I was lying in a bed. I didn't know how I had got there, or how much time had passed since the car. I could hear quiet murmuring, people talking. I opened my eyes slowly, then bolted up. Everything around me was unfamiliar. The people who had been talking – Charming, Snow and the blonde woman – turned towards me.
"Where am I? What's going on?" I said.
"I'm Emma." She said.
"You had a bit of a fever." That explained why my skin had felt as if it was on fire.
"You were out since last night." Emma continued, coming and sitting at the end of the bed. I shifted a little, trying to keep away from her. She saw this and smiled ruefully.
"I know things must be… Confusing, but we can help." I stayed silent.
"Look, why don't you just tell me your name? Then we can help you figure it out." She said. I frowned.
"I… I don't… I don't know who I am…" I was slightly panicky now. "I don't know who I am!" Emma was frowning too.
"You didn't remember anything?" My frown deepened at her use of past tense.
"What do you mean? I didn't remember anything? Was I meant to?" I asked. Snow padded over and murmured something in Emma's ear, who then nodded.
"Look, I'm just going to go talk to Mary Margaret for a moment, ok?" She explained, but I frowned and looked at Snow.
"You said your name was Snow." I stated, and she looked at Charming worriedly.
"Uhm, that's just my… nickname." She tried to cover up, but I noticed the way she hesitated and stammered. I cocked my head to the side, narrowing my eyes at her. Emma was looking worried.
"Why is your nickname 'Snow'? What's going on?" I inquired, but before either of them could answer, a boy banged his way down the stairs. He had brown hair, and his caramel eyes filled with shock as he laid them on me.
"Belle?" The boy almost shouted. Emma gave him a strange look.
"But your… Your dead!" He exclaimed.
"Henry… You know who this is?" She asked, and he nodded.
"She was in your book?" Emma continued, and Henry nodded again, still obviously shocked.
"Go get it." She demanded, and Henry ran back up the stairs, coming down again a few seconds later, carrying a large, leather bound book. From where I was, I could see the title clearly.
Once Upon a Time.
