Once Upon a Midnight: The Star-Crossed

Chapter 01: The Stranger

-"Why?!" A woman howled, her cries like a creature being tortured. Her face scrunched up and distorted, tears streaming from her eyes, she seemed like Niobe of Greek myth.

"I...Mrs. Gray, I..."

"Don't touch me!" The woman screamed, her voice echoing through the hospital corridor as did the slap across the other's face. "This is your fault! All of it! My son is...my child is..." She gasped and slapped the younger woman again. And again. "It's your fault! Yours! You cursed demon!"

"Stop! Stop!" A few orderlies and nurses rushed towards them, grabbing the older woman's arms. They pulled Mrs. Gray away from the younger woman who made no attempt to escape the blows. It wasn't until the older woman was gone and the hall quieted, that the younger woman moved.

Then all she did was touched her cheek, her cheeks drenched with silent tears. Tears that stung.

"I..."

Her lips trembled and she hurried away, towards the closest restroom. She barely managed to shut the stall door before sobbing and retching, her insides burning. Every inch of her body shook. "I...I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

"There you go." The cashier said as he handed the customer her change, his smile courteous.

"...thank you." Said the young woman, as she pulled a few strands of her cropped short, chestnut hair behind her ears. Her lips pulled into a shy smile, she picked up her purchased items from the counter.

"Say, where you headed?" The cashier asked, curious as he eyed the young woman and the disheveled car she had parked in the lot.

"Um, I..." The woman smiled shyly in answer, her hand tensing as she lifted her second bag. It wasn't much, but the cashier noticed it.

"Are you okay? Do you need help carrying everything to your car?"

She shook her head, and cleared her throat. "No. I'm okay. I'm fine."

"You're sure?"

"Yeah. I..." She faltered, fumbling over what to say, before plastering a slightly wider smile on her face. "Storybrooke. I'm heading to a town called Storybrooke. It's...I've been told it's the perfect place for a fresh start."

"Storybrooke, huh? Never heard of it. Is it out of state?" The cashier asked, glancing briefly at a customer loitering near the alcohol.

"No, it's..."

"Hey! You! I saw that!" The cashier shouted at the other customer, after seeing the young man slip a bottle under his jacket. Before the cashier could get another word out, the shoplifter ran for the exit. "You son of a..."

The cashier hurried after the shoplifter, pushing past the young woman who stood rock still at the counter.

She swallowed and turned slowly, her cheeks pale. Her crystal blue eyes watched the scene unfold - watched as the cashier chased after the shoplifter, catching hold of him midway across the parking lot. Watched as the bottle fell and shattered on the asphalt, watched as the cashier tackled the teen. Her chest tightened as the cashier and teen stumbled, landing on top of the shattered bottle.

She swallowed, her eyes barely blinking as the cashier grimaced and rolled onto his back. A large shard of glass sticking out of his chest. She tensed as the teen, only slightly scratched by the fall, hurriedly stood up and gazed horrified at the fatally wounded cashier. The shoplifter stumbled backwards a few steps before running off.

-"You cursed demon!"-

She gasped, her chest tightened with horror, the woman's accusation echoing in her head. 'It can't...it...'

She blinked, her body rooted to the spot, and slowly glanced back into the store. Her gaze slowly shifted to behind the counter, her body tensing each second. There was a loud thud, as her bags fell from her slackened grip, and her breath quickened.

The cash register, filled with bills, lay opened behind the counter.

"No. Please." She mumbled, her vision blurring.

-"You cursed demon! Why?! Why my son?! Why?!" The older woman screamed, her face twisted in grief. "Get the hell out! You and your wretched, cursed luck! Get!" -

"No. I..." She covered her mouth with trembling fingers, her eyes red-rimmed and sore. She glanced towards the cashier lying motionless outside, knowing by the sickening dread in her stomach that it was too late. "...I am cursed."

-"There's one place that can help you." The man said, his voice calm and comforting. "A town in Maine, called Storybrooke. You can move there, and get a fresh start. Free from...from this bad luck that follows you."

"But..." She whispered into the phone, her heart aching. "I don't have the money. I..."

"Don't worry. I'll send you some and the directions. It's not far from my old home." He reassured her, her heart fluttering just listening to the sound. She couldn't help but mutter 'all right', before saying goodbye. "Goodnight, Deidre."-

She closed her eyes, taking in a breath, her heart fluttering from the man's voice even though it was just a memory. Opening her eyes, the blue orbs weary but hardened from determination, Deidre grabbed the cash. Within moments her bags were filled with all the money they could hold, and she was driving away.

It was only as she was driving away that she called the police, pausing only briefly as she thought of the cashier. His dead face had been contorted with surprise when she passed, the latest in a long line of those with the misfortune to cross her path. And hopefully the last victim of whatever wretched curse followed her.