(Not So) Sleeping Beauty

Hello all, and here is my entry for the WHAT IF? FAIRY TALE MADNESS BLOGFEST!

I *think* my entry goes along with Team Plot Twist, and I decided to go with my favorite ever fairy tale.

She tiptoes along the cold stone floor. No fires are lit. No warmth. Perfect.

She startles entering the farthest chamber, nearly dropping her candle and slapping a hand to her chest as if she can stop her heart.

“Did you find one?”

The old woman turns away from the window, and gestures to the wooden spinning wheel in the corner. Rose puzzles at the odd contraption, at why her father would rid the entire kingdom of them. But then, she knows why.

“You’ve no idea what I went through to get that up here,” the woman says, hand outstretched.

Rose tugs the heavy purse from her waist and hands it over. Then she sits at the wheel. The set up feels odd to her.

“Show me how it works,” she orders, rubbing a hand along the smooth wood.

The old woman looks uncertain. She wrings her hands. “You—you know what will happen should you prick your finger…”

“Why do you think I had you get one for me?” Rose snaps, angry at the reminder. Of course she knows. She is no fool. But one hundred years of sleep have got to be better than waking up tomorrow and having to marry him.

She’ll show her parents, her kingdom. They’ll all be sorry.

With a steady finger, she moves toward the spindle. The old woman opens her mouth, a hand held up in warning, but Rose pushes forward.

It hurts for only a moment. She sighs. Sinks back, ready for sleep to come.

“You’ll tell them where to find me?” she asks, but the woman doesn’t respond.

Rose finds her collapsed on the cold stone. In a panic, she rushes down through the castle, only to find that everyone along the way has also collapsed, including her parents, and her betrothed. Where sleep should have overtaken her, death found them instead.

Ta dum! Maybe it's more Team Tragedy? Oh well! So excited to see the rest of the entries, and thanks to Leigh, Cassie, Morgan, and Mark for this fun blogfest!!! :D