Chapter 1

The grass whistled with the wind as Auden ran past them swiftly. "Agh!" She groans as she trips over the stone. Shadow casts upon her as she faces her eternal fear. "Is this the end?" She wonders as everything turns black.

This story started 6 months ago.

It was the month of December. The breeze blew from the east to cool down the west. Auden sat on her desk, adjusting her glasses. Her long hair was tangled in a bun, and her vision was engrossed in the files her hands held. Once in a while, she popped her knuckles and exhaled in relief. It wasn't late till her phone rang.

"Where are you?" a feminine voice asked Auden with a hint of irritation.

Auden pressed her temple as she apologized. "I was working and forgot about it!" she pleaded.

"Fine, whatever. Be here in 15 mins," and the voice from the phone disappeared.

Auden stands up and promptly headed over to the exit. Being already late, she hastened to reach the club. When she finally opens the door to the other side, familiar faces are spread all over.

"Happy birthday Auden!" the voices screamed with pleasure. Auden couldn't help but feel loved. She made sure she showed gratitude to everyone as she talked. A lean feminine figure approached her.

"I thought you would never come." Auden hugged the girl and said, "It was for your call that I am here, Cherry."

Cherry blushed. "I knew you wouldn't remember."

Suddenly, an obnoxious silence took over the place. Auden felt her head spinning as she heard voices echoing.

"Your time's up, my Queen. The wheel of fortune has turned, yet again," Darkness swallows Auden's vision as she falls into a place unknown.

---

Light pierced sharply through Auden's eyes. When she gained consciousness, she found herself strangely attired. Her hair was open, and she wore a gown. Judging from her attire, it seemed elegant. She looked around to find huge windows covered with dark blue curtains and shelves covered with rose vases. Auden wasn't given much time to process before the door opened.

A woman who seemed in her early twenties entered the room. She had a firm body, and her skin was tanned. She wore equestrian attire with jodhpurs. Though she appeared to be a stranger, she seemed comfortable in the presence of Auden.

"I didn't think you would be up so early," said the woman, taking a bite from an apple.

Auden chose to remain silent as she glanced outside one of the windows.

"I wouldn't get funny ideas if I were you. You jump from there, you die." Eve glared at Auden.

"How did you know I was thinking that?" Auden said, almost astonished.

"That's the least I would know," she added, with an edge of contempt, "being your sister."

"Sister?" Auden shrilled at the sound of that world.

The family was not something she knew about much, having found herself in a city 3 years back with no memories. When she finally started to feel familiar with the place she tried calling home, she was brought to a new place. Which seemed stranger than the one before.

"You don't seem as shocked as one would expect someone to be?" Eve shot a question as she sat beside Auden.

"I have been through this experience before."

"Oh?" Eve observed Auden's eyes which looked so detached from the world outside.

"Alright, I'll leave you alone." Eve got up to go, and their eyes met.

"You need to show up at the hall tomorrow. A maid will escort you. Hopefully, you'll get your memories by then. Rest well till then." And with this, Auden's audience with Eve was over.

Auden stood at the window, looking down at the roof. "Should I jump?" She wondered. "I doubt I will survive like that, but." Logic prevailed. Auden had always been detached and alone. She didn't try to find answers behind her being this way, she just accepted this is who she is.

The moon shone upon her as she sat down on the ground.

"Let's wait until tomorrow. I need to know what's happening first." She thought. In those endless thoughts, a smooth breeze blew, and Auden found herself almost asleep when she heard a voice.

She stood up and looked outside the balcony. "Who's there?" She asked, but got no reply, other than the wind whistling through the bushes. The rest lay still.

She stood up and looked outside the balcony. "Who's there?" She asked, but got no reply, other than the wind whistling through the bushes. The rest lay still.

The moon was shining at its best, and so were the colourful crystals on the street. They worked as street lights, and their lights reflected on Auden's face as she found herself walking through the Palace. Auden didn't remember how she got there, but something told her to follow the voice. Her disguise wasn't doing a great job of hiding her.

Although she was wearing a hooded cloak that covered half of her face, one could easily tell it was her. Auden tried to look at the path ahead, but her vision was blocked by her hair. She held a veil and took light steps until she reached the cross-section of three paths. Two men passed by her and started talking.

Man 1- "Princess Auden is nowhere to find. We need to search for her soon."

Man 2- "How did the princess get out? Wasn't her room covered with a seal?" the other asked, furrowing his eyes.

Auden hid behind the bushes as the voice grew more intense. The strange voice that had called her into the deep woods could barely be estimated how far it was. Before she could immerse herself in the voice, a conversation brought her back.

Man 1- "Princess Eve told us not to keep any guards close to her princess's room because her princess will feel trapped then. She also assured us by saying there is a shield. So we let our guard down."

Man 2- "Lieutenant, are you trying to lay blame on Her Royal Highness?" He spoke with a shrill in his voice.

"No, no Duke Edin! I would never!" the Lieutenant squeaked.

"Where was the Crown Princess seen before?"

"30 minutes back in her chambers."

Duke Edin noticed something in the bushes. His eyes met with Auden's. He approached as Auden tried to run away.

Duke Edin- "Lady, we need to see your face. Please remove your hood."