A long time ago, in the middle of the night, a young princess was locked away in a tower, she was told it was for her safety, that the whole world had gone mad.
They spoke of a prophecy, that a young prince would one day come to her rescue and together they would save the world from the mad king. So… she waited…
Still locked away in her tower, the princess is staring at the mirror.
Her once soft blond hair is now grey and rough.
She slowly touches her face inspecting the wrinkles that every day become more defined.
She is now 60 and her prince is yet to come.
A chill runs down her spine as for the first time terrible thoughts cross her mind.
What if the prince never comes?
What if everything was a lie?
This sudden realization makes her feel sick to her stomach, she falls down to her knees holding her belly wanting to throw up but there’s nothing in her stomach, instead, she just gags uncontrollably with tears raining down her face.
The moonlight shining through the rusty barred window hits the floor next to her. Waking up she looks around, sees the dusty stone walls, the tattered books she’s read hundreds of times, the painting of her parents, the uncomfortable bed she has to endure every day, the wooden door she’s not supposed to open…
I’m leaving, she whispers to herself.
Once more she’s staring at the mirror, her eyes burning with determination. She cuts her extremely long hair, rips her regal clothes into makeshift rags and throws all her jewelry to the side.
All that’s left is to open the door. The handle is cold and rusty, takes a bit of strength but as she turns it the door opens.
Making her way through the dark corridor she reaches the stairs, a faint light glows from below. She was told a dragon would be on the level below her room to guard her against intruders, so slowly, she went down the stairs.
Approaching the light she could now see the entrance of the room where the dragon is set to be. A dry swallow sound breaks the ominous silence as she steps into the room.
Nothing.
To her shock, there is nothing in this massive room, just some torches on the other side next to another set of stairs.
Her gaze shifts from determination to fury.
She now descends the tower, every step heavier than the last, every empty room stings like a needle on the back of the head until finally, she reaches the ground floor.
A loud sound of snoring emanates from two old guards with red noses passed out drunk in a corner, across them, a half-open wooden door leads outside.
Confronted with this display she’s at a loss for words.
The door to freedom is right in front of her across the room, with no second thoughts she slowly walks towards it and crosses the threshold.
A cold breeze caresses her face as she takes a deep breath.
Freedom.
Her chin trembled as she holds the tears in, then a sudden sound from the door snaps her out of it, instinctively she runs to the forest ahead never looking back.
The sound of a sobbing princess echo through the forest.
She’s laying down against a tree shivering, trying to make sense of what she just witnessed.
Was everything a lie!? She screams into the darkness.
Small round glowing eyes open and close around her.
Suddenly her stomach rumbles and something feels weird. It’s a feeling she can’t quite understand but seems familiar as if she already felt it somewhere in the past.
She rubs her belly puzzled but the feeling does not go away, in fact, it becomes stronger and stronger.
Then it hits her. She’s hungry.
For the first time in 50 years she feels hunger once more.
The feeling starts to become unbearable, in an absolute panic she scans the area around her in the dim moonlight looking for anything she could eat.
In the distance a bush filled with berries catches her attention, she leaps running towards it and grabs as many as she can devouring them so fast they taste of nothing.
The hunger slowly subsides and now even more questions invade her mind but she has no time to process what’s happening as suddenly in front of her, two big orange eyes appear amidst the darkness.
Slowly an imposing bear stands up and roars loudly to mark its prey.
She leaps back and starts running in panic but the bear jumps and lands right in front of her causing the ground to shake, his maw opens wide preparing to bite.
As if time stopped for an eternity, all that has happened this night goes through her mind, the realization, the escape, freedom at last only to end like this, eaten by a random bear.
It’s not fair!
I want to live! She screams in her mind.
As the bear moves to bite her, she screams from the top of her lungs.
A shining red flame forms all around the bear making him step back in excruciating pain, now on fire he throws himself on the ground trying to put it out but it’s useless.
A few seconds later, the bear stops moving and lies lifeless on the ground…
After wandering the woods for months she stumbles upon a town in the distance. Joy splashed over her face as finally, she encountered civilization, perhaps a promise of a regular life but then she notices, at the edge of town, a tower much like the one she broke out of.
The happy demeanor she just acquired a moment ago suddenly changed to rage.
Could it be there’s another one just like me there? A though she never had considered before.
There was only one way to find out, she had to investigate the town.
Twilight starts creeping in as the guard standing watch on the main entrance to Durnatel spots an old lady dressed in rags walking with the help of a cane, she appears to trip and fall, the guard rushes to her aid.
Madam are you alright? The young guard says while helping her get up.
Thank you young man, these old bones are not what they used to be.
Are you hurt? Your clothes are all torn. What happened?
Some lousy bandits raided my wagon. I was lucky enough to escape so I’ve been wandering for the last few days looking for a town. Thank the heavens I finally found one.
That is terrible madam! Come with me let’s go to the inn, I’ll have them give you some fresh clothes and some food.
Oh thank you so much young man, I would be forever thankful for that.
They make their way into town towards the inn, the old lady seems amazed at everything she’s seeing in town, shops everywhere, happy people roaming around, a prosperous town no doubt about it.
As night starts to fall lamps all over the place start to light up and she looks in awe, the guard noticing asks her.
Is everything ok madam?
This is a very lovely town you have here, I guess I was lucky to find such a place.
Haha, it’s a small town but it’s a happy one.
By the way young man, what is that pretty tower over there?
Oh, that’s the power tower that gives magic to all the structures of the town, you’ve never seen one?
No…There’s no such thing from where I’m from, how does that even work?
To be honest madam no one really knows, only people at the capital know how they work since they’re the ones who build them for the king and they don’t really share much with us common folk Ahah. Oh look, the inn is just up ahead.
After a bath, a change of clothes, and a warm meal, the young soldier comes to check up on the old lady.
I hope you’re feeling better now madam, I paid the innkeeper a few days for you to stay here, hopefully, you can figure out what to do in the meantime.
Oh, thank you young man, you are so kind, there was no need to be so generous to an old woman like me.
The young man blushes.
It’s ok madam, to be honest, you kinda remind me of my mom for some reason, she was very frail for a long time until she passed away last year.
Oh, I’m sorry to hear that young man.
Well, I need to get back to my post, if there’s anything you need just come find me there ok? By the way, my name is Brian what is yours?
Actually, I would like to ask you something if you don’t mind Brian, could you perhaps take me to see the tower?
I’m sorry madam, only royal guards are permitted there, it’s a crime to even get close to it.
Oh, that’s a shame.
So, what is your name?
I’m sorry boy.
The old lady waves her hand in front of her as she says.
You will take me to the tower.
Brian gets up, his eyes gaze to nowhere.
It’s late, people return to their homes, the streets become quiet, yet two figures still walk these bright empty streets, a young guard and an old lady.
They move at a quick pace to the outskirts of town where a tower stands tall.
The door is closed, he knocks.
A giant man in full plate armor opens up.
Before he can utter a single word the young man goes past him, he immediately grabs him.
What do you think you’re doing! The big man shouts while holding him tight.
Another guard comes rushing with a sword drawn, what is going on he shouts to his partner?
Brian suddenly snaps out of it and finds himself being held by a massive man while being shouted at. Confused, he looks around and sees the old lady.
Madam, what is happening? He shouts not knowing what else to do.
The old lady points to the door then closes her first upwards while stomping her foot on the ground simultaneously. Nothing happens and she seems puzzled, but not as much as the three at the door.
Interesting she says.
Old lady! Would you care to explain what you two are doing here? Says the guard with the sword as he moves out of the tower towards her.
I’m so sorry sir, that’s my son you have there, you see he sleepwalks, I’ve been following him throughout town trying to wake him up and somehow we ended up here, the boy must be terribly confused since you just woke him up, would you be so kind as to return him to me so we can go home?
The big guard walks out of the tower still restraining Brian placing him between him and the other guard who is still holding his sword up.
Trespassing the king’s property is a serious crime, old lady.
Yes, so I was told…
We will detain you both to investigate what is truly happening here.
The sword guard moves towards her. Her face changes from a forceful smile to a sad expression, she looks down taking a short breath.
Madam, what is happening? Why are we being arrested?
I’m sorry Brian…
She points forward then closes her first upwards while stomping her foot on the ground simultaneously.
SPLAT!
The three that once stood in front of her are now blobs of blood splattered all over the floor, the walls, the trees…
A wooden door much like the one she knew for many decades stands imposing in front of her.
As she reaches for the handle, thoughts of everything that has happened so far cross her mind but one screams louder than any other, what’s gonna be on the other side of this door…
A beautiful young lady with an open book on top of her legs sits beside a barred window looking at the moon, an unexpected sound startles her, the door opens and from the darkness, an old lady with short hair and red clothes appears.
Who are you? I thought only the prince could open that door. She says while getting up.
I’m sorry young princess, the prince is not coming, not for you. Not for me. Or any other princess locked away in a tower. They lied to us.
Wait, what? What do you mean? But the prophecy, if he doesn’t come the world is doomed!
The prophecy is a lie, the world is just damn fine believe me. Come, we must go fast before they find out I’m here to rescue you, I will explain everything in more detail as soon as we are safe.
She grabs her by the hand and starts walking out of the room.
Wait, who are you? What is your name at least?
She stops.
My name…I…I have forgotten my own name a long time ago… She looks down at her clothes. Just call me Red for now, what is your name?
My name is Snow but wait, how are we even going past the dragon?
Red starts walking again pulling her to a quick pace.
There is no dragon… Red says with an angry tone.
Coming out of the tower Snow seems shocked, much like Red before she is now realizing the truth.
Is that blood!? Snow says while covering her mouth in shock.
I’ll explain that later we need to keep walking also, take this, you’re gonna need it soon.
Red hands Snow a big piece of bread she had hidden in her clothes.
It’s late, most people are sleeping, the streets are quiet, yet two figures still walk these pitch black empty streets, a young lady and an old lady…
A few months later.
Rumors spread throughout the kingdom about a mysterious gang of criminals called Red Snow.
Some say they loot and pillage everything in their path.
Some say they destroy entire towns just for fun.
Some say they are demons spawned from the very depths of hell.
Others say they are freeing the people from the tyranny of the kingdom.
No one knows for sure who or what they are, the only things that are known for sure are they wear red cloaks and always destroy the power tower of every village they find.
The end.
