The Escape
He and Emma weren't the only ones taken in by this mysterious benefactor. Other children were already there waiting. August didn't like the way they sized him up and pressed Emma closer to him. Eventually they backed off, allowing him to collapse on a bed. They tried taking Emma away and at first he refused to let go. But he was so tired his fingers lost their grip.
August woke in a panic, searching everywhere for Emma until he finally found her lying peacefully in what he learned was a "crib". She wiggled her arms and cooed at him. Smiling back, August kissed his fingers and rubbed them against her forehead.
Over the next few days August learned a lot about their new surroundings. There were things like "school" and "homework" that the children dreaded, and "television" that they loved. The television fascinated him; he was convinced it was magic until one of the kids showed him how it worked. The other kids were happy to show him all kinds of things: how to get candy when they went out, what to do in a fight, and when to keep his mouth shut.
In his free time he explored around. If he walked in somewhere he shouldn't he got a hard hit from the man. "You don't have the right to go in there!" the man would shout. Most of the kids called him "Sir" to his face and names like "Big Ugly" behind his back. As long as Emma was safe, August could take a few hits.
His biggest find was in a book called Fairy Tales. August couldn't believe that anyone would write about fairies. But it turned out to be more incredible than that. Snow White, Red Riding Hood, Rumpelstiltskin, Cinderella… They were all here within the pages. The details changed but the story was the same.
"Emma…" August could hardly stop his fingers from trembling. "Emma, this is why you need me to help you believe. And I will; I promise I'll help you believe in us." His own story he kept to himself but he told her about everyone else.
The other kids didn't make it easy on him. "Those stories are for babies," they sneered. Or "Only idiots believe in fairies". August hated the sound of them laughing. He was supposed to be protected from the curse but it felt like it was still seeping into him, making him doubt.
It was so hard to be good. Whenever he tried, the other kids mocked him or Big Ugly scolded him. Don't touch this, don't go there, this isn't yours. They weren't wanted here but where else could they go?
One of the other kids found a roll of money. They could get away… but Emma would be left behind.
August hated this place. Looking after Emma all the time was exhausting, and he couldn't even do it without ridicule. The thought of watching her day after day for the next twenty-eight years was horrifying. As long as he stayed here he was trapped. But I promised. Everyone's counting on me. It was too much a burden to bear; he wasn't strong enough.
"I'm sorry, Emma," he whispered, kissing his fingers and rubbing her forehead one last time. He could hear her crying after him; he didn't look back once.
He was a coward, a liar and selfish. He was only human.