"Can I help you kids with anything?" Comes a dry voice behind them. Alex jumps a little, half surprised, and drops the dusty old fairy tale book he was holding. Luna spun around until she came face to face with a little old woman whose wrinkled face seemed to be molded into a permanent scowl. “We were just watching” Alex grimaces nervously, as he hurries to flatten a page of the book he dropped. The old woman just looks at them and rolls her eyes. “You’ll never get a crease like that,” she mutters, snatching the book from “Follow me, follow me,” she takes a breath and starts dragging her feet. an island between the overflowing shelves. Luna looks worriedly before grabbing his hand and leading them behind the old woman. She leads them to an old wooden desk with stacks of books and an old cash register on it. before selecting a huge, heavy book from one of the piles and dropping it noisily on top of it "That'll fix it. I'll be back in a second, please try not to break anything else Meanwhile." She tells them in a monotone voice before walking away. "What are we doing?" Luna worries. "I don't know," Alex replies in a harsh whisper. "Why are we? came here? It's so scary, I'm pretty sure I saw something moving under the shelves over there. "I'm not leaving my store without buying this book," the old lady interrupts, surprising them all. two. “We were going to do it,” Alex mutters sheepishly at being caught and walks forward, pulling his wallet out of his back pocket. “So follow me, registers ahead.” the old lady says and she falls silent...... middle of paper...... a breath as Alex's thumb rubs circles on her skin, his hands are like ice. "I need a princess," Alex said, almost apologetically. Luna looks at him, without laughing. "Sorry, but I think I've already proven that I can't be that." Alex's hand on his shoulder tightens. "That's right. ...I need a princess," he says again, and his eyes are impassive as they move to Luna's. "I'm sorry, Luna," Alex said, sounding apologetic. "It won't work if it's you." "No, Alex, you - " Luna begins, stumbling over her words, trying to wriggle out of Alex's grip. "It doesn't have to end like this-" "Yes," Alex breathes, "Yes, it does." "Alex," Luna moans, "Alex, don't do it, if he Please, I love you” “I’m sorry,” Alex said again, his face emotionless. "I'm sorry, Luna. I'm going to miss you." "Don't do that," Luna cries, and watches as a slow, horrible smile grows on his face before he pushes her off the cliff..