~Author's Note~
I've been reading OUAT fanfiction for a while now but this is my first story. I have an idea of where I want it to go but I would appreciate any constructive reviews or ideas!
Chapter 1
Regina sank onto her couch with a sigh and stared out the window of her study at the pouring rain. It had been a week since her mother had died. No. Since she killed her mother. She had initially been furious at Snow, but she soon accepted that this was all her fault. Everybody she had every loved had left her. Daniel, her father, Henry, and now her mother.
She poured herself a glass of wine. Empty bottles were strewn around the room but she couldn't work up the strength to clean them up. Even when Snow White had shown up at her doorstep, begging for her to kill her, Regina had just closed the door in her face.
Now she stared into the dark red of her wine and closed her eyes. I wish this would all just go away. I've had enough of being here. She chugged the glass and poured herself another. As she went to take a sip, she heard a knock at the door.
Regina eyed the door warily. If it were Snow or Emma, she wasn't sure she would be able to stop herself from burning them to a crisp. But she also couldn't help but think that it might be Henry. No matter how many times he turned her away, she would always be willing to take him back into her life.
"Who's there?" she asked as she walked to the door. No response. She turned to go back to the couch when she heard a thump against the door, as though someone had fallen. Her curiosity got the best of her and she opened the door.
Regina gasped at what she saw. A young woman was slumped against her doorframe. The girl's hair covered her face so Regina couldn't see who it was. It wasn't until she bent down to examine the girl's face closer that she realized the girl was covered in bruises and blood.
She took the girl by the shoulders and shook her gently. "Are you ok?" she asked. Receiving no response, she asked again. At this the girl moaned softly so Regina took it upon herself to help the girl inside. The girl leaned heavily against Regina's body as she was led to the couch. Once Regina laid her down, she stood back and looked at her.
The girl had obviously taken quite the beating. Regina cringed as her eyes traveled down the girl's body. She sighed and reached for her cell phone to call an ambulance. Just then the girl's eyes blinked slowly open. Regina jumped up.
"Are you ok?" she asked. The girl just grimaced. "What is you name?"
"Katelyn," she coughed. Regina saw blood in the corner of her mouth and picked up her phone again, but Katelyn reached up and stopped her.
"No," Katelyn croaked. "Please. No hospital."
"You have to go!" Regina responded. "I don't know what to do."
Katelyn gave Regina a pained smile before coughing again. Regina looked on worriedly as the girl's eyes drifted shut again. Just before they closed, Katelyn whispered, "You helped me once."
Regina's eyes flew open.
She remembered.