Lucy's gone. She's gone. The old hag's nowhere to be seen. Cecilia groaned aloud and rocked slowly from side to side. Even that creep isn't back yet. Her mouth was dry and her throat seemed to be curling into a thousand intricate knots. The tears began to well into her eyes. She blinked furiously. I haven't cried since my mother died- I won't give into this now. She swallowed her pain like an apple slice- glittering and shining in poison. Cecilia could almost laugh at her predicament- the one person that could have helped me was her- Lucy. The girl I've been fighting with, the girl I've been compared to for the last 20 years.

Yes, Cecilia may have been quite harsh to her over the years- spreading rumours, stealing her boyfriend, poisoning her pet hamster- but does that really warrant this? Being locked in a filthy cell until- God knows what will happen.

She closed her eyes and sung an old tune that she once knew like the back of her hand in a slow, sweet whisper.

Mary had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb...

It took her back to the cottage- warm evenings by the fire, warm apple pie on a Sunday afternoon, picnics in the park- and mostly her mother. Her long blonde hair, blue sparkling eyes and warm kind nature. Shame she reminded her of someone now isn't it?

A cold, unexpected breeze suddenly snapped Cecilia back to reality, her eyes wide open and her mouth held firmly shut.

In front of her was a tall (man she assumed) in a dark, hooded cloak which covered his face, but did not hide his huge sloping shoulders or huge closed fists. Next to him was a much smaller man, almost a dwarf compared to the first. He was hunched over, like a withered old man. His skin was deeply wrinkled and weathered brown from the sun. But his eyes and smiles were that of a much younger, impish man. His gold hair shone at Cecilia like gold coins, was this man the way out? She glanced back at the hooded figure. Perhaps not.

"Cecilia", the imp chortled, "how lovely to see you again." His mouth grew into a huge Cheshire cat grin- it looked as if every white tooth he had was being exposed all at once and his blue eyes were covered by layers of wrinkled skin.

"Again? I've never- seen- you before."

The grin quickly faded from his face.

"You don't remember me?" His voice had dropped to a much lower decibel- a deeper, manlier voice.

She shook her head slowly. The adrenaline began pumping again, thudding in her ears like a drum or maybe that's just her heart beat- reverberating through her small, frail body.

"Well, no bother", the little man said, brushing her words off like crumbs on a dressing gown. "We've met now. Tell me what you think of me."

He stood up straight for a moment and poked his chin in high the air. She took him in. The small, withered frame, the weathered skin, the sparkling, devious eyes...

"You're", she paused choosing her words carefully, "remarkable- different."

"Different-eh?" His eyes narrowed at her, "I thought you would say such a thing. Well, my sweet Cecilia, you too are remarkable and- different, now."

A deep, dark noise shot from the black hooded figure and his whole body seemed to sway from side to side- was he laughing?

"Let me show you," the imp said through a smiling mouth and slowly held up a gold framed mirror.

Cecilia's jaw dropped.