Sebastian

I left Rose standing alone in the forest hours ago, questions begging to spill off her tongue. Questions I had no sane answer to.

For a fraction of a second, I had the overwhelming urge to just tell her. It could be nice, I thought, to have someone to talk to about this instead of living alone with the guilt.

But Rose had her own problems, I could see them buried into the depths of her eyes if I looked hard enough, and I refused to add mine to the burden she was already carrying.

And even if I did tell her about Violet, she wouldn't believe me anyway. She'd think I was a madman and leave this inn faster than I could offer up and explanation. 

I had been talking to Violet when Rose overheard. When she asked, I lied. But she wasn't convinced. She could see through my attempts to hide the truth. It was like her analytical green eyes could see everything I tried desperately to hide.

When Rose called my name in the clearing, I froze. And for a horrible second, I wondered what would happened if she saw me talking to Violet. Then, I remembered that that was impossible.

But it didn't stop my eyes from darting around the clearing every minute to make sure Violet wasn't hiding in the shadows, watching us with jealous eyes.

I let out a deep sigh as the hot water streamed down my face. My skin was prickled with goosebumps that had nothing to do with temperature.

I had spent the past three days occupying myself with every possible task to take my mind off Rose — the girl in the cabin with the yellow roof.

As I busied myself by running into town,
chopping wood, repainting my bedroom, hiking for hours with no destination in mind, none of it was enough to get her out of my thoughts.

It was Violet and Rose. The two of them followed me every where I went and I couldn't seem to escape it.

And as I hid myself from the world, which I was a bit of an expert in, Rose continued to paint. I was surprised to hear she had noticed my absence to begin with. I couldn't deny the happiness the realization brought me.

Seeing her skin flecked with bits of paint earlier today hurt me in a way I couldn't understand. Not pain. But a slight jealousy that made my fingers tingle at my side.

She painted me and declared it a mistake by throwing the painting out. Then why was she in the woods painting today? And why did that realization make my heart ache?

The water ran cold and I shut it off, wrapping a towel around my waist as I stepped out of the shower. Frigid air slammed into me like a wall and I winced. The mirror was foggy. I couldn't see my own reflection staring back. With my hand, I brushed the thin cover of steam off the glass until my own face came into view.

My hair was longer than I had ever seen it, falling onto my shoulders in wet tendrils. I ran a comb through it mindlessly, my mind stuck on the way Rose's hair clung to her skin with sweat when I saw her today.

For a split second in the clearing, I wanted to kiss her. And I would have if I didn't see the fire burning behind her eyes.

I pushed the image aside — if I began imagining what it would feel like to kiss Rose, I wasn't sure I'd be able to stop.

To distract myself, I pulled on a pair of jeans and a sweater. My bare feet sunk into the warm carpet as I walked into the kitchen to stare out the window. I gazed at Rose's cabin, hoping to catch a glimpse of her sipping coffee on her porch or throwing another painting into the trash, but she was nowhere to be seen.

Disappointed, I placed the kettle on the stove and watched the water boil as I did my best to block out all thoughts of her green eyes.

The loneliness crept its way into me slowly, then all at once. I felt it in the slight emptiness that was in my heart during the day. I heard it in the silence that filled my cabin morning through night. I saw it in the way that I yearned for the comfort of being with someone, the way I had once been with Violet.

It was dangerous and loneliness, I began to understand, was my greatest weakness. It was the reason I had spent the last two years with Violet, knowing it went against my better judgement.

Loneliness was the reason I moved out into these woods. It was also the reason I had lost my mind along the way.

I didn't know how much longer I could do this — live secluded form society and pretend the world outside these woods didn't exist. It provided me with comfort once, but now a place that was once a safe haven had turned into a recreation of my worst nightmare.

The water boiled and I poured it into a cup as I watched the spot of red on the stove begin to fade as the heat did. I dropped in a tea bag and felt the weight of my thoughts sink in, rippling around me like the water in the mug.

Leaning back against the counter, I nursed the mug in my hand as my eyes wandered around the space I called home. Was this home? Or was this a hideaway?

Could it be both at the same time?

My chest ached as steam rose up and warmed my face. I found myself yearning for the company of Violet just to have someone to talk to.

Some days I felt like I was losing my mind.

Other days I felt like it was already gone.

When Violet didn't show, I turned my attention back to the window. That was the thing about Vi — she only showed up when I least expected it. It was on her terms only. Always.

The sound of a door creaking open caught my attention and I turned to see Rose exiting her cabin. I watched her every move, my eyes following her helplessly as she walked down the path and made her way to the other cabins.

My curiosity burned as I watched her walk, waiting to see where she was heading. The mug slipped out of my hand and crashed into the sink as she turned towards the fourth cabin and began to walk to the door.

Merelda's cabin.

Why was she ...

I swallowed the lump rising in my throat.

Rose wanted answers. Answers I wouldn't give her. So she was resorting to the only other person she thought that could.

And I was terrified because, somehow, I knew that Merelda would tell Rose everything I had tried desperately to hide.

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hey guys! i feel like i haven't updated this story in ages but it's been like 5 days, lol. short chapter, but we're getting to the good stuff, promise! lots is in store for the two flowers, just wait and see...

also, i love hearing your theories but please do not spoil the story in the comments (those who have read it on Episode). if you hadn't noticed, this story is completely different from that version so i guarantee that it's not going to go the way you think...until next time!