Transitioning to 1st person cause...

——-
Anai

I clutched the reigns of my trusty steed, venturing further into the dark forest of our kingdom. A willowy wisp of air bounced against the exposed surface of my body, pulling goosebumps from beneath my skin. I could not see where I was going nor where I ventured, but I didn't care. All I worried about was a route to escape; a place where I could run far, far away.

Steer the reigns over there!

There it was! That voice was again.

I tried my hardest not to welcome its command but again, I found myself steering into the clearing.

Keep going!
Faster!

"Would you just shut up!" I screamed, pulling the reigns of my horse and abruptly coming to a halt. This voice would not control me, I refused it...

Carefully, I slid off my horse, leading him to a tree near the middle of the meadows. Just as I tie the leather reigns to a tree, I see a small cottage near the clearing.

Hmm... that was strange?
It wasn't there before...

Don't be shy. Go explore it.

My mother always warned me to never journey into strange houses uninvited; she deemed it rude and "un-princess" like but what more did I care? After today, I was no longer her perfect little princess.

I keep my eyes on what seems to be a stone chimney, its foggy smoke luring me in. There was a rather invasive smell of chicken and hot grain drawing me in, so I continue down the path until I am at the base of its boarded door.

Knock princess!

But the voice didn't have to tell me. The soft patters of my knuckles lingered against the wood as I tapped its surface. "Hello?"

There was no answer.

"Hello?" I call again, raising my voice above the sounds of my knock. Finally, the door jingled open and in stood the most careworn woman I have ever seen. Before I had a chance to even speak, she laughs, showing off a toothless smile and guides me into the warmth.

"Princess Anai" she sighs.

I cower into a corner, instantly regretting my venutre into the cottage.

"Do not be scared my child, for I am only a friend" she smiles. I see her figure more clearly since the light of the fire illuminated the room and see she is even more hideous the longer you stare.

She was short and haggard looking with brown liver spots lining her wrinkly hands. She ran over to turn something in a bubbling pot near her kitchen before turning back to face me.

"How do you know my name?" I finally speak

"Let's not get caught up in technicalities my dear princess. Come closer! Come in. Take off your cloak and sit"

I obey her out of fear and sit in the worn out chair near the heat of the fire. She plates a large bowl of warm soup and corn, placing it into my lap. "Eat, you look frail" she advises, patting my palm with a spoon.

My hunger refused to give me the picture of restraint and so I listened. "Thank you" I nodded before attacking the warm stew. It's broth held a richness that was so addictive while the meat was cooked to perfection. The old lady smiled, watching me as I devoured my plate.

"Good?" she nodded.

"Delicious!" I smiled, shoving another morsel of meat into my lips. She chuckled and nodded her head, taking pride in my enjoyment.

"Are you a witch?" I asked rather bluntly. After all the stories I read, she fit the suspected profile. She was old enough enough with a haggard appearance and hunched back. 2 golden braclets hugged her thin wrists.

"Am I that ugly?" she frowned.

"I wouldn't say ugly for there is beauty even in the ugliest things. Maybe you have strongsuits in other things?" I smiled politely. I did not wish to be so harsh to the stranger who had showed me such kindness.

"Just like the voices in your head?"

My enthusiasm for entering her cottage was instantly gone as she interpreted my innermost thoughts.

She is right Anai.

"I do not find beauty in my mind. It is dark...and unpredictable." I whisper, still uncertain of who this woman truly was. She stood from her chair and went to the cabinet to fish out a small vial of black goo.

"Here" she pushed it into my palm, closing my knuckles above it.

"What is it?" I ask curiously.

Posion

"You know what it is Princess" she nodded, smiling as if she could hear my inner thoughts. I had so many questions to ask her.
Why was I like this?
Why did I hear these strange voices? Why was my mother so obsessed with perfection.

Hurry! They are coming!

"Yes princess, listen to the voices. They are near" the old woman says, a small smile forming onto her lips. She pushes a finger to her chin, walking closer and closer to where I stood.

"Who are you? And why are these voices in my head!" I yelled, demanding for her admission. She grew even more haggard the more I lingered.

Just one sip!

I back away from her approach and run to the other side of the room, clutching the vial beneath my fingers.

"Anai! Anai!" I hear my father's voice in the distance. I snap my head to the window, running to see the small party that approached. It was 3 men on horseback, my father leading the trio.

I turn back to the witch who is now no where to be seen. "Hello! Come back you ugly witch!" I yelled.

Drink it

Just a sip

Hurry up!

It's what you wanted!

Three voices pile in my head and my whole world spins before me. Each corner of the small cottage breaks away; the perfect glow of the fire disappears.

"Anai! Anai!" I hear my mother's voice now.

I had the poison still hidden beneath my fingers just before my mother grabs my arm.

"Anai! You scared me!" my mother whispers, pulling me into her arms. My father kisses my head with care, relieved at my safe return.

Drink it! Now!

"Don't you think that's what I'm doing!!" I yelled, frightening my mother of into anxiety.

"Anai? Are you okay?" she whispers, taking my hand into hers, making sure to meet my gaze

"Where am I? I mean...how did you know where I was?" I clarify.

"You never left the palace grounds. You ran into the gardens behind the castle and hid"

"No...No. I left!" I whispered aloud. My mother shook her head in denial, making sure to coax me into sanity . "No Anai! You didn't. Stop playing these games"

"I went to the forest and came across a cottage! I saw a haggard looking which and she fed me food! Chicken and stew"

"ENOUGH!" she yelled, shaking me into submission.

Abruptly I push her away, opening the vial that was still in my reach. "I knew I was not imaging things! I could have not gotten the vial any other way." I bragged, smiling at the black goo.

"What is that?" she barks, her eyes shooting down to the vial in my hand.

I sniffed it and smiled, relishing in its scent.

"WHAT IS THAT ANAI! WHERE DID YOU GET THAT!" she yelled running over to take it from me.

I pushed the rim into my mouth and before I knew it, darkness consumed me.

—-

"We can't just let her roam free! She is a menace to us...to society."

"She needs help my queen"

People keep talking at me. About me...to me.

Talking, talking talking.

That is all they ever do.

I darted up, looking at the empty chamber as darkness filled the room. Where was I and why wasn't I DEAD!

I pull off the cotton bedsheets, reluctant to make any sound as my mother and a foreign voice echoed just beyond the slit of the door and their shadows, painted across the carpet of the floor. 

I ran to search for something... anything sharp that would do the trick!
I needed to leave this earth once and for all, for the sake of my decaying sanity.

I finally find a small dagger near my fathers discarded amor and pull it above my chest, ready to leave this place once and but before I could pierce it through my core, my father comes in through the doors.

"Anai you are awake?" he smiles but instantly freezes, seeing the sword within my reach. The queen and some mysterious man that looked like a doctor turned to my figure, shaking their heads as they saw my actions.

"Anai please... don't do this... you already tried once and it didn't work" my father pleads.

"Stay back! I will stab you father!" I threatened, lifting the sword towards his direction.

The queen stepped foward, unfearful of the threat of my sword. "Enough of this! You are not like this daughter!"

"Stay back you devil!!"

"Is it because I've been pushing you! I will stop! Look see!" she took the white pouch and threw it to the floor, "No more late practices and diets! No more white pouch"

"You stupid fool! All you care about is your perfect image! It is always about you and that stupid ball!" I yelled, stepping behind my bed to feel the path of the room.

Just as I pushed the knife my father lunged to take it.

Stab him!

And I did just that, immediately regretting it once I saw the blood seeping though his white vest as I lightly broke his skin.

Before I had a chance to even continue my work, he snatched the knife away from my palms and threw it out the window.

"I... I...didn't... mean to... father... I am sorry.

It was the voices.."

I stuttered pathetically but then, darkness consumed me once again.

——-

The next morning the doctor came in once again to see Anai. Queen Agatha refused to enter, only glaring out the room as her daughter sat up to wake.

"Who are you" I asked, pulling the covers over my thin nightgown. His face was familiar, as if I had seen him before.

"I am your doctor. Remember I came here to wrap your hands a few days ago?"

"Oh, yes. You were the mean old man who wanted to cut them off and sell them for money" I accused. He smiled at my teasing and patted my head. "Your mother says you are not well? That you consumed posion?"

"She is a liar sir. Me? Consuming posion? how absurd!" I lied, chuckling at his accuarcy.
He looked at me skeptically before closing his bag and whispering something to the guards.

Soon my mother came into the room, with a look of animosity.

"Give her a vile of sedatives. 30ml everyday at half past 10"

"Until when?" she asked, making no effort to soften her voice.

"Until she gets better. She is not well...in mind or in spirits" the doctor advised. He looked over to me and smiled, bowing one last time before signaling my mother out the room. I pretended to relax in my bed before leaping from the sheets and pushing my ear against the door.

"Insane!" Queen Agatha shouted.

"Shhhh my queen. You must lower your voice" he advises her, leading her further away from the door.

This doctor was surely a fake. Insane?
It didn't describe me.

"You have tried being lenient and letting her rest. That has not worked" he said.

"But the medicine! It will work! This time it will work doctor." the queen stressed, clutching the clear liquid between her palms.

"At this point...I would suggest you and the king look at other means." he advised, his voice softening to barely a whisper.

"But doctor! The medicine should suffice! It should tame her and all will be well once again!"

"She is sick my queen...in the mind" he sighs once again.

"She will be fine, all will be fine. She is not sick and even if she is sick, she will take the medicine! You take medicine and then you are healed!" the queen clapped, whispering her assurances as if she was convincing herself.

"My queen, it is not that simple. Anai may be..."

"Don't say it! Don't you dare say it doctor! I refuse to hear it!" the queen yelled, covering her ears. The doctor saw he had no win in the queen's battle of war and simply moved to pack his bag.

"Queen Agatha, she needs help. Nip the problem now before it turns into something more..." he advises, taking his leave.

"Good day doctor..." Queen Agatha spat, dismissing him once more. The doctor bent to take a small beaded necklace from the clasp of his bag, pushing it into the queens rigid palms.

"Come as you are my queen" he advises, picking his bag up and finally taking his leave.