Chapter Two: In which Kurt meets his doom…possibly.

Forcefully, Puck lead the dreadfully frightened Kurt deeper and deeper into the depths of the woods. The trees were so dense, only thin beams of half-light seeped through, making the dimly illuminated patches eerie and haunted-looking, and the shadows even darker, like everything merged into one in the inky blackness. The trees were the worst though-like warped, spiky arms, spindly fingers drooping down and scratching. It was as if the whole forest was alive.

Spreading roots sprawled out on the thin, winding path, so hard to see in the dark that Kurt tripped and slipped over them, branches scratching horribly at his skin and clothes. He shivered with the cold and fear as he was dragged into the unknown. He was confused-he'd merely been carrying a basket of stiff gin through the forest for Aunt Mildred, when strong arms had grabbed him from behind, and dragged him here. Never having been to this part of the forest, he was terribly scared. What was this man doing?

Puck gritted his teeth. He didn't look back at the boy he'd kidnapped, just held him firmly by his slim wrist, pulling him behind him. A guilty lunge stirred in his stomach-but he tried to ignore it. He focused on just getting the job done.

Kurt struggled not to whimper in fear as this stranger lead him through this nightmarish labyrinth of trees. The icy wind whistled through the leaves, knifing his porcelain cheeks.

Finally, Puck reached a shadowed clearing in the very heart of the forest. He knew no one would find them there. Avoiding his eyes, he threw his victim onto the hard, cold ground, a solid, mud matter with tufts of long, wild grass, up against a tree. Turning away, Puck began to prepare his weapon. "Don't even think about moving," he grunted.

Frightened tears filled his blue-green eyes as Kurt was helpless on the ground, heart racing with dread as he heard the deadly, long knife being sharpened. This was it. This stranger was going to kill him. Terrified, Kurt prayed it would be over quickly.

After what seemed like forever, Puck finally stopped. He turned around, knife poised, ready to get it done as quickly as he could, without thinking too much. The whole "bring back his heart" thing was still a little ghoulish to him, especially for a fairytale, but he'd just have to not think about it. Kurt closed his eyes tightly, hoping it wouldn't last too long…

He waited.

Nothing happened.

Cautiously, Kurt opened his eyes. He looked up at Puck, eyes wide. As their eyes met-Puck's dagger hand began to shake. He narrowed his eyes, bit his lip-but somehow-he seemed immobile.

Slowly-he dropped the weapon to his side.

"F***," he murmured. "Ah, shit…No," He seemed confused-but resolute. "No, I can't do this, man…"

Kurt's eyes stretched even more, disbelievingly. Puck shook his head.

"No way," He slid the dagger back into his belt. "I can't kill you,"

Kurt couldn't believe it. A bubble of hope rose in his chest.

Crouching down on one knee beside Kurt, Puck looked as though he didn't like this decision much-but his hands were tied. He couldn't do it. "Okay, kid," He looked right at Kurt. "You gotta run. It doesn't matter where, just get outta here. Look, I'll be blunt. Queen Rachel wants you dead,"

Kurt gasped, scared and confused.

"She wants you dead. So if you're smart, you'll beat it right now. But tell anyone I let you go, and you won't be so lucky, okay?"

Kurt nodded, terrified. The Queen wanted him dead?

Gently, but firmly, he shoved Kurt to is feet. "Go!"

Kurt sprinted away as fast as he could into the trees.

Groaning, Puck collapsed back against the tree, pondering what to do now. No way could he have killed that kid. The innocence in his eyes…it made Puck think of his daughter, Beth…

But what to do? Puck needed a heart, or the Queen would surely carry out her threats. Puck was prepared to bet that his head would end up on a spike…not to mention Shelby…

"Urm, excuse me?" came a voice. Puck looked up. "I'm Sebastian Smyth, and I'm a little lost…"

Puck's brain whirred beneath his Mohawk. With a sinister smile, he had a very good idea…

Panting, Kurt staggered through the woods, exhausted from running for so long and so far. Night was falling, and the forest was even more forbidding in the twilight, with less light and more terrible shadows. The wind was stronger, as if trying to pull him off course. He was completely lost-but daren't turn back. Woodland noises surrounded him, twigs cracking under his feet, convincing him someone was following him. He longed to run home-but he knew he couldn't ever return to Lima. Queen Rachel wanted him dead-and what the Queen wanted, she was sure to get.

He was still confused-why? Why would she send someone to horribly murder him? For what reason? He'd never even met her.

Kurt knew the kingdom, though magical, was far from free of evil folk-why, only last week those two poor children had escaped from the witch in the house of candy, where she'd tried to eat them. That was pretty grim. And only last month, that gobby, crude little girl from across the road Goldilocks had been devoured by that nice family of bears at Number Eleven. Who'd have thought it? Though he'd never exactly liked Goldy-she'd always been very rude, and always spat in his flowerbed-he'd never have expected things to get that ugly. And especially not with Mr and Mrs Bear. Why, he'd babysat for Little Bear just a few days before Goldy was reported missing…And then there was poor Bambi's mother being shot, and his friend Briar Rose fated one day to prick her finger and die… Sometimes, Kurt wondered why people read these stories to their children.

But there was no time to ponder that now. He continued through the forest as fast as he could, pretending he was anywhere but here. Oh God, he needed help…

"Uh…uh, hello? *cough*…Hello there?"

Freezing, Kurt whipped around-and gasped. Staggering along, about ten feet away from him, dressed in a short, ruffled pink dress and the highest silver heels Kurt had ever seen, with a small silver tiara perched precariously on her short (dyed) blonde hair-was a fairy. A fairy, just under five feet tall, with glistening, gossamer wings like a butterfly. She looked around, not having seen him yet. Reaching down, she fumbled with the strap of a brown leather pouch at her waist until she released a bottle of vodka. Taking a grateful swig, wincing a little as it burned her throat, she sighed. "Ah, that's the stuff…oh!" Finally, she spotted Kurt, who was confused. "There you are! Don't move!"

Her wings fluttering into action, she zoomed over to him, impressive shoes scuffing the forest floor, until she dropped to a halt in front of him. Looking up at him-her pretty face broke into a huge grin. "Why Kurt! Haven't you grown into a handsome fella, huh?" Reaching up, she pinched his cheek, rather painfully. She seemed to know him…

After the shock, Kurt finally found his voice. "Urm…sorry. But who are you?"

"Oh! Sorry! Forgot," Stepping back, she held out a rather orange, manicured hand. "April Rhodes. I'm your Fairy Godmother!" she announced grandly, swaying slightly.

Kurt frowned. "I have a Fairy Godmother?"

"Why sure you do!" April was pinching his cheeks again, leaving slightly red marks behind. "Well, honey, when I picked up on the old FairyGodmotherNetwork that you were in danger-some huntsman chopping you to bits-I came right here…well. I got distracted,"

She gave a huge, drink-induced hiccough, and Kurt gathered what had distracted her.

"But I'm here now! So…" She waved her sparkly wand experimentally-and a large tree crashed to the ground about thirty feet away.

Kurt was desperate. "Can you show me the way out of here?" he asked.

There was a short pause as April thought, straightening her tiara. "Urm…well…" Pointing a pink-painted finger, she circled it experimentally. "Urm…you could go that way?"

Well. It was worth a try. "Thank you," He turned to follow her guidance, against his better judgement.

"No problem. Hey-what with Queen Rachel wanting you dead, you'll probably be seeing some more of me soon!"

Fear getting the better of him, Kurt spun on his heel. "Can't you come with me?" he asked pleadingly, looking around at the dark, terrifying forest.

"Urm…" April looked around herself. She gave a shudder. "Sorry, kid, uh, other charges! I gotta…go buy a cow off this kid Jack. I hear he's practically giving her away. Toodle pip! Don't take any wooden nickels now!"

And, in a puff of pale pink smoke, which smelt of stale drink, she was gone.

Kurt continued wearily in the north-west direction she had indicated-but it seemed hopeless. The woods seemed to go on forever, and twice he swore he heard a wolf howl. Maybe it was just the wind…but the night got darker and darker, the air colder and colder, the prospect blacker and blacker…

It was hopeless. Overcome with fear and tiredness, Kurt slowed, gasping for breath, and stopped. He collapsed down on the freezing forest floor, and fell fast asleep.

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