Rapunzel twisted the short brown locks that were now her hair in between her fingers. She'd been sitting for hours, wrapped in her mother's arms, her father hovering closely over them. Eugene sat in a chair across the room, gazing at the three with glossy eyes. His stomach plummeted every time Rapunzel would suck in a gasp or exhale with a tear.
"D-dear," the queen said in a whisper to her husband. "Why don't you and Eugene go check on the chefs…? See how breakfast is going?"
The King nodded to her, his face pale and motionless. Eugene stood up and walked over to Rapunzel, Kissing her on the forehead.
"I love you." He mouthed as the King corralled him out of the door.
Rapunzel gave a weak smile at him and flinched as the huge door came to a slam. She looked up at her mother with painful green eyes. The queen replied with a frown and patted her daughter's head. "There there…" she stifled tears as Rapunzel sobbed into her shoulder. "It was just a dream. She's gone and never coming back."
As her eyes shut, Rapunzel watched her dream reply over and over again in horror. The whole atmosphere of it was gray and foggy, making it even more terrifying. She was lying in bed and Eugene had his arms wrapped around her.
"Rapunzel…" he whispered in her ear.
"Mm, yes?" she replied groggily.
Eugene kissed her head and chuckled "I love-"
"You love what?" she laughed, staring at the wall. "Soup? Me? Max?"
He didn't respond. There was silence besides the sound of metal being swiped. She spun around quickly.
"Eugene are you oka-" she stopped and threw her hand on her chest, as if to make sure her heart was still beating.
Standing there, draped in a black and purple robe stood the curly haired woman that she used to call mother. In her hand was a shard of glass similar to the one used to cut her hair. Rapunzel choked as she looked down at the shard. Both it and Gothel's hands were dark red.
"Eugene!" She flipped him on his back and gently shook him. "Eugene please!" She screamed.
Eugene's eyelashes fluttered and a small groan escaped his mouth. Then he fell limp in her arms.
"No! No! not again No!" She was shaking him violently now.
Gothel laughed and wiped the blood on her dress. "Now…" She used her pale bony hand to grab Rapunzel by the wrist. "We're going home where you belong."
"Let me go!" Rapunzel grunted and used her free hand to cling to the bedpost. "Stop it!"
Gothel ignored her plea and pulled her, towards the window. "Wave goodbye to mummy and daddy." she sneered in Rapunzel's ear and threw the both of them out the window.
Rapunzel's eyes flew open, her heart racing and her face flushed. She looked up at her mother who was crying with her. "I know. It was just a dream." She stuttered and gave a weak smile.
The queen smiled with a sigh of relief and nodded. "How about some breakfast?"
"Breakfast would be nice." Rapunzel agreed and stood up, smoothing out the green fabric hanging off her waist.
They clasped hands together and walked out of the room down to the dining room.