l's

ife that isn't mine wasn't enough-now I ha

parently hat

ssibly be wor

rough my hair, again and again, like I could somehow brush the madness away. I sat down, stood up, s

ust me now-me and my raging t

the realer it became. The feel of the silk against my skin, the cold air, the sme

eyes burned, but I didn't let the tears fall. What was the point o

needed to figure out wh

eep breath, and stood up. Enough

doors and shoved them open. The so

ely straightened, their backs snappi

. stared

oe. Their faces were blank-like carved stone.

r my breath, making a face th

d, they instantly fel

"Why are you

even blink. "King

's o

and groaned. "Fanta

answer. Not

et were silent on the marble floor as

all was carved with strange symbols. Chandeliers sparkled above m

servant-they froze, bowed, and whisper

so out of place i

ised to see me alive, but

h turned

r before stopping at a wide balcon

me like a punc

en. Trees so thick they looked like a living sea. Mist rol

ran down

whispered to myself. "Think. You went to bed. You woke up here. That doesn't jus

out shaky. "Or maybe I've comp

nd me, still silent. It was unner

, trying to sound casual. "Quic

ed, then answered, "Th

"I'm sorry-what d

d, completely serious. "Hidden

.. what country. You know, on Earth. Fr

th him before saying quietly, "We're

al

al

Then I turned to them again, my voice barely a whis

. My hands were trembling so hard I ha

home-in another country-with people calling me queen and t

real. It cou

sk another question, a deep, l

sn't

s a g

arker. It rattled through the ground beneat

fr

xchanged another one of those unrea

he forest below-and

olf stood at the

eath

seen in a documentary. Its fur shimmered under the bright sky, thick and da

I thought I wa

moved. Slowl

? They didn't even flinch. A

e actua

back from the balcony, shaking my head.

, the wolf turned its h

eyes lock

growled

brated throu

ensed. Without thinking, I spun around and ran back the wa

ards followed or if I l

. I shoved the doors closed, pressed my back against

unded so ha

ng. "A wolf? A-no, that's impossible. That thing w

to my temples, sque

I whispered. "I m

That's what this is. A mental breakdown. Hallucinati

cold. I could feel my heartbeat pounding again

slowed, but m

been kidnapped, or I'm part of some super messed-up simulation. Or... this is real. Which it

t my reflection in a m

taring back

ler. Her eyes looked sadder. H

bruises around her thro

ed to you?"

e answ

irror, watching this stranger who looked like me but

window, th

. My voice cracked, and tears I'd been ho

here the h