🪱 On the way to forever

They kiss, and for the first time in forever, Annika allows herself to hope. The prince has slain the witch responsible for her misery, saving her from a cruel fate. All that remains is to break the curse with true love’s kiss. But when she pulls back, there’s no grand display of light or purging of black magic. Nothing has changed. The spell hasn’t been lifted.

Annika can see the realization dawn in his eyes and she wonders who’s more devastated by this turn of events: him or her.

The prince stumbles backwards in his haste to detangle himself from her. He gapes at her for a moment—looking as lost as she feels—before making a break for it. He sprints down the stone steps of the dais, leaving Annika alone to deal with the aftermath.

All of her strength seems to leave her at once. She falls to the floor, large gasping sobs spilling out. Her chest heaves as reality sinks in. The curse isn’t broken. This is her forever after.

Through the open window, night creeps into the room, eclipsing Annika. She starts to shake, first with a slight twitch, and then with a full-blown convulsion. Her skin bubbles as something desperately tries to break free. 

Annika braces herself as her chest cracks open—a number of spindly legs sticking out. Her body turns inward, giving way to an exoskeleton. The only thing left is a centipede—a monster. It’s almost worse that she gets to keep her own face.

Hours later, Lotte finds Annika curled up in the same spot, tears silently running down her cheeks. Despite her current condition, Lotte doesn't think twice about taking her in her arms, a soothing presence amidst a sea of despair. A special ability that comes with being friends since diapers, regardless of their difference in social status. Many have commented on the impropriety of their friendship, but Annika can’t find it in her to stay away. Being with Lotte is the closest she’s ever gotten to being complete. 

“It didn’t work,” Annika howls, “He couldn’t fix me!”

“Maybe he’s not the one,” she suggests, voice tinged with hope.

“But he did everything right! How could he not be the one?! If he can't break the curse then what hope does anyone else have?!”

Lotte’s body becomes still. “May I kiss you, Princess Annika?”

She gazes at her with watery eyes, not quite understanding the words she spoke. Lotte tentatively slides a hand to her cheek and Annika’s heart flutters in response. She slowly leans in, her presence overwhelming.

“I—” Annika finds herself doing the same, impossibly drawn to Lotte.

Their lips brush and warmth spreads through her entire body. A soft glow envelops them and they separate with a gasp. Annika has shed her skin, and can no longer sense the centipede crawling inside her brain. The curse is gone.

“See. He wasn’t the one,” Lotte said, eyes bright.

“Yeah, he wasn’t.”

Annika dives back in for another kiss.