♡︎♥︎ 𝗣𝗨𝗣𝗣𝗬 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘 ♥︎♡︎ | 𝗩𝗔𝗥𝗜𝗔𝗡 𝗫 𝗙𝗘𝗠!𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗘𝗥

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚀𝚞𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝙵𝚘𝚛 𝚅𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚊𝚗 𝙸𝙸

The carriage ride was eerily silent. You looked to the side the whole time, taking in the scenery. The air was pleasantly warm, but you couldn't focus on that.

What you were focusing on, was the dread you felt. How would Varian react to seeing you? Would he despise you for not having come earlier? Would he ignore your existence?

All the what-ifs plagued your mind. The thing that snapped you out of your train of thoughts was your sisters voice.

"Old Corona is just over this hill."

You were seated next to Eugene and watched as Pascal squeaked upon seeing Owl.

"Sorry Pascal, but he's not a big fan of reptiles... unless he can eat them."

Pascal only smiled awkwardly and moved away from the owl, frightened.

"I can't tell you what a treat it is to be spending so much time with a cold-blooded, dead-eyed bird of prey."

Eugene crossed his arms.

"Owls are warm-blooded, genius."

He only chuckled and replied "I wasn't talking about the owl."

You sputtered a laugh, doubling over and covering your mouth.

"Oh-ho-hoo, I guess I walked right into that one."

"Ha, yeah you really did."

Eugene glanced at your form, happy that you appreciated his humour.

"Stop the cart!"

You turned to Punzel with a confused look.

"Why, what's up?"

She jumped out of the carriage, stopping in front of a black rock. You followed, making sure to stay a good few feet away.

Cassandra and Eugene shared a look, before approaching you two as well.

"What is it?" Cassandra asked.

"Our dad told us that all the black rocks had been removed."

"And you believed him?" You spoke with a raised brow.

Your father wasn't a good liar. Nor was anyone in Corona, really. No wonder, when people were so gullible.

"Okay! So he missed one!" Eugene said reassuringly.

"Uhm, guys?" Cassandra called out.

Turning to her, you gasped.

Many, many clusters of black rocks were still standing.

Too many to count.

One even lifted a whole house.

Another rendered a water well useless.

"Or one hundred. They missed a hun- They- They did not do a very thorough job counting these rocks." Eugene added to his prior statement.

Cassandra inquired, worried "Do you think your father lied?"

"Yes, no doubt about it."

You picked at your nails. The evidence was right in front of you.

"No, of course not! I trust my father, but clearly he has no idea how bad things have gotten out here."

Your older sister looked at you, disappointment showing on her face. She wanted you to believe in you father as much as she did.

Then again, she hadn't lived with your parents her entire life. Although you'd never utter that out loud.