Emmas POV
"This is just ridiculous, how am i supposed to find a job to pay for a home, if you need a home to apply for a job", I thought.
I was making my way slowly down First street, kicking rocks down the sidewalk thinking about how this could happen to me.
I have been homeless for over a year, trying every possible way to find a job in this crappy little town called storybrooke.
But maybe we should start from the beginning. My name is Emma Swan and I have been alone as long as i can remember. There was one time i thought i had finally found my home in a person I used t-to...used to love. After that so called disaster with 'he who should not be named' I have been struggling to get my life back in order. So here I am now wondering to my so called "home" after another failed job interview. I shivered as the temperatures around me started to drop and wondered how long it will take for winter to really hit. Last year I still had a jacket, but that was stolen around summertime from some meddling kids.
I looked up once i reached the warehouse I was housing in for the time being. It was built in 1945 and that is how it looked like. It barely held off the cold winds oder animals that always seem to be creeping about.
I put my arms around my waist and started rubbing my arms to warm myself up a little and watched with distaste as a few rats came running out of the building.
After a long sigh I made my way into the warehouse. It was dark and the only light was the moon shining through some holes in the structure and broken windows of the warehouse.
Looking around i saw only a few broken wood logs and rocks with glass. I made my way to the once office of the building to where i tried to make myself a little homey.
I took a deep breath and suddenly noticed my growling stomach that thought now was the time to speak up.
Taking in my little reserves of food, I found while looking through garbage cans at night, almost started a panic attack. "When did my pile start to shrink?", I said to myself. I look through the last cans that are left. Three cans if you want to know.
My choices were beans, ravioli or potatoe soup. All have expired about 2 to 3 years ago but they still tasted alright and who am i to complain. At least I have something to eat, but i would have to go out soon for the search of more.
Looking at the fireplace that I made out of scrap and the can in my hand, amde me think about hopeless everything seemed to be. I swallow back the tears that threatened to fall down my face. I took a shaky sigh and stepped over to the pile of firewood i gathered before it started to rain all the time.
You should try to lighting a fire with wet wood, it is almost impossible.
Slowly opening the can with an old rusty can opener and pouring the contents in a crappy old crock pot I hung over the fireplace made me more uncomfortable than i could imagine.
What i wouldn't give for a warm house and and a hot shower. I started piling some wood with old newspapers to get the fire going. This time it was no problem, but who knows how it will go tomorrow.
Watching the fire heat up the soup slowly, had a calming effect on me. Once the soup was hot i took it from the fire and started scarfing down the contents.
Feeling a cold breeze pass through, reminded me to start getting ready for bed. I shook out the blanket that i once stole from a garage sale and laid down on the bent mattress. I pulled my knees up to my chin and tried to keep myself warm by rolling in on myself.
After taking a few calming breaths and motivating words to myself, my eyes started to drop and I fell asleep.
*BANG*
I woke with a start and looked around the room frantically, trying to find out where that loud sound came from. Jumping up with a start and moving to the door of the office, i peaked around the corner. There where 5 men coming into the warehouse, dragging something behind them. I heard whispers but couldn't make out what they were saying.
The Object that they had been dragging was illuminated by the moonlight and I had to clamp a hand over my mouth to keep my scream at bay.
Lying in the dirt was a body of a man. I recognized him. He owned the small Bistro on the corner.
Suddenly one of the guys started pointing in my direction. Did they see me? Oh God please no. I turned around as fast as I could and quickly hid under the molding desk in the corner.
Holding my breath.
I listened to the closer coming footsteps.
Suddenly they stopped short of the door to the office. One of the guys bent down and started picking up some of my firewood that i laid out to dry. Please, don't think further than that it is a coincidence. I watched the guy turning the wood in his hands. I tried to make out any of his features but other than a red cap and darkness there was nothing.
He shook his head and let the wood fall to the floor. I heard someone yelling for him to comeback. He turned to the voice and made his way back to the body laying on the floor.
A large breath escaped my burning lungs and I started crawling from underneath the desk. A loud scream erupted from behind me in the warehouse. I layed down for a moment on the floor and shivered from fear. It sounded angry.
Should I really look? My plan should be getting out of here as fast as i can.
Crawling over to the door quietly was difficult, every crunch under my feet sounded incredibly loud to my ears. I sat on my knees and peered around the door to get a good look at the men.
The first thing I noticed was the burning light that seemed to be coming from the lamps that have been put in a circle around a chair. The body that was laying on the ground before, was now tied to the chair and was thrashing around.
Second thing was that there were only two men left on either side of the bound Bistro owner. Gold. That was his name. He had kicked me out on many occasions. He was a rather mean and cold man.
I heard heavy boots making their way into the light and I gasped. Gleaming in the light was something metal. I moved half my body out of the door to get a better look. It looked like a knife to me but i couldn't be sure.
The man with the knife was wearing a long leather coat and had many rings on his fingers. By now i was already out of the door and hiding behind a crumbling pillar to get a better look.
What was that saying again? Curiosity killed the cat? Yep that was it. The pilar was thick enough to hide my body while I tried to identify the mysterious men standing around the chair.
My body started to shiver. I had no clue if it was the cold or the fear coursing through my veins. I looked to where the entrance and my exit from the warehouse would be. The men were standing about 10 feet away from the exit.
I heard another scream and my eyes swapped back to Mr. Gold. He was bleeding from his arm. I looked back to the man with the knife to finally see it. There was no knife. There was something metal replacing a missing hand. It looked like a hook.
But that would be ridiculous. Who would where a hook as a replacement for a hand? I almost giggled at the absurdity of it all. I think I was going crazy.
Taking slow and deliberate steps toward the exit was my plan. Till i heard a glass piece crack under my weight.
I held my breath and listened for sounds of the men. They were still whispering. "Come out, come out whoever you are!", said a man's voice. FUCK!
I stood straight and bolted. I ran as fast as i could to the exit. Running out into the cool air. I heard feet following me. But i could only make out two pair. I rounded the corner of the warehouse which would lead me to the city when i heard the steps catching up.
Breaking out in a full sprint I ran into the woods to keep me hidden. Running over branches, logs and jumping over rocks till i couldn't make out anymore footsteps. I ran towards a huge tree and started climbing up, hiding myself behind the stem of the tree. I tried to control my heavy breathing and calm down. Looking over the trees down below i could make out lights that kept bouncing around. Flashlights! Shit... What am I gonna do now?! Climb higher!
That's just what i did. The voices and lights started coming closer till i could make out what they were calling. "COME OUT PRINCESS!", called one of them. I kept climbing and then it happened.
*CRACK*
I had no time to register what happened as i started to fall down to my demise.
I crashed to the floor with a groan. My vision started to go black. NO! Not like this. My brain kept flashing with sounds and pictures before my eyes. I closed my eyes. Just take deep breaths! In and Out...In and Out...
I groaned as i tried to turn over. A hurt gasp escaped my mouth as i put weight on my right side. I laid back down and hoped they wouldn't see me.
"There she is! Come over and help me Smee!", shouted someone close to me. "The captain will not be happy when he see's this. Should we just kill her now? She is almost dead anyway.", the man kept talking. In my mind I was screaming but would it be that bad to give up? No more fight for food or water? To finally be at peace?
Another voice joined the first one. "Don't kill her you bloody idiot! What do you think the Captain will do to you? Huh? Yeah you will be laying right beside her in her grave if you touch her! We have to find out who she is and if she is an accomplice of Gold!", said a deeper and creepy sounding voice.
I felt arms sneak under my back and lift me up. My head lolled back and then we started moving. Trying to pretend i am unconscious can't be that hard. Every jolt the man made went right through my hurting bones. It is probably going to be worse tomorrow...If i live that long.
The smell of the molding warehouse picked up. I knew we were close. The men hadn't said anything more. I felt a light burning behind my lids, but kept my eyes firmly closed.
"Captain, we got the girl. Smell's really bad if you ask me", he spoke to the captain. I heard footsteps coming closer and I stiffend. This was finally it. I felt a hand against my cheek. It was rough, probably from working hard.
*SLAP*
I gasped and my eyes flew open. All I saw were blue eyes, swimming with mischievousness.