The Queen's Thief

Chapter 10: Stolen

*26 years old*
*Story Brooke*
~Samantha's pov~

It's finally time to close down the art show. Most of the art work that the children made was bought immediately because I told everyone attending that all the funds made today are going back to the school to by the children new school supplies like computers and such.

"Hey it looks like someone bought your painting." Mary said as she came over to me from the front. "They had pined this envelope where the painting use to be. It's labeled Miss Bailey."

I was curious so I took the envelope and opened it. There was a decent amount of money and a note.

'I never thought I'd see the day you show the world you art again.'

"Weird..."

"What?" Mary asked as she looked at the note.

"There is no signature, but the handwriting is very feminine." I handed the note to her so she could read it better. "It's like they expected me to know who wrote it."

I began to count the bills and I couldn't believe how much was inside. There is no way my painting would be worth near that much.

"They left a thousand dollars inside with the note." I said as I walked over to the cash box.

"You know almost everything was bought. Only a few things were left behind." Emma came out of nowhere and scared me.

"Well not everyone has the same taste in art. Some people are ahead of their time." I said as I locked the box.

"That's an interesting outlook to horrible art." Mr. Gold said as his cane tapped softly on the ground as he walked over to us.

"I thought you didn't come to these things," Emma said as she crossed he arms and looked at the older man.

"Well Miss Swan that was before I heard Miss Bailey here had a piece of art up herself, but it would seem I missed it. So I'll just be going." He walked passed us and allowed the door to close with a loud bang.

"Come on its getting late and I still have a couple paintings to take to the storage unit." I said as I lead Emma and Mary out of the building right before the buildings janitor locked the doors.

"Emma I've got to go. I have dinner plans." Mary said a bit awkwardly before she parted ways from us.

"Lets go grab those painting and head on over." Emma said as she got into her yellow bug. "Do you want a ride since you walked here?"

"Sure thanks." I said as I walked around her car and sat in the passenger seat.

She quickly drove to our apartment building and I ran inside and grabbed the remaining paintings that were finished. I also grabbed my wallet since I had forgotten to grab it this morning. I carefully carried the paintings to Emma's car and placed them in the back seat.

We drove in silence until Emma decided to speak up. "So do you know who bought your painting?"

"No, do you happen to know?"

"I think I know, but I cant be positive." she pulled into a parking space and turned the engine off. "Come on lets get into their new resting place," she teased.

She grabbed 2 of the paintings and I managed to grab the last one before she could. We walked all the way to my storage unit and I had to the painting down before I could unlock it.

I knelt down to grab the lock my heart froze when I looked at the lock. someone had used bolt cutters on it and snapped the lock.

I quickly stood up and pulled the door open. Everything was gone.

"Who would do this?" I said as I slowly sat down on the ground and looked at the back wall.

There was a message painted on the wall in what looked to be blueish spray paint.

'Quit or else.'

"Who wants you to quit what?" Emma asked as she placed the second painting down next to the other one.

There was only one possibility that this was written, but it didnt narrow down who could have done it.

"They don't want me teaching. Its most people in this town, but whoever did this was upset about the recent ruling that was them trying to get me fired." I knew I had a couple tears running down my cheeks.

"Why don't they want you teaching?"

"Because I'm gay. Emma not everyone is ok with me being openly gay. People in this town are the reason why people like me hide away these things. I use to be very open about it, until..." I stood up and walked out of the storage unit. "One day I got jumped walking home after a night with a girl I liked. This was before my brother was murdered. I tired to hide the fact of what happened from him and he went after the guys because of me."

"I'm so sorry." she stepped closer like she was trying to comfort me but I instinctively stepped back.

"They dumped him on our door step and left a note on him for me." I had a steadier stream of tears running down my face now. "I hid myself away for quite a few years until I found the Bad Wolf. Then my father drank himself to death and I was lost. Regina found me and gave me a job at the school because she knew I about my art skills and she knew I needed something to give me light. She also seems to be the only one who doesn't know I'm gay either that or she doesn't care." I knew I was rambling but I felt it was long past due. "Not everyone in this town knows I'm gay but they know something is up."

She didn't say anything she just stood there.

"Do you think you'd be able to take these back to my place?" I began to walk away from the storage unit.

"Yea, where are you going?"

"I'm gonna go for a walk." I said as I walked away.