I found myself locked away. In a cage, no less.
"What in the world—" my mom began, but then she stopped, clutching her gown as she gazed down, tears streaming down her face. "My precious daughter."
"Oh, come on, spare us the tears," my uncle interjected, rolling his eyes. "You should have expected she'd end up like this."
My mother lifted her tear-streaked face, bewildered. "End up like what?"
"Out of her mind."
She didn’t respond, but I could see her jaw clenched as she looked down again.
"Aurora," she called, and I turned to face her.
"I hope he’s mistaken," she added before walking away, my uncle hustling after her.
I sat there in quiet solitude, a smile tugging at my lips despite their departure.
But in a sudden moment of frustration, I slammed my head against the bars of the cage.
Blood trickled down from my forehead, and my heart ached with the realisation that escape wasn’t an option anytime soon.
I gripped my hair tightly as I crumpled to the floor, stomping my feet in agitation.
This was madness.
"Who else would have the audacity to announce a pregnancy?"
Something flew to my side, "Except you."
I staggered back, hitting my head on the bars, I rubbed it in pain, opening an eye to see what was before me.
A human stood there, and it had wings.
"Stop referring to me as it", It suddenly said.
How did it hear my thoughts?
AND WHAT IN THE WORLD WAS I EVEN LOOKING AT?!
He covered his ears, closing his eyes like he was in pain, "Do you want me to get a migraine?!"
I looked in horror.
Did that thing hear my thoughts?
Again?
I looked around for a weapon, anything, my heart racing.
Maybe I was hallucinating, I really prayed so.
There were no weapons.
"Wh-Wh- Wh-?
"Who am I?", He completed my sentence.
"What are you?", I asked, regaining some boldness, either that or I was simply ready to die.
"I'm human", He looked at his wings, smiling. "Just with special features".
Special features?
No, special features were dimples, a gap tooth, even green eyes.
That thing on his back... was not a special feature.
"You haven't answered my question", I said, hoping he wouldn't end up killing me.
Blonde hair, freckles, and blue eyes.
With the black shirt and white jeans, he looked quite human.
Except for those back features though.
"I'm here for you, Does it really matter what I am?", He smiled cutely, reaching a hand towards me.
"Let's go, Aurora, to your man".
"My man?", I asked, folding my arms as I raised an eyebrow.
He placed a hand on his mouth, gasping.
"Sorry for that", He rubbed his neck slowly, "I'm his younger brother".
"King Ron".
I slapped my forehead in disbelief, briefly entertaining the idea that this being might actually have a valid point or that I was merely caught up in my own fantasy.
But no, it was all just a figment of my imagination.
Feeling the weight of isolation, I turned and sank down, toying absentmindedly with my dress.
This isolation was suffocating.
But now, it appeared I could conjure hallucinations at will.
With a sigh, I wondered if this was the moment when my imaginary knife would finally reveal itself.
And I would end it all-
Suddenly, something struck my head. I flinched, narrowing my eyes as I spun around to identify the source. There it was—my intangible illusion still lingering.
"This is important, follow me", He looked to the side. "Please".
I got up, pressing my face against the bars, sighing. "Come closer", I said.
His eyes had suspicions, but he still came closer.
"Closer", I said, flapping my hands.
He took another step.
"Closer, you little-!", I took a deep breath, controlling my anger.
A whisper landed straight in my ears, "Am I close enough?".
And I looked up to find that our distance...well, was not that much.
I looked at him, adoring his face before grabbing his cheeks and pinching them.
Hard.
"What's your deal?!", He asked, not pushing me away, which meant it didn't hurt.
But I felt his body.
So he was real.
I shifted back, letting go of him, trying to process this.
I had been viewing him like a product of my imagination, but now I saw he was real.
And I felt insane.
A human with wings?
I saw his back, those things were firmly attached alright.
I slapped myself, I had to regain my composure.
I turned around, facing him, "What's your problem again?"
He squeezed his face, "Why'd you hit yourself like that?"
"Please just answer the question", I sighed.
"Follow me home", he offered me his hand, nodding constantly.
"Umm..Why?", I asked, leaning on the bars.
"Let's find my brother..Together".
I folded my lips, holding it in, holding it in, holding..
"Pffffffffffft!!", I stammered around the cell, my laugh taking me places.
I stammered back to his side as he looked disappointed, "Hold up, Hold up, You're trying to say you don't know where your 'older brother' is", I laughed a bit. "But you want me to follow you home".
"Am I right?", I asked, falling into another round of laughter, stammering again.
"That baby in you is the key".
I looked at him, smiling ridiculously, "Really, you sure?"
"Stop laughing, we have to find Ron".
I stopped my laughter, turning to him.
"How can this baby?", I controlled my laughter. "Help us find Ron".
"That's my work".
I held my tummy, shifting away, "You wanna kill my baby or something".
I huffed at him, caressing my tummy.
"We're wasting a lot of time here".
"Tell me what your work will be", I asked, not ready to comply yet.
To be honest, his offer was undeniably tempting.
I wanted out of this cell.
And I wanted my family to think I had escaped, insane and all.
"It's a long story", He sighed, "Just know I'll keep you safe, and if I dare betray or abandon you".
He knelt on one knee, bowing his head slightly, "Kill me".
"Well that's not a problem", I said, twirling my legs joyfully.
"Now get me out of this cell".
He grabbed my hand, pulling me out like the cell was some hologram.
You see, normal humans can't do that.
I shifted back, "Explain what you just did".
"I'll tell you at home".
"Don't say it like it's my home too", I said, forming a disgusted face.
He looked up to the sky, his wings now flapping slowly.
"I'll also give you the weapon you could use to kill me", His eyes still looked up.
"Are you calling me weak?", I argued.
"No, I'm just too strong for you".
"You little-"
Then he took off.
-----------
For the first time in my life, I died.
Up in that sky, I know I did.
My mom was right, it only took a night to give someone PTSD.
"Should I massage you?", That blonde offered.
I was fighting the trauma, and someone was trying to flirt with me.
"I'm not flirting, a massage usually calms people down", He added, genuinely I guessed.
I forgot that winged thing could hear my thoughts.
It scared me.
"I won't read them anymore".
"Good", I replied.
My heart had calmed a bit, and I finally noticed where I was.
His living room.
Painted white, tiles yellow and most of the furniture simply went with the flow.
I was covered with a blanket, and a cup of coffee was next to me.
At least he was nice.
Then, a knock came on the door, a beautiful voice following it.
"Brother Dean, He tried to touch me!".
And the blonde's expression changed.