A/N Here's chapter 5! We are so close to 1,000 reads! I know that's not much but compared to the 120 reads on Wattpad that's a big deal! Please share my story and review! xxx
My body throws itself forward and I take a gasping breath. My muscles scream from the sudden movement and my eyes water from the bright light. It takes me a minute to realize that I wasn't in a memory but in the real world. But how?
I swing my legs over the side of my bed and slide off. Right when I put pressure on my feet my knees buckle and I grab the bed. "Damn." I mumble. I pull myself up and try again. After how ever long I've been here I'm finally standing. Let me tell you, it feels nice to finally touch solid ground.
I look around for a doctor or maybe even Nova but everyone seems to be clustered down the hall in another room. The patient probably needs more help than me. I go back into my room and start changing into my normal skinny jeans and leather jacket. Just as I slide my phone into my back pocket multiple sets of feet started running in my direction. Not sure what to expect I put my hand on my knife which was hidden in my inner coat pocket.
My door bursts open and the first face I see is Regina' I could recognize any of the other faces or question why Regina was the first one into my room, I'm sucked into a memory.
"Mother? Where are we going?" I tug on her skirts.
"Hush now, child. Don't ask so many questions," she replied. Her eyes searched around the tent anxiously. I watched as she gathered our things.
"You're scaring me, mother. Is there something wrong?" She glanced towards me before stuffing our clothes into a bag.
"Now is not the time, Destiny. Be a good girl and gather your belongings. We must leave now."
Without another word, I did as she said. Cautiously, mother peeked out of the tent. When the coast was clear, she signalled me outside.
I grabbed my cloak and followed my mother woods were silent. Several tents like ours were circled around a dying fire. Mother held onto my hand and started running. We ran deep into the woods, pushing branches out of our faces.
I glanced back, watching the light of fire grow smaller as we ran further away. As we entered a clearing, we stopped, catching our breaths. Clasping tightly onto my bag, I searched our surroundings.
I looked towards mother. She sat exhausted on the grass. Her hood covered most of her I could ask her what was going on, something rustled before us. Slowly, two cloaked figures emerged from the dark. Mother got back to her feet.
"Cora!" Mother cried, rushing towards the figures. As they grew closer, they removed their hoods, revealing two pale faces. One of a grown woman and the other of a child my age. A smile formed on the grown woman's red lips as she embraced my mother in her arms.
I turned my gaze towards the young child, who was also looking towards me with her dark brown eyes. Her dark, braided hair was pulled to the side. She smiled warmly towards me.
As my mother was occupied with Cora, I walked up to the girl.
"What's your name," she asked. Her smile unfaltered.
"Destiny. What's yours?" I replied. Her smile widened.
"I'm Regina."
I blink my eyes and instead of a smiling fourteen year old girl, I see the much older face of Regina.
"Regina?"
Regina stands still near the open door. Her eyes are tearful. She smiles widely.
I raise an eyebrow. Regina smiling... What did I miss? I think to myself. I straighten up slowly, gripping hard onto the edge of the bed. I look back towards her. She continues staring at me.
"Did I ever tell you that you look freaky when you smile?" I smirk. Slowly, Regina walks towards me.
"If you're here to argue or fight, I'm not in the mood. I'll let you know when I'm in the mo-" Regina pulls me into a hug. I look at her, confused. What the hell is going on?
"Don't you remember me... Destiny?"
I freeze at the sound of my name. How does she know my real name? She shouldn't remember me because of the curse... I widen my eyes in realisation.
Automatically, I hug her back.
"How can I forget that freaky smile?" I laugh. We broke out of the hug.
Regina wipes her tears.
"How long has it been since we saw each other?" She asks. We both sit down on the bed. I smile sadly at her.
"It's been long," I reply. We both sit silently. After all those years we were apart, this is the first time I feel awkward with her.
"Do you remember when we first met each other?" I ask, thinking back to the memory. Regina grins.
"How could I forget? My mom had told me I was going to get a sister."
"That's one time she hasn't lied to you." I laugh. "I'm so glad to actually see you, Regina. I'm sorry for being sneaky and such."
She shrugs it off, "I'd do the same thing."
I look over Regina's shoulder and recognize some more familiar faces that sparked a small memory. But none of them are who I'm looking for. "Where's Nova?"
"I'm guessing that's your friend you always talked about?" I look down at my hands.
"Yeah. When we went our own ways, I felt lonely. When my mother died, I grew even more lonely. It was the most awful feeling in the world. Then one day, I bumped into Nova and eventually... We became friends. Though sometimes she annoys me like hell." I grin. I look up at Regina. Her eyes are clouded with sadness. She must remember that time too.
"She's a good friend to you, you know. I can't count the number of times I've seen her visit you in hospital and come out tearful. I'm glad she was there for you when I wasn't," she replies, smiling sadly. I thought I remembered hearing her voice, I think.
"I'm glad too."
I glance towards the door just in time to see nova rush in. She freezes when she sees me. Her eyes swell up with tears.
"Destiny!" She cries. She rushes to me and pulls me into a tight hug.
"You're ok now! Do you know how much I missed you!" she cries. I struggle to breath and try to move out of the she continues hugging me. I grit my teeth.
"I... Can't... Breath. Nova!" I yell. Taken back, she pulls out of the hug. I glare at her, panting.
Nova smiles sheepishly. "Sorry. I was so worried about you!" She looks over at Regina. "So you're besties with the Evil Queen? Only you, Destiny."
I shrug, "What can I say? I love powerful people." I wink at Regina and she smiles. Just then the doc comes in.
"The people are remembering, Queen. You might want to hide."
Regina frowns, then takes my hand. "I'll see you soon." With that she walks briskly out the door.
I look back towards Nova who takes Regina's space.
"So what did I miss other than the curse breaking?"
Nova shrugs.
"Nothing much to be honest. The shop's been running like normal..." Nova looks down on the floor. I narrow my eyes.
"Is there something you're not telling me?" Nova looks up at me. A smile creeps up on her lips.
"Well, there is this guy..." My eyes widen.
"Who is this guy? Has he been treating you badly? Because if he has, I will..." Nova shakes her head.
"No! He's been really nice to me. I've not seen anyone like him," she blushes. I sigh in relief.
"What's his name?"
"Jefferson,"
I raise an eyebrow.
"Seriously, you fell in love with a mad man?"
"For your information, he's not mad. He's pretty sane to me!" She scolds. I grin at her annoyed face.
"We'll talk about this later. Right now, I need to see what's going on outside," I say. Slowly, I get up. I grip onto nova weakly, feeling my legs grow weak. Nova carefully seats me down.
"Woah, you are definitely not ready to start walking. I'll check what's going on outside and i'll let you you be ok?"
"Yeah. And Nova!" I call as she walks towards the door. She turns to me.
"I missed you too," I reply, smiling. She smiles back before walking outside.
After a while I spot Nova walking back. As Nova walked down the corridor, I spot Rumple limp towards me, leaning on his cane. Suddenly, a flashback enters my mind…
"Destiny Briggs! My, my." Rumple clicks his tongue as he circles me.
"Please do not circle me like a vulture watching a dying pig. Do you like the dress or not?" Today was my first day on the job. I had been living with Rumple for about a week in his castle after he had found me on the road. The customer we were to be seeing didn't pay their half of the deal so we have to crash their party and demand payment. For some unknown reason, Rumple demands for me to wear a party dress.
"It's not the best but it'll do." He shrugs nonchalantly.
I give him a mock curtsy, "Thank you." I stand up and roll my eyes. "Let's get moving before all the food is gone."
He grabs my arm and we disappear in a flash. An instant later we appear inside the ballroom. Couples dance around us as we make our way to the front of the room where our customers sat content. I let Rumple make his grand entrance, waiting a couple seconds before joining him.
"We are not here to chit-chat. What did you promise him as payment?" I fold my arms, already bored with the party.
The couple look at me with a mix of disgust and curiosity. "Our first born." The wife states, raising her chin as if challenging me. Challenge accepted.
"Idiots." I mumble, before addressing the royal couple. "Do people EVER read the contracts before signing?" I snap my hand and the contract materializes in the air in front of me. I pull out some glasses and start reading. After a second I put up my finger, "Here it is! 'By agreeing to whatever price is made, the owner/owners no longer claim right over'-"
"-we understand the contract. Unfortunately, we are left with no choice but to give our child as payment," The husband interrupts, growing impatient. The wife acts strong but I see her fiddle with her necklace anxiously.
The contract disappears into the air. I try to hold in my anger. How could you just give your own child away?
Rumple giggles happily.
"A worthy payment, if I do say so myself. Now, where is the child?"
At that moment, a servant appears, holding a sleeping baby in their arms. Rumple signals me towards the servant. Carefully, I take the child into my own arms and look at it's peaceful, innocent face.
"We will be on my way now. Nice doing business with you." With that said, rumple walks away. I follow behind him, feeling my heart grow heavy. I stop for a moment. I'm about to turn back to the couple when rumple clasps my arm, transporting us to his castle.
Calmly, he walks towards his desk.
Before I could protest, he holds his hand up.
"I know what you had in mind. And I suggest you remove that possibility from your head. Once a payment is made, it cannot be changed,"
"It's just not right..." I whisper, looking back at the child. Rumple stops what he's doing.
"In this world, no one can be too kind. Those who are too kind don't live better lives than those who are bad. You best start learning that, dearie. Now take the child inside. I'll decide what we do with it later," he finishes.
Silently, I walk out of the hall with the child.
"Hello Rumple." I nod at him.
He nods back, "Destiny."
I let out a girly giggle and run up to him, enveloping him in a hug. "Ahh it's been too long!"
Rumple gently pats me on the back.
"Indeed. It has been long." Rumple pulls out the hug with a wide smile. Nova holds onto my arm to help me keep my balance. Rumple grips onto his cane with both hands.
"How are you feeling now?"
"A bit weak but I'll manage," I grin. A thought comes to mind.
"By the way, how did I fall into a sleeping curse?" I ask, remembering what Nova had told me. Rumple glances at Nova, then looks back at me.
"Remember when you saw that blue necklace? It... Was cursed. That's why I tried to stop you from touching it but I guess i was too late,"
I stare at him, confused.
"It was cursed? That necklace was mine, how could it be cursed?" I murmur almost to myself. Something flashes in Rumple's eyes for a second.
"Wait, how did you get that necklace?" I narrow my eyes with suspicion.
Before Rumple could answer me, Emma runs up behind him.
"Nova, Henry's..." Emma stares at me.
"Kailee. You're awake!" Emma exclaims. I smile awkwardly.
"I'll let you ladies catch up. It was nice seeing you again," Rumple nods towards me. Before I could protest, he walks away. I look back at Emma.
"You must be Emma," I reply.