The sun was almost burning her, the brightness near blinding. She panted as she peeked around the tree trunk she had taken refuge behind. Time was running out – just like her chance of escaping. She settled against her hideaway and attempted to make her breathing even and quiet. Soon, despite her terror, and perhaps due to the faux protection of the sun, her mind started to wander to the recent past that had been.

--

It hadn’t always been like this. In fact, it was mere days since this forest was a place of whimsy for her. She had wandered around, creating fantasies of a lover who would whisk her away and give her a happy ending. She had sung with the birds and danced with the summer flowers, escaped reality for just a few moments. But one day, she had gotten lost. She still did not know how that had happened for she knew these woods. She had grown up in them, spending all of her free time examining each nook and cranny. She supposed that she had been too far into her fond hopes to notice that the woods had changed. When she had arrived back to the moment, she couldn’t tell where she was. The air hung colder and darker. The sounds that she had grown up with were gone, replaced with eerie silence and bursts of unfamiliar groans. What had broken the spell had to have been a sudden shout. But in her heart, she knew it had been a growl. With panic clawing at her insides, she had attempted to trace her footsteps back. But while the forest was usually kind, that day it had been unforgiving. With every step she had taken backwards, the forest floor had swallowed her path forward, until she had been standing still, not knowing which way led where.

Just as her heartbeat had begun to slow down, she had heard another snarl somewhere behind her, closer this time. She had sprinted forward, her hair and dress getting caught on the branches. She supposes that’s how it had gotten her scent, by finding strands of her hair, the proof of her struggle. Her aunts had been furious with her that day. Her dress had needed mending, and her hair had been tangled worse than ever. But worst of all, she had left a memory.

--

The bruises had only begun to change color on her skin when his servant had arrived at their door. The tall, gorgeous gentleman had announced that the prince would arrive the very evening to meet all the fair maidens living in their village. He was to finally take a bride, and the rumors of a town with beautiful daughters had not escaped him. She had been crestfallen. On a good day, her looks did not invite poets to write sonnets, but now, with her skin scratched and purple, she had known she wouldn’t even be worth a glance. Nevertheless, for her aunts, she had to make an appearance. They had taken her in when nobody else had wanted her, and she could not be the cause of the village’s scorn. They had made sure that she had never lacked a thing in life. Except for one, very small thing. Sometimes, when she was deep enough into the forest, she had allowed herself to wish first for a friend, then later for love. She had been forbidden to go to town alone. With them, she was not to leave their sight and never to say more than a greeting to anyone. Perhaps, in another life where she had friends, she had never gone to the forest that one faithful day.

--

Humans are vain creatures by nature, and so was she. On the day of the prince’s arrival, she had donned her finest dress and had used her most beautiful shawl to hide as many bruises as possible. Her favorite aunt had done her hair in her very favorite style and told her that she must smile her most pleasing smile. She would only meet a prince once, after all. When they had arrived to the town square, she had noticed that the menfolk had not been immune to the prince’s influence either and were wearing their church best.

Soon, the beautiful servant had appeared in front of the crowd and asked for the eligible maidens to come forward. Hesitantly, she had followed the crowd but had stayed at the very back, leaving ample space for all her peers looking to rise in rank. A hush had fallen across the square as the prince’s carriage rolled it. It had felt like the whole crowd had taken a sudden breath in together, only to exchange it for screams and hurrahs when the prince descended and took in the townspeople. He had been all smiles as he waved and even kissed babes on their heads when the mothers had tearfully asked for a blessing. For a moment here and there, she had felt a certain oddness oozing out of him. His gaze had turned nervous, and his smile had seemed stiff. But she had quickly pushed those thoughts away, who was she to judge a prince for his behavior.

Finally, after what had felt like hours, but had most likely been only minutes, the prince had turned his full attention to the awaiting girls. Curiously, his alluring servant had looked over the crowd, seeming to look for someone specific instead of assessing each girl’s potential to be a princess. Unsatisfied with the unorganized group before him, the prince had given sharp instructions to his dazzling servant. Soon, all the maidens had been standing in a straight line with the opportunity to greet the prince personally. Every mother and aunt had been exhilarated now that their darlings had been given a proper chance to woo the prince.

Then, it had been her turn. Time had seemed to stop when she stepped in front of him. She had heard a deep inhale and somehow, she was who he had been looking for. Slowly, he had approached her, as if she were a frightened animal, and had taken her hands into his. The striking servant had turned around and announced with a deep, rumbling voice that there would be a wedding in a matter of days.

--

Suddenly, the sun felt cold and its brightness weakened. She had stayed in her memories for too long. She looked around for a potential escape route. Perhaps, she would be able to outrun it, like that day not too long ago. Before she was able to make up her mind, a roar tore across the forest. Even the sun went into hiding, leaving her alone in near darkness. She thought that if only she managed to be quiet enough, maybe then she would not be found. But she knew it was her scent that drew it nearer. She had no choice but to run. As quietly as possible, she got up and took a few hesitant steps before breaking into a run. She hoped that her chosen direction would take her to safety. In mere seconds she was thrown into the forest floor, and above her she saw the gleaming eyes of a beast, a wicked smile stretched across his handsome face.