A/N: Okay, this is something completely different from anything I've every written.
It's AU but bare with me because it might take a while before things become clear. This is going to be a mysterious one...
I'd say the world the story is situated in is a mix between post-apocalyptic futuristic and fairytale-ish. Kinda weird combo, I'm aware.
I dreamt parts of it and then connected some dots to form a story so if it's weird...
That's probably because I had one too many drinks before going to sleep that night.
I have everything written out... and it's turned out to be a 7 chapter short story.
I'll be updating every few days, unless there's absolutely no interest whatsoever. Then I'll just leave it for what it is.
Feel free to share your thoughts, doubts, likes and dislikes... (Please be nice) :)
No beta, still not a native English speaker and only human.
HERE WE GO
Trapped between huge concrete walls, where time seems to be standing still, 17 year old Emma Swan lives, goes to school, eats, sleeps, secretly admires beautiful Miss Mills and grows more and more frustrated as to why no one is aging and most importantly... why nobody else seems to notice.
Secrets, lies, memories and an apple tree.
The moment it all falls apart, but really all clicks together... time is running out.
REMIND ME TO REMEMBER
CHAPTER 1
EMMA'S POV
These walls are high.
They always have been.
I don't know if they're thick.
Feels like they are.
When I put my hands against it, to me it seems like there isn't even another side.
As if the concrete goes on forever into infinity.
That's probably not true.
I hope it's not.
That would mean there's absolutely no way out.
But who knows, maybe there isn't.
What if there isn't?
Great, now I'm starting to think there isn't.
I hope I'm wrong.
I've been here for as long as I can remember.
How far back can I remember?
Well, I feel utterly stupid for not even remembering that.
How is that even possible?
I've stopped aging. We all have.
I do have clear memories of being younger, being around people I once loved…
It's just that I don't remember who they are.
In my dreams I see faces that I feel should be familiar.
They aren't, but they still make me feel safe.
The others don't have dreams.
I'd used to tell them about mine but they'd always get annoyed that I kept making up stuff.
You read about dreams… but you don't actually have them.
The guys say I think too much.
They always laugh at how suspicious I am about things.
I guess they're right for making fun of me.
But honestly? I know they hate their lives just as much.
Some days, this, all of this, just feels like we're waiting. But for what?
We learn our asses off but really, why bother?
I speak seven languages fluently by now. Not that they could ever come in handy...
They've been ancient and unused for centuries. It's mere brain training.
I just mean that I think I'm as smart as I'll ever be.
Except I know nothing, do I?
Fuck this is frustrating.
"Good afternoon, class."
Regina
She walks in and damn she's as gorgeous as she was last night in my dream.
She never ceases to amaze me with her beauty.
I swallow and try to focus on her words.
I hate what she does to me.
She sometimes even makes me happy that I'm here, wherever here is,
just so I can lay eyes on her.
She smiles.
"I hope you've all finished your assignments." Her voice is friendly but stern.
Of course I've finished it. It's been finished for two weeks.
It's not surprising, since I've lost count on how many times I've actually written this particular paper.
And really, I'd never let her down. Not if I can help it.
Her heals click against the floor elegantly, like they always do,
as she goes through the class to collect the assignments.
She stands next to my desk and smiles.
"Miss Swan." One of her eyebrows arch into a perfect bow. I'm lost.
She tilts her head.
"Miss. I'm sorry." I reach for my gray binder and take out the bundle of papers before handing it to her.
Our hands brush lightly. Just slightly.
It's an accident but let me tell you, I really really don't mind.
She retracts her hand quickly.
She's either really disgusted by the thought of touching me or she didn't notice and wants to hurry collecting these papers.
I sigh, -not for the first time- realizing I'm a fool.
I'm not sure how many of us there are.
But there's a lot.
We're all divided into groups, based on our age.
Ours is the oldest group. Always has been…
Always will be, I'm afraid.
The facility is run by Cora Mills. Or well, Headmistress Mills.
She's everyone's boss and nightmare. At least I know she's mine.
The way she looks at me always makes my blood run cold. I shiver at the mere thought of her eyes.
The weirdest thing and biggest mystery of my life is...
She's actually Miss Mills' mother and I can't begin to imagine how that even works.
They look nothing alike.
Not in their appearances and most certainly not in the way they make me feel.
"Swan, what have you been up to? I didn't catch you during lunch."
I look at Killian and shake my head a little.
"Sorry captain, wasn't hungry. Missed me?" I wink.
He grins and chuckles. "Every breathing moment you're not near, babe."
And I laugh because this is what we do. He knows me so well.
I'd do anything for him, as he does for me.
Okay, he thinks I'm totally crazy and weird but that doesn't stop him from loving me just the way I am.
He doesn't question every single thing I say or do.
It's okay, that way he doesn't doubt me either.
He knows I like her. A lot. That I am like that.
Others would probably suspect it too, if they wouldn't blindly believe that Killian and I are an item.
I tell a lot with my eyes. Try to lie with words but am not very skilled at it.
Luckily, he's a great actor. He saves me every day, the way he lies.
I'd be in so much trouble if Mrs Mills would find out how I felt about her daughter.
So we keep up our act, every day.
I know he'd want to, he's a teenage boy… but he doesn't actually get to kiss me.
Not really. Pecks on the lips, that's as far as I let him and he can hold me.
It's actually nice.
I do enjoy it, being held. Even though it means something different for both of us. He's told me that, but he understands my feelings too.
"Hey wanna skip next period?"
I mouth him very subtle, not wanting to get caught by Miss Mills.
"Again? You're never gonna become a chemist this way." He chuckles.
"Ssssht." I shush him and roll my eyes.
Because honestly, how can they all still believe we're ever becoming anything?
The only times we get into an argument is when I blame him for being naive.
He doesn't seem to get it.
None of them do.
That's when my friends call me crazy.
When I point out how we're not aging.
They wave it off. All of them… Neal, August too, Ruby and Belle…
I always loose those arguments, no one ever backs me up on the matter.
I don't get it. But after all this time I've kind of gotten used to it.
I shrug my shoulders and focus on Mills.
Mills, fuck where do you keep getting those dresses?
Today she's wearing a deep blue one. A plunging neckline.
Not the lowest I've seen on her, but I've got my imagination.
This number reaches her knees.
Her hair rests on her shoulders. Hanging gorgeously loose around her face.
She must notice how my eyes take all of her in, every day.
Or not.
but if she does, which I really really believe (how can she not),
she doesn't seem to mind.
Well, at least not enough to call me out on it. Opting to ignore it.
"Miss Swan?"
Fuck! I should have made myself listen like… one or two minutes earlier.
"yeah?" I breathlessly ask because I'm nervous…
…the way she eyes me.
"You haven't been paying attention, have you, Miss Swan?"
She's annoyed. Great.
I sigh and can only manage to look down in shame, admitting the obvious.
She looks disappointed and doesn't grant me another glance that class.
When the bell chimes loudly and I quickly get up to leave and run to my hiding place, she calls for me.
"Miss Swan, a word please." Her voice sounds so cold.
I sit back down and probably look as deflated as I feel.
I can't bring myself to actually look at her as she steps closer towards me.
She keeps a professional distance though. As per usual.
"You can't keep spacing out, Miss Swan. I know you're a smart young woman. But you can't slack now. How do you expect to learn anything new?"
I have to keep myself from snorting at that.
Seriously? New?
But her voice actually sounds a little warmer than before and she definitely sounds sincere in her concern.
This makes me want to lock eyes with her.
Hers bore into mine in question.
I shake my head and hope she doesn't think I'm crazy for what I'm about to say.
"Miss Mills. I" I want to tell her I know all of the stuff she's teaching us already.
She's taught us the same things dozens of times.
They all somehow seem to forget. But I don't, it's frustrating.
So as I was saying… I want to tell her this but then decide against it and take a different approach.
"Have you ever had the feeling that all of this, is leading nowhere?"
She seems to be taken aback by my words.
I don't want to scare her off and sigh.
Her eyes narrow.
She clearly doesn't understand and so I already have my answer.
She's never felt like that, no.
"Nevermind, I'm sorry. It won't happen again."
I then get up to leave the room but she doesn't let me.
Because when all of the sudden I feel a hand on my shoulder, my breathing stops.
This is the first time she's touched me without it being an accident.
I'm paralyzed.
She shakes her head and actually looks concerned.
"Emma." Damn she uses my first name and I melt.
She probably feels it through my shirt where her hand is still resting on my shoulder.
Then wow, she squeezes her fingers there slightly.
"What are you talking about?"
I'm pretty sure I've never heard her speak in such a soft tone.
"Miss I…"
I probably should stop speaking.
She's gonna tell her mother I'm crazy and that will have nothing but horrible consequences for me.
Mrs Mills hates me enough as it is.
But apparently, I'm rather self-destructive…
"Why aren't we aging?"
I ask her, so very scared that she might actually know the answer.
"I know it's not supposed to be like this. I've read books, people grow old."
She studies my face in clear confusion and I know I'm dead meat.
"Emma, we do grow old."
She shakes her head, surely thinking I'm completely nuts.
"But we don't." I sigh. "Miss… Please don't look at me like that."
I really want to cry.
But I don't.
I don't think I have ever let myself.
"Honestly I don't know how I can get anyone to believe me.
All of my friends think I'm crazy."
She tilts her head and I can just see the pity in her eyes.
It's probably dawned on her that I'm going to be needing a lot of therapy for my weird behavior.
My heart sinks into my gut and I become desperate to make her believe me.
My voice is slightly raised when I continue.
"Look I'm sorry I spaced out today, again. But I've seen this stuff before."
She now shakes her head.
"Miss Swan, you're lying. We both know"
I interrupt her.
I know I shouldn't because she's… well she's her.
But I have to make her see, don't I?
"Tomorrow you're gonna tell us about fears and how they form us.
How it's important we realize the dangers of trying to face them.
How that could completely destroy us"
My breathing is heavy because –newsflash- I'm extremely upset.
This time, she tries to interrupt me but I don't let her.
I'm not finished.
"and I'll think it bullshit once again."
Her eyes are wide.
She takes a step back and straightens her posture.
Completely cold again.
"Miss Swan. I don't know how and I don't know when but you have been through my folders and that is unacceptable.
I hope you realize, this will have severe consequences.'
My jaw drops and I can't believe this is happening.
I should have never opened my big mouth.
I should have shut up before I even started.
"I'm going to have to have a word with the principle."
Somehow, I involuntarily start to shake at the mention of that woman.
I know it's fear. I've been taught about the subject multiple times after all.
"Please don't. I haven't touched your stuff. I wouldn't… you can trust me!" I plead.
"Save it, Miss Swan. I've had enough of your nonsense."
I take a step forward, fast and then grab her arm.
I really shouldn't have done that.
As cold as her tone is, her skin is the exact opposite.
So incredibly warm beneath my fingers.
Her sleeves are bunched up so I'm actually touching her skin.
Her eyes have grown wide, wider than I've ever seen them as she looks down at my hand on her lower arm.
"Emma." She breathes.
I'm taken over by desperation and can't bring myself to let go.
It's not that I have a tight grip on her, not at all, but I am still holding her.
She doesn't seem to be able to form words.
I wonder what she's thinking.
See all of this goes really really fast.
Her voice is shaky.
"Emma you have to let go of me."
And I do. She asks me to, so I do.
I bite my lip because I know I'm in deep trouble.
My eyes are looking everywhere except for at the gorgeous brunette woman in front of me.
If I had looked at her I'd seen her eyes still locked onto the patch of skin I'd held onto just moments before.
When eventually, I do look up, I see her walk out.
And honestly, I have no idea of what just happened.
I'm fairly certain it wasn't anything too positive though.
After about two minutes I too exit the classroom and storm my way to the only place I've ever felt somewhat safe.
When I reach the back of the building I look around carefully,
making sure no one is following.
Once I've turned the last corner I can already see the low opening near the furthest wall.
I lay on my stomach and roll myself to the other side.
I'm clueless as to why the opening is there, but am so glad it is.
Getting up, I lean against the stone wall.
This one, I know, isn't infinitely thick.
When I look up I see a branch of some sort.
It's always been there.
Just like I've always been here.
It's a tree I imagine.
I've read about those.
I've seen drawings.
I'm supposed to believe they don't exist…
But ever since I've seen this single branch poke out from the other side of the wall, I've known it's so real.
It's a tree of the apple type, I believe.
Because… well, it's got apples hanging from it.
When the sky is blue and the air is warm, that is.
I've seen apples.
I've eaten apples.
I don't get what they do hanging from trees though.
Mr Wales told us fruits are made in factories.
You know, just like water and air.
The wall I'm standing against isn't very high.
Almost three meters.
I've seen much higher.
Most of the walls of this… thing are at least three times as high.
I love how I can see the sky, seeing as there's no roof.
In the courtyard there isn't any either but it's so loud out there and obviously less secluded.
Here I can be alone with my thoughts.
Here, no one thinks I'm crazy.
This branch up there, is the only other living thing I've ever seen that doesn't judge me.
It's both a sad and a good thought.
That's when I realize… that piece of wood has more of a life than I do.
At least it knows what's on both sides of the concrete.
I wish I spoke it's language.
That way I could ask it all of the questions I have.
I hope I'm not crazy
and I wish with all of my might…
they never get me to actually believe that I am.
To be continued...
