Princess in the Rough
Chapter 21

Echo

It was all black; nothing was everywhere. Then the voice came.

“Echo…”

It sounded like Amber.

“Echo…” She called again to me.

“Amber! Where are you!” I whirled around, whiping my head in every direction, and straining my eyes to try and replace her in the darkness. My eyes landed upon a figure in the distance.

I ran to it faster than should’ve been possible. This was probably a dream but if it mean Amber’s okay, then I’ll take it.

I wrapped my arms around Amber who appeared to be sleep walking. She stood in my arms, eyes closed, mumbling incoherently.

“I saw her. It’s me. I’m her. I’m-” She started mumbling into my shoulder but before she could finnish another voice broke through. This one much louder than Amber’s.

“Echo, Echo! You need to wake up!”

The darkness around me started to fade into light, taking Amber with it.

“No, NO!” I cried as I clawed at her but before I knew it, she was slipping between my fingers and disappeared into nothing as a new world appeared before me.

“Thank the ancestors you’re okay.” Zavana sighed in relief. I know she didn’t know I was talking to Amber but I couldn’t help but feel mad at her.

I needed to be mad at someone. Blame someone for all the things that had happened. Blame them for me being sent here, me and Amber getting captured, Amber falling asleep, me not being with Amber when she left. All these thing swirled around like a tornado of puzzle pieces looking for one piece to connect them all. Then, I found that piece. It was me. I was the one to blame.

“I saw her.” I said breathlessly.

I looked around and saw that I was in Zavanana’s place again, laying on her couch, next to Amber. The only other person there was Prince Chance.

“It’s okay Echo, Amber will be alright.” Zavana said, trying to soothe me.

“Everything isn’t go to be alright! Amber is asleep, I’m stuck in a whole other world! And Amber probably won’t wake up for another 100 years, and your trying to tell me everything’s going to be alright!” I shouted. I took a deep breath in to calm me down. “I’m sorry. I’m going for a walk. Don’t follow me.”

I got up off the couch and walked to the door, ignoring the prince’s and Zavana’s protests.

Before I could leave, Zavana caught my wrist.

“Amber went for a walk, by herself, and look how she ended up. Please stay here.” She begged and I scowled at her.

“I know that, but I’m still going.”

“If you do insist on leaving, please, take one of my guards with you to protect you. I would hate to have another guest injured.” Prince Chance pleaded.

“I can take care of myself.” I said bitterly, jerking my hand away from her grasp. They’re not my parents, my parents were probably wondering where I went in another world, one where I’m not in. With a final glance, I left without another word.

I just want to go home. I never wanted anyone to fall under a curse like Amber. I thought to myself as I strolled the park where me and Amber had first met Zavana.

I sighed, what have I gotten myself into? All I had to do was get a couple papers from the library! Now I’m here, strolling in a park where the leaves are too green, the trees are too brown, and the water is too blue. Everything here just seemed too, perfect, and it made me miss home a lot more.

If only there was a way to lift the curse. In the original Sleeping Beauty, the princess slept under the curse for 100 years until she was kissed by her true love, which meant I’d probably never be able to talk to Amber again, unless I live to 114.

Maybe if I get Maleficent to lift the curse. Fat chance. What would make Maleficent want to lift the curse?

I paused for a second, thinking back to something a tree had said to me about my storybook. Anyone would kill to get one.

That gave me an idea. I rushed back to the palace as quickly as possible, trying not to bump into anyone along the way.

“Echo, is there something wrong?” Zavana jumped up as soon as I opened the door.

“No.” I said, out of breath. “I just forgot my storybook.”

She gave me a strange look, but handed me my storybook. I said “Thank you” quickly and left, hoping she hadn’t caught on to my idea.