The sun had just risen when Conner Bailey woke up, or rather got out of bed considering he hadn't really slept the night before. Worry was was feeding on his mind. What could have possibly happened to Alex? What is Morina doing to her? What-

Snap out of it, Conner! He thought. You'll never make any progress like that!

And that day, he was determined to make progress. All they had to do was set a plan, obliterate the literary army, kick some witches' butt and get Alex back safely. See? Nothing to worry about! They definitely weren't screwed at all!

No matter how screwed they were, Conner still preferred that situation over being in a math test. Now ain't that nasty.

He had gathered his usual friends that have been with him since the beginning to talk. It was a miracle they managed to find a quiet place in that hospital wing that they were temporarily inhabiting.

They wanted to discuss matters. Several ones, and away from the mayhem of the other characters. Conner and his friends gathered in a small room with white walls, one large window, a white table in the middle and a hospital bed in the corner.

Red was leaning against a wall, looking out of the window, completely lost in thought. She didn't even have her make-up on. She looked different. Broken. Conner was saddened to see Red in such state. He knew she missed Froggy. They all did. He had made a silent promise to himself to save him, no matter what the cost was. That kind frogman had helped them get through so much. A stupid mirrior won't take him away from them.

Jack was sitting next to his wife on the bed as she cradled her newbron son- Hero. Goldilocks looked like she was in a completely different world. She couldn't take her eyes off Hero, smiling from ear to ear as she rocked him. It was like she'd forgotten about the nearing apocalypse.

Captian Auburn Sally was sitting back in her chair, her legs crossed over the table, not caring for one second about what the others thought. The only reason Connrt let her tag along was because of her experience in battle.

Bree was standing next to the window, her arms were crossed and she wore her famous poker face.

For minutes now, no one had said anything. Scilence was roaming the place as they all looked at each other, waiting for someone to start this inevitable dreaded conversation.

Finally, Conner loudly clasped his hands together, getting everybody's attention.

"So," He began. "The world's ending! Any ideas to... stop that from happening?" He said awkwardly.

"Alright, let's get everything straight first." Jack said standing up.

"There is an army of literary villains that wants us dead." He said, counting on his fingers. "An army of witches that is obviously up to no good either."

"And," he continued. "They have Alex." He finished and put his hands on his hips.

He needn't say anything else. His expression said it all. This was a complete mess.

"So that's two armies against one." Goldilocks said. "This couldn't be more impossible."

"I think that's a privilege actually."

Everyone turned to Bree Campbell, confused.

Conner was the only one to speak.

"Uh... what?"

"Okay I know, two against one is definitely a dead end." Bree reassured.
"But," She uncrossed her arms. "That's only on one condition." She looked at everyone, seeing if anyone knew what she was talking about, but they weren't following her.

"And what's that?" Auburn Sally narrowed her eyes at Bree.

"If these two armies were actually allies." Bree replied. "If they were united then they will be a great power. However, if they were enemies,"

"Then we might not really be fighting two armies after all! They will be too busy fighting each other," Auburn Sally said excitedly, taking her legs off the table. "This is neat thinking. I like that lass."

Everyone else started nodding their heads, letting what Bree said sink in. They could definitely use that in their favor. They only needed to figure out what to do and how to do it.

Conner couldn't help noticing how Bree's eyes changed color under the sun rays that streamed through the window. They were the color of honey. No, caramel. No-

Conner shook his head. This was absolutely not the time for this. It didn't matter what color Bree's eyes were! Okay, maybe it did just for a tiny bit.

"We still need a plan." Jack reminded them.

"I think I may have something in mind based on what that blonde chick said." Auburn Sally said with a smirk.

"Well," Conner said and took a deep breath.

"Why don't you fill us in, Captain?"

~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~

Alex opened her eyes two at a time.

Her head hurt so bad. It was like her brain had been trapped in a cyclone. She was lying on something both rough and smooth. She tried to move her hands to her sides to help her get up.

Dirt. She was lying on dirt and leaves. Some broken branches. Her brain was in agony as it tried to think and interpret the situation. Leaves. Dirt. Branches. What was the connection between these words?

Forest. Alex was in a forest. She groaned painfully as she pushed the gorund - her arms aching as she did- and pulled herself into a seating position. Her vision was so blurry. Green was everywhere. She could hear a gentle flow of water on her right. Water. Alex was on a river bank.

But... how in the world was she there? Where was she? As her vision started to adjust a bit, she looked down and saw that she was wearing a.... dress?

It was a white tattered nightgown. She didn't remember wearing this at all. How long had she been unconscious? Alex was so dumbfounded and exhausted. She messaged her head with her hand and that was when she saw something she dreaded with all her soul.

Blood.

Dark crimson was covering her hand- both of her hands. She frantically looked down and scanned her body searching for any injury. She found none. That was when it dawned on her. The little air in her lungs was instantly knocked out of them. This blood wasn't hers. It was someone else's. She started panicking, her breath quickening. Why are my hands covered in blood?! She thought. Her breath became so uneven and her heart started pounding like a hammer. She knew what happened. Or rather felt it.

She had no proof, but she knew it. Like how someone knows if they were tired or upset or even scared.

Alex knew she had ended someone's life.

She didn't know when or how it happened, but she was sure it did.

Alex's hands were shaking terribly as she watched them in horror. Her breath had turned into gasps. Tears started falling uncontrollably from her eyes.

"NO!" She screamed. "No no no...." she was in hysterics. She tried to reach for the river. She had to wash that anonymous blood off her. Alex sank her hands in the water. She was crying. She was hurting. She was a murderer. Alex had no idea how she got here or how her life had suddenly taken such a disastrous unexpected turn. She was full of... she couldn't put her finger on it. She could feel an awful sensation as it slowly crawled through her body, her veins and nerves. She could feel a foreign substance in her blood. Making her weaker and weaker. It was taking something from her. Alex knew this wasn't normal at all. Something was terribly wrong with her.

She shakily stood up bearly avoiding stumbling into the water. She tried to calm herself down. She took deep breaths and closed her eyes.

A loud echo startled her. She looked around, looking for it's source. She saw nothing.

She heard it again. A loud sound of laughter. A woman's laughter. But it wasn't delightful. It was the evil kind of laughter.

She continued to laugh. It echoed through the woods coming from no where and everywhere at the same time. Alex was terrified out of her mind. Normally, she would stand her guard and fight. But something about that voice....something about it made her numb. Scared.

Alex gathered all her might and started running, trying to get away from that noise. Something inside told her she really had to be very very far from that woman.

The evil laughter was getting more louder the more Alex ran. Alex got a feeling there was no point in running. Whoever that woman was, she had Alex right in her claws.

Alex came to a stop and started panting. This was a living nightmare. She wanted to be anywhere else in world but here. She knew she was doomed. That woman was after her. How she knew that? She had no idea.

It wasn't until a few seconds when Alex realized the voice was gone. She couldn't hear it anymore. She gulped and brushed her hair out of her face.

Alex turned around in a circle. She was looking for any sign of that lady. Where was she? Was she gone? Did Alex lose her? Did-

Alex stopped dead. Standing right in front of her, was a hooded figure in a black cloak. Alex could see glowing green eyes looking at her from underneath the hood.

It was the woman.

Alex wasn't breathing. She couldn't move a muscle. And not just from fear. On the contrary, she literally couldn't move. This woman's presence somehow affected Alex. She could feel that odd foreign matter inside her again. It was almost like it was coming to life.

The woman revealed her face. She possessed a deadly kind of beauty. Fierce green eyes, a wicked smile and... She had horns. She was a witch.

"You," Alex sneered. She clenched her fists. Everything finally started coming back to her. She rememberd that lady. She rememberd what she'd done to her. Anger boiled in her body.

"Yes, me." She replied delightfully. Her voice sent chills down Alex's spine.

"Did you miss me, already?" The witch asked.

"What have you done to me?!" Alex yelled. "That... thing you blew in my face! What did it do to me?" She felt a terrible lump in her throat but she wasn't going to break down in front of some goat lady.

"I...I don't feel like myself anymore." Alex said. "I don't feel human."
Alex was so sorry for herself it made her feel miserable.

"Oh, that thing?" The witch waved it off like it was an unimportant question.

"That was evil dust." She said, checking her nails. "I think it's pretty self-explanatory."

And it was. So that what that odd feeling was. The way she felt earlier. Like something was taking over her body. Consuming her.

Evil. It was evil.

Alex didn't know how to react. She was speechless. She wished she could deny it and call that witch a liar. But sadly, Alex knew otherwise. The witch was telling the truth.

"Now what?" Alex asked angirly. "You turned me bad. Horray! What do you want now?"

"Oh, Alex, dear don't you understand?" The witch said. "I'm going to use you to win this war." The corner of her mouth curled up.

War? Alex thought. What war?

Her eyes widened as realization fell on her face: The war!

Oh no... what were her friends doing right now? Conner must have been worried sick about her. He probably abandoned the fight and was looking for Alex. She can't have him or anyone else distracted because of her.

"There is NO WAY IN HELL I'm fighting against my brother!" Alex shouted in the witch's face. Morina. She had recognized her now.

"Yes, hun, you will." Morina grinned. "The thing is, I can make you do whatever I desire."

"Over my dead body!"

Morina forwned. "How could you be that foolish? Honestly I thought you were smarter than that." She rolled her eyes. "Or do you think waking up red-handed was some unfortunate coincidence?" Morina smiled coyly.

Alex's hands started tingling. That blood. It was Morina. She made her do it. She was responsible for what Alex did...

"Who did I kill..." Alex said, almost in a whisper.

Morina put her hand over her ear, as if trying to hear her clearly. "I'm sorry, what did you say, dear?"

"WHO DID I KILL?!" Alex screamed.

Morina looked like she was enjoying this. "Oh it's not really important." She shrugged it off. "I was just testing if the dust actually worked. Turns out those ugly-big-headed witches were right after all." She crossed her arms as if upset to admit that.

Alex was so furious she did her next move without thinking. She thrust out her hand at Morina, sending a powerful blast of magic in her direction.

Morina reacted instantly. Her hand glowed black as she outstretched it and easily blocked the blast in midair.

Alex was shocked. That shot should have killed her. Fear started buliding up inside her. If her magic wasn't a threat to Morina, that meant Alex was practically defenceless.

"You're gonna have to be careful for your actions, Alex." Morina warned. Her devilish smile no longer there. "Or there will be consequences."

Alex laughed sarcastically. "Oh, really? What are you gonna do, curse me?"

"That seems like a good option." Morina smirked. "But nah. I'm thinking much worse."

Alex wished the stupid wheels in her head wouldn't always work. She knew what Morina was talking about. She wasn't going to physically hurt Alex. She would use other people...

Alex thought of her brother. If that witch just dared to touch him....

"You might want to rest." Morina said. "Your next task will be a little more difficult." She said it like how a mother would tell her kid to sleep early for school.

"What makes you think I won't run away?" Alex challenged.

Morina laughed.

"Darling you could go wherever you please." Morina said. "Even if you went to the edge of the world, the moment I -or the other witches-" She looked disgusted. "The moment we summon you, you'll be right back before you know it!" Morina said excitedly. "Isn't it lovely?"

Morina's dark humor was giving Alex a heartache. That was it. That was the end for Alex. She knew Morina was right. She could already feel that dark sensation urging to get out of her.

"Aw what have you done to your gown?" Morina asked pretending to look hurt. "I made it especially for you, so you would look nice doing all that evil stuff." Morina shook her head. "Too bad. Whoops! I think I have to go now." She said. "I've got other things to take care of." She winked at Alex.

"Enjoy yourself, darling!" She said and was gone right after Alex blinked her eyes.

Alex went back to the river and sat on a fallen tree that rested peacefully in the water. She hugged her knees. She could feel warm tear drops fall on her arms.

There was no where for her to go. She was trapped. Soon, that dark magic in her guts would take over her. Soon Alex won't be Alex anymore. She would be a monster. A creature that feeds on agony and corruption. A creature of chaos and destruction. She wished there was a way to warn Conner. She wished he was...was...

Alright...

A horrible thought attacked her.

What if.. what if that was Conner's blood on her hands? Could she have possibly killed her own brother?!

"No..." Her fingers closed around her hair. "No...."

She was desperate to know something, anything about her twin brother.
"P-Please b-be alive." She sobbed.

"Please be alright."

~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~

Alex is back in Fairy-tale world for more clarification. Also that scene in the end is the one on the cover of this story if you want to imagine it better!

What do you think the next task Morina wants from Alex is??

Please vote and comment if you enjoyed :)

-luminous