15 Years Later
The new King and Queen of the little kingdom waved at their subjects as they rode in their carriage. Phillip- the newest prince -waved less enthusiastically, this was not the birthday celebration he wanted. "Mother? What ever happened to your friend?" Phoebe stopped waving and turned to her son, "You promised you would tell me on by thirteenth birthday did you not?" Phoebe sighed "It's no use hiding what happened to you is it? If you insist, once upon a time..."
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'15 years. 15 years since Phoebe stole my Prince from me, 15 years since I last saw the sun, 12 years since 'Phillip' arrived.' The prisoner was left to think in her damp containment cell, none of the nurses at the asylum could help the poor girl. 'Asylum,' she thought dryly, 'Phoebe deserves the asylum.' A brilliant thought came to her, she would simply escape and take what was rightfully hers.
Ella waited until they got their 'sun time' and decided to escape. It was simple, make it seem as though a patient was in danger, and during the ruckus escape. Ella ran through the steps through her head as she watched the scene unfold, she climbed the plain chain-link fence and started to run into the woods behind the asylum.
Over the course of the next few days, Ella watched the Queen closely and saw her behavioral patterns. Ella copied her voice, her hair, yet she could not change her eyes to match the Queen's. Slowly, Ella began to believe she was Phoebe, her time in the asylum took its toll on the girl. Ella skillfully snuck into the castle and began her search for Phoebe, the girl she thought was Ella.
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Phoebe went back into her room; she had let Phillip use it for fencing practice and went to check the damage. Her room was in shambles, desks overthrown, the chandelier on the floor, and the bed curtains were scattered across the room carelessly.
The Queen sighed and rung the bell for housekeeping, the door knocked. "You were certainly quick..." The Queen mumbled as she opened the door, the staff member had her head down and carried a tray of food. "I thought you might need a break your Majesty." Something about the way she said 'majesty' ran a chill down Phoebe's spine, it sounded as if the staff wanted nothing more than to leave.
The Housekeeper started to clean the floor as Phoebe took a drink of water, it tasted of almonds. She grabbed her throat as she started to cough. The Queen fell to the floor choking on what she assumed was now poison, spit and foam started to dribble down the side of her mouth. The Housekeeper took her sweet time to walk over to the Queen, "Oh, I must've gotten the wrong water." The Housekeeper took off her hat, revealing to be Ella.
Ella smirked as she saw the Queen try to cry out in pain, begging for mercy, "You're too late Ella, it's time for me to live out my 'Happily Ever After.'" Phoebe's eyes widened, 'Ella? Did she really think I am her?' Ella grabbed the Queen's fallen crown and took some clothing from the closet, "Enjoy your rest, Ella." She shrieked as she started to laugh maniacally. Phoebe's eyes started to roll around in her head, the poison had almost killed the Queen.
Phoebe's body shuddered one last time and went still, Ella dressed as the Queen and kicked the dead body out the nearest window. The body fell into the compost garden, perfect, 'now if it decomposes it will seem natural.' Ella started to smile as the bedroom door opened, "Oh, Phoebe! Dearest, have you seen the..." Phoebe- whom Ella thought she was -tuned out, her plan had worked. The real Phoebe was gone, and the fake took her place.
Long live the Queen