"What?" Brair gasped at Daring's words. She closed the door behind her.
"He's been attacked," Daring spit out,"Put on some shoes, we gotta go to the castleteria." Briar rushed back into her room and slipped on her furry boots. She grabbed her pink sweatshirt and pulled it over her head. When she left her dorm with Daring it hit her. The Evil Queen had finally hurt him, it was only a matter of time before she came for Ever After all together. She ran a little faster from her thoughts.
The two made it into the dark and empty castleteria. Only moonlight filled the space. Brair scanned the castleteria but it was empty. A single golden crown laid on the floor. Went over to it and picked it up. "Up here," a familiar voice called. Briar looked up to see Hopper dangling upside down from the ceiling. Briar gasped and dropped the crown at the sight.
"I'll go get Raven," Daring ran away from her, leaving the two alone.
"Hopper what happened," Brair looked up, breathing heavily, eyes becoming misty.
"I was walking back from your place," Hopper screeched. Blood was rushing to his head,"The fog appeared and I got lost. Then the screaming, mostly your screams. Before I knew I was dangling here."
"You're going to be okay I promise," Brair responded. She couldn't take the pain in his voice. A laugh came from above where Hopper dangled.
"Oh you promise?!" the voice of the Evil Queen echoed through the empty hall,"Well princess, promises can break, just like this rope."
"No! Please!" Brair could see the shadow from above, waiting to let Hopper fall to the ground.
"Take this message to my daughter," the Evil Queen said quickly,"I'm coming for her. If she's smart, she'll give up before anyone else gets hurt. This rebellion won't last long against me." A purple flamed hand grabbed the roped and burned it free.
"No!" Briar yelled as she ran to catch Hopper. He crashed into her arms. The two fell back onto the floor. Brair heard the cackle of the Evil Queen before she disappeared. The princess laid there for a moment, not wanting to move an inch. Her body was drained from any source of energy. She finally breathed in, for a minute she had forgot to breathe. It was when she heard a voice call her name she found strength in herself.
She looked over at him. Hopper was lying beside her, still tied in ropes. "Hopper," Briar whispered as she couldn't help but crack a smile. She sat up and began to untie the ropes off his back. He had wiggled free. Hopper sat up only to place his hands on his throbbing head. Once it seemed that the blood had flown back to the rest of his body, Hopper put his hand back in his lap. He looked over to Briar who was only starring at him, her eyes misty.
Brair suddenly threw her arms around him. He held her closely as she whispered to him. "Did she hurt you?"
"No," Hopper said back quietly,"Only tied me to the ceiling hoping nobody would find me."
"I'm never letting you go," Briar cried into his shoulder.
"I have to breath sometime," Hopper leaned back and gave her a soft smile.
Briar pulled away, half crying, half laughing. She abruptly pressed her lips against Hopper's. Their hands framed each other's face to deepen the kiss. The separated and continued to hug. Even though they hadn't been together long, Brair felt completely comfortable with him. Suddenly the lights flickered on. Daring and Raven walked over to the hugging couple. "Are you two okay?" Raven asked as she sat down with them. Briar wiped the tears off her face.
"Your mother hung Hopper upside down from the ceiling," Briar recalled from moments ago,"Then she cut the ropes. It was a good thing crashed into me before we both hit the ground, otherwise he would be a goner."
"She gave a message for you," Hopper spoke over Briar,"She coming for you, and if your smart you'll give up before anyone else gets hurt."
"Hopper I am so sorry," Raven said sincerely,"Even though I don't want anyone to get hurt, I can't give up. What would happen if she won. Ever After would bend to her will. She would treat us all as slaves, and I'm not going to let that happen. There is one good thing I inherited from my mother, fire."
"Don't think you're alone in this Raven,"Brair said softly,"We're all fighting for different reasons but it's all for the same cause. We're all fighting for a better happily ever after that we choose." Briar and Hopper held each other's hands. Raven slightly grinned.
"I'm in too," Daring got on one knee to join the group,"I used to think that everything is laid out for us, but then I really knew what it was like to live a real life, and I don't want that to be taken."
"What are we supposed to do now?" Hopper asked.
"Wait for my mom I guess," Raven looked at the floor,"Then put up at least a good fight. She's not taking us without one."
Apple's blue eyes fluttered open. It was midday from the looks of it. How long have I been asleep? The only thing I remember is Humphrey talking to me after I was attacked. I had that giant- Apple cut her thoughts off when she felt the pain and stinging coming from her arm. She sat up and took a good look at the bandage. It had begun to fall off, so Apple unwrapped the rest.
Underneath, stitches kept her arm together. There weren't many, but the skin around them was a shade of red. Apple didn't recall getting them done, but she assumed it was painful. Apple looked around her arms to make sure there wasn't anymore wounds she had to re-bandage. After getting dressed, she found a small roll in the bathroom cupboards. As she finishes wrapping her arm.
"You're awake!" Ashlynn was standing in the doorway, ready for the day.
"Good morning!" apple cheerfully smiled before she brushed her teeth.
"I'm surprised you're in good shape," Ashlynn combed her hair next to Apple. "Especially after falling on that vase."
Apple spit in shock. Luckily, the toothpaste hit the sink. Apple turned on the water and finished her routine. "Oh yeah," Apple whipped her hands on the red towel with a golden "A" on it. "My arm hurts a little, but I'll be all good. "
"Well I would love to stay and chat but I promised Hunter I would meet him before school," Ashlynn looked herself over,"Your painkillers are on your dresser. It'll tell you your dosage. See you later!" The daughter of Cinderella left.
"Bye," Apple mumbled to herself. She suddenly felt down. It seemed that not being in a relationship like everyone else is degrading her happiness. She didn't really need a boyfriend to survive, but she felt left out. Apple turned her head to the door to see Briar beauty standing there. Her hair was everywhere and she was still half asleep. "You look tired Briar!" Apple laughed a little.
"Long night," Briar said in a raspy voice,"Hopper was attack last night. The Evil Queen strung him from the ceiling."
"Oh my!" Apple gasped,"Is he alright?!"
"Yeah," Brair pushed the hair out of her face,"I caught him before his head could hit the ground."
"Well I'm glad you two are okay," Apple smiled.
"What about you? Are you okay? I heard you tripped over a glass vase?"
"That's just the lie for everyone else," Apple glanced down at her bandage,"The Evil Queen threw mirror shards at me."
"You're lucky to have come out alive!" Briar was awake now.
"We all are really," Apple shrugged,"I mean if this is just meaningless taunting, I just hope our luck doesn't run out too quickly."
"I guess you're right," Briar looked around, not knowing what else to say.
"Well you better tame that hair," Apple laughed as she walked past Briar. The rubbing of there arms made Apple give a small wince, but she shook it off."If we're going to run out of luck, might as well look good for it." Briar gave a soft laugh as she closed the bathroom door.
Apple went over to her mirror. She looked pretty good for have being attacked the day before. It was just another trait of becoming a princess, you can deal with situations calmly. She looked into her blue eyes. The memory of her talking to the Evil Queen was haunting her brain. She will never let her manipulate her mind again. Never.