Jessika POV

When I woke up, I felt stiff and my body ached in all parts. Even my hair hurt.

I blinked and looked around at my surroundings. I was in a vehicle, as I felt it was moving. It was like an enclosed wooden carriage area. I sat up, and it was only then that I noticed ginger. She was sitting opposite me, her  blue eyes staring into mine, as she rested her head on her knees. "You're finally awake". She said flatly. "I was worried you were dead".

"You don't sound worried to me". I said. "Where the heck are we"?

"We were both captured by the elves".

Then it all came rushing back to me. I was going to my friends to see if they were alright, when someone caught me from behind, and I was probably knocked out.

"Shoot", I said, annoyed. "This is bad. Really bad. I'm worried about the others". I tried to stand up, but my legs were shaking and my head started to spin wildly. I quickly sat back down, and sighed. The second time in one day of me being captured and imprisoned in a small, dark place.

"It's the same thing that they did to the others. I'm not sure how, but somehow they came in contact with a powder called Elfin which are dangerous for humans. I'm sure they wore it on themselves when they came here, and when the others took in its scent, they got all sick". Ginger explained. "I didn't realise it until too late when I saw one elf's helmet fly off revealing a white powdered face".

"But how come you didn't get effected by it"? I asked. She didn't answer, so I decided not to prod on. 

"We need to get out of here". I said, urgently. "I need to get to the others".

"This place is secured with human proof materials. We won't be able to escape until they let us out. But I have no idea where they're taking us. We will have to just wait and see. Besides, we must still be close to the town, because I'm not able to leave the surrounding area".

She pulled her knees closer, her expression worried and frightened. "I don't know what to do..."

I winced as I leaned forward to crawl over. I leaned against the wall of the vehicle next to her. She looked up at me, a grim expression on her face. She looked annoyed.

"Yeah, I got the impression earlier that you didn't like me, otherwise I would be hugging you right now". I told her bluntly. "I hope you don't mind me sitting here though, it's always best to have someone by your side during a hard time". 

I turned to her, and realised she wasn't looking at my face, but at my hair, which was now free from its ponytail. 

"Can I...touch it"? She asked, and with the way she was looking at it so desperately, I nodded silently. She ran her fingers through my locks, muttering "Such pretty, glossy curls..."

"Well, thanks..." I said, blushing. "Although I wouldn't say glossy..."

"I would". She interrupted. She took a bunch of her ginger hair in her hand and looked at it in disgust. "My hair always grows in this sandy wild thing. Even when I comb it, it doesn't make a difference. But your's..."

"Hey don't say those things. You're hair's adorable, and you're such a cute little one anyway. Why are you worrying about that kind of thing"? I told her, comfortingly. 

"You really think I'm pretty"? She asked. I nodded and smiled. "Thanks..." She said quietly. Her expression suddenly changed though from a shy girl to an annoyed one again.

"But just because you called me pretty doesn't mean we are friends". She warned. 

"Um...OK, but have I at least earned the right to know your name"? I asked. "I assumed it was Wendy..."

"My name's Jessica".

My eyebrows shot up. "Oh wow! Really? Cool". 

She looked away from me. "I guess..."

Silence hang around in the air for sometime before Jessica spoke again. "I'm sorry. There's no need for me to be so mean to you. I mean...I can see you're a good person and all..."

I was relieved that she was warming up to me a bit more. I smiled and shook my head. "Hey, it's fine. You kids have been through a lot. I can only imagine how miserable you must be".

"Thanks for understanding". Jessica stretched her legs out in front of her and sighed. "Yeah, my life's been hell these passed few years. In fact, it's always been hell". She looked down at her hands. "Despite the circumstances, learning to fight and defend myself is the best thing that's ever happened to me".

"Are you going to tell me a story"? I asked curiously.

"Only if you want me to".

"I will never say no when it comes to stories. You know, it was my love for stories that actually brought me to this world". I replied, only realising what I was saying when the words came out of my mouth.

Jessica's eyebrows creased. "You're from another world"?

"Uh, we'll talk about that later. But for now, you're the subject on the table". I said quickly. I wasn't sure if I was allowed to talk about my connection with Red or if I was meant to keep it a secret.

"Okay", Jessica started,"Well...both my parents were sick when I was a born, and they knew that if I stayed with them, then I would get sick too and probably die. They were a poor couple in the woods, and had no contact with relations and were friendless. They had no other choice but to give me up for adoption".

My heart sank at the thought of how hard that must have been for her parents. Having nothing at all, then being able to have a child, but ending up having to give her away. Why was this world filled with so much tragedy?

"The woman who adopted me was a wealthy widow. She was successful in trade in town, and already had two sons of her own. My parents both died two months after she took me away. The only thing they were able to leave for me were my mother's earrings". Jessica pulled her hair away from the side of her face, revealing a pair of the most gorgeous diamond dangle earrings I had ever seen. I gasped at their beauty, as she blushed.

"It was the only nice thing I had", She continued, "When I was very young, my new mother treated me well, as we were in public most of the time. But around the time I turned five, she went down in her business and became harsh and mean. When we walked out in the streets, people used to ignore her, and always smile at me instead. She grew to hate me, and later I was treated like a slave. I worked in her servant quaters with the maids, and her sons were always mean to me. They called me ugly and worthless-always told me I didn't belong there. They never let me go outside, and so I learnt to give myself my own company, or talk sometimes with the elderly women who were maids. Then..." She closed her eyes.

"...The invasion happened. I was in the basement when it took place, as that's where I always slept. I didn't even know what was going on until I went upstairs because it was time to make supper. I found my foster mother lying dead on the floor beside my two brothers. Their skin was a pale blue...their eyes lifeless..." Her voice was shaking, and I decided it best to finally wrap my arm around her and pull her closer to me. 

"You don't have to talk about it if it's too hard". I reassured her.

"No, it's fine. For some reason, it makes me feel better that I can talk to you", Jessica replied, "I was shocked when I saw them. I wished my brothers would look at me mockingly and insult me. I wished my mother would yell at me to make the food. But they didn't. I didn't have time to do anything else when our roof suddenly crashed down, crushing me underneath. I was weak, but small enough to crawl out of a gap. Chaos was outside. I remember the people all over the floor...in the same condition as my mother...the town was on fire, and those elves were just everywhere. It was crazy. I remember Peter gesturing over to me from under some broken wood, and I had to stay undercover among the ruins to get to him. I didn't know him at the time, but he took my hand and led me to the hideout. I stayed there with the other children until it was all over".

"Wow". I said when she had ended her story. "That must've been so hard for you".

She nodded but then sighed. "I always wanted to be strong. I was too weak to stand up to my brother's bullying. I was too weak to do anything about their deaths. But now I've changed. Now if they were here with me, I would be able to protect them".

I admired Jessica a lot. She wasn't just a little girl. She was a little fighter. 

"You're extremely mature and brave for an eleven year old. I wish I could've been like you around your age. All I knew how to do was daydream". I said, truthfully.

Jessica laughed. "Thanks. I'm glad I got to speak to you. I know you guys can't stay with us forever. As soon as we're able to escape, you'll have to go".

"We're not going anywhere until we free you guys from your curse". I said, as if I could do anything about it. I wasn't the powerful one here. 

Jessica looked at me for a moment, and I caught a flash of sadness in her blue eyes. She reached for the side of her face and removed the earring form her ear. "Please take this one". She said.

"What? No! I can't take that, it's way too precious for you". I denied it immediately.

"Please, Jessika. It would mean a lot to me if you wore it as you continue your journey. I want you to remember me". Jessica insisted. I still did not accept.

She looked down at the earring glimmering in her hand. "I just...if I remember that I have one earring...I will remember that that's because my friend is wearing the other. Then I will always think of you and vice versa. I know it's weird, but..."

Oh heck, I obviously couldn't refuse with those words. I let her put the earring in my ear, and just as she finished, the carriage stopped. The door that I could've sworn was not there before swung open, and several elf soldiers stood outside.

Wow this was a long chapter. Actually a part I had planned for as soon as they met the kids. Turned out that little ginger is not Wendy after all! Come on guys, do you really expect this story to be that predictable?

Anyway, what do you all think about little Jessica? I'm sure you've definetely figured out her fairy tale origin.

Fairy Question: So far, whose fairy tale do you think had the biggest twist?