Sitting in the police station, Iliya watched everyone move about. Some of the men in blue – police officers they were called – were escorting people with their hands bound. Some were carrying papers, and others were just sitting either writing or looking at square object on their desk. Iliya had gotten a glimpse of the square object when Michael led her to his desk. She was able to see some words so perhaps it was some sort of writing device. There was so much she had to learn of this new land.

"Tell me, Iliya, where are your parents?" Michael asked, bringing Iliya out of her thoughts.

She glanced at him for a moment and then turned away. Her heart quickened as she thought about what would happen if she said she did not have any? Why did her mother send her through the portal alone? Her mother could have escaped with her. How could her mother ever believe that she could survive on her own?

The officer must have understood her silence because he said, "I'm sorry."

Iliya glanced back up at him. "I can take care of myself."

"I have no doubt, but unfortunately I can't have you wandering the streets by yourself."

"What's going to happen to me?"

"Just sit tight." Michael said. He then stood and walked away.

Iliya watched as he went. She thought about running, but she looked around at the many people. She would be caught for sure. She mentally chided herself. If she had been better at stealing this would not have happened. Either she had to get better at stealing, or she had to find a way to make money. That seemed like the better option as stealing was not right.

Michael soon came back and Iliya was full of dread as she waited to hear what would become of her. "All right, Iliya, there is a children's home that I'm going to take you to."

"A children's home? I don't need to go to a children's home."

"Sorry, kiddo, but you don't have a choice."

Iliya was again led back to the strange carriage and they were on the move once more. She tried to look on the positive side. Maybe it would not be as bad as she thought it would. No one could ever replace her family, but maybe she could find someone who would want her and she could actually start a new life here. At least going to a children's home was better than some of the other things she thought would happen to her.

When Iliya and Michael arrived at the children's home, Iliya did not stray far from him. They were greeted at the door by a woman and she let them inside. Iliya didn't pay attention to what was being said by Michael and the woman. She was too busy looking at her new surroundings. There were a few children playing nearby. When they noticed her they began whispering with each other.

"All right, Iliya, I'm leaving now," Michael said, making Iliya turn her attention back to him. "This is Karen. She is going to take care of you."

"Why can't I just go home with you?" Iliya wondered. Michael had been nice to her and she would rather go with someone she got to know a little than with someone she did not know at all.

"Having a kid is a big responsibility, Iliya, and I'm not sure I'm the right person for you. You'll be adopted by someone who will take really good care of you. Bye, Iliya." Michael left and Iliya was alone.

"Come, Iliya," Karen said. She showed Iliya where she would be sleeping and explained the rules.

It was getting late now so Iliya didn't have a chance to actually get to know the other children, but as they were getting ready for bed a few of the children did introduce themselves. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad here.

The first night at the children's home was strange. Iliya had to share a room with nine other little girls, which she didn't mind too much. She also did enjoy sleeping in a bed. It was much more comfortable than sleeping on the ground.

As Iliya drifted off to sleep, she hugged her wooden knight close.

"Give me the magic bean," Evil Queen said.

"I will not," Iliya's father said.

The Evil Queen held out her hand as she formed a fireball and then threw the fireball at him. Her mother threw the magic bean which opened a portal. Iliya's mother kissed her forehead then pushed her in the portal. The Evil Queen's face came into view.

Iliya woke up screaming. She scanned the room, eyes wild with fear, searching for the Evil Queen. The only people she saw were the other girls, staring at her in confusion. Realizing the Evil Queen was not there, Iliya hugged her legs to her chest as tears fell down her cheeks.

"What is going on?" Karen asked as she came in the room.

All of the children pointed to Iliya.

Karen went and sat next to her. "Iliya, what's wrong?"

Iliya shook her head. She would not understand. None of them would understand. "Sorry, just a nightmare."

"It's all right. Nightmares can't hurt you."

If you only knew. Iliya thought.

Once Iliya had calmed down and Karen told the other children to go back to sleep, Iliya laid in bed. Sleep did not come to her that night. Every time she closed her eyes she would see the face of the Evil Queen.

The next day, Iliya kept to herself. Many of the kids were already talking about her. One of the older girls had told her she did not appreciate getting woken up like that. Iliya had apologized, though it wasn't as if she could control her nightmares.

"What's this?" Adam asked, grabbing the wooden knight from Iliya's hands.

"Hey, give that back," Iliya said.

"It's just a wooden toy," He said as he tossed it to Jack.

"That's mine." Iliya stood, glaring at the boy.

"Sounds like it means a lot to you," Jack said.

"It does. My best friend gave me that."

"Oh yeah? Where is your best friend now?"

Iliya was silent for a moment before she said, "He's gone."

"What? Are you going to cry now?" Adam asked.

Jack, who still had Iliya's wooden knight, held it out to her. "I'm sorry," He said.

Iliya quickly wiped her eyes before the tears could fall and grabbed her wooden knight. "Thank you."

The next few days had not been any better. Iliya continued getting her nightmares and waking up in the middle of the night. The other kids who shared her room were not happy getting woken up every night. All the kids were talking about her, wondering what had happened to her to make her have nightmares. If only she could talk to someone that would believe her.

One day, a couple came to adopt a child. Iliya stayed in a corner by herself. Another couple who had come the other day talked to Iliya. They had asked her what she liked to do for fun, but all she did was shrug. It had been so long since she did anything fun. Her parents had been searching for a magic bean for a long time. And then, when they found it they were soon caught by the Evil Queen and went on the run. The last time she actually had fun was with her friend in the castle. When the couple realized she was not going to talk much they went to talk with the other children.

"What are you doing over here by yourself?" Someone asked.

Iliya looked up to see a woman. Iliya shrugged as she went back to playing with her wooden knight.

"My name is Hannah, what's yours?"

"Iliya."

"Iliya. That's a pretty name."

Soon, the two of them were joined by her husband and the three of them talked for a while. They seemed like nice people. Iliya didn't talk about herself, but the couple did talk about their home and how they had a big backyard for a child to play in. They also had a pool for swimming. Iliya wasn't good at swimming, but she did enjoy it.

The couple shared a look then went to talk to Karen.

Wanting to know what they were talking about, Iliya quietly made her way by the door to listen in.

"I should warn you, Iliya does suffer from nightmares," Karen explained. "She wakes up just about every night screaming."

"What are her nightmares about?" Hannah asked.

"I don't know. Iliya keeps mostly to herself and won't talk about what happened to her before she came here."

"It sounds like she has a lot of problems, Hannah." Her husband said. "I don't know if we can handle her. We don't even know everything that is wrong with her."

So, there was something wrong with her? Well, if no one wanted her because there was something wrong with her than she didn't need anyone either.

The couple had decided to adopt another child, which didn't bother Iliya. She didn't need anyone. She had been here long enough. If no one wanted her by now then they probably would never want her. In that moment she made a decision. She could get by in this land on her own.

That night, when everyone had gone to sleep, Iliya quietly made her way to the kitchen. She grabbed a bag and filled it with some food. At least it would last her for a few days until she could figure something out.

Once the bag was full she made her way out of the children's home and didn't look back.

As Iliya walked through the city looking for a place to sleep, she thought back to her life in the Enchanted Forest and to her best friend.

Iliya had been dragged to another one of her parents' meetings. She really didn't understand why she had to come. Luckily, her best friend was also dragged to these meetings.

"Hey, Pinocchio." Iliya said as she sat next to him.

"Hi, Iliya."

Iliya noticed three wooden knights. "What are you playing?"

"I'm saving the kingdom from the evil knight," Pinocchio said as he held up one of the wooden knights.

"Why does he want to take over the kingdom?"

"He has always been made fun of because he was not a good knight. He kept messing things up. So, he finally decided to show everyone that he is better than them."

"How awful. Who is going up against him?"

Pinocchio held up one of the knights. "This is Cameron. He is the one who trained the dark knight so he believes it's his responsibility to stop the him."

"And what about that one?" Iliya pointed to the third knight lying on the floor.

Pinocchio picked it up. "This is another knight that is trying to stop the dark knight." Pinocchio held it out for Iliya. "Do you want to play with him? He doesn't have a name yet."

Iliya took the knight. "I think I will name him…Augustine, but everyone calls him August. August the knight." Iliya smiled.

And so, they played together fighting the evil knight. And that was how it was every time Iliya was dragged to the meeting, she and Pinocchio would play with the knights. Sometimes they would get too loud and were told to wait in another room.

The last time she saw Pinocchio, they were fighting the evil knight once more and this time the good side was going to win.

Iliya held up her knight next to the evil knight. "Please, stop this fight," She said in a deep voice. "I know this is not who you truly are."

"And how do you know who are truly am?" Pinocchio said, also in a deep voice.

"Because - and then August takes off his helmet to reveal that he is actually a girl. I was in love with you before all this."

"Oh, that's a good twist," Pinocchio said. "I-"

"Iliya, we have to go." Her mother said, interrupting what Pinocchio was going to say.

Iliya looked back. "Coming." She then looked back at Pinocchio and held out her knight to him. "Until next time."

"You keep it. And next time the evil knight will have an answer to what August has just revealed."

Iliya smiled. "Ok." Iliya waved good-bye then made her way to her parents, not knowing that that would be the last time she would see Pinocchio.

Iliya stopped walking as she gazed up to the sky. If she was going to make a new life in this land then perhaps she should choose a new name. Yes, a new name for a new life. Her new name would be…Cameron.