A Twist in Fate

Emma couldn't take it anymore. She gingerly touched the forming bruises on her arms. From another "punishment" from her foster parents. At least that's what she was told they were. Her twelve year old mind still couldn't comprehend why she was stuck here.

"Emma? Get your ass out here now!" Emma flinched at the harsh voice. It was the voice haunting her every moment. She rolled down her sleeves, and slowly opened the door of her bedroom.

"What?" she asked in a small voice.

"You still never apologized to Billy," came the voice of her foster father.

"Apologize?" Emma asked, a look of disbelief on her face. "Why?" She glared at her foster brother.

"You're the one who started the fight," her foster father said, smiling smugly.

"But I…" Emma trailed off, as she saw the hard light within his eyes. She knew what would happen if she continued to protest. Her arm was still aching from when she'd been thrown. That wasn't even what Billy did. That was just from his dad. She lowered her head, assuming a more submissive stance.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled. Billy shot her a triumphant look.

"Good job," said her foster father. "Now, go back to your room." Emma sighed, and turned her eyes downward. She slowly dragged her feet back to her room. She suddenly gasped as Billy stuck out his foot as she rounded the corner. She tripped, and fell, scratching her face on the rough carpet.

She jumped back up, hazel eyes flashing with anger. Billy didn't even flinch. Not because she couldn't hurt him, she easily could, but because he knew she wouldn't. She stopped herself, biting her inner lip. Her hands clenched into fists, but she wasn't going to let herself go.

"Good choice," Billy said, pointing to her room. "You can leave now. Dinner will be in a couple hours. Do your chores if you want to eat tonight." He staked off, leaving Emma standing alone. She glared after him. But, there was nothing she could do.

She slipped back into her room, and jumped onto her bed. She could feel the wetness of tears beginning to gather in her eyes. She forcefully rubbed her eyes, getting back up off the bed.

"Emma?" Emma glanced out the small window, to her right.

"Lily?" Emma asked, stepping over to her window. She lifted the window, letting her friend in.

"How'd you get out?" Emma asked.

"They went to the mall," Lily explained, rolling her eyes. "They won't be back for hours." Emma smiled, then flinched as the scratches stung.

"What happened?" Lily asked, looking closer. Emma stepped away.

"I got in a fight with Billy," she muttered. She rolled up her sleeve, revealing the bruises to Lily.

"He did that to you?" Lily asked, eyes darkening with anger. "I didn't even know he was capable of punching." Emma just looked down.

"Billy didn't do that," Lily said, knowing immediately she was right. "It was him," she stated. Emma nodded miserably.

"Billy lied. He said I started the fight."

"And his dad did that?" Lily asked in disbelief. "Emma, you have to get out of here."

"No, Lily. Just stop," Emma snapped. "I can't. You know I can't." Lily pulled her friend into a reassuring hug.

"I'm so sorry Emma," she said. "I wish there was something I could do to help you." She gave her a friend a worried look.

"There's nothing either of us can do," Emma muttered. "It's beyond us."

"There has to be someway to let someone know," Lily stated. "There has to be."

"There is no way," Emma said again. Lily had never seen her friend so utterly defeated.

"If there's one thing you taught me. It's that there is always a way," Lily said, confidently.

"How did I teach you that?" Emma asked, looking up.

"Just who you are," Lily said. "For me, it's like I was born with bad luck. Or something. But for you, hero is practically written on you. You were meant for something better. I know it. Let me prove it to you." Lily fumbled with her backpack, pulling out a large brown book.

"I snuck up to the attic a few days ago. And, this is what I found." She handed the book to Emma, who eyed it critically.

"Once Upon A Time?" she asked. "It just looks like fairy tales. And right now, fairy tales are useless to me. They're just stories where the magical princess gets rescued by the handsome, and they lived happily ever after." Lily shook her head in disagreement.

"That's not what they are. They're a reminder. That your life will get better. You just need to hope."

"How can you say that?" Emma asked. "You've been given nothing but darkness. How can you still have hope?" Lily shrugged.

"You want the truth?" she asked. Emma nodded.

"You," Lily said simply. "You're my best friend. Really, the only flicker of light in my life right now."

"Then, why are you encouraging me to run off?" Emma asked.

"Because of who you are. Read the stories. You were made for something. I know that you are meant to be doing something." Emma sighed, and began to flip the pages. A single piece of paper fell from the book as she flipped the pages. She bent down, and picked up the folded page. She slowly unfolded, seeing the drawing on it. It was a drawing of a street corner.

"Main Street," she said, reading the street sign. "In some place called Storybrooke. Storybrooke, Maine." She squinted, just barely making out the town name on one of the store signs.

"You should go there," Lily urged.

"Storybrooke?" Emma asked. "That's ridiculous. It doesn't even exist. It's a made up place."

"Even if it doesn't exist. You should still go to Maine. You can escape all of this."

"Lily, that's ridiculous. I don't have any way of getting there. And if I were to go, i wouldn't go to Maine." Lily gave her a stubborn look. She reached into her backpack again. She pulled out an envelope and gave it to her. Emma gave her a suspicious look, but took it. Her eyes bulged as she saw it's contents.

"Lily?" she asked. "Where did you get this?" The envelope was absolutely stuffed with bills. And not 1's or 5's. The lowest one she saw was a twenty.

"I may have been collecting from my family," Lily said. She also pulled out two cards from her pocket, and handed them to Emma.

"I swiped these yesterday. They won't even know. And, I got this." She pulled out a bus ticket. For Maine.

"Are you kidding me?" Emma asked. "You already bought the ticket."

"I knew it was the only way to get you to go," Lily said. "Take the backpack, and start packing. I'm staying until you're gone." Emma gave her a look of annoyance. She stuffed the envelope and cards in the backpack. She went to her closet, removing a couple shirts, and a couple pairs of jeans. She stuffed them in her backpack, flinching as her bruises were pressed on.

"I can't believe I'm doing this. Why did you convince me again?" she asked. Lily shrugged. She handed Emma a small phone.

"Use this to call me," she said, giving her a hug. "I'm not the reason you're going. And you know that deep down. Now, get going." Emma grabbed the backpack, and began climbing out the window.

"Oh. I read the book. Take it," Lily said, handing her the book. "There may be someone there named Mary Margret. You might want to get in contact with her." Emma looked at her, confused.

"I'll miss you," she said, then jumped down. She tucked the book under her arm, and looked at the ticket.

"Storybrooke. Guess it's time."

Okay, let me explain some. This takes place twelve years into the curse. Emma and Lily have already met each other, and become best friends. And Emma has already chosen the name Swan. Everything will be explained in due time.

Next time… Emma does reach the mysterious town of Storybrooke. But something is definitely not right. Her new friend Mary Margret will try and help her uncover the mysteries of Storybrooke.

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