Wilderness Princess

Evelina

“What is going on, Dad?” We’ve traveled for hours and he hasn’t said a word about anything.

“Daad,” Celeste whined for his attention.

He ignored us - or he’s just so skilled with tuning us out. I huff and turn my attention back to my book. A beautiful classic story that I will need to start planning the video for my followers to know about it. Just a few more chapters and I’ll be able to get to the fun part of this work. Not too much longer, the plane descends and lands at a tiny airport.

“Dad, where are we?” My eyes widen at the minuscule building and unfamiliar landscape.

“Willow.” His gruff voice swept around our plane.

“Where?” Celeste snapped immediately expressing both our thoughts.

I stare at our father as he is fully absorbed with his phone, still. He refused to pick his head from it. A security officer appeared at the front of the plane snapping our attention away from our father.

“Mr. O’Hare.” His deep tenor cuts through the air drawing all of our attention, except my father’s.

“Mr. O’Hare.”

My eyes scanned my father. His shoulders stiffened before rolling back and re-established his stoic calm business appearance.

“The car is ready. We will talk then as the ride will give us time.” Without another word, he appraised us one more time before making a hand gesture.

Confusion sweeps over me. What is he doing?

“It’s time to go.” His stern eyes sharpen on my father.

“Fine.” My father’s sharp voice hits home the notion that something strange is going on.

The security man turns and shouts a variety of commands outside none made any sense.

“Evelina. Celeste. Time to go.” My father shakes my mother awake. “Delilah, we landed.”

“No, Magnus.”

“Delilah, we’ve been over this.”

Their voices turn hard as another argument ensues around us.

Celeste turns to me, “Again?”

“Seems like it.” I finish organizing my purse.

We all stand finally ready to disembark. Before we get far, the security man stops us in our tracks.

“This is all you packed?”

I look down at our purses and m dad’s briefcase. What are we missing?

“Where are your suitcases?”

My eyes sweep over our neatly packed bags in various spaces scattered around the plane.

“You are going to need them?”

“That is correct.” My father confirms before taking a step forward.

The man puts a hand on my father’s shoulder.

“So…go grab them.”

“What?!” My mother shrieks grabbing onto my father’s other shoulder.

“Ma’am, I need you to calm down.”

“Calm down?! Wha-“

“Mrs. O’Hare. You are not going on a five-star luxury vacation. You are not talking with a butler or someone who’s paycheck is dependent on your happiness. You are speaking with an officer who is completely content with dragging you off this plane and leaving your bags behind. So, please grab your bags now.” He forcefully spun my parents around and stood back waiting for our move.

“Let’s grab our things.”

“Magnus! You can’t be serious!”

“Delilah, grab your bags.”

My eyes drift to my mother’s rigid form not moving an inch. I shift to face Celeste. My father’s odd actions. My mother is acting…difficult. The man is incredibly serious. In that moment, I couldn’t risk not having my hair products, my clothes, my…my make-up. I rush away from Celeste and hurriedly yank my bags into my arms. The man helps me walk down the stairs where another person guides me towards a large black truck. Not a single person offered to help with my bags. They just pulled me around.

“Ma’m.” A large man appears to my right grabbing my arm.

“What? What are you doing? Let go of me!” I try yanking my arm away from him.

His grip strengthens to a point just below painful. Realization at the inevitable pools through my body when he only sighs and pushes me towards the open car door.

“Let go of me!” My voice cracks in uncontrollable panic surrounds me.

He easily moves me into the open seat despite my struggles. He slams the door as soon as he released my arm. My parents are pushed into the nearby seats. Celeste is shoved in last shrieking at the man.

“What is going on?!”

“Magnus, what have you hidden this time?”

Before he could answer the doors open again. The man from the plane and the man who shoved me into the seats enter the two front seats.

“Damn, you were right. We are going to get there late.”

“I told you.”

“Let me formally introduce myself and my partner now that we are comfortably in the car. My name is Cole Johnson and my partner is Beck Wicke.” Cole drives us away from the airport while Beck clicks away on his phone. “As I’m sure you are aware, we are heading to Willow.”

“We are going where?”

“Dad, I thought you said you were taking us to the cabin you just bought.”

I watch Cole and Beck exchange a look confirming my fear. We are not going to the new cabin. Hours later, Cole pulls up to a small two story building with a large tree in front. The hum of my mother’s cries return to the forefront of my mind. They had not relented since the news. Beck swings open the door to my left. I quickly climb out as soon as he reached for my arm.

“Go on inside. It’s quiet.”

I walk down the short path towards the large wooden door. The limited lights cast dark atmosphere. Opening the door, I’m greeted with a large room dimly lit with a few lights. Although quite dark, I could tell it was decorated in dark neutral tones.

“What is this place?” Celeste loudly breaks the silence.

“Magnus, this is what you brought us to? Why?”

“You both don’t have an off switch, do you?” Beck steps inside and closes the door.

My mother whips around ready to snap at his rude comment.

“Please, don’t say anything.” Cole chimes in thankfully interrupting the whole situation.

“This is the Dark Horse Inn. Per the legal agreement, this will become your family’s temporary home until another place becomes suitable in the area.” Cole explains in more detail each of our new restraints, but it all fades into the background of my nosy mind.

This is my home. This is my life.

My body switches to survival mode. Be quiet. I quietly follow Cole and my family upstairs. He opens one door and ushers my parents inside. Across the hall he opens another and offers it to Celeste. Further down the hallway, he opens another door.

“You seem to be the one who might appreciate this room…at least a tiny bit.” Cole’s words do little to ease my mind.

I walk inside without much thought.

“Okay…Enjoy your evening.”

The room is simple to say the least. The tiny bathroom solidifies the utter sadness. This is my life.

“Remember, you need to lock your doors, if you don’t want any sudden guests.” Beck’s strong voice snaps me into action.

Ungracefully, I fumble with the lock. Panic hits me in waves as it won’t lock.

“Evelina.” Beck’s stern voice snaps my focus on him. “Turn the lock.” I follow his command.

The lock thuds into place. Beck tries to open the door. When it doesn’t open, we both release a heavy sigh.

“Have they done anything for themselves?” Beck’s words - although mumbled - filters through the wooden door and hangs heavily around me.

I shook the implications of his words and pushes them into a part of my brain to be forgotten. I spin on my heels and grab my pajamas out of my bag. My skincare covered the entire countertop. Every movement had my elbows, hands, arms, knees, eyes…everything accosted with the horridness of the bathroom.

Finally done, I make my way to the bed rubbing my sore limbs hoping I won’t bruise. The bed feels soft in that well used type of way. Unlike in my bed, I don’t immediately feel drowsy. My brain throbs as my thoughts find speakers as they amplify their need to be heard.

This is my life. I’m living in a small Inn. What even is an Inn? This can’t be my reality. This is just a horrible dream. I will wake up any moment and everything will be fine and normal.

Nothing changed.