Wonder Never (The Fairytale Diaries #2)

by Amanda Gatton

  She drifted the opposite direction of the noise, into an alley, and down dark sleeping streets to find her way home. In no time, she found herself walking out of Enchantica city limits and past the lights of the carnival which was closing up for the night. She thought of the guy she'd questioned Alice about and wondered if he was with the traveling carnival. He hadn't looked much older than she, but he definitely looked different. With his black clothing, spiked hair, piercings, and tattoos, she'd doubted he was a high school student or a resident of her small town. She also didn't believe Alice's claim not to know him. She peered into the gates of the carnival as she meandered past, hoping to catch a glimpse of the gorgeous fellow, without actually knowing if he was inside or not.

  Just past the carnival Julienne reached the dusty end of her driveway and turned into it. Her shoulders slumped as she passed through the opening in the broken fence. Her clothes stuck to her as she was drenched in sweat from walking in the balmy Louisiana night. Fatigue began to set in with home in sight and the promise of rest close at hand. She absentmindedly pushed her bangs off her forehead feeling exhausted as she trudged up the overgrown front walk.

  Julienne shared a small trailer with her father. It presented a dismal picture to her then of dingy weather beaten sides painted gunmetal grey. There were only a few windows and one was boarded up. A long ago storm had thrust a wayward tree limb through it and her father had never bothered to repair it. Broken furnishings and stained threadbare rugs comprised the inside. But she did have her own small room containing her cozy bed, and she let herself in and headed straight for it.

  Once she was comfortably nestled into her bed, she reached for her bedside table just as she did every night. She grabbed the picture frame containing the photo of her mom and dad and brought it close to her face so she could study it in darkness.

  They had been an epic couple; the king and queen of their own fanciful love story. Her father had once been a celebrated army hero, and her mother a nurse whom everyone in Enchantica knew and loved.

  They'd barely had a chance to process her cancer diagnosis before it took her, suddenly, quickly, and viciously.

  Strong and heroic as Julienne's father once had been, losing his beloved wife wasn't something he could survive and continue to be the same person after. Her death transformed him into an empty husk. With the depression came booze. As that problem worsened, Mr. Peabody began cycling through jobs. They lost their home. Sadness graduated into anger, which finally led to violence.

  A tear trickled down Julienne's face as she tortured herself with memories of when life had been beautiful.

  But the sad fact was that everything changed.

  Chapter 12

  Julienne had the next day off work. Most high school students with summer employment lived for their days off. But for Julienne, days off amounted to anxiety and fear. If she were allowed, she'd work every day.

  As was her custom, Julienne rose early and peeked out her bedroom window. Her father's battered pickup was parked haphazardly in the driveway. She hurried to dress, grabbed her back pack, and slipped out of her room. She caught sight of her father snoring, slumped over sideways on the dirty sofa. She held her breath and crept soundlessly into the tiny bathroom. Moments after that, Julienne let herself out the front door, carefully shutting it behind her.

  The sun had barely raised the sky not yet full of its rays. Even so, the morning was already sticky hot. Sweat beads speckled Julienne's forehead before she even stepped out the gate.

  Julienne took her time walking to town. When she passed the carnival, she once again peered curiously inside. It had not yet opened for the day so she didn't catch any signs of life within.

  Once in Enchantica, she ambled to the market; one of the few places in town open so early. Inside the market was a small coffee bar. She purchased a grapefruit and an iced tea and spent quite a while seated at a table reading a book.

  At nine a.m. she reemerged into the sunshine which richly filled the sky by then. The slightest breeze blew and the pleasant sound of birdsong gave her day a soundtrack. She walked a few blocks to the library and went inside.

  Days without work or school tended to be aimless for Julienne. She simply spent them wandering around looking for ways to pass the time away from home and the possibility of a run in with her father. If she left early before he woke, and stayed away until late afternoon or early evening, he would usually be gone; out finding his next drunk.

  Times like those made her wish she'd focused more on a social life. It might be easier and less boring to pass the time if she had friends to call on. She also sometimes resented Alice on those days; her one and only friend who'd never revealed so much as an email address to contact her.

  But that day, Julienne had decided to splurge and go to the carnival. There she would spend the afternoon exploring the attractions and hoping to find the handsome guy from Java Enchantica.

  Though she enjoyed the carnival and saw many intriguing performers, she never ran across the fellow she'd hoped to. By six p.m. wind tossed the trees and ominous clouds rolled across the sun. She imagined her father would likely be long gone by then and decided to head home and try to beat the storm.

  She made it in the door of the trailer just as the first lightning bolt fractured the sky and a bone jarring rattle of thunder followed.

  ***

  A treacherous storm raged outside while Julienne fixed herself supper. Once it was ready, she took it and settled in front of the TV. Cable was the only luxury her dad sprung for as his hangovers made it so it took him a long time to get moving when he woke. So he often vegetated in front of the TV. She planned on watching for a few hours then heading to bed, not foreseeing her father's return until deep in the night.

  Unfortunately, she was wrong.

  It was only seven when Mr. Peabody burst in the front door. A blast of wind and rain followed him as he stumbled into the small space of their living room. She gasped, her breath freezing in her lungs as she stared up at him. He was a foreboding image, his massive frame only seeming more domineering thanks to the cramped space and paper thin walls. An offensive waft of liquor drenched breath lagged just behind him as he glared angrily down at her.

  He was already annihilated. That wasn't good.

  "Need money," Mr. Peabody snarled.

  Julienne's body began to quake. "Daddy," she whispered. "Why don't you go lay down, I think you've had enough," she suggested gently.

  He lurched toward her. "Need money NOW!"

  She flinched and leapt from her seat. She inched around him trying to move quickly but avoid contact with him. The trailer's tiny dining table was just beyond him where she fetched her backpack. She could barely manage it with her hands shaking so badly, but she extracted a wad of ones and fives from inside.

  "H… Here!" she stammered, turning to thrust the fist full of cash toward her father. She noted uneasily that moving to the table had placed his cumbersome form between herself and the only exit.

  He eyed the money suspiciously then snatched it from her. Clumsily, he began to count it, seeming not to notice several bills fluttering to the floor.

  "This it?" he growled, looking at her evilly.

  She nodded vigorously. "Yes, Daddy, that's all I have on me."

  His eyes narrowed. She stood stalk still while he stared at her. Rain and sweat rolled off him. His nostrils flared with each snorting breath. He wore dirty clothing and reeked.

  She forgot what he used to be like almost completely.

  "LIAR!" he accused.

  Tears spilled down her face. She shook her head. "No, Daddy," she whispered weakly.

  He fumbled for her back pack, overturned it, and dumped its contents onto the floor. One quick glance revealed she wasn't lying.

  But all the same, he began beating her anyway.

  ***

  Julienne struggled to open her eyes as a banging sound roused her from a black sleep.

  Though her head pounded and she felt co
nfused, she had the wherewithal to realize she lay on the living room floor. The hard worn linoleum felt cool against her face. And she could see the front door ajar, flapping wildly in the wind and repeatedly banging into the wall.

  As she became more alert she recalled what had transpired. She realized some of the painful thundering in her head was real thunder from the storm still raging outside. Through the swinging door she saw that despite the brutal darkness of the stormy sky, nightfall had not entirely descended yet, so she couldn't have been out long.

  Julienne scrambled to her feet, the quick movement causing her immediate dizzying pain. She felt blood trickle down her left temple, her jaw ached, and each breath caused fiery pain in her ribs. But she didn't stop to access her injuries. This was by far the worst her father had ever beaten her. His drunken rages had worsened and there was no doubt that the next time he could kill her. Julienne finally admitted to herself she needed help.

  Without a second thought, she dashed out the front door into the torrent of rain.

  Chapter 13

  It only took Julienne seven minutes before she pounded the pavement of Forest Way, the street where Java Enchantica was located. She sprinted the whole way, ignoring the mud splashing up her legs as she raced through puddles and oblivious to the fearsome lightning strikes nipping at her heels. Her eyes darted every which way as she thought of only one thing; looking out for her father.

  Her plan was to go straight to her boss, Tom Fontaine, confess her abusive situation, and beg for help. He was a kind man and a father himself. She trusted him and knew he'd help and protect her.

  However, just as she neared the diner, she saw Alice pop out of the trees up the street and start running toward her.

  Julienne gasped. She hadn’t expected to see Alice out in the storm. But seeing her friend flooded her with relief. She changed her course from the direction of Java Enchantica and ran to Alice instead. Her footsteps slowed and the two friends came face to face.

  Julienne dissolved into hysterical tears. Alice opened her arms so that Julienne could fall into them, broken and afraid.

  "What in the world happened to you?" Alice exclaimed when they finally parted. Standing there in the still pouring rain, Alice carefully examined Julienne's wounds.

  "M… My father did this to me," she admitted in a shrill wail. Alice's face looked as stormy as the sky. "Come on," Julienne continued. "Let's get inside, I'm telling my boss. I know he'll help me."

  "Julienne, wait!" Alice cried as Julienne turned to walk away.

  In her highly agitated state, Julienne returned her attention to Alice, looked her full in the face, and somehow didn't notice the odd girl remained completely dry despite sheets of rain.

  "Your father might be looking for you! He could find you there. You can't go in there!"

  Julienne frowned. "Well, it's OK though. My boss will help me. Please, come with me. Isn't that where you were going anyway?"

  "Can he though? Can he help you if your father comes and simply drags you out? After all, you are his minor daughter. Your boss has no authority to keep you from him. Why, if your father arrived before the police did, there's no telling what awful things could happen."

  Julienne's wails began to pick up intensity once again and Alice hurriedly gave her another hug. "Shhh, it's OK! Don't cry! I can help you, my friend."

  "You can? How?"

  Alice stared deeply into Julienne's eyes. "I will take you to my home. I can promise you; PROMISE you, your father will never hurt you again."

  Julienne felt the overwhelming sense of relief again. She hadn't even considered the prospect of her father confronting her boss and she didn't want to endanger anybody else. She believed in Alice's promise.

  Unfortunately, she didn't realize that Alice had promised she'd be safe from her father… Which wasn't necessarily the same as being safe in general. Not the same at all.

  The pounding rain, along with the extreme emotions swirling in her aching head and heart, plus the electric sense of urgency all worked together to provoke Julienne to comply with whatever Alice suggested. She nodded tearfully at her friend. Alice gave her a beaming, relieved smile, took her hand, and led her running toward the trees.

  ***

  Together the girls burst into the lush foliage of the dark woods. Julienne still didn't give thought to what she was doing. She raced forward to the rapid rhythm of her heart.

  As they covered ground quickly and migrated further away from civilization, the torrential downpour finally began to wane. It slowed to an occasional drizzle. Julienne and Alice slowed as well until they were simply strolling. The world quieted dramatically with the absence of the wind and rain, allowing Julienne to hear every odd sound of the night. A chill settled in her bones and with an unsettling feeling creeping in, her senses returned to her.

  "Alice? Where are you taking me?"

  "Home!" Alice said cheerily with a pearly grin.

  Julienne frowned. "You… You live in these woods?" she asked in a quiet, uncertain voice. Something forgotten in her mind nagged to be remembered.

  "Sort of," Alice said mysteriously.

  It seemed like half the night passed away as they hiked. Julienne grew exhausted trudging through muck and mire. She considered turning back a dozen times but wanted to stick with her friend. Finally, they reached a clearing.

  The storm clouds had completely disappeared, revealing a perfectly round, iridescent moon. Its light glittered down on a shimmering weeping willow tree. Lightning bugs twinkled and danced all around the eerie boughs. Julienne gasped, and couldn't help but smile.

  "What is this place?" she asked breathily, enchanted by the alluring beauty of the tree.

  Alice grinned. "We're almost there!"

  She led Julienne under the willow's limbs and showed her the secret treats hidden inside the trunk. Julienne's good sense had vacated her once more and it wasn't hard to get her to partake of the candy and drink.

  ***

  Julienne gasped and sputtered as Alice helped her onto the bank of Wondernever River. Once on her feet, she found herself bone dry and pristinely clean, but that didn't stop her from bursting into tears.

  "What just happened? Where am I?" Julienne demanded.

  "Shh… Shh… Don't cry!" Alice cooed as Julienne grew progressively more hysterical. Alice grabbed the weeping girl's shoulders and gave her a gently shake. "Julienne! Please, just come with me!"

  After a few more minutes of coaxing, and Julienne looking frantically around, she was finally convinced to follow Alice.

  ***

  By the time they traversed the forest, the colorful streets of the village, and made the steep climb up the hill to the Heart Manor, Julienne had calmed significantly. Things certainly hadn't begun to make any more sense. Quite the opposite, really. But utter enthrallment coincided with the fear.

  It seemed like the set of a movie with the perfectly still air, the wildly colored paths, haphazardly constructed cottages, rainbow of flowers everywhere, and bizarrely clothed people. Julienne marveled at the patchwork sky and grinning moon as Alice led her to the door of a gleaming white mansion complete with towers, turrets, and a moat. Uniformed toothpicks of men stood guard on either side of the door. Their eyes were closed and they didn't move even slightly as Alice and Julienne approached. Just as Alice reached for the golden door handles, the massive red thing swung open. Julienne startled and drew back at the sight of a sickeningly thin woman wearing a ridiculously frilly gown with a pattern of hearts like one could find on a playing card. The wide toothy smile that split her skeletal face struck Julienne as alarming.

  "Ah, Alice!" the woman exclaimed, reaching forward to usher them inside. "You've brought a friend!"

  Despite the woman's unhealthy appearance, she bustled like a bundle of raw energy. She frenetically half led, half dragged the girls through a grand entryway, under a massive arched doorway, and into a huge library where a fire crackled in a fireplace so big that the mantle stood ten feet above
their heads.

  The woman stood back with bony hands clasped over her heart as though she was experiencing great joy. She appraised Julienne thoroughly with disturbingly black eyes. Then she clapped happily. "She's the one, isn't she Alice? A real princess!"

  Alice gave an uncomfortable smile and a sideways glance at Julienne. "Mmmmhmmm," she agreed noncommittally.

  "She looks a bit bedraggled to be true. But, I can feel it! She's the one!"

  The woman offered them a seat (demanded they sit) on a vivid purple fainting chaise. "Sit sit sit! I'll return directly after the test has been prepared!" she explained just before dashing from the room.

  Julienne peered wide eyed at Alice.

  "Uh, I apologize. My Aunt Melanie, she's a bit… Hyper."

  "Hyper? Try nuts! Why did she call me a princess?"

  Alice sighed, looking uncomfortable. She shifted about nervously, her cheeks coloring slightly. "Well, she… Um, that's just a term of endearment she uses when she meets a nice girl. She's always hoping her son, my cousin, will meet a nice girl and they'll hit it off."

  Julienne frowned. "Um. O… K… What test was she talking about?"

  Alice shook her head becoming more uncomfortable. "Oh, nothing, don't mind her. She's just eccentric is all. She'll put us up together in a nice room so you won't be frightened your fist night, alright? And tomorrow, I'll show you around."

  "Uh, yeah. OK, sure," Julienne hesitantly agreed.

  Chapter 14

  In a matter of moments, the spaztic woman led the girls up a marvelous winding staircase, down an extravagant hallway, and into a giant bedroom. In it were one normal looking bed, and another bed that loomed more than ten feet up. It wasn't a bunk bed, but rather seemed to be a tower of mattresses.