Chapter One
It all started with the yellow bug, and whom it brought with it: Emma. The clock ticked. It was 8:16, then 8:17, the hands traveled around and around, in constant pursuit of each other.
Emma brought change. She also started them: the dreams. They felt so real. I fell asleep at night and slipped into a different world. I was the same, maybe. I fell into a world of stuffed rabbits, mushrooms, markets, tea parties… and the stranger. He held my hand as I fell asleep at night, he told me stories. I suppose it scared me, this world. Where are my parents? I would ask him. His face would fall, and tears came to his eyes. I'm your papa, Grace. You know that. I was confused. Don't call me that. I'm Paige. Are you mad?
Sometimes though, I couldn't speak. I only watched myself (she was more like another girl) and the stranger. As we (I should say they) ran through the woods and had picnics by the lake (or maybe just a lake), it terrified me at first, those dreams.
"Paige?" Henry said, and my head snapped up to meet his eye. "Can I sit here?" he asked, gesturing to the seat next to me.
"Of course," I said, moving my backpack to clear a spot for him and placing it on the ground.
"Thanks," he said and sat down next to me and pulled his storybook out of his bag. "I figured out who Ms. Blanchard is," he said.
"Who?" I asked, scooting closer to him and peering at the open book. There was an image of a dark haired woman holding a sword, surrounded by a group of dwarves. "Snow White," I said breathlessly.
Henry nodded. "Emma's her daughter," he said, flipping to a page with Snow White holding onto a small baby. The child was wrapped in a blanket with the name Emma stitched into it.
"Oh… Henry?"
"Yeah," he asked, looking up at me.
"Do you know who I am?" I asked. I hastily added, "in your book I mean."
"No," he admitted. "I'll find out, though. Don't worry."
"I won't worry," I said, smiling softly. "I'm sure you'll figure it out."
"I hope so."
"I know you will," I said, as the bell rang. Springing off the bench, I gathered up my things and Henry and I walked towards the school building.
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The bus ride home was short, despite my living on the outside of town. The bus let me off a bit down the road of my house, meaning that I had to walk past the stranger's house. Before Emma, before change, I walked smoothly past, but now, my curiosity peaked as I neared it. The steps were marble, and as I placed my foot on the first one, a shudder passed over me. It wasn't pleasant, but it wasn't not pleasant. What was it? Brushing away these feelings, I continued up the steps, coming to the porch. In the corner, near one of the railings, was a telescope. Peering through it, I was shocked to see that it showed my front porch and the steps leading up to it.
He watches me more than I thought. A sudden shiver of fear came over me and I took the steps down two at a time. Once I was back on the asphalt, I sprinted towards home. Away from that house. Away from him.
I reached my home and climbed up the steps, my heart pounding. I opened the front door and was greeted by my mother's voice. "Paige? Is that you, dear?" She came into the room, pulling on her coat. "I have to go to a meeting, and I'll be back late. You can heat up dinner once you're hungry, right?" She opened up the hall closet and strapped on her high heels.
"Yeah," I mumbled. "Where's Dad?"
"He's at work. He's staying late tonight. You'll be okay, right?" I couldn't help but believe that the look of concern on her face was as fake as her hair color.
"I'll be fine," I said, setting my backpack down.
"Good," my mother said, giving me a rushed hug before opening the front door and slipping outside.
The door banged shut.
I was alone.
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A/N That's the first chapter. I know it's short, the later ones will be longer. So what do you think? I'm sorry if Paige is a bit OOC. We don't get much background on her as Paige, so I'm taking liberties. I always imagined her to be a bit insane.
Also, I'm still working on the title, so if you have any suggestions, please leave them in a review. That said, please do review.