Wilderness Princess

Evelina

“What is going on, Dad?” I peer out the window trying to figure out where we are, but nothing looks familiar.

We’ve traveled for hours and he hasn’t said a word about anything.

“Daad,” Celeste sharply whined never once looking up from her phone.

No response. 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. Just a few more chapters and I’ll be able to get to the fun part of this work.

Time slowly ticks by with a few interruptions from the clicking of Celeste's nails on her phone and a few bumps of turbulence. What feels like hours, the pilot announces that we will be descending in a few minutes.

Quickly closing my book, I look back out at the window. Wide open landscape with rolling hills and sporadic trees quickly come into focus. I've never been here before. No one seems to even be here until now.

“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 eyes wide taking in the aged building surrounded by nothing.

No response.

My eyes snap to our father only to find his focus solely on his phone.

Moments later, the plane lands heavily onto the tarmac and skids to a halt. The pilot announces the safe landing and informs us to not move.

Celeste groans, "I want to get off this thing. Why can't I stand up?"

A man dressed in dark pants and a dark long sleeve shirt with a security badge steps into the main cabin.

“Mr. O’Hare.” His deep tenor cuts through the air with authority that very few people even attempt to have in my father's presence.

No response.

“Mr. O’Hare.” His voice sharpens to an edge.

My father's shoulders turn rigid before he recomposes himself. He sighs and puts his phone into his pocket.

“The car is ready. We will talk during the ride.” He scans each of us. “It’s time to go.”

My father doesn't move. So neither do we.

"Mr. O'Hare."

“Fine.” That one word. His tone. His...everything.

My eyes widen just a fraction. What is going on?

The man nods before stepping off the plane.

“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.

Celeste and I stand with a roll of our eyes. Before we can step off the plane the man blocks our path.

“This is all you packed?”

I look at my purse.

"What?" Celeste huffs, "Can't we just get off the plane now?"

“Where are your suitcases?”

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

I point, "They're right over there."

“Aren't you going to need them?”

“Correct.” My father confirms stepping forward with Mother on his arm.

The man puts his hand up, “So…go grab them.”

“What?!” My mother shrieks tightening her grip on my father's arm to the point where here knuckles turn white.

“Ma’am, I need you to calm down.”

“Calm down?! Wha..."

“Mrs. O’Hare." His voice sharpens as something dawns over him. His eyes snap onto my father's with clear surprise. He quickly composes himself.

"You are not going on a five-star luxury vacation. You are not talking to 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.

“Grab your 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. The man is incredibly serious. In that moment, I could not 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.

Where are we? What is going on?

“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 tightens 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 as uncontrollable panic surges through my body.

He easily moves me into the open seat despite my struggles. My parents are pushed into the nearby seats. Celeste is shoved moments later shrieking at the man.

“Magnus, what have you hidden this time?”

"Daad! This is not okay! What is going on?!"

The two men slide into the front seats of the car.

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

“I told you.”

They start the car and begin driving away from the tiny airport.

“Let me formally introduce myself and my partner now we're settled in the car. My name is Cole Johnson and my partner is Beck Wicke.”

Beck turns from the passenger seat and waves.

“As I’m sure you are aware, we are heading to Willow.”

“We are going where?”

"Where?"

"Willow?"

"No."

"Umm...no?"

"No." My mother hisses. "Magnus? No."

My father sighs rubbing the bridge of his nose.

Cole and Beck exchange a look as fear and confusion hit my chest.

What is going on?

Beck pulls out his phone and types away giving all of us a moment to process where we are going. A place I've never heard before. A place called Willow.

"It's a bit of a drive. I recommend getting some rest while you can."

Mother uses Beck's words as ammunition diving into another whispered bickering match with my father.

Hours later, Cole pulls up to a small two story building with a large tree in front. My eyes blink registering the new sights. The hum of my mother’s cries snap into focus. 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 shadows. Opening the door, I’m greeted with a large room dimly lit with a small lights flickering sporadically placed around the room. The dark natural tones are warm and oddly inviting.

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

“Magnus, this is what you brought me 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.

“Please, don’t say anything.” Cole interrupts while walking towards the counter.

“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 states rhythmically as if on autopilot.

This is my home. This is my life.

Static fills my ears. My brain turns muddy. Cole turns to a blur of a shape. My body surges forward as a big blurry figure nudges me to follow the other blurry shapes up a wide staircase.

The blurry figure in front leads us down a hallway before opening a door. They usher two conjoined shapes...I blink clearing my vision long enough to register my parents are walking into a room. I blink again and the door clicks shut.

The blurry figure steps a few paces further down the hall. They open another door on the opposite side and ushers the blurry shape with white streaks around the edges to enter. I blink registering Celeste is walking past Cole. I blink again and the blurry figure is walking away from me.

A nudge from my shoulder causes me to stumble. Hands grip my shoulders helping me find my footing before disappearing. A voice pulls me forward down the hallway.

A door opens to a dark void.

“You seem to be the one who might appreciate this room…at least a tiny bit.”

Cole? What does he mean by that?

I step inside and freeze.

“Okay…Enjoy your evening.”

The door clicks closed behind me. I blink...once...twice. I think.

Time moves like sludge around me. My eyes begin taking in the room. It's simple...to say the least. The tiny bathroom solidifies the utter sadness.

This is my life.

My body shudders at such a notion.

“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 pulls 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 push them into a part of my brain to be forgotten. I pull together my nighttime routine steps.

My skincare alone takes up the entire countertop. I huff trying to figure out what I'm going to do about it. After much fussing, I decided to deal with it in the morning. I'm sure then I'll be packing up and we will be moving onto the resort.

This is just a stop over. Yes, that's it. A stop over. The plane had to land in the middle of nowhere for safety reasons. Then, the only town around with a place for us to stay the night is this place. In the morning, we'll pack up and move along. We'll get to the beautiful lake with the gorgeous cabin. The same one Dad has been promising Celeste for months.

"You can do this. It's just for the night." I mumble to myself as I stare at myself through the mirror.

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.