Distorted Fates

by R. L. Weeks

  Fred looked confused. “Know what?”

  She winked at him. “The natural enemy for bitches.”

  The Mane Heiress

  By Hope Sherrill

  Prologue

  Many have tried to rescue the mythical princess. No one has ever succeeded. Most never return. The only proof that something may be behind those ancient castle walls is the haunting melody. And the occasional scream.

  My brother seems to think the princess is real. And he seems determined to prove it. I’m just as determined to save him from himself. I believe there is something behind those walls. Whatever it is has murdered hundreds.

  This little adventure seems incredible stupid. How do you rescue someone, or stop something, when you truly don’t know who or what is there?

  Chapter One

  “Tell me again why we’re doing this, Matthew?” I still can’t believe we’re going to the old castle. But here we are, packing for this stupidity.

  “I know why I’m going, Rachel. The princess is there. She needs to be rescued. She told me so. I don’t know why you insist on going.”

  How did he manage to make me sound like the stupid one, when he’s the one wanting to rescue a princess he saw in a dream?

  I just look at him. “One of us has to make sure you don’t make a complete dumbass of yourself. You saw her in a dream? Really? Remind me to tell mom to take you to see the men in the white coats before we leave. And, if you must know, I’m going because you need someone to watch your back.” With those words, I returned to packing my stuff.

  Matthew huffed behind me. I must have annoyed him. “Fine, brat. But be ready to go early. I don’t want mom trying to stop us.”

  “You do realize why mom will try to stop us, right? Cause this is so stupid. How many stories are there about people going onto those castle grounds and never returning? How many times have we walked past and heard terrified screams? That place hasn’t been occupied for almost a thousand years, and yet it hasn’t started crumbling. That’s weird, along with those vines that grow around it, but somehow stop right at the front gate. But fine, let’s go there just so you can rescue a princess, that probably died a thousand years ago. Jeez, you’re such a dumbass.” Pretty sure my brother felt the eye roll I just sent his way.

  “Whatever, brat. I only know that I have to go there. I’m going, whether you go or not.”

  Like I was going to let him go alone. At eighteen, he may be the older sibling, but I always felt as if I had to make sure he stayed alive and healthy. There is something he’s meant to do, and I’ll make sure he does it. All I have to do is figure out what he’s supposed to do.

  Chapter Two

  We made it out of the house before our mom got up this morning and made it to the old castle. It looks eerie in the early dawn light, with a heavy fog layering the grounds that we could see through the gate. The fog made the over abundant vines look as if they were writhing, just waiting for someone to come get tangled up in them.

  I feel a shiver go down my spine. I really do not want to be here. There is something seriously wrong with this place. I almost walk away, but just as I go to turn around, Matthew manages to slip through the gate. I can only sigh and follow him through.

  The castle grounds were obviously once beautiful. You could see where someone once lovingly tended them. Now, it has been overrun by vines. Seeing those things up close does not make them look any less terrifying. This close, they look as if they are covered with blonde hair. What the hell is wrong with this place?

  We start walking towards the castle. The closer we get, the more we can hear a humming melody in the air that sounds like a mix of ‘I’m just busy brushing my hair’ and ‘I will kill you where you stand.’ Once again, I’m very ready to leave this place.

  “That’s her, Rach. The princess is calling for me. Isn’t her voice the most beautiful thing you’ve ever heard?” The obsession in his voice made me want to knock his ass out and drag him back home.

  “What it sounds like is serial killer-esque. We’re gonna die here. Our bodies are never gonna be found. And I’m gonna have fun making sure you never forget that it was all your fault.” And yes, I know I sound like a whiny teenager. But I am a whiny teenager, so it doesn’t bother me one little bit.

  Matthew just rolls his eyes at me. “You’re such a scaredy-cat, Rachel. This is an adventure neither of us will ever forget. I’ll get the girl, and you’ll be the witness to my heroics.”

  Why does he seem proud of this? His arrogance made me close my mouth. I can only send a dark look in his direction and shake my head. I know he’s being silly to make me feel more comfortable being here, but it’s not working. There is just something about this place.

  No sooner had that thought run through my head than a screech could be heard from the castle’s northern tower. I looked in that direction to see a small, female-shaped shadow standing at the top of the tower. The shadow was looking in our direction. As suddenly as it appeared, it was gone.

  I glanced at Matthew. He seemed to not even notice the screech, or the shadow. At the risk of sounding like a broken record– What the hell is going on with this place?

  Chapter Three

  We gingerly step over and around the slithering vines. To me, they seem to be getting more active the closer we get to the castle. Again, Matthew doesn’t seem to even notice. Why do I seem to be the only one noticing the weird things going on here?

  We finally make it to the front of the castle. Of course, the doors are closed up tight. Matthew pushes on the doors like he believes they will open right up for him. I raise one eyebrow. “That didn’t quite work, did it?”

  “Shut it, brat. I’m destined to rescue her. We will get in.”

  Well, at least he seems positive. Me, not so much.

  “All right, genius. If you’re so destined to rescue this princess, that I still don’t believe exists, then how do we get in?” I’m really thinking, but don’t say out loud, Please say you give up and we can go home.

  “I brought a crowbar. I hate to do it, but I will destroy these doors to get to her. I can hear her in my head. She’s pleading with me to help her. She’s so tired of being trapped here.” I can hear the desperation in his voice. He truly wants to help. I still don’t believe anyone actually lives here. Do I believe many have died here? Very much so.

  I can only sigh and acquiesce to his delusions. I have come to the realization that he’s not leaving until either he rescues whoever is talking to him, or we both die. We finally pry the doors open. And it seems a shame to destroy such awesome architecture.

  We walk into the main hall and look around in awe. I’m turning in a circle. The entire hall looks as if it’s just waiting for a huge celebration. Again, no decay for a place that hasn’t been occupied for almost a thousand years.

  As I turned, I see the doors we just came through. And they look like we didn’t just destroy them to get in. What the fuck?

  The small lady shadow is standing behind the throne looking at us. I can almost see the malevolence rolling off that shadow. But it seems surprised that I can see it. Hmm…I may be able to work with this.

  A horrified scream echoes around us. Matthew actually hears it this time and takes off running. “She’s in trouble. I have to help her!”

  “Matthew! Wait! Where are you going?” He disappears up the stairs, leaving me alone. I know I can’t catch up to him. He runs much faster than me.

  “He’ll never leave here…” A whisper comes through the room. It sounds like a little girl. “You need to leave. Or you die with him. Do you want to play with me?”

  No, that didn’t sound creepy, at all. A thought went through my brain. “Are you the shadow I keep seeing?”

  “How did you see me? No one but her can see me. Will you play with me?” Seems as if the ominous little girl voice has a one-track mind.

  I decide to semi play along with her. “How about we play a game? It’s called Find Matthew. Would you play that with me?
”

  The little girl clapped her hands gleefully. “That sounds like a fun game. What do I get if I win?”

  I know I’m taking a chance here, but I take off my backpack and show her my favorite bear. “I’ve had this toy since I was a little girl. I love it very much. But, if you help me find Matthew, I will give him to you.”

  I watch as her shadow seems to be considering. “We shall see, new friend. We shall see.” With those words, she is gone.

  At this point, I figure I can’t rely on that to work, so I take off in the direction my brother ran. So many hallways and doors, so little time.

  Chapter Four

  I choose to run down the left most hallway. I had to start somewhere, right? There are five doorways to choose from. So, I start with the closest door.

  It creaks open to show a sudden drop into the dark. Who the hell built this place? I hear whispery laughter throughout the castle. It’s as if someone wants me to die. Or have a heart attack at only sixteen years old. Is that even possible? Then I consider the reputation of this place. Of course, it wants death. This thought spurs me into action. I must find my brother.

  After I carefully close this first door, I run for the next. Bracing myself for the unknown, I open the door. Inside this room was only emptiness. A huge, yawning emptiness. Seems very anticlimactic.

  I still decide to explore the room, so I step inside. No sooner did I get into the room than the door slammed behind me and sealed itself. Pushing doesn’t help. Neither does pulling. I decide to hold back my panic, and find a way out.

  Turning to look around the room, I feel a soft touch on the back of my head. Screaming in fright, I ran to the other side of the room. I can hear soft chuckling behind me. I slowly turn around to see a beautiful girl, slightly older than myself. Maybe about the same age as Matthew. Her shimmery form had long, golden blonde hair that swept the floor. I used to think that hair that long always looked stringy at the end, but her hair has thick waves all the way down. It is just as thick at the bottom as it is at the top.

  Her sparkling amber eyes gaze at me in wonder. “You see her. And he sees me.” Her voice even sounds musical.

  “Are you the one that has been visiting my brother’s dreams?”

  “Yes. I visit many people’s dreams, but he was the first to truly see me. I hope she doesn’t hurt him like everyone else.” She sounds scared by this.

  Now I have to know. “Who might hurt my brother?”

  She sends me a sad smile. “To understand the who, you have to know about the why. She doesn’t know that what she does is wrong. They always shunned her, and I’m only her sister. I’ve tried to be her friend, but I can’t take the place of a parent.”

  “Wait, wait, wait. I’m guessing that you are the rumored trapped princess. Since when do you have a sister?”

  She sits down in midair like there is actually a chair. “I am Princess Rapunzel. I have a younger half-sister. She was born to our father’s second wife, and immediately handed to her nanny while everyone tried to save her mother. Her mother died that day. In the aftermath, it seemed like everyone either forgot she existed, or chose to forget. I’ve never figured out which is true. It was her nanny that named her. Her name is Gothel. The only thing I’ve really ever been able to figure out is that her nanny was obsessed with Gothel, and made sure no one could take her away. The woman was a witch in the worst sense of the word.

  She messed with dark powers she should have left alone. Poor Gothel was cursed to never be able to touch anyone without killing them, except her nanny. And me, for some reason. But the old nanny took it a step further. She made it so everyone slowly forgot that she existed. And the neglect warped my sister.

  I never forgot. And this made Gothel obsessed with me. She stole knowledge from her nanny to make sure no one could take me from her. We’re stuck here until the right ones can set us free.

  I’ve witnessed her hurt so many people. And she’s used me to kill numerous people. She can control me. I used to love to sing, until she found a way to use my voice to kill those that don’t suit her purposes. Please be the ones. I love my sister, but I hate was she has become. And what she has made me do.”

  I hear her desperation. “How can I help?”

  Through her tears, she says, “It has already begun.” Then she is gone. When she is gone, I watch the door open. This place just gets better and better. Cursed sisters, nannies using dark magic on a baby, children using dark magic on their older siblings. I really need to find Matthew. But I promised Rapunzel I would help her. Jeez, I have got to stop getting into these situations.

  Chapter Five

  I return to the hallway and hear a child laughing behind me. Turning around, I see the little girl from the great room. Now, she is in more detail. While she smiles sweetly to me, she says, “I like you. Do you want to see my toys? I’ll even show you how I found them. It will be so much fun.” Then she gestures for me to follow her and floats down the hall.

  Not seeing a way out of this that didn’t end in my painful death from the creepy dark magic girl, I play along. She giggles down the hall, then goes through the last door on the left. I open the door to see wall to wall teddy bears, rag dolls, baby dolls, and pretty much every toy one would think a spoiled little princess would have. It really makes me question Rapunzel’s story of the neglected little girl.

  The toys are even color coded. Gothel floats over to a pile of about five green soldier-like dolls. “These are my newest. Would you like to see how I got them?” Before I could politely decline and ask about my brother, she ghosted through me and everything went black.

  I open my eyes. Somehow, I just know that I’m seeing the past. How did I get here? What did Gothel do to me? I also know that I am only a witness. I am able to touch nothing. No one can see me in any way, shape, or form.

  A group of five men in military-style camo strut into the castle like they own it. They are outfitted with night vision goggles, guns, pretty much any equipment I could think that any soldier would have. And probably quite a few items I didn’t know about.

  I watch as they discuss their plans, pull out what looks like walkie-talkies, then split into different directions in two groups. A sick feeling of dread roles down my spine. I’m hoping against hope that what I think is going to happen really doesn’t.

  The scene seems to fast forward. I watch the group of three men walk into the room where I met Rapunzel. This time, though, the room contains several pieces of dusty draped furniture. The men look around curiously.

  Just as they were about to leave the room, the door slammed shut and sealed. In fact, I could only see the image of the door on the wall. Like door shaped wallpaper. The men shout and start banging on the wall. I see Gothel appear near the back wall and start giggling, but the men never react to her presence.

  She walks around them, looking them up and down. “I could use new toys. I haven’t had any in such a long time.” They still have no reaction to her, only continuing to try to tear the wall down.

  Gothel walks to the center of the room. Her eyes turn completely black, and she raises her arms. She lets out a silent scream. I watch as a white fog vomits from her mouth to fill the room. They don’t even notice, only start choking as they breathe in the fog.

  I watch as they choke harder and harder. One by one, they fall to the floor. Each one choking until they stop breathing. They continue opening their mouths, trying to bring air into their lungs. First one stops, then the next, and then the last. I am horrified that I watched each one die and could do nothing to help them.

  After the last one closed his eyes, Gothel walks up to them very casually. She stares down at them. Their bodies start contorting in ways no human body is meant to do. I listen as bones crack, skin wrinkles and shrinks in on itself. These bodies start shrinking, shrinking, until they become the soldier dolls that I saw in her toy room.

  I start dry heaving in this terrifying vision. Nothing comes out, of course, but it just made me feel
like vomiting. I’ve never seen anything like this, and I love watching horror movies. In fact, I love reading in the horror genre. But, none of my favorite horror writers will ever be able to top watch I just witnessed.

  Gothel picks up her new toys and hugs them to her chest. “Oh, I just love you. I’m sure we will have all sorts of fun together. Let’s go get your friends to join us.” I see the dolls over her shoulder. Their eyes are moving, as if they see everything around them. It seems as if they know what has happened. I think I see a tear fall down the face of the soldier doll in the middle.

  I can only stand there in shock as she leaves the room with her new toys. Did I really see those men get turned into dolls? Are they really trapped in those bodies? How do I help her as I promised? I can only collapse to the floor and sob.

  I wake up to find myself alone in the toy room. I look at all the toys. This is when I see that all the toys, from the newest soldier dolls to the oldest and rattiest looking baby doll, had eyes that followed me. Even the teddy bears. I realize that Gothel has trapped the souls of almost everyone that has tried to free Rapunzel. Oh my god!

  Rapunzel even stated that Gothel uses her to kill. I almost do not want to know how the psychotic little girl does that.

  Chapter Six

  Gothel starts giggling sweetly behind me. The sweet laughter seems almost more frightening than when she is blatantly evil. At least then you know exactly what she is thinking. When she is being a sweet little girl, I can’t figure out her angle. Is she going to show me another gift? Is she going to slash my throat?

  “Don’t you love my toys? They are all very special. Sometimes, I get them to talk to me. They never say anything interesting, though.” I hear the pout in her voice.