For the 13 days leading up to Halloween, I am trying an experiment by rewriting the same story in 13 different styles, reflecting the various horror subgenres as part of my Thirteen For Halloween series. You can find the original version HERE. So, feel free to come back and weigh in with your opinion of which style worked the best!

Once upon a chilling night, in an enchanted forest far removed from the realm of man, lay the enchanting Anaïs on an ancient divan, swathed in a shroud woven from moonbeams and shadows. The trees whispered secrets of old, and stars hid behind the clouds, as if afraid to witness what lay below.

Many years ago, Anaïs had been a kind-hearted princess. She had fallen in love with a shadowy prince from a forbidden realm. Their love was pure, but the world wasn’t ready for such a union. Betrayed by her own kingdom, Anaïs was cursed into an eternal slumber, while her prince vanished into the nether.

In the deepening gloom, a subtle ripple passed through her form. Her eyes, once closed in an eternal sleep, blinked open, reflecting the tormented soul trapped inside, their new luster like shards of malevolent stars. A wicked smile, filled with centuries of pain and revenge, formed on her lips.

A wise old sage, Elandril, had watched over the forest and the cursed princess for ages. Sensing her awakening, he whispered to the wind, “The time has come. The balance is disrupted.”

As Anaïs unfurled her raven-black wings, the forest responded. Trees recoiled, rivers halted, and the night creatures hid. With every step, flowers withered, echoing the sorrow and fury in her heart.

Elandril approached her, his staff glowing dimly. “Anaïs,” he began, “do not let vengeance consume you.”

Anaïs, with tears of anger, replied, “They took everything from me. Why should I spare them?”

In a nearby village, a brave young woman, Liora, had always been fascinated by tales of the enchanted forest. She ventured in, seeking its magic, only to witness the transformed princess and the decaying world around her.

Liora approached Anaïs, “I’ve heard your story. The world has changed. Find another way.”

But Anaïs, consumed by her curse, moved past her, leaving the once vibrant forest dark and desolate. She approached the realms of men, bringing with her a shadowy plague, transforming vibrant towns into ghostly ruins.

Liora, with Elandril’s guidance, sought to reverse the curse. Their journey took them through dangerous terrains, facing remnants of Anaïs’s wrath, and discovering the lost prince’s fate. They learned that only through love and sacrifice could the curse be undone.

As Anaïs’s terror spread, Elandril and Liora confronted her at the kingdom that had once betrayed her. A battle of magic and wills ensued. Liora, with tears in her eyes, sang a haunting lullaby, the same one Anaïs’s mother used to sing.

Anaïs paused, the weight of her actions pressing on her. Her heart, hardened by betrayal and pain, began to crack. The shadows receded, and she collapsed, the curse lifting but leaving her weak.

Elandril approached the fallen princess, “Balance has been restored, but at great cost.”

The kingdom, realizing its past mistakes, built a memorial in honor of the love between Anaïs and the shadow prince. The enchanted forest healed, and tales of Anaïs’s wrath and redemption became lessons for generations, teaching of love’s power, the danger of prejudice, and the importance of understanding and forgiveness.

Though the terror had passed, the wind, on some nights, still carried the haunting notes of Liora’s lullaby, reminding all of the fragile balance between love and revenge.