Chapter 3

To tired and groggy to fight back all chrissy could do was sit there, the blonde from before standing over her with her arms crossed and a sour expression on her face. "Look I know you've been thru a lot"

"Thats an understatement" Chrissy snapped back, the woman who remained stoick faced continued on "But you need to tell us who you are"

"And why would I do that?" Chrissy replied once more.

"Look I've been where you are, I grew up without a mother and a father. I was in and out of the foster system my whole life and I know a runaway when I see one. Now the question is what or who are you running from and before you say anything know I can't protect you unless I know your whole story. We can take you somewhere safe where they'll give you food because you definitely look like you need it and a warm bed to sleep"

"I honestly wouldn't be able to tell you if I wanted to because I DONT remember ok? I woke up one morning in the middle of the woods with no memories. not a one. I even went to the sheriff station for help and you know what they did? They tried to have me arrested. I didn't do anything wrong and they were going to arrest me and have me put in a mental institution so pardon me if I don't leap for joy and worship the ground you walk on just for your hand out"

"Look Kid..."

"My names not kid, it's chrissy and I'm older then you might think." Flipping over on her side she was so done with this whole conversation. "please just leave me alone" She muttered, after a moment she could hear the woman's retreating footsteps but they stopped for a moment. "I know you feel like the whole worlds against you right now and you feel like your alone but there are still good people in this world... really good people but we cant help you unless your willing to help yourself." With those final words her footsteps got farther and farther away until they stopped entirely.

Touching the pendant around her neck chrissy closed her eyes, she had a lot to think about that night. Well no rest for the wicked I guess. She thought bitterly.

She was so into her own thoughts she hadn't even realized someone had walked into the room until she heard them chuckle. "Well. Isn't this a pretty sight."
She almost jumped out of the bed from shock "Who are you?" The woman was wearing green and black stylish clothes complete with boots and a pointy like hat. "Well I'm not your fairy godmother if thats what your wondering" The woman sneered, one hand on her hip and her entire body set in a regal pose.

"A-Are you going to kill me?" Chrissy asked dreading the answer, the woman merely laughed "No." Chrissy sighed in relief but the woman continued "Not today anyway. I'm here for one thing and one thing only" she took a few steps forward and held out her hand "That necklace. Give it to me or I'll have no choice but to take it by force."

"My necklace? But why"

"That's my business isn't it now hand it over." When chrissy refused the woman smiled "Fine. I tried to do this the easy way but it looks like I'll have to do this the hard way. It's much more fun anyway"

She froze Chrissy in place and went for the necklace she was mere seconds from being triumphant when something unseen caused her hands be pushed back acompanied by a burning sensation moving up and down the womans arms. She pulled back and screamed out in pain and frustration.

The commotion they were making must have alerted the nurses because Chrissy could hear their feet coming down the hallway. If she wasn't frozen in place she could have screamed. Seemingly out of time the woman poofed them both away to a more quiet location. It was a small shed like area that smelled of must and mildew and chrissy could swear she'd been somewhere like this before.

"Well my dear, since it seems you and what I'm after are a package deal we're gonna be seeing a lot more of each other." She shoved chrissy into the small cage and locked it with her magic before strutting away and laughing as if she'd just thought of the most amusing joke in the world.

Once she was out of sight the magic wore off and chrissy fell to the floor in tears. A thought going thru her head then. She had to figure a way out, but how. "think chrissy, think!" She was pretty good at being resourceful. Reaching her hand out of the cage she touched the lock but realized she wouldn't be able to open it unless she had a pin or some sort of sharp object. She would just have to bide her time, she'd escape eventually. She swore to it. She was not going to go down like this not after everything she'd been thru. Not a chance in hell.

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Feeling like just a regular day in the castle, Chrissy took the plate of food from the head maid and made her way into the dining room which in itself looked as large as the castle itself, in the middle was the table it had enough room for 10 people but right now she was focused on the single and very lonely little girl sitting all the way at the end. Chrissy looked over her shoulder to make sure she was out of ear shot before placing the food on the table and smiling "You should have seen the commotion earlier, an apple pie fell on the floor because of Miss Mildred's big butt and the milk boy slipped and fell into it, right smack into Miss Milly. It was the funniest thing!?" She renacted what had happened but when it become clear Regina wasn't listening is when she stopped "Is something wrong miss?"

"I told you, you dont have to call me that" Regina muttered, "I know" Chrissy replied back "That was just incase anyone was listening." she took the seat besides her new sister "care to tell me whats wrong? I'm a good listener. you know that." she waited a moment and sighed with relief when Regina looked up and shoved her food away "Mother and father are away on a buisness trip as always and I feel so alone."

Chrissy thought it over for a second, "Your not alone anymore, you have me and as such I very well cant stand by and let you waste away in this dingy old castle. C'mon lets go out to the stables"

Regina paused for a moment "Whoa, the stables? Wont my dress and shoes get all dirty?"

"Yeah thats half the fun" Chrissy teased, "Theres lots out there to explore, of course if you dont want to I understand I'll just go by myself" She turned her back away and pretended the walk off before hearing regina call "Wait for me, I want to come too!" Both girls giggled and skipped out side by side careful not to get caught by any of the guards. Regina wasn't suppose to step one foot outside the castle but this would still be within the grounds so chrissy figured it wouldnt be that big of a deal.

Once out and away from prying eyes, Chrissy took a huge wif of the air and knew Regina who followed suit regreted it the moment she did. Of course no one was gonna like the smell of horse booty, manure and hot caked mud but to Chrissy it was a very familar and home like smell. Regina had her nose covered, pinching both ends with her fingers and her speaking coming out rather nasally. "Ew, thats horrid" She remarked.

"Horrid? Don't you mean disgusting"

"Yes thats what I mean" Regina pointed out as she trudged thru the mud and soil. "This was absolutely not on my list of things I planned to do today. Not even close."

Chrissy shrugged "Ok then we can go back,"

"No!" Regina shouted rather quickly. "We've gone this far, what is there to do out here."

"You'll see, c'mon" Chrissy motioned for Regina to follow as she struggled to open the barn door, she had to dig her soles into the mud and give it a good shove. It creaked open ever so slowly, the mud made it particularly difficult but once finally opened fully Chrissy skipped joyfully inside.

Regina noticed a short pudgy man with more body hair on his face then head staring at her as he shoveled left over scraps of food into the pig pen. He was glaring at her but regina just turned away and quickly followed behind. "Wait dont leave me!" She shouted quickly, when she entered the barn the smell of horse booty was evident as she staring around, she looked up towards the upper levels of the barn and the beams holding them up. She'd never been in here before and if she could get past the smell she would definetly come out here more often. "Chrissy?" Nothing it was to quiet and she was starting to worry. "Chrissy wherever you are this isn't funny. Come out now. Thats an order"

"Sisters dont order each other around" She heard chrissys voice say, jumping up from fear she wirled around and saw chrissy hanging upside down from one of the beams and giggling which was cut short when someone yelled "Hey you get down from there your gonna get hurt!" both girls looked up to see a small boy wearing a stable jacket, linen shirt, sheepskin breeches and a round cap. In his hands he held a large shovel which he was using to pick up after the horses. Chrissy mocked his tone but hopped down anyway. "You girls shouldn't be in here. It's dangerous" The boy continued pretending as if he hadn't seen chrissy roll her eyes. "Oh come off it we were just playing."

"Well might I suggest playing somewhere else. I have a job to do you know and I can't be looking after two silly little girls." That did it, chrissy just about went after the boy but regina took ahold of her arm. "Maybe he's right. We really shouldn't be out here. We could get into trouble."

"Go on, run along then" he shooed them away and that would have been the end of it had regina not spoken up and flipped back around. "Regina what are you..." Before she could say anything more regina took off in a run and tackled the boy to the ground before he could react, he looked up at her with complete shock and something else neither would understand until years later. "Whos the silly little girl now" She said triumphantly, still to in shock to speak regina finally stood up and held a hand out to which he took. "I must say that was impressive. your pretty strong. For a girl" Both smiled at each other before chrissy cleared her throat "We gotta get going, theres still lots more to explore." Regina nodded before following after Chrissy, the boy not willing to let her go so easy called out "whats your name?"

Stopping for a moment she turned back around and smiled "Regina. Regina mills. Whats yours?"

"My names Daniel" The boy said smiling back "Daniel Colter."

"Well Daniel. I hope to be seeing you again soon" Regina gave a small bow before following chrissy out of the barn both teasing each other now.

Little did either know they'd be seeing him again sooner then either thought.

To be continued.