edith.