Lorand’s POV

I dreamt about Aveline the whole night.  She’s coming today!  I can hardly wait to see her again!  I need her here with me.  When she arrives, I’m going to give her a big hug and tell her I love her.  Then I’ll kiss her.  Yes, that’s exactly what I’ll do when I see her!

The smell of scrambled eggs draws me downstairs.  I sit down and start to eat.

“Lorand, darling,” Millie says.

I look up from my bread and jam.  “Yes?”

“We’re going to town today.”

“For what?”

“Martha and Gladys are going to sell some of Martha’s treats.  Nellie’s going to sell eggs.  The rest of us are going shopping,” Charlotte answers.  “We need more flour and grain for the chicken coop.  We also need fabric.  Perhaps we can get some new books too…”

Gladys shakes her head.  “You already have enough of those!”

“But I have them nearly memorized!”

Ruth gives them a look, and they both close their mouths.  She turns to me.  “Lorand, I think it’s safest if you stay here and wait for Aveline.  Will you be all right?”

“Yes.”  I’d rather not go out into town anyway.  I had gone shopping with my mother sometimes when I was younger, and it wasn’t really fun.  “Are there any chores I can do?”

“Chores?” Lilac repeats.  “It’s already spotless here!”

Ruth thinks for a moment.  “I collected the eggs this morning, so there’s not much left to do.  I suppose you could clean until Aveline gets here.”

“Or you could just relax and read some of my books,” Charlotte offers.

“Thank you.”  Reading does sound good, actually.

As breakfast finishes, the women stand up and put on their traveling cloaks.  Martha gets a basket of breads and cakes as Nellie gets a basket of eggs.

“You can make lunch in a few hours,” Ruth says.  “Just be careful.  Don’t talk to strangers, and only open the door for Aveline.  Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

Charlotte claps.  “I can’t wait to go shopping!”

“Be safe out there,” I tell Nellie as I hug her.

“We will.”

Next I hug Lilac.  She squeezes me back.  We release each other, and I go to Martha.

“I hope you make a lot of sales.”

“Me too.”

I hug Charlotte.  “Thanks again for letting me read your books.”

“You’re welcome.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.”

I go to Millie, but she wraps her arms around me first.  “We’re going to miss you, Lorand.”

“I’ll miss you too.”

Then I hug Gladys.  To my surprise, she hugs me back.

“I’m only hugging you because everyone else is,” she grumbles.  But then she smiles.  I smile back, then hug Ruth.

“You be safe, now,” she tells me.

“I will.  I promise.”

“We don’t want anything to happen to you, Lorand.  We love you.  You’re the grandson we never had.”

“I love you too.  You’re my grandmothers.”

Ruth laughs a little as she releases me.  “Let’s go, everyone.”

I wave as they head out the door and disappear into the forest.

They’re gone.

I must admit, I’m a little scared now.  This is my first time being alone here.  I go upstairs and pull a random book out from under Charlotte’s bed.  I sit down on my bed and start to read.

After a while, I realize that I shouldn’t stay up here.  Aveline’s coming, and I need to be there to greet her.  I take the book and go to the table downstairs.

However,  I can’t read anymore.  The thought of Aveline fills my mind.  She’ll be here with me today.  I can hold her and kiss her and stroke her hair.  I’ll protect her.  Perhaps someday we’ll get married, and we can build a house near this cottage.  It all starts as soon as she gets here.  Aveline, where are…

There’s a knock at the door.  Aveline!  I run and open it.  “Hello!”

Instead I see a frail old man with a basket of apples.  Oh.  Ruth said that I’m only allowed to open the door for Aveline, but this was an accident, and he doesn’t look dangerous.  I smile at him.

“Hello, young man.”

“How may I help you?”

He holds up his basket.  “I’m selling apples.  Would you like any?”

I immediately feel bad.  “I’m sorry.  I don’t have any money.”

The man smiles.  “That’s all right.”  He takes out one of the apples and puts it in my hand.  “You can have that for free.”

“Thank you.”  Now I really wish I had enough money.  This man is so generous, and I can’t give him anything in return.

The apple’s ruby red skin is shining in the sun.  It’s so tantalizing.  I look up at the man, and he nods at me.  I take a bite.

As soon as I swallow, my whole body tingles.  I’m burning, then freezing, then burning again.  I can’t breathe!  What’s happening to me?  I look at the old man and see familiar black eyes.  No!  King Morden laughs as he watches me clutch my stomach in pain.  He’s enjoying this so much.  And I’m his own stepson.  He has to be insane!  I hate him!

Because of him, I’ll never see Aveline or Dane or Harriet or my grandmothers again.  I’ll never grow up and get married.  Aveline will find me lying on the floor, dead.  I can’t stand that thought, but it’s true.  Tears stream down my face.  I’m going to die.  I’m going to die.

My hand squeezes the apple, then releases it.  I shouldn’t have eaten it.  I shouldn’t have opened the stupid door.  I’m so dizzy.  I’m going to die because of my horrible decisions.  Morden’s going to kill me.  What have I done?

The pain gets worse and worse.  I want to scream, but I can’t move.  Suddenly I start losing feeling.  I’m exhausted.  The world is spinning out of control.  Morden’s laughs are getting further away.  My eyes close, and I feel myself falling as everything disappears.