Princess in the Rough
Chapter 24

Echo

“Night Cry!” I shouted into the cold, misty darkness surrounding Maleficent’s castle. Maleficent and I had walked back to the spot that I had left Night Cry, but she wasn’t there. Had we really been in there for so long?

“Night Cry!” I shouted again, walking around. Where could she be? She might have started panicking when I wasn’t there when she woke up. She’s probably out there searching for me when I’m right here!

I heard a faint wolf cry, but it sounded very distant.

“She’s long gone child. Oh, I don’t think I ever got your name.” She chuckled. “Gitnh tharmw olkca.” She handed me a cloak that appeared in her hands after saying the strange words. “Put this on. It’ll help.”

I put on the cloak over my dress and pulled the hood over my head. Instantly my vision lit up and it looked like as if it was day!

“How?” Was all I could say.

“Enchanted cloak, honey. Not only will it keep you warm and dry, but it’ll also help you see in the dark too!” She said and pulled on the hood to her own cloak.

“Echo.”

“Excuse me?”

“My name is Echo.”

“What a mystical name!” She praised and took my hand. “Stay close.” And with that, we walked into the murky depths of the forest.

“We’ve been walking forever. Do you even know where we’re going?” I complained, tugging my foot out of yet another hidden mud socket.

“I am quite certain that we’re almost there,” Maleficent said, whacking a bush that was in her way. She was right, of course. A few minutes later, we emerged out of the forest and was faced with a wall of thorns.

“It appears that you were correct, young Echo.” Maleficent examined the wall of thorns, and examined them again, and again, and again; from every angle. I think we were there for a couple of hours.

While she was doing that, I sat on a rock and read my storybook, to see if Zavana had written anything. Sure enough, she had. But this wasn’t a hint.

Echo! Where are you? You said you went for a walk and it’s past dark now! If you’re dead how can I help you! Get back here now!

Then, below that one, there was another one.

The curse has begun. Amber has stopped breathing, the thorns have risen, the sky is black, and everyone has become sluggish and sleepy. I fear if you don’t come back soon, you may never get home. Please, please Echo, don’t be dea

And it ended there, mid-word. She must’ve fallen asleep.

Fear bubbled up inside me, my knees knocked together, and when I looked back at the dark, midnight sky, Maleficent, and the cursed thorns, it all became too overwhelming. I collapsed to the ground and cried. I cried out all my pain, all my confusion, all my regret, all my homesickness. I cried until I fell asleep.

“Echo. Echo, dear.” Maleficent called to me. I stirred but didn’t wake. I didn’t want to, I was exhausted. I’ve been awake all day yesterday and last night.

I tugged my cloak tighter around me, but the sun was too bright, I wouldn't have an excuse to sleep much longer.

“Come on Echo. You got a full night’s sleep. It’s time to wake up.” Maleficent cooed.

“It depends on your definition of ‘full night’. Do you mean teenager ‘full night’, or adult ‘full night’?” I said, still half asleep.

“Six hours.”

“Adult’s ‘full night’. Going back to sleep now.” I shut my eyes again to sleep, I wish I could shut my ears too.

“Echo, Amber needs help.” That got me going: I sat up with a jolt and stood up. Maleficent stood next to me with a look of surprise. In the daylight, she looked different from the women I met last night.

Her pale skin was paler in the sunlight, her shoulder length black hair was shiny, and her green eyes looked old and wise. Her high cheekbones left a shadow on her face, making her look tired.

“Have you been up all night?” I asked, rubbing my eyes and yawning.

“Yes, dear, I have. I believe I’ve found a way to clear these brambles.” Maleficent yawned as well.

“Awesome, do you need help with it?”

“Yes. It turns out that since I made the curse, I can’t break it. You need to do it for me.” She sighed. “I need to, to…” Maleficent drifted off with a look of fear on her face. Was she scared to do it? Whatever it was. If she was scared, how should I feel?