Gemma threw on her black leather jacket and had her hair pulled back into a high pony tail. It was the day after she had arrived in Fabletown, she was going to head out on the town to start her job search. She headed out and down the stairs and out to the streets. She held the paper in her hand with a few different options for jobs circled, her first choice was the deputy job with the business office. First and foremost, coffee.

She walked into a small coffee shop, there was nothing more that Gemma loved than the overwhelming smell of coffee. There were few people quietly chatting and reading the paper in the corner, Gemma really paid no mind to them. She ordered her coffee black and grabbed a few packets of sugar from the counter. She went to the other end of the counter and waited for the barista to finish her order.

Behind her, mostly unnoticed was an individual shielding his face by holding up a newspaper.

"Hello Gemma," a calm and quiet voice said.

The voice struck Gemma, a chill ran down her spine. She turned around and the person holding up the paper placed it down gently. Again, Gemma had to hold back her shock.

There sat a long tall elder gentleman. He had an elongated sunken in face with a thick mustache, he had multiple lines of obvious ageing. The most shocking thing about his was his left eye, his lower eye lid was severely sagging to the point where you could see the muscles on his face. It was grotesque. He wore a pinstripe suit and a gold chain, and he smelled of a particular cologne that reminded Gemma of elderly men.

"How the hell do you know my name?" Gemma demanded, she was always weary of strangers. Especially strangers that knew her when she didn't. However, Gemma could tell that this man was not a werewolf, he was not from a pack that was looking for her.

"I know all that come into this town," he said quietly, he had a somehow disturbingly soothing voice. He also had a British accent, it was more eloquent than the toad, but this was becoming more and more strange.

"I wanted to welcome you to Fabletown," the man said folding his hands, "I wanted to make sure that you were settling in well. I hear that you are looking for a job."

"How do you know this?" Gemma questioned.

"I know everything that happens in this town," he responded.

"Who are you?" Gemma demanded to know. There was something off about this man, mostly his face creeped her out.

"I go by the crooked man," he responded.

Gemma scoffed laughing, "what like that stupid nursery rhyme?"

"I think I may be able to help you Gemma," he said sidestepping her comment, "I know that you've been on the run for a very long time. I know who you are hiding from. I can help."

Gemma's suspicions were peaking, if she had to defend herself against the old man she could. If this man was not a wolf how the hell would he know anything about her. The barista finished her coffee and placed it next to Gemma. The Barista also seemed to be going out of her way to not make eye contact with her. Although Gemma had a feeling that this wasn't in response to Gemma.

"Are you the one that taped that note to my door in Rhode Island?" Gemma asked, secretly testing him to see his response. She wasn't in Rhode Island when she got the note.

"Please have a seat," this Crooked man invited her to sit opposite him, "I hear that you are looking for a job. I believe I can be of assistance."

"What do you mean?" Gemma asked, "What kind of a job?"

"Things that I feel are your forte," the Crooked man responded, "I can use your skills and I can pay you very handsomely. You would not have to live in the apartment that you are in now."

He knows where I live, this discomforted Gemma. She would have to move again…but then again if he know where she was already, he would probably know where she would go. How did he find out? Did the toad tell this man where she was? She doubted that, but she didn't know any other plausible explanation.

Gemma's gut instinct was telling her that this person was to not be trusted.

"No thanks," Gemma said grabbing her coffee cup and walked out of the shop. She felt a sense of relief when she left.

Gemma chose to put this strange encounter behind her, she needed to focus on finding a realistic job. She made her way down to the Luxury apartments, definitely a hell of a lot nice than the apartments that she's was staying at now. She entered into the apartments and there was a guard sitting at the desk.

"Can I help you?" he asked her.

"Yea I'm looking for the business office?" Gemma questioned.

"The what?" the guard had asked.

"You looking for the business office?" a woman behind her had asked.

Gemma turned around to face a woman standing near the elevator. She had her dark hair pulled back into a bun and bright blue eyes. she had a light tan jacket tied tight around her and a jean skirt.

"Yea," Gemma responded, "You know how to get there?"

"Yes," the woman replied, "I'm heading there now. Follow me."

Gemma obliged, getting into the elevator with her.

"I don't think we've ever met before," the woman said holding out her hand as the elevator doors closed, "I'm Snow."

"Snow?" Gemma asked, unusual name. She extended her hand and shook Snow's, "Uh…nice to meet you. I'm Gemma."

"Gemma," Snow smiled pleasantly.

The elevator dinged as we reached the correct floor.

"Come with me," Snow prompted, and she left the elevator heading down the hall.

As we turned around another corner there was a line of people leaning against the wall.

"You're going to have to wait her," Snow said as she walked down the hall, "actually, what are you here for?"

"I found an add in the paper, witting by-" Gemma said as she went to dig the paper out of her purse, "I. Crane and Sheriff wolf. An ad for a deputy position."

"A deputy position?" Snow asked sounding surprised, "Did you say that Crane and Bigby wrote that?"

"Yeah…" Gemma responded glancing at the people lined up against the wall who were glancing at her equally.

"Ok…" replied Snow, "wait here please."

Snow opened up the door labeled as the Business Office and went inside. Gemma sighed and stood at the back of the line, behind all of the people ahead of her. She was hoping that this wouldn't take all day long.

As she stood there, a man with a greasy slicked back hair and a glassy eye was glancing at her up and down.

"Hey," he said with a sneer.

"Hi," I responded coldly and started picking at my black painted nails. Any excuse to not look at the creep.

The next fifteen minutes dragged by slowly, Gemma's patience was wearing thin, but she needed this job. She could tell that the patience in the others waiting in line was thin too.

Finally, Snow emerged from behind the closed door, "Gemma?"

"Yea?" I called out stepping out of the line.

"Come on in," Snow said holding the door for her.

Gemma walked awkwardly past the others waiting in line.

"What the fuck? I've been waiting in line all damn day!" the guy who was checking her out called out to Snow.

"I understand Grendel," Snow said trying to sound comforting, "we'll get to you as soon as we can, I promise."

"Yeah what a load of shit," the man name Grendel responded shaking his head.

Gemma kept her head down and kept walking. She entered into the business office and follow Snow. Gemma had a sense that there was something off about this town ever since she stepped into it. But now, she was beginning to feel as if she should leave this town. The business office was unlike any other she had been to.

Shock and surprise was a theme of the day, entering into the business office was the same. Right when she waked in the room was much larger than she imagined. Tall pillars held up the large ceiling, it felt almost grand and like a castle. There we all sorts of random unusual objects throughout the room, too many to take in all at once. Large statues of knights, all different storage cabinets, a large blimp hanging from the ceiling. All kinds of random things.

Snow led Gemma to the center of the room where there were a few different desks. Sitting at one of the desks was a man, he glanced at Gemma.

Gemma knew at once that he was like her, a wolf. She could smell it on him and sense it. He had intense brown eyes that were almost golden in color. He had wavy brown hair stubble on his face, he was scowling at her.

"Gemma," Snow started to say sitting at what could only be her desk, "this is Sheriff Bigby Wolf. Come sit."

Gemma took the seat next to Bigby wolf and glance down at the Snow's desk. She had a name plate, Snow White.
"Your name is Snow White?" Gemma chuckled as she took the seat next to Bigby.

Snow looked at Gemma puzzlingly and Bigby grimaced darkly at her.

Gemma shifted in her seat uncomfortably, "Are you parents like really big Disney fans or something?"

Snow opened her mouth as if to say something and paused.

"Gemma," Snow started to say, "so where are you from?"

"All over really," Gemma said switching over into interview mode, "I came here from New York."

"What brought you here?" Snow asked.

"Well I got word while I was sniffing around in New York about a witch that could help me," Gemma responded holding up her hand and turning her ruby ring on her finger, "the magic here is powerful."

"You know about magic?" Snow asked slowly.

"Who's the witch?" Bigby demanded from next to her, "witches aren't supposed to be practicing magic."

Gemma put her hands down and folded them, she didn't want to get anyone in trouble. People like her needed the witch. She didn't understand why they wouldn't allow magic in a town like this.

"It's ok you can tell us Gemma," Snow tried to reassure with what Gemma was now convinced a fake smile.

"Um," Gemma responded thinking carefully, "I really don't want to get anyone in trouble. I'm just here to talk about the deputy position in the paper."

"I didn't post for a deputy position," Bigby explained folding his arms.

"Well…" Gemma said, "it said it was for someone named Crane and Wolf."

"You know if you're going to be a deputy, you're going to have to follow the rules and witches aren't supposed to be practicing magic."

"I thought you weren't looking for a deputy?" Gemma replied sarcastically tilting her head.

No on said anything. Bigby scowled again.

"Why did you go see the witch?" Bigby asked.

This was starting to feel like an interrogation.

"For this," Gemma stated holding up her hand with her finger and glanced over Bigby. He didn't have a ring or any other talisman, "where's yours?"

"My what?" Bigby questioned.

Gemma glanced between Snow and Bigby, something wasn't right here.

"What does the ring do? What's it for?" Snow asked curiously.

Gemma glanced from Snow to Bigby, "Aren't you… like me?"

"You're a wolf?" Snow asked raising her eye brows.

"Yes," Gemma responded and turned back to Bigby, "how do you stop from changing?"

"Changing into what?" Bigby asked.

Gemma felt as she was being titled off her axle. There was something very off about this town, this wasn't a typical witches coven or werewolf pack. The magic here was through the roof, the people were stranger than in any other place that she has ever been. She started to have the gut feeling that she should not stay here. Gemma and Bigby continued to stare her down curiously.

"You know what…" Gemma said caving into the awkward silence, "this was a mistake. I should go."

Gemma stood up slinging her purse over her bag and headed for the door.

"Gemma wait you don't have to leave," Snow said standing up calling after her.

"I know," Gemma said turning around to face them both, "but I think I should."

With that Gemma turned and walked out the door.