The leaves were dense and long dead. She walked down the empty forest path. Did any of this really matter anyway? She sat down by the lake and stared into it. She blinked and it blinked back. She stared deep into the eyes that were once her own, only to realize she didn't recognize herself anymore. Was this what was supposed to happen when their agreement was fulfilled? Her hair was greying and her eyes were turning a darker shade of blue. She shook her head. It was probably time to head back anyway.
This time of year used to make her happy, but after the incident, she could never look at it the same. She had only been six when it had happened when a small white rabbit with navy eyes approached her and told her that it'd take all her problems away. She'd finally made it home. There stood her cottage with ivy winding up the wall.
She entered and went directly to her bedroom. The walk made her tired, more tired than it used to. As soon as she had reached her bed her head was filled with a staticy voice whispering,
"Goodnight. Goodnight. Goodnight."
Her vision blurred and her face planted into the bed.
****************************************
She clutched her blankets and looked into the mirror across from her bed. Her hair was a vibrant blonde and her eyes sparkled like a sky on a sunny day. She was younger. She heard the sound of shattering glass as her body moved by itself. Her vision blurred. When it returned she found herself standing in the living room. Her parents and sister sat together, but they didn't look right. Their faces were contorted into something humans weren't meant to see. Their eyes rolled into the back of their heads and nearly glowing a bright milky white, their mouths agape with small red and white blossoms spilling out. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a shadow. She turned and hit her back against the wall, a large dark creature that resembled a wolf stood across the room, grinning at its wicked accomplishment It's beady crimson eyes were full of pride. Her stomach dropped as the massive creature turned to her and began to salivate. She scrambled to the door and ran. She ran and ran and ran until her legs gave out. She closed her eyes and when she reopened them...
She found herself slumped over on her bed. She looked up to the mirror, her appearance was worse than before. Her hair had turned white, her eyes were a shade of blue so dark that they could be mistaken for black, and her skin that was once pristine and smooth was now wrinkled, pale, and decaying. She paled, even more, to see a cake with a singular candle on it and a note to its side that read, "Thanks for 12 years of service. Our contract will be fulfilled tonight." She shivered as this surely would be the end. For some reason, she always thought she'd be happier, that making this deal would catch her family's murderer. Would that come tonight? Her vision blurred and the room began to spiral. She felt sick. She clutched her stomach and stumbled to the small bathroom. She gripped the porcelain sink and stared into the mirror.
It was then she noticed the small delicate flowers blossoming out of her withered rotting flesh. They didn't hurt, but she could feel them. She felt even sicker. She coughed up crimson petals into the sink. She was being turned into a horrific monster, but this had been the deal. Magic and the ability to get revenge for the small price of her life.
There was a knock at the door followed by three ball joint dolls walking in - a frog, a cat, and a fox.
"Madame," they bowed.
"None of that you three," she smiled weakly at them, "I want you to run. Please, leave this house and, and-"
A coughing fit began, multiple full roses came up from her throat and into the sink. The dolls stood horrified, though they were her supposed to be her servants, this woman's magic brought them to life, this was their mother and to see her like this was simply too hard to bear. The fox slumped to the floor, covered its ears and waited for it to all be over.
She began again, "Please run. I'm not sure what will happen here tonight, but I want you to stay safe."
The cat was shivering, "But we want to stay with you..."
The room was silent and cold. She shakily removed her locket and gently placed it around the cat's neck.
"It's because I don't want to lose you that I need you to run. There's no telling what you happen tonight."
Two nodded while the frog looked back hesitantly. The three ran out of the room without another word. She collapsed to the floor, another coughing fit. When it had ended she was bunched up weeping to herself.
Everything about this felt wrong.
Her vision went red.
When she came back to her senses she was sitting up in bed. The moon's beams passed through the rose-tinted sheers. Her heart beat fast, and a navy dagger with white accents sat at her side. She feebly stood up and clutched the dagger in her hands. The sound of scissor slowly opening and snapping shut filled her head. She gripped the handle of the dagger in one hand and the doorknob in the other.
It would finally be over tonight...
Feeling guilty about being the only one to survive...
Not being able to catch the wolf...
Cowering in fear...
The day she met the rabbit, she thought she'd get her life back.
Although she knew her life would end soon, maybe it could end with honor.
The door creaked open and when it did her altruistic view broke. Her eyes widened at the horrific sight before her. The cat, with the locket still wrapped around its throat, was pinned to the bathroom door. A large pair of ornamental sewing scissors were stabbed through its stomach, crimson soaked cotton and rose petals were spilling from the hole. A note was jammed into the hole. She gagged as she pulled the note out.
Messily scribbled onto the paper was, "Your pets only wanted to help."
She leaned over and retched. Her throat burned and so did her eyes. A trail of crimson cotton and petals led down the stairs. She passed the frog and fox both pinned up in a similar fashion. Same ornamental scissor with the crimson color and black accent. She felt like giving up, but she’d already come this far. She wanted to face the person... the monster who did this.
She needed revenge.
The trail was losing the reddened cotton instead, the roses bloomed larger. She hadn't noticed but she'd been shaking for a while. She steadied the hand with the dagger in it. She tried to open the door in front of her, but the door was surrounded by long black hairs and thorny wines that almost seemed woven together. She took the dagger and began to cut back the hair and vines until there was nothing left.
A girl not unlike herself sat curled up on the floor. She looked frail and ill. Her hair was raven black and her eyes were crimson red. Her skin was withering and rotting away and large roses grew out her skin. Throny vines were intertwined with the girl's hair. Her mouth was held open by a sea of white blossoms.
The girl looked at her in fear, but couldn't speak aloud.
She began trying to pull the baby's breath out of her throat, but she couldn't.
Her muffled cries filled the tiny room.
Both of their bodies moved unnaturally. Like a marionette's strings were pulled.
Scissors and dagger were drawn as they attempted to stab one another.
They both received several stab wounds, their bodies clicked and popped as they moved around.
Their bodies hit the floor and they began to bleed out.
She felt cold as she reached out for her.
How was she... Alive?
This wasn't how she'd imagined it at all.
"It's a draw," said the rabbit.
"I know..." the wolf replied, followed by a smirk.
"What's that look for?" the rabbit questioned.
"Well," the wolf said slyly, "We do get a good meal."
"After all, twin souls do taste better."