16. 
chapter sixteen
bonus chapter o4 
five years before the events of the prologue
The Lie That
Started It All

I'm not proud. I am scared of Momma shooting me down with the mess I looked—hair almost out of its twin ponytails, dress swampy. Daddy looking at me with sad lips. Clemont shaking his head with a sigh. And little Bonnie gurgling in mockery. 

Freezing, I tugged at the stranger's hand. He looked over his shoulder, blinking. "Anything wrong?" 

"I don't—don't!" 

"Why?" he asked, his tone almost too much like the rustle of the leaves around us. Grandfather's house stood towering a few steps away, the sun throwing its naughty beams at the chipping beige walls. 

"Risky..." I concluded, pulling my hand away from his. I tasted regret instantly. What if he laughs too? 

"B-but—!" he sputtered, spreading his palms like Oswald the Octopus... that is, with just two hands instead of tentacles. "They'll be worried!" 

I kicked at the dirt. "Or scowled." 

"I'm with you!" 

"They don't know you." 

"I'll get scowled at too, for you, Bunny!" 

"B-bunny?" 

He shrugged, biting his lip. "Your pigtails make you look like—" His hands rose above his head as if to mimic a rabbit. I almost chuckled. Almost. "But I'm okay with getting scowled at!" 

I swallowed, tears accumulating in my eyes, looking up from my marshy pink Mary Janes. Daddy's present for my birthday was ruined. I was having it.

"Serena?" 

We turned toward Grandfather's voice. He stood near the doorway, eyes wide. The cane in his hand fell to the rocky road with a clank, and I was staring down at the boy from an unnatural height. 

Then it hit. 

Grandfather found me! 

"Grandfather, I'm sowwy!" I hugged him tighter, nuzzling into his shoulders as he held me. 

"I'm so glad we found you, Little One!" 

My heart skipped a beat. He wasn't going to scowl at me? 

I pushed back. "You won't scowled me?" 

My grandfather shook his head, another hand reaching out to ruffle my hair before he set me down. "I won't scold you, Little One. We were all worried." 

"I'm sowwy!" 

He smiled before looking at my knight, who was shifting awkwardly. "Oh? And who might this little man be? Your friend?" 

I nodded, reaching for the boy's hand. 

"He helped me!" I announced, holding his fingers up like they were little Piglet, my favorite plushie. "My knight! His name is... is..." 

The boy, aware of my pronunciation problems, started. "Sat—" 

But I clamped my free hand over his mouth. 

"Ash." 

Grandfather's eyes crinkled with mirth. "Ash, is it? Why don't you come in? I'll get you some sweets as a thank you for saving my precious." 

The boy—Ash—blinked before a slow grin spread over his face. "You won't scowled?" 

Grandfather shook his head, placing a hand on each of our heads. "No, I'll not scold." 

Ash nodded eagerly. "I'm gonna fetch my games, Ojii-san!" 

Before I could ask what he meant, he ran away, out of sight. I pouted, turning to Grandfather. 

"Let's go inside, Little One," he said, taking my cold hand. "He'll be back." 

"Grandfather," I started before he could move. The chills from the woods crept up. "I don't want to leave home, ever, ever, ever again!"