Aurora woke up the next morning to the sound of roosters crowing in the distance. The sun hadn't risen yet, but she could tell it was close by the faint light that flickered through the curtains.
She stretched her arms over her head and let out a deep yawn, feeling tired as she hadn't gotten enough sleep. Getting out of bed, her gaze scanned her room as if sensing something, but then she shrugged it off and walked in front of a mirror.
Aurora raised a brow, her lips twisted as she stared back at her reflection. Her hair was in complete disarray, scattered like a bird's nest. She shook her head and picked up a hairbrush.
A few minutes later, she walked out of her room, still in her nightdress, but her hair was now up in a neat bun as she went to get a glass of water.
The house was still quiet, except for the faint sound of her parents moving about, and faint whispers coming from the corridor. She paused in her tracks, trying to make out what they were saying, but as if sensing her presence, the whispers stopped, and her mother came into view. Aurora, startled by her mother's sudden presence, stumbled backward but was quick to regain her balance.
"Mother," Aurora said, quickly greeted with a small bow.
Aurora's mother arched an eyebrow at her, a hint of amusement playing across her features. "You're up early, dear. Is something the matter?"
Aurora shook her head quickly. "N-no, nothing's the matter," Even she was surprised herself, as she was known for being a heavy sleeper, one who had to be woken up by her mother, or else she would sleep until noon. "just... couldn't sleep, that's all," she said, which was the truth.
Her mother studied her for a moment, sensing something was amiss but instead remarked, "Why don't you feed the chickens while you are up?"
Aurora's mouth fell wide open. It was her least favorite chore, and she usually tried to avoid it at all costs. After being chased by a mother hen, who thought she was after her chicks, Aurora was sure that they were out to get her. But it was clear her mother wasn't letting her off the hook this time.
"But…," she began, only to be cut off by her mother's firm gaze. "Fine," she let out a sigh.
Aurora reluctantly made her way through the dimly lit corridors toward the kitchen to get the glass of water that had led her to begin with.
She could hear the faint clinking of utensils as she approached. Her father hunched over the wooden table, poring over a stack of papers, his spectacles perched precariously on the tip of his nose.
"Good morning, Father," Aurora greeted, taking a sip from a glass.
"Good morning, my little dawn," he replied, using the nickname he had given her since she was a baby.
After Aurora had emptied the glass, she fetched a bucket from a nearby shelf and made her way to the back door. The cool morning air greeted her as she stepped onto the porch. In the distance, she could hear the roosters still crowing, and the first rays of dawn were beginning to paint the sky with hues of pink and orange.
The chicken coop was a short walk away from the house, nestled under the shade of an old oak tree. Aurora took a deep breath, bracing herself for the inevitable encounter with the feathered creatures she found so intimidating.
As she approached the coop, the clucking and scratching of the chickens grew louder, causing her heart to race faster than normal. She slowly and cautiously opened the gate and stepped inside. The chickens immediately gathered around her, their beady eyes fixed on the bucket.
Aurora was hesitant for a moment, but then she decided to gather her courage and began to feed the chickens by spreading the feed and trying to ignore their pecking beaks.
But in the corner of her eye, she spotted a hen with black and brown feathers. Its eyes narrowed at Aurora, taking small steps in her direction.
"Easy now, easy now," Aurora said calmly, her hand stretched forward, her anxiety growing. But its fiery eyes didn't leave her. In an instant, it rushed toward her, squawking loudly.
Aurora let out a startled scream and dropped the bucket of feed. Panic coursed through her veins as she stumbled backward, her heart racing. But the hen was determined to get its target, pecking fiercely at her heels.
Aurora managed to break free from its pursuit, darting out of the pen. She slammed the gate shut with trembling hands, the hen pecking hard on the closed gate.
Breathing heavily, Aurora leaned against the sturdy wooden fence surrounding the coop. Her nightdress was untidy, and she could feel her heart still pounding in her chest. She glanced back at the resistant hen through the gap in the fence, her gaze filled with fear. She had faced many challenges in her life, but none as scary as this.
"They hate me!" Aurora yelled, slamming the empty bucket on the kitchen table. Her mother was now preparing breakfast, while her father still sat where she last saw him.
"Don't be silly, honey," her mother remarked, stirring the soup in the boiling pot.
"I am not being silly, those hens are monsters. It's out to get me," she heard her father chuckle, and she turned to him glaring. When his gaze met hers, the old man quickly looked away, holding back his laugh.
Aurora turned her attention to her mother. "Look at me, look at what it did to me," she pointed at her nightdress, now stained with mud and dirt.
"You should go take a bath," her mother said in a nonchalant tone, which only infuriated Aurora more.
"That's all you are going to say?" Aurora didn't look pleased by her mother's reaction. "Fine!" she yelled and walked away angrily while muttering under her breath.
After taking her bath with a fresh basin of water, she took a moment to choose a simple lavender-colored dress. Once she had changed into the dress, Aurora stood before the mirror, brushing her hair until it fell freely down her back in soft waves. The lavender dress complemented her pale skin and hazel eyes, and with her appearance refreshed, she returned to the kitchen.
The scent of breakfast filled the air, and her mother had prepared a bowl of steaming soup for her. She ate in silence, her thoughts still lingering on the morning's chicken encounter.
After finishing her meal, Aurora decided it was time to clear her mind. She stepped outside into the bright morning, taking in the fresh country air. The sun had now risen higher in the sky, casting a warm and inviting glow over the fields and trees.
Aurora knew exactly where she needed to go, her friend Mary's house. She walked along the forest, her usual path she had passed through for years, but today something felt weird. She got that uneasy feeling again, someone was watching her.
She hesitated as she walked, glancing over her shoulder every few steps, but the thick bushes and trees concealed anyone who might be following her. The air was still and quiet, the only sound the rustle of leaves in
the wind. The sky was overcast, casting a gloomy light over the forest.
A shiver went down her spine, causing her to quicken her pace as she walked, her footsteps rustling the leaves beneath her feet. Finally, unable to endure the feeling any longer, Aurora took to her heels, her heart pounding with every step. She knew she was getting closer to Mary's cottage, and that thought alone gave her renewed strength, causing her to run with all her might.
In the distance, she could see Mary's cottage, its white walls a promise of safety and comfort. As she got closer, her chest heaved, and her breath came in gasps. She reached the door and flung it open, then slammed it shut and locked it tight.
Gasping for breath, she leaned against the door, her eyes wide with fear. Aurora's trembling hands clutched her lavender dress, and she couldn't help but wonder who or what had been following her.
Mary, who was sitting by the fireplace with a bowl in her hand, looked up in surprise when the door burst open. Aurora stood panting in the doorway, looking as if she had seen something horrible. "Aurora, dear, what happened? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Aurora was still catching her breath when she finally spoke. "I think... I think…" she paused, taking a sniff of the air around her, her stomach forming a knot and she felt like throwing up. "Is that… is that fish I smell?"