Chapter 17: Follow your Heart
“Just follow what your heart says”.
“Do I sleep last night?” that was
the question came into my mind
when I woke up this morning.
Today is the day- final challenge.
But I don’t sleep just because of
this, I don’t sleep because of what
Hans told me last day, he likes me.
Do I have to continue this? What
if I win? What if I don’t see him
again? What if I back out and
find him instead? Lot of what if’s.
But why is he always said that I
have to win the competition,
even if he confessed already?
From the books I read and in the
movie’s I’ve watched- he Guy do
everything just to win the girl
over the other guy. But in the
case of Hans, he just let me
hanging. With lot of questions.
His always that mysterious
effect. But whatever it is, I trust
him. I’m all dressed up. I’m
wearing a above the knee short,
a plain white shirt and a pair of
rubber shoes. I guess, it’s our
time to enter the forest. I
snapped back to reality when I
heard someone knocking on my
room. I stood up and opened it.
“Prince D-dale?” I was surprised
to see him.
“I’m here just to say goodluck.
And please win the competition
for Prince David...I have to leave.
The final challenge is about to
start.“..he said then walk away.
Why does everyone acting so
weird this days. I said to myself.
After a few minutes, we all
gathered to the ground where we
facing headed to the forest. All
of us nine remaining ladies
formed a vertical line. Gaile and
Faye are on my both side, while
Freda is next to us. She looked
at me with strong face. She’s
always have that troubled look.
I just hope she wouldn’t do
anything wrong to us. We looked
straight to King William, Prince
Dale and Princess Kaitlyn. While
Froilan is starting to open a
piece of paper. Prince David is
still not on the track.
“Good morning Ladies, you all
know that this is the last day of
your competition. From fifteen
down to nine. You all has the
courage to win but only one
lady will take the slot of being the
next Princess. But before this
competition begin, let me read
you a sort of reminders and
instruction.
- As you enter the dark forest,
you need to be brave enough to
conquire your fears.
- That forest is not an ordinary
forest you think of.
- You need to use your mind.
- Be smart.
- Think wise.
- And have the courage to win.
- All you have to do is to find the
right direction.
- From here, you have to find the
way out of the forest.
- When you’d reach the boundary
just look for a red flag and bring
it to us.
- Goodluck ladies and Be careful.
“Now ladies, the challenge begin.”
Froilan said, then we start
walking in the forest. I’m afraid
of the dark, what shall I do now.
But Froilan was right I have to
be brave. Gaile and Faye was on
my side so I feel a little
braveness.
“This forest is so creepy, isn’t it?”
Faye asked.
“Yeah, right. It’s my first time to
see a forest like this. The sun is
so bright out there but inside of
this, it looks like that we are in
a middle of the night.” Gaile
added.
“I guess, this is the reason why
they prohibited us to came in
here.” I said.
“We can do this girls...” Faye said.
“But only one lady need to win.”
Gaile replied.
“Wait...where is the other ladies?
I asked them and looked around
but haven’t seen anything. The
surrounding is dark and I heard
some creepy sound around.
“We have to hurry up.” Gaile
added and then we walked so
fast. I dont know if we take the
right direction.
We stopped for a minute and seat
on a trees root. “My feet is
crumping.” Faye said.
“Me too..” Gaile seconded.
“Even me...” I added. I felt the
emptiness of my throat. I need
water but where I can get that in
this middle of the night. We
walked an hour and haven’t see
any rivers flowing in here. Plus
this creeply dark forest.
“Hey! Girls. Quite. Did you heard
that?. Faye asked then we all
shut up and listen to the sounds.
I heard a noise going to our
direction. Then, we heard
Rooooaarrrrrr!!!! I don’t know
what it is, all I know is we run
separately to different directions.
I’m all alone now. I tried not to
look back knowing that
something is roaming around
this place. What kind of animals
is that. Is that a tiger or a Lion.
Or maybe a witch or a ghost or
a mystical creature. I stopped
and put my back on a tree. I felt
like my breathe is about to end.
And my heart is beating really
fast. It’s double-triple every
time Hans near me. Where are
you girls. I decided to walk again
and think what I am going to do.
I looked around and was amazed.
I saw a lightning trees from afar,
so I find and lucky to found. This
is the tree’s I’ve seen before in the
park, where I first meet Prince
Dale. So beautiful. I enjoyed
watching it for a while. But I
have to find the girl’s. We need to
find the way out there.
“Gaile, Faye. Where are you?” I
shouted, I don’t care anymore
about the creepy thing around.”
I stopped when I bump someone.
“Waahhhh...” she shouted.
“Hey, Faye. It’s me Chloe.”
“Oh, thanks god. I found you.
I’m about to die here in any
minute.”
“Breathe deeply. Anyway, where’s
Gaile?” I asked her.
“I don’t know.. we separated.”
“Let’s go we have to find her.
“Wooaahhh...
I’m almost fall off the ground when someone bump me again.
I looked up and saw Gaile. I stood
up and hugged her.
“Thanks god, you’re her.” then we
hugged all together. We walked
again, until we saw a bridge.
“G-girls, look there’s a water over
there.
We run all together and get some
drinks. Finally, were no longer
thirsty.
“Girls, where do we go now?” Faye
asked.
“Let’s cross that bridge.”
“Yeah, let’s go..
Gaile and Faye walked first, but I
was shocked when the steps broken and they fall down the
bridge.
“G-gaile, Faye....” I shouted so loud. I hurriedly run back and find where they fall. I stopped running when I saw them in the water unconscious. Girls, wake
up. Please wake up... I said while
my tears is falling down my face.
The water just below my knee so they just floating on it. “H-help..help me. Somebody help me please.” I shouted using my all voice. I have to get them out of the water, but I can’t carry them with my hands. I’m not that strong enough to carry there weights. My whole body is shaking. I’m cold already but I don’t care. It’s more colder than there bodies being under water.
Then, someone tapped my back, so I looked behind my back.
“H-hans.....” I said, then hugged him tight.
“Hey! Are you okey?” he asked me.
“N-no I’m not...Please help me. Help us..” I replied.
“Don’t worry. I’ll help you.” he said, then carry the unconscious body of Faye then after is Gaile.
“Girls, please wake up.” I whispered then suddenly my tears fall down again.
“Chloe, don’t worry they’re be okey..
“I can’t. Knowing that they don’t wake up yet.” I replied.
Why it is Hans is always there when I’m in trouble. Is he really my knight in a darkest hour?.
“Hans thank you for saving me, us. I don’t know what to do when you don’t come. But wait what are you doing here?. I asked him.
“I just....” he stop from talking when Gaile and Faye moved.
“Girls, what do you feel? Are you okey? What’s hurt?”
“I’m okey...” Gaile replied.
“Me too. I’m just cold.” Faye added.
“We have to go back to the palace now.” I said,
“But how about the competition?”
Gaile asked me. I looked down and smiled.
“The competition is important but you guy’s is more important to me now.” I said.
“B-but you need to continue the competition Chloe.“Hans replied.
“Hans was right. You have to win over Freda.” Faye added.
“Don’t worry about us. Just win this for us.” Gaile said then they hold my hand. I make a cry sound then hugged them.
“I’ll bring them back to palace.” Hans said then hold my hand. Win this for the Prince Chloe. Win this for him.
I stood up and smiled. “Okey, i’ll do it.” I answered and took a deep breathe. Before I turn my back I heard Hans say a words.
“Take care....
Then I started to walk away.
The forest is getting darker and I don’t really know what direction should I take. Is it the right or the left direction? I looked up into the sky and find the moon above. Its heading up to the left the direction.
I can see my way when there is a light coming from the moon. That’s what my mind say. I don’t know if this is right but I remembered what Froilan said,
You need to use your mind. And that’s what I am doing now. I walked again and finally my mind lead to the right direction. I find the red flag, but it wasn’t there anymore. Then I heard someone laughing.
“Hahaha. Poor girl. You think you can win over me? No way!!!! If I were you? I’m going back home right now......Bye! " Freda said then she started to walked away.
.....to be continued (:-]
A/n: Hi Everyone!!!! What do you think will happen to the end? Freda win the competition and found the red flag first?
Comment please..Hahaha 😃
Thanks for reading...
P.S
Chapter 19 and Epilogue is coming....