A Neglected Perspective || Sisters Grimm

Prologue || Happily Never After

Bustling students surrounded her. They made her nervous already. Behind her, her mother squeezed her shoulders, taking a deep breath. It wasn't reassuring that her mother was just as nervous as she was.

"Mom, I'll be fine," the girl reassured her mother. "It's just school. I've survived school, so far. Besides, I'm a big girl now."

She put on a brave face for her mother, like she always did. The girl even chuckled a little bit, but cut short at the sight of her mother's face. She was aghast. The girl regretted saying anything. She should know better, with the conditions her family was under.

"Let's just check you in, and then we'll head to your class," her mother said with a quavering voice. "Your father should already be waiting for me in the car."

The girl's father had taken her older sister to her school, while her mother took her to hers. It was a strange system they had, switching which parent took which child each year. It might have been because her parents always quarreled over trivial things, although their marriage was fine.

When they got to the classroom, her mother turned to her and told her firmly, "You're older now, and you need to be strong. The phenomenon with Allison is a family secret. As long as you stay focused on your studies, you should stay safe."

The girl nodded. She remembered her parents' lecture about staying out of Everafter affairs. Until she had powers, or was anything like her sister, she was told that it was too dangerous for her to meddle in at the moment.

"Don't worry, mom," she said exasperatedly, "I'll be fine. I know the family rules."

Her mother smiled at her words. "Good girl," she said, kissing her daughter's forehead. "Have fun at school, Emma!"

With that, her mother walked away, leaving young Emma to enter the loud classroom behind her.