This story arose from a dream, it has no ending

The sound of shattering glass echoed through the alley, freezing the boy in his tracks. His heart hammered against his ribs as he pressed himself against the cold brick wall, barely daring to breathe. He shouldn’t have followed the man in the black coat. He should have stayed home, right where his mother had told him to. But curiosity had always been his weakness. And now, he’d seen something he couldn’t unsee.

“N-no,” the woman in the alley choked out, clutching her stomach as blood pooled beneath her. The man in the black coat crouched beside her, his voice low and menacing. “You shouldn’t have crossed me.”

The boy’s stomach churned. He wanted to run, to scream, to do something, but his legs felt like lead. His breath fogged in the chilly air as he watched the man straighten, wiping his hands on his coat like he’d just finished a casual chore, not… not that. And then, as if sensing the boy’s presence, the man’s head snapped toward the alley entrance.

Their eyes locked.

The boy’s blood turned to ice. He didn’t wait to see what the man would do. He bolted, his sneakers slapping against the pavement as he raced home, his chest burning with every breath. He didn’t stop until he burst through the front door, slamming it shut behind him and sliding to the floor, trembling.

“Liam?” his mother’s voice called from the kitchen. “Is that you?”

He couldn’t speak. He could only nod, his throat tight, his hands shaking. His mother appeared in the doorway, her face softening when she saw him. “Oh, honey, what’s wrong?”

“I—I saw—” He choked on the words, tears spilling down his cheeks. His mother knelt beside him, her hands warm on his shoulders. “Take a breath, sweetie. Tell me what happened.”

He took a shaky breath. “I… I saw a man… he… he killed someone.”

His mother’s eyes widened, and for a moment, she just stared at him. Then, her expression hardened. “Did he see you?”

“I—I think so. He looked right at me.”

Her hands tightened on his shoulders. “Liam, listen to me. This is very important. Did you get a good look at him? Could you describe him?”

He nodded, sniffling. “Yeah. He was wearing a black coat, and he had a scar on his face. Right here.” He pointed to his cheek.

His mother’s jaw tightened. “Okay. Okay. We need to think fast.” She stood, pulling him to his feet. “You need to stay hidden.”

“Hidden? What do you mean?”

She didn’t answer. Instead, she grabbed his hand and led him upstairs, into her room. She pulled open the closet and began rifling through boxes, muttering to herself. Finally, she pulled out a pink dress, holding it up with a determined look.

“Take off your clothes,” she said.

He blinked at her. “What?”

“Now, Liam. We don’t have time to argue.”

“But—but why?”

“Because he saw you,” she said, her voice sharp. “He saw a boy. If he comes looking for you, he’ll be looking for a boy. Do you understand?”

He stared at her, his mind racing. “You… you want me to dress like a girl?”

“Yes,” she said firmly. “It’s the only way to keep you safe.”

He hesitated, his cheeks burning. “But… I can’t—I’m not a girl!”

“Liam,” she said, her voice softening as she knelt in front of him. “I know this is scary. I know it’s not what you want. But if that man finds you, he’ll hurt you. He’ll kill you. Do you understand?”

He swallowed hard, his stomach twisting. Slowly, he nodded.

“Good,” she said, standing. “Now, let’s get you changed.”

The dress was soft against his skin, but it felt wrong. He tugged at the frilly skirt, his face burning as his mother pulled his hair into a ponytail, tying it with a pink ribbon. She stepped back, surveying her work with a satisfied nod.

“There,” she said. “You’ll do.”

“I look ridiculous,” he muttered, crossing his arms.

“You look safe,” she corrected. “And that’s what matters.” She paused, her expression softening. “I know this is hard, Liam. But it’s only temporary. Once it’s safe, you can go back to being yourself. Okay?”

He nodded, though the knot in his stomach didn’t loosen. Temporary. It was only temporary. Right?

But then his mother’s expression shifted, and she tilted her head, studying him with a thoughtful look. “You know,” she said slowly, “you do make a very pretty girl.”

He blinked at her. “What?”

“We could… make this more permanent,” she continued, her voice taking on a strange, almost dreamy quality. “You could be my little princess. Wouldn’t that be nice?”

“No!” he said, his voice rising. “I don’t want to be a princess! I want to be me!”

She sighed, her expression hardening. “Liam, you need to understand. This isn’t just about keeping you safe anymore. This is about survival. And if you want to survive, you’re going to have to play the part. All of it.”

“What do you mean?” he asked, his voice trembling.

She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “I mean, if you’re going to be a girl, you’re going to be a girl. No one can know the truth. Not your friends, not your teachers… no one. And that means you’ll need to act the part. Dress the part. Even… marry the part.”

His stomach dropped. “Marry?”

“Yes,” she said firmly. “A proper princess needs a prince, after all. And when the time comes, you’ll do what’s expected of you.” Her eyes softened, and she reached out to brush a strand of hair from his face. “You’ll understand when you’re older, Liam. This is for your own good.”

He stared at her, his mind reeling. This couldn’t be happening. It couldn’t. He wasn’t a girl. He wasn’t a princess. And he certainly wasn’t going to marry some boy.

But as he looked into his mother’s determined eyes, he realized something terrifying: this wasn’t a choice. It was a command. And he wasn’t sure he had the strength to defy it.

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Lilian stood in front of the mirror, her heart pounding as she traced the soft curve of her chest. The fabric of the pink satin nightgown clung to her in ways that made her cheeks flush. She was only fourteen, but her body had begun to betray her in ways she couldn’t ignore. Breasts—small but undeniably there—pushed against the silky material, and her hips had widened, giving her a shape that felt alien and unsettling.

She hated it. Hated the way her mother’s eyes lit up every time she noticed the changes. Hated the way she had to adjust to the strange new sensations of her body. Most of all, she hated the name. Lilian. It sounded so delicate, so unlike the boy she used to be. The boy she still felt like, deep down. But that boy was fading, slipping away with every pill her mother surreptitiously crushed into her meals, every dress she was forced to wear, every princess lesson she endured.

“Lilian, sweetheart, are you ready for dinner?” Her mother’s voice echoed from the hallway, sweet and lilting, like she was calling a pet kitten. Lilian’s stomach twisted. She wasn’t hungry—she never was anymore—but she knew better than to refuse.

“Coming,” she called back, her voice softer, higher than she remembered it ever being. She tugged at the hem of the nightgown, trying to make it cover more of her legs, but it was no use. Her mother had chosen it, after all. It was supposed to make her feel “beautiful.”

The table was set with her mother’s usual care. Candles flickered in the center, casting a warm glow over the delicate china and silverware. Her mother sat at the head of the table, her hands folded neatly in her lap, a serene smile on her face. She looked like a queen presiding over her court.

“You look lovely tonight, darling,” her mother said as Lilian took her seat. “That nightgown suits you perfectly.”

Lilian’s fingers tightened around the fork. Don’t say it, she told herself. Just eat and get through it.

But the words tumbled out anyway. “I don’t like it.”

Her mother’s smile didn’t falter. “Nonsense. You’re just not used to it yet. You’ll grow to love it, just like you’ll grow to love everything else about being a girl.”

Lilian’s stomach churned. She stared down at her plate, at the small, perfectly portioned meal her mother had prepared. The pills were there, she knew. Hidden in the mashed potatoes or the gravy. She could taste them if she paid attention—a faint bitterness beneath the salt and butter.

“Mom,” she said quietly, her voice trembling. “I… I don’t think I want to—”

Her mother’s hand slammed down on the table, rattling the dishes. Lilian flinched, her heart racing.

“Lilian,” her mother said sharply, her voice cutting through the air like a whip. “We’ve talked about this. You’re not a boy anymore. You’re a beautiful young woman, and you’re going to embrace that. Fully. Do you understand me?”

Lilian’s eyes burned with unshed tears. She nodded, her throat too tight to speak.

“Good,” her mother said, her tone softening as quickly as it had turned harsh. She reached across the table, her fingers brushing against Lilian’s. “I know this is hard, sweetheart, but it’s for the best. You’ll see. One day, you’ll thank me.”

Lilian doubted that. She picked at her food, forcing herself to take small bites. The bitterness lingered on her tongue, a constant reminder of the changes she couldn’t stop.

After dinner, her mother handed her a small, wrapped box. “For you, darling.”

Lilian stared at it, her stomach sinking. She didn’t want to open it, but her mother’s expectant gaze left her no choice. Inside was a delicate gold necklace with a small, ornate pendant in the shape of a heart.

“It’s beautiful,” her mother said, her eyes shining. “Just like you.”

Lilian’s hands trembled as she held the necklace. It felt heavy, like a chain meant to bind her. Her mother took it from her and fastened it around her neck, her fingers brushing against Lilian’s skin in a way that made her shiver.

“There,” her mother said, stepping back to admire her handiwork. “Perfect. You’re going to make such a lovely bride.”

Lilian’s breath hitched. “B-bride?”

“Yes,” her mother said, her smile widening. “I’ve been speaking with Mrs. Thompson. Her son, Ethan, is such a nice young man. I think you two would make a wonderful match.”

“No,” Lilian whispered, shaking her head. “No, I can’t— I won’t—”

Her mother’s expression hardened. “Lilian, this is not up for debate. You will marry Ethan, and you will be happy. Do you understand?”

Lilian’s chest tightened. She wanted to scream, to run, to tear off the nightgown and the necklace and everything else that felt like a cage. But she couldn’t. Her mother’s will was a force she couldn’t defy.

“Yes, Mom,” she said, her voice barely audible.

Her mother smiled, her eyes softening. “Good girl. Now, go get ready for bed. We have a big day tomorrow.”

Lilian nodded numbly and retreated to her room. She sat on the edge of her bed, her fingers clutching the pendant as her mind raced. She couldn’t do this. She couldn’t marry someone, couldn’t live the rest of her life as Lilian, as a girl, as a princess. But what choice did she have?

She lay down, pulling the covers tight around her. The necklace felt like a weight around her neck, a reminder of the life she was being forced into. She closed her eyes, trying to shut out the world, but sleep wouldn’t come.

The next morning, her mother woke her early, her excitement palpable. “Get dressed, darling. We’re going shopping.”

Lilian’s heart sank. “Shopping?”

Her mother beamed. “For your wedding dress, of course!”

Lilian’s stomach turned. She wanted to refuse, to hide under the covers and never come out. But her mother was already pulling her out of bed, her grip firm and unyielding.

The boutique was a blur of lace, silk, and satin. Her mother flitted from one dress to another, her hands grazing the fabric with reverence. “What about this one?” she asked, holding up a frothy white gown with a cascading train.

Lilian’s stomach churned. “It’s… too much.”

Her mother frowned. “Nonsense. You’re a princess, Lilian. You deserve the best.”

Lilian’s hands clenched into fists at her sides. “I’m not a princess.”

Her mother’s eyes narrowed. “Lilian, enough. You are a princess, and you will act like one.”

Lilian’s chest tightened. She wanted to scream, to cry, to run out of the boutique and never look back. But she couldn’t. She was trapped, in every sense of the word.

Her mother turned to the shop assistant, her smile bright again. “We’ll take this one.”

As Lilian stepped into the dressing room, her hands trembled as she unzipped the dress. She stared at her reflection in the mirror, at the girl staring back at her. Is that really me? she wondered, her heart breaking.

“Lilian, hurry up!” her mother called from outside the door.

Lilian took a deep breath, her fingers brushing against the delicate fabric. She wasn’t ready for this. She wasn’t sure she ever would be. But her mother’s voice was insistent, and she knew there was no escape.

She slipped the dress on, the fabric clinging to her in ways that made her feel exposed, vulnerable. This isn’t me, she thought, tears welling in her eyes. This will never be me.

“Let me see, darling!” her mother called, her voice brimming with excitement.

Lilian hesitated, her hand on the door. She didn’t want to open it. She didn’t want to step into the life her mother had planned for her. But the door creaked open, and her mother’s gasp filled the room.

“Oh, Lilian,” she breathed. “You’re beautiful. Just like I always knew you’d be.”

Lilian’s heart ached as she stared at her mother, at the pride and joy in her eyes. She wanted to scream, to tear off the dress and run as far away as she could. But she didn’t. She just stood there, frozen, as her mother’s smile widened.

“Ethan will love you,” her mother said, her voice soft but firm. “And you’ll love him. It’s your destiny, Lilian. Embrace it.”

Lilian’s chest tightened, her vision blurring with tears. Destiny, she thought bitterly. Or a prison. But as she looked into her mother’s eyes, she knew there was no way out. No escape. Only this. Only her.

The morning of Lilian’s wedding dawned with a deceptive calm. The sun filtered through the lace curtains of her room, casting delicate patterns on the floor. She sat at the edge of her bed, her heart pounding as she stared at the wedding dress hanging on the closet door. The white fabric seemed to mock her, a symbol of everything she’d been forced into. Her mother had left early to oversee the final preparations, leaving Lilian alone with her thoughts—and the suffocating reality of what was to come.

She reached for her phone, her fingers trembling as she scrolled through the news. Her breath caught. The headline was there, bold and unmissable: “Mysterious Killer Found Dead in Alley.” The article described the man in the black coat, the same man who had haunted her nightmares since that fateful night. He was gone. The threat was over.

A surge of hope flooded her chest. This is it, she thought. I can escape. I can be myself again. She stood, her mind racing. The dress, the necklace, the life her mother had crafted for her—none of it had to be permanent. She could leave. She could run.

But as her hand touched the doorknob, a voice stopped her cold. “Lilian? Are you ready?”

It was her mother. Lilian froze, her heart skipping a beat. The door creaked open, and there she stood, radiant in her own elegant gown, her eyes filled with pride and something else—something darker. Control.

“The car’s here,” her mother said softly, stepping inside. “You look beautiful, darling. Are you excited?”

Lilian swallowed hard, her throat dry. “I… I don’t know,” she admitted, her voice barely a whisper.

Her mother’s smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered. “Of course you are. It’s your big day. Come, let me help you with your veil.”

Lilian’s mind screamed as her mother approached, the veil in hand. She wanted to refuse, to push her away, but she couldn’t. Her body felt heavy, trapped, as her mother gently placed the veil over her head and adjusted it just so.

“There,” her mother said, stepping back to admire her. “Perfect. You’re going to make such a lovely bride.”

The words felt like a cage closing around her. “Mom,” Lilian said, her voice trembling. “I… I don’t think I can do this.”

Her mother’s expression hardened, her eyes narrowing. “Of course you can. It’s your destiny, Lilian. You’ve always been meant for this.”

“But I’m not a girl!” Lilian burst out, tears streaming down her face. “I’m not Lilian! I’m Liam!”

Her mother’s hand shot out, gripping her arm with surprising strength. “You are Lilian,” she hissed, her voice low and dangerous. “You will always be Lilian. You think that killer being dead changes anything? You think you can go back? No. This is who you are now. This is who you’ll always be.”

Lilian recoiled, her mother’s words cutting deep. “Why are you doing this to me?” she whispered, her voice breaking.

Her mother’s expression softened, but her grip remained firm. “Because I love you, Lilian. Because I want you to have the life I never could. You’ll be happy. I promise.”

Lilian wanted to scream, to fight, to run, but she couldn’t. Her mother’s grip on her arm was unyielding, her will even stronger.

“Come on,” her mother said, her voice soothing now. “The ceremony is about to start. Ethan’s waiting for you.”

The name sent a shiver down Lilian’s spine. Ethan. The boy who was supposed to be her husband. The boy who had no idea who she really was.

As they stepped into the hallway, Lilian’s mind raced. She could feel her mother’s presence beside her, guiding her, controlling her. But she also felt something else—a spark of defiance, of determination. She couldn’t let this happen. She couldn’t let her mother win.

The car ride to the church was a blur. Lilian stared out the window, her heart pounding as the world rushed by. She felt like she was in a dream, a nightmare she couldn’t wake up from.

When they arrived at the church, her mother took her hand, squeezing it tightly. “Ready?” she asked, her voice filled with excitement.

Lilian didn’t answer. She couldn’t. She just let her mother guide her inside, her mind still racing.

The ceremony was a flurry of activity—the flowers, the music, the people. Lilian felt like she was watching it all from a distance, detached from her own body. And then there was Ethan, standing at the altar, smiling at her. He looked kind, handsome, everything a groom should be. But to Lilian, he was just another part of the prison she was being forced into.

As she walked down the aisle, her mother’s grip on her arm tightened. “This is it,” her mother whispered. “Your new life starts now.”

Lilian’s heart pounded as they reached the altar. The priest began to speak, but Lilian barely heard the words. She felt trapped, suffocated, her mind screaming for a way out.

And then, as the priest asked, “Do you, Lilian, take this man to be your husband?” Lilian’s heart stopped.

She looked at Ethan, at his kind, expectant eyes. Then she looked at her mother, at the pride and determination on her face. And then she thought of the man in the black coat, of the freedom his death had promised.

She opened her mouth to speak, but the words caught in her throat. This is it, she thought. This is the moment. Do I run? Or do I stay?

Her mother’s grip tightened, a silent warning. Lilian felt the weight of it all pressing down on her, the choice before her more terrifying than anything she’d ever faced.

“I…” she began, her voice trembling. But before she could say more, a sudden commotion broke out at the back of the church.

The doors burst open, and a figure stepped inside. It was the man in the black coat—alive, and his scarred face twisted into a menacing grin.

Lilian’s heart stopped. Her mother’s grip tightened, but this time, it wasn’t in warning—it was in fear.

The man walked down the aisle, his eyes locked on Lilian. “You thought you could escape me?” he sneered. “You thought I’d let you ruin everything? No. You belong to me, Lilian. Always have. Always will.”

The room erupted into chaos. People screamed, chairs were knocked over. And Lilian stood there, frozen, as the man approached her.

Her mother stepped in front of her, her voice shaking. “Stay away from her!”

The man laughed, a cruel, cold sound. “Or what? You’ll stop me? You’ve already done enough damage, forcing her into this life. But now, it’s my turn.”

Lilian’s mind raced. The man was alive. The threat was back. And her mother’s plan had suddenly become the least of her problems.

“Lilian,” her mother said, her voice desperate. “Run. Now.”

But Lilian couldn’t move. She was paralyzed, caught between the man who wanted to destroy her and the mother who had tried to control her.

The man reached out, his fingers brushing her cheek. “You’re mine,” he whispered. “And I’m not letting you go.”

Lilian’s heart pounded as she looked into his eyes, the reality of her situation crashing down on her. She had to choose. But how? And what would it cost her?

“Lilian,” her mother said again, her voice breaking. “Please. Run.”

But Lilian couldn’t. She just stood there, trapped, as the man leaned in closer, his breath hot against her skin.

The church was silent now, the tension thick. And in that moment, Lilian realized that no matter what she chose, her life would never be the same.

The man’s hand tightened around her arm, his grip like iron. “Come with me,” he said. “Or I’ll make you regret it.”

Lilian’s eyes darted to her mother, to Ethan, to the chaos around her. Her heart raced as she tried to think, to find a way out. But there was none.

She looked back at the man, at his scarred face and cold, unyielding eyes. And then she made a decision.

“Okay,” she whispered. “I’ll go with you.”

Her mother gasped, her face crumbling. “No! Lilian, don’t!”

But Lilian didn’t look back. She let the man lead her away, her heart pounding as they stepped out of the church and into the unknown.

The sunlight blinded her for a moment, and she blinked