But deep down, she knows shes not crazy and doesnt belong there.
Using her trusting friend Bale as a distraction, Snow breaks free and races into the nearby woods.
At first I thought it was Vern doing spot checks.
Credit: Laura Hannifin
Even through the cloudy, drug-induced haze, I could see the boy standing by my bed.
His features were mostly soft: light eyebrows, small nose, full lips.
His eyes glowed a silvery grey in the near dark.
Youre awake, he said.
I noticed then he was wearing an orderlys white coat that looked a size too big for him.
We made eye contact.
Though I felt my heartbeat pick up, my body still felt heavy and sluggish.
First and foremost, he was not an adult; he was a boy.
He looked near my age, give or take a few months.
Plus, White Coat night checks were strictly matched by gender to cut down on the chance for impropriety.
Some inmates didnt have boundaries in that department.
Some White Coats didnt either.
I watched the boy take a step closer.
The hairs on my arms stood up, and everything in my body told me to be on guard.
There was something about him, somethingmoreabout him that demanded attentionperiod.
He looked like he had stepped out ofThe End of Almost.
How was it possible that someone who looked like this was in my room?
This boy was almost aerodynamic, like a shiny sports car.
I looked down and caught a peek of the boys shoes.
I finally pushed myself up in bed.
I didnt mean to scare you, he said in a whisper.
Had he just said magic?
His hair fell over one of his eyes as he leaned into my personal space.
I see you under all those drugs.
Dont you want to come out and play, Snow?
Fine, just listen.
Ill do all the talking.
The pills that Dr. Harris is giving you arent helping you.
Theyre hiding you from who you really are and what youre meant to be.
Theyre hiding you from your destiny.
And when you are clean, come to me.
Ill be waiting on the other side of the Tree.
He stood up straight and crossed his arms.
The room was still cloudy around him.
This guy Ive never met wants me to leave and go where?
Bale used to talk about running away, and sometimes I would indulge the idea.
And Bale would burn down whatever house we were in.
Now I regret never trying, for him.
If I were going to escape, it would be with Bale.
Not for this stranger.
My lips and voice finally decided to work.
Theres one in every patients room.
I had never pushed it for a real emergency.
Vern was back in a week.
The boy was undaunted by my challenge.
He did not move a muscle.
You could have called for help, but you havent.
Besides, I am the help.
Whoyouare is what matters, Princess.
I had been called a lot of names at Whittaker.
Princess was never one of them.
When he saw he had my full attention, a smile spread across his face.
Then he bent down, closer.
you oughta leave this place, Princess.
Its breaking your spirit.
Leave and never look back.
The gate on the north corner will be open.
Ill confirm of it.
Head north until you see the Tree.
I thought of the tree from my dreams.
This was too coincidentalit had to be another dream.
Youll know it when you see it.
When you get to the other side of the Tree, Ill be waiting.
And they will kneel for you.
What are you talking about?
And why do you keep calling me Princess?
I am no ones princess.
You really dont know, do you?
Theyve dulled your magicandyour wits.
Sleepys effects were starting to wane, and this guys riddles were starting to piss me off.
He clearly was a new patient off his meds.
Just remember the Tree .
I started to sit up further, ready to show him just what kind of princess I really was.
Then the boy abruptly turned around and walked toward the plastic mirror on my wall.
And he did something that stopped me cold.
He stepped right through it.
I squeezed my eyes shut and pressed my palms into them.
This was a dream.
Yes, it would be my weirdest one yet, but still.
I opened my eyes again.
They adjusted to the dark quickly this time.
The room looked normal.
No strange boy to be seen.
receding in the reflection.
And in the background was the faint outline of a large tree, the Tree.
When I blinked again, the Tree and the boy were gone.
