The bus drove down the abandoned street silently. The rain hitting the window soothed my nerves. I could feel myself begin to slip away from reality. For the first time in days, I was finally able to sleep but, like always, the nightmares came.

My heartbeat was as loud as drums. I would have prayed but I was too afraid he could hear me think, that he would find me. Hide. That's what my mom told me. She put me in the empty armoire and shut the door but the old hinges would never allow it to fully close and opened up just enough for me to look through. Mom looked around frantically for somewhere to hide until he burst down the door. His muscular body was tensed and ready, his hand tightened around the knife. The masked mad was twice the size of my mother. Mom tried to make a run for it but the masked man was too fast. He grabbed her and spun her around so that her back was against his powerful chest and his knife at her throat. The man dragged the knife down my mother's cheek slowly, as if enjoying it. She let out a stifled cry which only encouraged his actions. I put a hand over my mouth to muffle my cries. Salty tears streamed down my face. The man then put the knife and let out a dark chuckle, "Say hello to your husband for me." His deep voice echoed throughout the room and would forever scar my mind. Mom looked at me straight in the eyes. She knew I was watching. Her green eyes held so much sorrow but she refused to cry. She wanted to stay strong, even in the face of danger. With his weapon, the man sliced a scarlet line across her pale neck and let her fall onto the ground. Red pooled around her head. My body shook from my silent sobs. She was gone. She couldn't be gone. I am only seven. She promised she wouldn't leave like the others who adopted me. My throat clenched and I felt numb. I felt like I wasn't even there but that I was a ghost who was reliving her death. I looked through the crack of the armoire doors and the man was hunched over like an animal. His arms dangling and his back bent. He lifted his head into the air and took a deep breath. His head quickly snapped to where I was. " I can smell your fear, little girl." His black boots stomped towards me. I pushed myself to the back of the space and wrapped my arms around my legs. He couldn't see me, he couldn't see me. The footsteps became louder and louder. Each footstep nailing me to the earth. I wasn't a spirit watching the past. I was still alive, but not for long. My eyes widened as the light filled wardrobe. "You can't hide from me."

I jolted awake. The bus driver was standing at the end of the leather chair in my row, and looked at me with concern.

"Are you okay, miss? You've been crying out in your sleep." The old man stated. I felt a tear slide down my face and I quickly wiped it away.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry for worrying you. How much longer until we are there?" I asked, wanting to change the subject. The old man scooted back a little from my chair and smiled, "We are here. You were asleep for about fifteen minutes of the trip." I smiled back and grabbed my black duffle bag with shaky hands and headed to the front of the bus. It was raining heavily tonight and we weren't even near the town. There was only the entrance sign. "Sorry, miss, but this is as far as I can go." He apologized.

"It's okay. I just hope I don't catch a cold." I laughed. The man perked up at this and went to the driver's seat and pulled out a red umbrella and offered it to me.

"Oh, no, I really shouldn't." I said but the elderly man placed the umbrella in my hands.

"It's the least I can do. Hopefully it will help you find your way in that town and I hope you find happiness there so you won't have to run away anymore." My jaw dropped. How did he know I was running away? Without another word the bus driver pulled a lever that opened the door. He motioned me forward.

"Thank you so much!" I said before I exited the blue bus. I quickly opened the red umbrella and waved to the bus as it turned around and disappeared in the opposite direction of the town. I observed the sign that read 'Welcome To Storybrooke'. I took a deep breath and began walking in that direction which it pointed to. Hopefully I can start over here, I thought as I walked down the only road that headed to Storybrooke.