Once A Lost Girl | Once Upon A Time Story | Peter Pan

03x01 - Saved - Past

"Come on! She's over 'ere!" I ducked behind a fallen log and nearly fell from the slight decline of the ground.

      "Where's she gone?" another of the villagers shouted. 

      I placed a hand over my mouth to quell my sobs. I was being hunted by the village I'd once lived in. I heard the footsteps on the path above me and dared to peak over the side. Once they went passed I stood, trekking into the woods. I allowed myself a moment to breathe and that was all it took for someone to grab me. They put their hand over my mouth to keep me from screaming. I thrashed, trying to get away.

      "Stop struggling, they'll hear you!" the voice sounded male. I elbowed him in the stomach and when he doubled over I ripped away from him, backing away very effectively into another tree, "I'm not trying to hurt you."

       "That's not what I'm afraid of," I looked the brunette in his eyes. He looked maybe a few years younger than me, "you shouldn't try to help me."

       "Why not?" he asked. My eyes darted between him and the road. It was getting dark, and I could see the light of the torches. 

        "They'll hunt you too--say you're a monster."

        "I've found her! She's gone into the woods!" and then five men came into the woods after me. I took off, running in the first direction I thought of, which was away from whoever had tried to help me. I can't get close to anyone. They all end up the same way. 

        My lungs burned as I hurried through the trees. I hopped over stray roots and did my best to avoid logs. Even at my current speed, the men from my former village were able to keep up. I couldn't keep this up. I needed to tip the odds. 

        As I continued on I reached my hand out and scraped a tree. I didn't look back, but I heard the unmistakable sound of it crashing to the ground. My legs carried me further, before I was completely unable to continue. I fell to the ground, sobbing into my hands as quietly as I could. I'd been betrayed--by my friends and by my family. Then again, I didn't deserve their love or their forgiveness. 

        I'm cursed. Anything I touch when I'm upset or sad withers and turns to ash. My hands do nothing but destroy. They're right to come after me, and I should have let them kill me. My supposed parents always said something in me was evil, and that I was destined to live out my days in pain because of it. They said I could never escape my destiny and I'm starting to think they're right. 

         Still, even through the tears and the burning in my legs, I rose. I needed to keep going; to find shelter. My body continued back to the main road. As I continued I listened for anything that could possibly indicate another town so I could perhaps find an abandoned building. There was nothing.

         Only when I heard the rush of water did I realize I was thirsty. I'd managed to thoroughly dehydrate myself, "please be real," I muttered, stepping passed the treeline. 

         I spotted the river and tripped over myself getting to it. Before I could drink, however, I heard a twig snap and I whipped around to see an arrow aimed for my eye, "who are you?"

        "N-no one," I said, "I just--I just need something to drink and then I'll leave," I rushed, "I swear." 

        "I'm sorry," she sighed, lowering her bow, "I didn't mean to scare you, but when you're on the run it's hard to know who's here for water and who's here to kill you," the woman put her arrow back into her quiver and then handed me a pouch, "here, drink as much as you like."

         I took it hesitantly. Our hands brushed and thankfully nothing happened. I relaxed, finally getting a good look at the woman before me. Her skin was pale, almost porcelain except for the redness in her cheeks. Her eyes were a deep chestnut and her hair was as black as the night sky.