Rain beat harshly on the chipped windshield of the old Camry, windshield wipers beating just as furiously in their futile attempt to allow her some vision of the dark road. Trees grew thickly on both sides of the road, darkening the night further, adding to her already growing sense of unease as she drove further from the people who tormented and haunted every aspect of her miserable life.
Just as she was about to pull over and check the directions she'd been given years ago, she saw a sign come into view on her right. 'Welcome to Storybrooke' it proclaimed, and she breathed a sigh of relief as the knots in her stomach began to unwind. Slowing her speed, she slowly made her way through town until she found her way to a weathered brick apartment building. Parking quickly on the street, she silently hoped that this was the right building, and reached into the back seat for her messenger bag that contained what she would need until she could unpack her car properly.
Taking a few deep breaths, she willed her hands to stop shaking as she reached for the door handle. Slamming the door shut with more force than strictly necessary, she bounded to the door of the apartment building and inside in an unsuccessful attempt to stay dry. She immediately headed for the stairs on her left and prayed to any God that would listen that she hadn't moved in the last two years. Taking the stairs two at a time, she glanced over her shoulder every time she reached a landing. When she finally reached the top floor, she sucked in a deep breath as she tucked her hair behind her ear. Hesitantly, she moved forward towards the door, pulling her lip between her teeth like she always did when she was anxious, she slowly, she raised her hand and knocked lightly.
A loud clap of thunder jolted her from her sleep, her heart beating at a frantic pace and her breathing laboured. The dream she had startled from still playing in her mind, as vivid as if it were real. A tapping at her door pulled her from her thoughts.
Her first thought was that someone was trying to break in and so she quietly reached for the baseball bat standing by her bed. However, the noise was so quiet it could hardly be heard over the heavily falling rain, and she realised that burglars wouldn't knock, and would probably be quieter. The shaking voice that soon followed the faint knocking, set her frantically beating heart at ease, due to the fact that the voice she was hearing was very distinctly female.
"MnM, Its Regina, I-I need your help. Please MnM, open the door" the voice pleaded on the other side of the wood.
Dropping the baseball bat, she stumbled across her apartment to the door, flicking on a few lights as she went. Looking quickly through the peephole, she confirmed her suspicions of who was standing at her door. Slowly, she unlocked her deadbolt and door chain.
"Please Mary-Margret, I, I don't have anyone else to g-" her sob was cut off by the door opening, and before her stood Mary-Margret.
"Regina, what on earth are you doing here?" Mary-Margret asked. She slowly took in her sister's appearance. Her cheeks are stained with tear tracks and her eyes are red and puffy.
"I'm s-sorry, I, I didn't know where else to go. I…" Regina was cut off again as Mary-Margret wrapped her arms around her. Regina couldn't hold it in any longer and let full sobs rack her through her body.
Mary-Margret didn't need words to know that something bad had happened, so with Regina still crying in her arms, she gently guided her inside and towards one of her lounges.
"It's gonna be okay Regina, I promise. You're safe now, it'll be okay" Mary-Margret whispered soothingly to her.
"I didn't know what else to do MnM, I didn't know where else to go, who else to turn to" Regina sobbed, pulling out of Mary-Margret's arms, sniffling and running the back of her hand under her nose.
Now that Mary-Margret could see her face, she noticed the swelling of Regina's right eye, the faded finger shaped bruises on her neck, and she knew that Regina was probably lucky to get away from whatever situation she was in.
"I tried to leave sooner, I swear I did, but every time I tried to leave, they changed, he changed, and I was stupid enough to think it would last" she cried
"It's okay, you'll be safe here" MnM promised as she pulled Regina into another hug "let's get you some dry clothes, and we can figure out a game plan in the morning, okay?"
She felt Regina nod her head against her shoulder before she pulled back, reaching for her small messenger bag.
"Bathroom is through that door" Mary-Margret said, pointing to the door just off the kitchen, "feel free to have a shower, help yourself to anything you need"
"Thanks" Regina mumbled, walking to the bathroom.
When she exited the bathroom a little while later, she noticed light pouring down the small metal stair case that stood by the door. She slowly climbed the small flight of stairs, finding Mary-Margret straightening the doona on the double bed that stood in the centre of the room under a small curtain-less window.
"It's not mu…" Mary-Margret begins to say.
"It's perfect" Regina cuts her off.
"okay, well, I guess I'll see you in the morning then" she mumbles, a light flush of embarrassment colouring her checks
"Goodnight MnM" Regina says, pulling her into one more hug
Turning, Mary-Margret headed for the stairs, leaving Regina alone. Removing the cushions and extra pillows, she pulled back the covers and slipped in to the plush bed. Taking a deep, cleansing breath, she closed her eyes, and let sleep over take her.