The blue-eyed woman with the crooked smile. The blue-eyed woman with the crooked smile. The blue-ey-

With a loud moan, Forest opened his heavy eyes and looked around. When the rays of sun met his face, the boy cringed away from its glare. His heart pounded against his chest. It was only a minute more before he could hear a person over its batter.

"Are you okay?"

Reluctant, Forest turned to the noise and found a troubled Jett. "Yeah..."

"'Yeah'?" he questioned. "Doesn't look like it." The man studied him for a long moment as he gathered himself. "Can you stand?"

The boy set his jaw, then had a realization. "Uncle, how are the others? Are they awake yet?"

"Autumn is, but not Winter or Jade." Jett searched his eyes. "Who offered the holly berries?" He shook his head at the dragged-out pause. "Forest, who?"

"It was me," came a guilty voice. "I-I thought they were red currants."

"Autumn, really?" the uncle cried in disbelief, but quickly recovered. "Don't you know the difference?"

"I do, but I guess I didn't inspect them enough," she said, her gaze averted. "I'm terribly sorry."

Jett huffed, then sighed. "It's okay. I just want you to know that those are very toxic. Three of them will give you symptoms."

Autumn nodded slowly, clearly upset. "I hope they wake up soon."

"How long was I out?" Forest piped up, struggling upright.

"A couple minutes, maybe."

That's right. Avoiding Jett's face, the boy gulped. That's right. The single phrase from his dream came to him once more: the blue-eyed woman with the crooked smile. That's right.

"Forest?" Autumn asked, locking her eyes with his. "What's wrong?"

Knowing fully-well he should say, Forest instead kept his mouth shut and shrugged.

"You sure?"

"Nothing. Everything's... just great."

-

A minute would go by before Winter came to be and another before Jade. Tension high, each took more than a few moments to stand up without swaying. They gave Autumn pointed looks all the while.

Forest grimaced. She really didn't deserve that; his sister would never poison them on purpose.

"Are you four ready to travel?" Skylar asked, breaking the silence. Her gaze flickered between them. "We're losing daylight."

"Yeah," Autumn replied with a sigh. "We're ready."

When they resumed their walk, Forest nudged her gently. "It's okay," he whispered. "Really."

"It's not. You even said that you weren't hungry, but I gave you a handful anyway. All of you." Autumn spared him not a glance, frowning at the earth ahead. "I should have known."

"Let it rest," her brother said, offering a smile. But it wasn't returned. "We'll forget about it soon."

"Yeah. Maybe."

His vision still blurry, Forest stumbled with every step. How many did I eat? It was then that his face turned white. For all he knew, this could trigger another seizure. It had been more than a few weeks since his last, so he was well-due for them to return. Unless, or course, they were gone.

But was that even possible?

Forest thought back to what felt like a life-time ago. He had woken up, overjoyed, before making his way to the kitchen for breakfast. At the time, he had been seizure-free for three months. Back then, the boy had really thought that they were over; that his epilepsy was never to come back. But he was wrong.

Forest shook off the thought, determined. He wasn't going to let himself be disappointed again. It'd hurt too much.

"You know," Jade said bitterly, "I used to have a son."

The boy snapped his head in her direction, shocked. "Really?"

"His name was Foster. He was only ten when he-" she took a sharp breath "-died."

"I'm so sorry to hear that," Autumn said, pity marking her words. "I had no idea."

"Yeah, I don't talk about it much." The woman wiped at her face, more than unsettled. "His father had died the day I found out I was pregnant. I didn't even get to tell him the news." She took another sharp breath. "He fell to his death."

"What about Foster?" Forest asked, but immediately regretted it. Jade sighed heavily, wiping at her eyes. "Actually, don't answer that."

"No," she insisted, throwing a look over her shoulder. "I-I've never told you."

Guilt overcame him when he saw her face littered with tears. Peering at his uncle and Skylar, it was clear that they already knew, each exchanging looks. "Then go on," he said quietly. "How'd he die?"

"Well, we lived in a small abandoned hut at the time. I had set up a surprise for him close by in the woods, and that's where we were going. Before we got there, however, I stopped to search for something in my bag. W-we happened to be beside a river. When I looked up, he was gone!" Jade was shaking now, hysterical. "My boy was gone!"

Winter frowned at her, disturbed. "I'm sorr-"

"I tried to save him, but the current was too strong. I barely got back to land myself!"

"It's okay. It's alright." Jett caught up to her and wrapped an arm over her shoulder. "That was years ago," he tried, but it was of no use. "I miss Foster too."

"But it feels like yesterday," she muttered, glaring at the man. "I'll never forgot that day." She wiped at her eyes some more. "Never."

-

The blue-eyed woman with the crooked smile. That phrase came back to him over, and over. And over again.

Forest tried his best not to make it obvious, but no longer could he tolerate it. He squeezed his eyes shut and let out a groan, irritated. "Shut it," he muttered under his breath. "Please."

Galant glanced back at him, clearly confused. "You know, that's how I am when I lose at cards. Franny is just too good. No one's ever beats her!" Shaking his head, he sighed, frustrated. "Sometimes I wonder if she cheats."

"Looks like the old you is back," Skylar said, frowning at him. "The funny one... the annoying one."

"Yeah," he replied, eyeing her. "I think I'm annoying you again... by talking about cards."

She only nodded, not bothering to speak.

"Really, though," Autumn said, watching her brother, "what's wrong?"

Forest set his jaw, considering his next words. It was time to tell her. "I-I may have something to confess."

"Yeah?"

He met her gaze and took a breath. "I..."

"Just say it," she insisted kindly, offering a smile.

"Duck..." he stammered, struggling to find his words.

"Duck?"

"Yes, right now! Duck! There are men behind us!"

Before any could defend themselves, however, it was too late. Three of their own were shot to the chest: Skylar, Jett, and Winter. With a thud, they all dropped to the ground. Dead.

This was the day his whole world shattered.