ALTHEA WAS BEING DRAGGED THROUGH THE FOREST BY FELICIA, THE WOMAN WHO TOOK HER IN AFTER HER MOTHER DISAPPEARED. She claimed to be an acquaintance of her mother. Mother. Althea sulked when she remembered how she left her. All alone. If not for Felicia, Althea wouldn't have had survived this long.

Althea resented her mother but still believed she would come back for her. So she spent the last five years of her life, up till now, waiting for her hoping she would appear.

"Hurry up, child! You have to leave now!" Felicia dragged her forward and Althea almost tripped on the grass.

"Where are you taking me to?" Althea asked, clueless of what was going on.

"Somewhere they wouldn't be able to find you." Felicia said.

"But why do I need to hide?" Althea asked further. Felicia groaned and ignored her question.

Althea was starting to get frustrated. She stomped on the ground and forcefully removed her hand from Felicia's grasp.

Felicia, shocked by her actions, looked back and scowled at her. "I have no time for childish behaviour, girl!"

"Then tell me why I need to hide!" Althea snapped, "I need to wait for Mother!"

"You've been waiting for five years, Thea. She's not coming back, child." Felicia said, blankly.

Althea shook her head. "No. No. I don't believe you. She's coming back to me! Why are you lying?!" Althea was close to tears. She refused to believe this old woman. Her mother would return to her.

Felicia sighed. "Whether you believe me or not,we have to go, child. We don't have much time left." She tried to grab Althea but Althea backed away.

"No. I need to stay here. She would come back. I know it." Althea said, stubbornly, "She said she loved me. She promised she would never leave me so I would hang on to that promise. I don't care what you have to say. I'm not leaving." She crossed her arms and looked away.

"Thea..." Felicia started.

"No. I won't change my mind."

"For heaven's sake, your mother's gone!" Felicia shouted. "She's not coming back to you! Not now, not tomorrow, not ever! Stop being difficult, Thea. We need to leave. Now." She flailed her hands in frustration.

"And how do you know she's gone? Huh? What gives you the right to say that?!" Althea retorted.

Felicia stayed silent.

Althea huffed. "You see? You can't even ans--"

"Because she's dead." Felicia said.

Althea paused. She snapped her head towards Felicia. "What?" Her shaky voice resounded through the silence.

"She's dead, Thea." Felicia repeated again, "They killed her. The same people who are after you. That's why--" She paused, looking ahead of Althea, "Shit, they're here. They've caught up to us." She said in a panicked voice.

Althea was still in a dazed state. Mother was dead? It couldn't be.

"Thea! We need to go!" Felicia grabbed her hands. Althea let herself be dragged and they started running from whoever was coming after them.

"Find her!" She heards voices behind them.

"Shit, shit, shit." Felicia cursed.

Althea tripped on a stone and fell to the ground. "Ah!" She twisted her ankle.

"Thea, stand up." Felicia tried to pull her up. Althea hissed in pain.

"I can't. It hurts." Althea cried out.

"You need to try." Felicia urged her.

Althea tried to stand up but she couldn't. Her ankle was really sprained.

"I'm sorry." She sobbed. Tears flowed down her cheeks. Mother was dead. She wasn't coming back.

"Search everywhere! They must be near!" The voices were getting closer.

Felicia ran a hand through her hair. "I guess I have no choice." She muttered. She kneeled down on the grass and grabbed Althea's face. "I have to send you away from here." She said.

"What?" Althea choked out.

Felicia ignored her and pushed her to the ground. She ripped her dress open.

Althea's eyes widened in shock.

"What are you doi-- ah!" She screamed in pain.

Felicia pressed the palms of her hands on Althea's back. Althea felt like energy was being sucked out of her. It felt like forever before Felicia removed her palms.

Althea's body sagged. "What... What did you do?" She breathed out.

"They won't be able to find you now." Felicia muttered.

Althea couldn't feel her muscles. She tried to move them but they seem paralyzed. Before she knew it, she was being rolled over.

Felicia held her up by her arms and grabbed her chin, turning her face to hers. "I'm sorry I had to do this, Thea," She whispered, "but I can't let them hurt you." She closed her eyes and sighed.

Althea was confused. Why did they want her? Was she a criminal? She looked at Felicia, wanting to seek for answers but couldn't voice out. She felt like she was dying.

Felicia muttered some words and opened her eyes. Althea's eyes widened a fraction as red eyes stared right back at hers. What was she?

Suddenly, her surrounding began to spin. It was just like the time her mother disappeared. The leaves flailed around them in circles and the ground shook. Althea felt her body float and her eyes drooped. She felt a hand on her face.

"Noone can stop destiny. It will surely find you wherever you go, my child." Althea heard Felicia speak, "And when that day finally comes, you'll know the truth." A kiss was placed on her forehead, "Be safe, Thea."

Those were the last words Althea heard before her world darkened.

Rose squinted her eyes open. She held her head as it ached like it had been cracked open. She groaned.

It was that dream again.

Who was that girl and why does she keep appearing in her dreams? And why does it feel so real?

Rose sighed as many questions ran through her mind. She was going to get a bad headache if she thought too much.

"Finally awake?" A voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

Rose turned her head towards the voice and saw Alex, sitting next to her. He was dressed in his formal attire. His arms were crossed around his chest and his face had a masked expression. It made Rose wonder whether she had done anything wrong.

"Your Highness," Her voice came out hoarse. Rose straightened up and cleared her throat. "What are you doing here?"

Alex ignored her question and stood up. He slowly advanced towards her. Rose shifted back as she was nervous. What happened the night before came crashing back to her  and she blushed. How was she supposed to face him now without feeling embarrassed? She looked away.

Rose felt his hand touch her cheeks and she jumped, startled.

"You have a faint bruise on your cheek." Alex said.

Rose's eyes widened. She forgot about the bruise. Jared slapped her real hard. She should have known it would still be there by the morning. Well, it's not like she expected Alex to be in here in her room. She looked up and locked eyes with Alex. His eyes were blank as he gazed into hers.

"Weird that I didn't notice it last night," Alex said as he caressed her cheeks, "probably because the room was dark."

"It's nothing." Rose whispered. She noticed his jaw ticked.

"Doesn't seem like it." Alex said, blankly.

Rose gently reached for his hand that caressed her face and held it in hers. "I'm fine, Alex." She said.

Alex stopped and stared at her for a moment before he dropped his hands from her hold. Rose swore she saw pain flash through his eyes.

"If you say so." Alex straightened up and looked away, "Get dressed. I need my breakfast." 

"Alex--"

"Leave it by my door when you're done." He interrupted her and walked towards the door. He stopped when he reached for the handle, "You should have told me." He said.

Rose's heart sank to her stomach. He opened the door and left the room before Rose could say anything. When the door clicked shut, she slumped on the headboard. Her mind raced of how he found out. She trusted Tyler not to say a word, or did he? Or maybe she was just overthinking? Rose closed her eyes tight and curled into a ball. He sounded angry, sad but most of all, hurt. Rose couldn't help the tear that escaped from her eye as one thought repeated in her mind.

He knew.

****

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Ps. Not edited.