living the secret stories

Alex hates fairy tales. She always has. Alex has despised the notion of fairytales ever since her mother ran off with another man, leaving the girl and her father to rebuild their lives on their own. When she was little, Alex’s father taught her to be strong and independent, so that she did not have to wait for a man to do things for her. She took those lessons to heart and has done just that. However, what will happen to Alex when she suddenly finds a mysterious book at the library and ends up drawn into the story, literally. Alex must now live inside of the fairytales that she hates so much. She can't escape from them, no matter what she does. She has no choice, but to complete each tale, each task that the Keeper gives her. And along the way, she just might find a love for fairytales, or perhaps a prince. "Hello, Alexis." That voice from before called out to me. "We have been waiting for you." "Who are you? And why have you been waiting for me?" I called out frantically. "I am the keeper of the tales. I have heard you through the years, girl. I know that you dislike the tales that others have worked so hard to collect. These so-called fairy tales. They are a vital part of growing up. They help children learn to process and cope with emotions through make-believe. They help them to learn and grow. Yet you don't think like that. You see only weak women that need to be saved by men. I cannot help that they were written in a time long since passed, but that has kept you from seeing the true beauty and meaning of the tales. Because of that, you must be punished." "Punished?" I focused on that one word. "What do you mean that I need to be punished? What is going to happen to me? What are you going to do to me? A..am I going to be in fairy tales?" I just knew that this voice was going to say yes. I knew that I was going to be tortured to no end because of these stories. "But of course." There was a chuckle in that voice that just wouldn't leave my mind. It was going to be there permanently. Every day for the rest of my life I would hear that voice, I just knew it. "Why? Why do I need to be in fairy tales? What is the purpose of that?" "The purpose? Well, I could say that it is to teach you a lesson. I could say that it is what you deserve because of the position that you have been taking your whole life. However, I simply think that it would be funny because you simply despise these tales. I think that it would be the best punishment for you given the circumstances." "You're evil. You know that? You are evil and cruel." I no longer felt fear of any sort. Instead, I was feeling nothing but anger and frustration boiling inside of me. "I haven't even told you the best part, Alex. These are no ordinary fairy tales. They will all be changed in some way. You may be visiting some of the classics this time, but they will be unlike any other fairy tale that has ever been told in your world. I think that is my consolation to you. You will be spared the same old boring tales that you hate and in turn, you will experience something new and exciting."