“I can’t,” Mina whined.

“Yes, you can.”

“No, I don’t think I can anymore. I’m cold, tired and don’t want to hurt you.”

“Mina, you have to. Your life depends on it.” Jared was getting angry. “I told you I can’t.”

“Do it for your brother. Do it for Charlie!” he yelled. “Do it for your father!”

That is what made Mina step back and blink in surprise. How did he know so much about her father? Was this some sort of sick joke? Mina gripped the stupid knife and felt herself go tense in preparation to attack. He was lying to her; or as he said, manipulating the truth. He knew more than he was telling.

“What do you know about my father?” Mina yelled angrily, hot tears burning in her eyes.

“I know that he was full of himself. James didn’t think he needed help and wouldn’t take it when offered. He tried to face the Story on his own terms, unprepared, and paid the ultimate price for his stubbornness. And you’re going to end up just like him if you don’t prepare yourself,” Jared called. Mina felt her body tense up like a tightly wound spring. “You’re weak,” Jared continued. ”If you don’t get stronger, you’re going to doom your mother to mourning not one child but two.”

That was the final straw; Mina grabbed her wooden knife and jumped at Jared, trying to push him more than hit him.

Jared pushed her back easily until she stumbled in the sand. “Come on, you can do this. Fight me.”

Mina hung her head in shame, her heart pounding frantically in her chest. She wanted to protect her family, her brother, but Jared’s boot camp encouragement had the opposite effect. She didn’t want to watch her mother suffer again. Perhaps her mom was right, they should leave, and get as far away from here from possible. They should try and outrun the Story.

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

“Where are you going?” he asked.

“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.”

Jogging to catch up with 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 sparkling with tears. Jared’s sculpted jaw twitched with hidden anger.

Mina flailed, but Jared grasped her wrists to keep her from hitting him. Eventually she quit struggling and stood still, quietly looking out over the water, refusing to make eye contact. When a soft tear fell on his hand Jared let go of her, as if her tear had burned his hand. As soon as he released her wrists, Mina pulled away from him and marched toward the road.

She had no plan, but at the moment she spotted a familiar green pick-up truck barreling down the road. Mina waved her arms furiously, and soon she had a bewildered Asian couple in a green truck opening the back door to let her in. She refused to look out the window at Jared as the truck sped away.

Chapter 17

As soon as Mina got upstairs, she 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 brakes and a kickstand. She tore the red card open without even bothering to read her name on 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 badly, she had to redial the number twice.

When Brody’s deep voice answered the phone, Mina almost lost her nerve and found she couldn’t immediately speak. “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?” “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, a whisper of breath that made Mina shiver in delight. “I actually ordered it the same day I rode yours over. I was going to tell you about it in the car but decided to surprise you 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 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 doesn't look good on me.”

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, a reminder of the many piles of red clothes that littered the floor. Mina realized 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.

“How about Red Riding Hood?” Mina intoned sadly.

Brody’s voice brightened. “Then I will be your hunter. Never fear, Mina, I’ll keep the big bad wolf away.”

Those words sent a tingle of dread through her limbs. She felt the power of the Story at work and actually feared that very conclusion.

***

After the phone call, Mina climbed out her window and made her way up to her rooftop retreat. It was just after dark when Mina pulled out the red notebook. She decided to look through the Grimoire where her mom wouldn't worry. For Sara, out of sight, out of mind, really was the best medicine. Mina reclined in the lounge chair and flipped through the notebook's pages. Still only one story. She caressed the lines and spoke to the Grimoire.