Another Snow White oneshot...
A looking glass hung on the far side of the room, small, but clear and clean. She had to bend down to look into it. What she saw sent shivers down her spine. Her skin was white—too white, and her hair was a shimmering black. Her lips and cheeks were red like roses, red like blood. She was beautiful, too beautiful, and she could see the face of her stepmother reflected in her own face. She was afraid.
She turned away quickly, turning her back to the glass. She could run from her fear; she always ran from her fear.
Her father's body lay still at last. The pain and the agony were gone, all gone, taking his life along with them. She was alone.
She sat beside him, feeling the tears running down her face. He was gone.
They'd come, her stepmother's men and they would accuse her, though they knew very well it had been her poisons. She'd have no defense against them.
Footsteps, pounding into the ground. They were coming fast.
"Search everywhere!" came the screech of her stepmother's voice.
They were pounding on the door now, the noise was racking, banging, with no end. They'd break through in no time.
She glanced at the back door. She could still make it, she could run away, never have to face her stepmother again.
She bolted. They caught her before she even reached the forest.
A knock pounded on the door. She felt her heart freeze. How long could she keep this up? First the corset, then the comb, what now?
"Apples, fresh apples!"
It was her stepmother, of course. She'd recognize her voice anywhere, and besides, who else could it be? She glanced around the room. There was the window, she could get through it she tried. But did she want to go?
"She wants to kill you, Snow!" Thomas shouted at her. "You have to do something! Face her, tell somebody who she really is, something!"
"I...I can't," she stuttered lamely.
Thomas scrutinized her.
She bit her lip. She was too afraid, she wasn't brave at all, she could never face her stepmother. "I—I'll run away!" she finally said. "I'll go into the forest, she won't find me!"
Thomas sighed. "You can't run forever, Snow. Turning your back on the world isn't going to make her go away."
But she had run away. She'd run into the forest, afraid all the while, and that had brought her here, to the cottage. Fear had found her here as well. There wasn't anywhere else to go. The whole world was out there, but she'd still be found.
"Apples!"
She glanced at the doorway. She was so afraid, but running wouldn't solve that. She walked to the door, seven steps. She put her hand on the doorknob, pulled it open. You can't run forever.
She took one of the apples, held it to her lips. It was deep crimson, like blood. She closed her eyes tightly, bringing it into her lips. Time to stop running. Her lips sank into it, tasting the sweet poison, tasting the freedom.