UnEnchanted (An Unfortunate Fairy Tale #1)(46)

She tossed the enchanted knife as hard as she could into the lake and watched as it created spirals in the water after it disappeared into its dark depths. Mina wiped her eyes with the cuff of her jacket and walked away from Jared toward the road.

“Where are you going?” he asked. She had surprised him with the small scale attack but now she was being unpredictable. He wasn’t expecting her to give up. He was hoping to anger her enough to fight for her life.

“Away, far away.” Mina kept walking toward the main road, it seemed really far and her calves were burning from walking in the sand.

“You can’t escape the Story.” Jared called hoping to spur her back to fighting.

“No, I can’t. But I can run.”

Jared froze at her words; a feeling of dread overcame him. She can’t run, she was the chosen one. Running after her, Jared tried to grab her shoulder and turn her to look at him but she started pushing and hitting him.

“Go away. Don’t touch me!” Mina was crying hard. “You’ve brought me nothing but pain. I hate you.” She turned her face up to him in defiance her brown eyes sparkled with her tears. Jared’s sculpted jaw twitched with hidden anger.

Jared grasped her wrists to keep her from hitting him. He was struck by the raw emotion that rolled off of her in waves. He had hurt her deep. He wasn’t trying to reopen wounds, but he had. Jared swore to himself. She had quit struggling against him because he was too strong and was standing quietly looking out over the water, refusing to make eye contact. The tears were what did him in. When a soft tear fell on his hand he let go of her, as if her tear had burned him. In some ways it had. As soon as he released her wrists, Mina pulled away from him and marched toward the road.

Only a moment, that was all. In the blink of an eye she was gone. What were the chances that a familiar pick-up truck would come down the road? She had hailed an Asian couple in a green truck and hopped in the back.

He stood there stunned, angry at himself, angry at her, angry at the Story. She was going to die and he couldn't do anything to stop her.





Chapter 18


Mina went upstairs and decided to call Brody and apologize for not meeting him after school. But there was no need, because once she reached the top landing there was a beautiful present with a large red bow on top. Mina screamed with delight and Sara opened the door and laughed.

“It arrived a few hours ago. I couldn’t wait for you to see it.” Sara gently touched the bow and fingered a brown paper envelope. “There’s even a card for you Mina.”

Mina ran her fingers over the handle bars of the red fully restored vintage bike. It was the exact year as her other one but with actual working breaks and a kickstand. She tore open the red card with her name printed in neat script across the front.



Mina,

Please forgive me for running out yesterday. I had a lot of my mind; Mostly you. Ever since you risked your life to save me, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you and I don’t want to.

I want to be more than friends, I want to be the one to rush in and save you time and time again, I want to be your Prince. Please accept this gift and go with me to the Enchanted Dance.



Yours forever,

Brody Carmichael

P.S. Please say you will go.

P.P.S. If you don’t say yes, you can still keep the bike.

P.P.P.S. Say YES!



Attached was also Brody’s phone number. Mina jumped up and down in excitement and showed her mother the note. She rushed inside and grabbed the cordless phone from its hanger by the fridge. Her fingers were shaking so bad, she had to redial the number twice.

When Brody’s deep voice answered the phone, Mina almost lost her nerve and couldn’t speak for a moment. Brody must have sensed it was Mina on the phone. “Mina is that you?”

“Yes, it’s me.” She smacked her head wishing she could have thought of something better to have said.

“I missed you after school. Is everything okay?” She could detect the hint of worry in his voice.

“Yes, it’s fine. I’m sorry, it was um... family business that kept me from meeting you, but don’t worry. I wasn’t in any danger.”

“Oh!” He sounded relieved. “Is that why you called?”

Mina smiled into the phone. “I called because I love the bike. Thank you. When did you have time to find one just like it?”

Brody laughed softly into the phone, that whisper of breath made Mina shiver in delight. “I actually ordered it the same day I rode over yours. I was going to tell you about it in the car but decided to surprise you with it instead. So have you decided about the dance?”

Mina couldn’t keep the smile off of her face. “I don’t know if dancing is how I would want to spend my birthday.”

“Friday is your birthday? I didn’t know. We can do something else, if you want.”

“No, I think spending my birthday with you would be the perfect gift.” Mina smiled over the phone.

“So decide on what fairy tale couple you would like us to go as and then give me a call. I would prefer to not go as the frog prince if you get my drift. Green and slimy don't look good on me,” Brody teased.

Mina was pacing her room and thinking of some of her favorite fairy tale characters, when she passed her bedroom mirror. She stared at her reflection and touched the fabric of her red jacket. She also looked at the red piles of clothes on the floor wistfully. No matter what she put on, it kept turning red. Mina came to the conclusion that no matter what fairy tale princess or character she would try to go as, the Story would keep making her into the same one.