Once Upon A [Fallen] Time

by Samreen Ahsan

  I had invested millions of dollars to get this goddamn castle on rent for filming. I booked the castle for twelve months—April to April—assuming at least six months would be needed for the movie, and six months for the next phase of the game, or we would do Phase II of the game and the movie side by side. My mission was to launch a VR game as well for the PS4 players, and for that, I had to capture this bloody castle—its every nook and corner, so I could introduce myself to Sony and invite the players to play live VR game in Sony Studios. It would give gamers the feeling that they are walking inside the castle, which wasn’t possible for a regular gamer, as the admission to the castle was prohibited by the British government. They would walk through the castle just by wearing their VR headset.

  I received another text from my mother, which Tyler read out to me.

  We know your whereabouts. What are you still doing in Hue Castle? Myra’s parents are worried.

  I didn’t know what to say. I took my phone from him and dialled my mother.

  “Steve,” she screamed through the speakers. “Where are you?”

  “Is he here? Is Myra with him?” I heard Mrs Farrow shouting behind mom. They were worried as if she was still in kindergarten.

  “Mom…please, listen to me.” I tried to keep my temper at bay. “Who else is around you right now?” I asked her.

  “What’s wrong, Steve?” she almost whispered. I felt like she had stepped out of the place where she was before because I couldn’t hear the noises in the background anymore.

  “Have you called the cops?” I asked again.

  “No…her parents are thinking about calling. They’re worried. Where are you guys? Come home. You already missed your dinner. People were curious and gossiping.” She said politely. “Myra left her mobile phone with Paula and there was no other way to contact her. You guys are still not married yet. And you know how obsessed her parents are.” She was genuinely concerned but did she seriously think we had been playing around for like…six hours? “You know, Steve, her parents are old school.” And so were my parents.

  I took a deep breath.

  “Mom…please tell everyone and even her parents that we’re fine and on our way. Okay? Please send the media and cops away. I will tell you what took so long when I come home. I don’t want any audience. Please.” I insisted.

  Tyler was looking at me…shaking his head in despair. He was as concerned as I was.

  “All right but Paula is asking if she can talk to Myra.” She whispered again which shook my world. How’d I make her talk? “She is worried why would you take her to Hue Castle tonight when the filming of the game wasn’t even scheduled?”

  Because I fucking loved her!

  “We’re on our way…please ask everyone to leave. Tell her parents we are coming.”

  “Okay, dear.” She agreed. She was completely sold that Myra was with me. At least, it gave me time to figure out what to do.

  I ended the call and noticed Tyler still watching me.

  “Now what?” he asked.

  I sighed, defeated. I stood up and looked at the mirror one last time. The hideous beast looked as helpless as me.

  I wanted to ask the mirror…mirror mirror on the wall, where is my girl, who is loveliest of all? I chuckled at the thought. Living with Myra for the past three months, I had also started thinking in fairytales.

  “What are you thinking?” Tyler asked me, following my gaze to the mirror. There were two beasts facing us now.

  “She once told me her favourite story of all is the Beauty and the Beast.” I glanced at him. “She was obsessed with the tale of a girl falling in love with a beast who happens to be a prince.” I snorted. “How bizarre! She is living that tale now.” I ran my hand through my mussed hair. Tyler chose not to say anything in return. Not that there was much to say anymore. I had no idea what the future held for me.

  I picked up the silver sandals she had left behind. She had looked so fucking irresistible tonight. What would he do to her? I didn’t want to think what he’d be doing with her right now. I knew what these medieval kings had been capable of and these Hues had the history of sadists and perverts. I didn’t want to think what dangers she might be facing. I could only hope she’d come back to me.

  After one last look into the fateful mirror, I turned around and left the chapel.

  “It was written I should be loyal to the nightmare of my choice.”

  ― Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness

  CHAPTER 3

  EDWARD

  JUNE 12th 1415

  “What an interesting sight?” King Stefan’s words are laced with lust. “I never knew my son was capable of holding such a gem here.” He looks at me proudly and moves his hand on a lilac satin dress.

  “Edward…no…” She is crying, but even though I know how much she hates King Stefan, I let my father touch my captive with his filthy hands. I stand here, watching her, as if my mind is talking but my body has completely shut down.

  “You’re a coward, Edward. I came for you. You were supposed to keep me—not him.” Her voice is shaking all the walls inside me, but I still stand here frozen—as if I’m locked inside some invisible prison I cannot escape. I see both of them in front of me. I watch King Stefan using my captive for his own monstrous desires but I stand here…helpless.

  “You bastard…” she keeps shouting, completely ignoring Stefan’s touch as if my indifference is more brutal to her than his touch.

  “Your cowardice killed your sister, Edward. Your silence ruined your niece’s life. You’re nothing but a heartless man. I hate you, Edward Hue…I hate you…” her voice shrills through the darkened tower.

  King Stefan pulls her silver belt open. At his touch, the belt turns into a slithering black snake, wrapping around her waist so tight, even the sight of it almost chokes me.

  When King Stefan touches the flowers in her hair, they turn into giant spiders crawling all over her, but it seems like King Stefan is too blind to notice them, all this turning into the deepest and darkest layer of hell, which Dante had written in his poem.

  The path to paradise begins in hell. Dante’s words began to echo through my mind. Was it really the journey towards hell?

  King Stefan snakes his fingers across her pearl necklace. Each pearl morphs into a leech, sucking her blood and soul. I see blood coming out of her neck—the pearls she wore a few moments ago are no longer an ornament but a path that is leading me to hell, drowning me in her blood, my endless journey towards heaven.

  “Knowing too much of your future is never a good thing.”

  ― Rick Riordan, The Lightning Thief

  CHAPTER 4

  STEVE

  JUNE 12th 2015

  Neither Tyler nor I spoke a single word during our almost two-hour drive back. I guess there wasn’t anything left to say anyway.

  She just disappeared.

  I couldn’t understand how it was even possible for her to pass through the mirror. Had Edward really pulled her or was it his ghost? I knew she had some connection with Hue Castle and its cursed family, but what connection—I wished I could have found out before she vanished.

  I also had the idea that she had a connection with the cult too who specialized in capturing time into their books. No wonder Myra was the only one who had read the book in Morocco. I knew she wasn’t lying. Her expression was so naturally catatonic when she saw things in front of her eyes. The way she cried for Edward—looking completely lost as he decided to disappear tonight and…

  She just disappeared.

  If I had known that asshole was real and had the power to pull her into his world—I would never have brought her here. If only I hadn’t catered to her fantasies—this wouldn’t have happened. All I had wanted was for her to get over these stupid fantasies so she could move on with me and agree to participate in my movie. She was the perfect role for it. And if she had stayed, I’m sure I’d have made her love me. But… fuck!

  She just disappeared.

 
“Oh uh!” Tyler said next to me. I followed his gaze to my manor in the distance where blue and red lights flickered. Police cars.

  “The vultures are circling,” Tyler exclaimed when we also noticed media satellite vans.

  “Turn the car around,” I said quietly. “I’m not in a mood of entertaining them.” He looked at me for a moment and then nodded. Once we were out of sight, I called my mother. “Mom, you called the police?” I almost shouted.

  “Steve? Where are you?” I could hear the desperation in her voice.

  “Yes, but with all the police and media at the house, I’m not coming home tonight.”

  “What do you mean? Drop Myra home at least? What is going on with you today? Why are you running like a fugitive?” I didn’t reply. I had nothing to say. She paused for a moment and then whispered, “Has anything happened to Myra?”

  She was my mother. She could read my mind through the phone.

  “I’m just stressed, Mom.” I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I need to come home, but I don’t want media questioning me right now. Please, you’ve to send them away or meet me at the Mayfair apartment.”

  I disconnected the line without waiting for her reply. If she believed me, she would come to our apartment in Mayfair.

  Tyler didn’t say anything. Instead, he took the highway, leading us to our destination.

  After half an hour, the apartment bell rang. I was sitting on the couch, checking my charging phone again and again.

  I had no clue what and how I’d talk to them. I hoped her dad wasn’t stupid enough to bring cops here, but I guess when it comes to your child, most people lose their sanity. That’s the nature of parenthood, I assume.

  Tyler opened the door, and both my and Myra’s parents stepped inside hastily through the foyer. I didn’t meet their eyes. Luckily, they came alone. I pressed my temples—they were throbbing with a headache—my elbows resting on my knees. Tyler had given me a painkiller but it wasn’t working. I had asked him for a drink but the asshole had refused. Had said I’d need to be able to think straight. But how could I think straight when…

  She just disappeared.

  Mrs Farrow was the first one to shoot a question at me the second she entered the living room. “Where’s my daughter?” I didn’t need to look up to know she was looking all around. “Myra?” she called out her name.

  No one returned her call.

  “Where is my daughter?” she repeated, her voice growing louder this time.

  “Myra?” It was her father’s turn now. When no one answered, he said, “Will you ask your son where our daughter is?” I could sense that he was struggling to control his anger.

  “Steve.” My mother placed her hand on my shoulder. I flinched at her gentle touch. I didn’t want pity right now. I wanted them to understand me—to believe me.

  I removed my hands from my temples but didn’t look at any of them. Instead, I stood up, grabbed the remote, and connected my phone with the flat screen TV in front of us by starting the CAST app.

  If they watched the video, it would be easier to make them understand. At least I hoped so.

  Myra appeared on the TV screen, standing by the mirror. She had looked so beautiful tonight and I had thought she was all mine, but…

  She just disappeared.

  No one said a word. Everyone just stared at the screen where Myra was trying to look past the mirror.

  In the video, the mirror showed her flawless reflection. She was the only one who could see her true self in this mirror while everyone else I knew just looked like hideous beasts in it. As if she was a reincarnated version of Queen Jasmine, who had owned this mirror.

  …Thou shalt see thy face…shalt see everything…

  This was written on the mirror and on that secret book. If she was able to see her face in the mirror, she was able to see everything.

  “What do you see, Myra?” I heard myself asking her in the video. On screen, the chapel was painted a soft yellow, beautiful frescos adorning the mirror wall. Perhaps, this was how the chapel was when people worshipped here. It was a barren, colourless chapel when we saw it with our naked eyes. With Myra in my camera lens, I could sneak into the past with her. It was only because of her presence that we were able to film inside Hue Castle in its original form, when it was a fully functioning castle.

  The way she was focusing on the mirror, I knew she could see everything. I knew she had some powers, which I wanted to use later on, but...

  She just disappeared.

  “They are all gathered here—the king, his knights, dukes, the priest, some other guests with their wives, and Edward. A special prayer is going on for his birthday.” She took a deep breath—probably looking at that asshole Edward.

  I glanced at Mrs Farrow for a second—her expression darkening, as she realized Myra was inside the Hue Castle. I know that Myra had once told her mother about Edward, so I was hopeful she would believe me today.

  “Myra?” I heard my voice calling her name again. I looked back at the flat screen. “What do you see? Why are you so quiet?” She didn’t pull back from the mirror to answer me. She was too engrossed in his world.

  “Stefan is announcing something but Edward is not listening.” She spoke mildly—trying to focus harder.

  “You better die right now, you arsehole,” she yelled as if she was arguing with someone on the other side.

  And then she quickly pulled back and looked at me. “Shit! He heard me.”

  “What?” I remembered how I had stopped looking at the phone and watched her directly. From the way she was trembling, I had known something big was going to happen. I had warned her in advance but her ever-curious mind took everything from me.

  “He heard me.” She was completely blanched. I was still recording the moment. The camera of the phone was still facing her. I didn’t want to leave any moment unrecorded. It was a wise thing to do. I should applaud myself for that as if I knew what was coming.

  The video was now shaking since I was focusing on her.

  “Did he say anything in return?” It had seemed impossible, out of this world, but I’d needed to know what more she was capable of.

  “No, he only pursed his lips, but he tried to hide his amusement at what I said. He can hear me, Steve.” She was panicking but she was excited too. I could see it on her pretty face.

  I remembered how in that moment I’d wondered what would happen if that dead man actually got to meet her. That he’d certainly keep her forever.

  “This is such an adventure, Myra. This has to be a movie.” I’d had trouble containing my excitement, but not for about her talking to the dead man but seeing that she had powers no one else had and that she was only mine. But…

  She just disappeared.

  “All right…I’m recording again. Start talking to him.” I adjusted the phone properly as the video was shaking again and then focused on Myra once more.

  Our parents were still watching the video, the fear and shock evident on their faces. In the video, Myra placed her forehead on the mirror once more, focusing on the dead world.

  “But he is not as perverted as you, you sick bastard,” she yelled. I wasn’t sure if she had been addressing Edward or his father.

  “Oh my God, Edward, you can smile. You can smile,” she screamed again, a smile spreading on her face. I had never seen her like this. It was as if that dead man had the power of breathing life into her soulless body.

  Watching her on the screen, I knew Myra had not made any of it up. Her body was speaking the truth. She was still glued to the mirror as if she feared she might lose it all if she lifted her forehead from it.

  “Let him choose his own wife, you moron!” This time, jealousy laced her words. Something happening on the other side must have displeased her.

  She stayed quiet for a moment—again focusing on the dead people on the other side.

  “I know you can hear me, Edward. Speak to me, damn it. You can’t marry a stranger. You know I’m right here.
”

  What the fuck! I remembered thinking that. Her actual future husband was right here, filming the whole bizarre scenario, and she was fighting for another man who wasn’t even alive. I’d considered stopping everything right there, but deep down, I’d known it was already too late.

  “Edward, no…” she kept shouting at the dead man. “You can’t walk out like that.” Her voice echoed through the barren chapel. “Edward… don’t run away from everything. Don’t turn your face from your future.” She sounded frustrated now. I could see how desperate she was to meet him—touch him. Fuck! Why hadn’t I seen it coming that she was actually in love with the dead man? That it was more than just a crush on a book character.

  “I know you can hear me, Edward. You’ve waited for me for so long. I’m here now. Don’t turn away from me. Please.” The camera focused on the tears running down her cheeks.

  “Edward…stop!” She was not willing to give up on him. She was adamant on meeting him—if only I had known what I’d face later on, I’d have stopped her.

  “Edward…” she whispered, almost begging. I didn’t like how desperate she was for that man. If I said I was jealous of that corpse, it would be an understatement. And he wasn’t even just a fucking fictional book boyfriend of hers. He was real… a real dead man and…

  She just disappeared!

  In the video, I placed the phone into the front pocket of my shirt, but the camera was still recording. She’d needed a shoulder to cry on. On screen, I walked towards her, the video shaking and with no clear picture. I recalled how I had put my hand on her shoulder and how she had winced at my touch and pulled back from the mirror. She had shaken her head in pain and looked at me. “He didn’t listen to me, Steve.” That’s when she had fallen on my chest, crying. There was still no picture on the TV screen; we only heard our voices.

  I could do nothing else that moment than to offer her my embrace. I hugged her and she started crying on my chest.