Trigger warnings are at the end of the chapter. And yes, this was inspired by Stranger Things... Enjoy!
It's agony- but then again, what hadn't been miserable about her life the past several years? For more years than she'd like to think about, she'd been trapped here, subjected to things other women her age could only imagine in their worst nightmares.
The clanging of the door of her "room" alerted her to the fact that she couldn't wallow in self-pity anymore. They're here again. Time to face the music.
She raised her head, and there he was. He had tried to get her to call him by a familial name, but she remembered her daddy with a clarity that haunted her in the worst moments. To her, he would always be known as Gold.
"Come," he said, beckoning her. "It's time."
She crossed her arms over her chest. "No. I'm not playing these games anymore."
"Have it your way, then," he sighed, gesturing for someone to come inside.
She should've known this would happen. Hadn't she tried to defy him before, only for him to use his henchmen on her? Sidney and Leopold were no one's idea of a picnic, but they were nothing compared to the cruelties that Gold himself inflicted on her.
The two men rushed toward her, but she was ready for them. This was her life, after all. She may be resigned to that fact and given up all hope of escape, but that didn't mean she'd go down without a fight.
Her fists came out swinging, her elbows an additional weapon. She wanted nothing more than to use her powers on them, but that was exactly what Gold wanted. Therefore, this was all she could do. Using her abilities was something that she both craved and feared. It filled her with the rush of power that was unlike anything else, but the things that had been done to her in an effort to call forth her magic meant that she dreaded using it, even was afraid of it at times.
Despite her efforts, Sidney and Leopold eventually had both hands behind her back. Sidney tightened the rope with a malicious grin, muttering, "You'll come to regret that, Regina. Gold has plans for you, and you're not going to like them."
She tried to hide her fear at his words, but they knew her too well. No matter how much she tried to mask it, they scented her fear like dogs. Chuckling, they led her to- of course- her least favorite room: the red room. They had devices there that showed them how to best utilize her power to hurt both herself and others. They never showed any mercy, opting to relish in her pain rather than do anything about it. Whatever came next, it wouldn't be good.
Still struggling, she was led to a table and lifted on it. They tied her hands above her head, then did the same to her feet.
Just as Gold was coming toward her, a syringe in his hand, she heard shouting and the sound of guns being fired. A man ran into the room, a bow in his hand, a quiver full of arrows on his back.
"Seize him!" Gold shouted, but before they could, the man had shot them all directly in the eye, each one of them falling to the ground writhing and moaning in pain in rapid succession.
He rushed over to her, and she recoiled. Would this man do to her what he had done to the others? She always had the thought that she would be lucky to see her next birthday, but she had never thought her death would come at the hands of someone other than Gold and his minions.
"Come on!" the man implored her, untying the ropes binding her to the table. "Quickly!" You're free."
Free? It was a novel concept, a pipe dream for the child she had been before being captured and coming here. She hesitated, but there was something about the man, those piercing, kind sapphire eyes, that made her reach out her hand and take his, using it to help her jump off the table.
They ran out of the building hand in hand, rescuing others on the way out. She had no idea what was coming next, but it had to be better than what she was leaving behind.
Trigger warning for child abuse and violence. This is based on prompt 210) In a non magical world, Regina starts exhibiting signs of having magic/super powers and is taken to be studied and tested by the state. At a young age, she is taken by a secret state agency to be studied. She remains there until Robin frees her and others like her from OQ Prompt Party 2021. Hope you enjoyed this, let me know what you think!
