DESTINY

Chapter 16 - Allies

        Under the sunless overly winter day, the snowflakes dancing harshly rendered the streets empty, except for Kristoff and Anna who were fighting against the beastly winds in order to find a bit of food and shelter, and Zelena if they were lucky enough. They sat feet on the only establishment opened they’ve seen in town, Granny’s diner. Kristoff opened the door and a clinking sound echoed a little, he let Anna came in first then he followed.

Anna paused, Granny’s eyes on her and Ruby casually glancing towards them, “We don’t have anything to pay them,” she whispered to him. Beneath her thick clothing, she still can’t help but to shiver, her skin’s pastel and her lips, blue-tinged.

“It’s alright,” he tried to reassure her, bringing her closer to his chest, trying to keep her warm.

A few feet from them, on the cashier, Granny noticed the trouble the girl’s into. “Come in, come in,” she yelled towards them, pulling out a blanket from a drawer beside her.

Ruby grabbed it and immediately handed it to the girl who’s shy enough to accept it, “Take it,” Ruby said smilingly. She then gestured for them to come in and offered them a table farthest from the door.

Anna covered herself with the blanket, putting it on her back, holding it across her chest. “Th-thank you,” she mumbled to Ruby, her teeth chattering from the cold.

Ruby smiled, and coming towards them was Granny, bringing two cups of hot coffee with whip cream, sprinkled with cinnamon. “You two are new here,” Granny said. It wasn’t a question, it was a statement of observation. She motioned to Ruby and in an instant, she returned with a plate with two burgers on it and laid it on the customers’ table.

“Yes we are,” Kristoff responded, holding the cup with two hands, letting its heat spread into him.

“We don’t have anything to pay for these,” Anna said looking only on the food presented to them.

“Oh, it’s fine,” Granny calmed her. “This winter had already taken the best of us,” she chuckled.

Anna took one of the burgers and immediately had a mouthful bite, “Thank you,” she incomprehensibly said with her mouth full.

“No problem but you better learn to slow down or that delicious burger would be the last thing you’d have a taste of,” Granny warned jokingly.

However, Ruby on the other hand sensed something, “Have we met before?” She asked. The two didn’t reply. “In the forest, maybe?” Their scent reminded her of something. Something familiar and a little dangerous at the same time.

“I don’t think so,” Kristoff looked at her before turning her gaze back on Anna and had a bite of the food too.

Then it hit Ruby and she repeated, “In the woods… in the impossibly dry cottage where we found Zelena.” Granny froze at the sound of the Witch’s name while Anna and Kristoff sat there, unmoving as well. “You were there, right?” And before the two could have answered, their conversation was interrupted by a phone call. Ruby picked up her phone and answered, “Hello.” There was a long pause after Ruby’s first word, the person on the other line has been doing all the talking, “Okay,” she finally uttered after a minute. Then she looked at Granny and turned her gaze back on the strangers and right before she hung up the phone, she smirked and said, “We’ll bring some guests.”

                o-o

“Are you sure this is going to work?” Zelena asked.

Regina grinned and replied, “Have you lost your confidence in me? Or in yourself?”

“Have you seen what Rumplestiltskin did to me?” She said slightly terrified.