The Price of Gold

                                    

                                          

Anna's POV
Henry and I waited at home, the house feeling unusually tense. The quiet was punctuated only by the ticking of the kitchen clock and the occasional gust of wind rattling the windowpanes. Henry was pacing back and forth in the kitchen, his footsteps echoing off the tiled floor. The kitchen was modest but cozy, with its warm yellow walls and the comforting aroma of the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches I had just made.
His agitation was palpable. "Kid, can you just sit down? You're really getting on my nerves," I snapped, trying to keep my frustration in check.
Henry stopped mid-stride, his face flushing with irritation. "I'm so sorry, Anna, that my concern for Cinderella is bothering you," he retorted, his voice sharp.
I threw my hands up in surrender, feeling both irritated and sympathetic. "Fine, fine. Let me get us something to eat," I muttered, heading to the kitchen counter. The light from the overhead fixture cast a soft glow on the wooden cabinets, and I quickly assembled two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. The kitchen was filled with the familiar scents of fresh bread and creamy peanut butter as I placed the sandwiches on the table.
"At least eat something," I said, a bit condescendingly.
Henry rolled his eyes but took a bite of his sandwich, the thick layer of peanut butter squishing out slightly. I sat down with my own sandwich, the comforting taste grounding me amidst the tension. "You don't need to worry so much, Henry. I haven't known Emma long, but I know she gets things done. She's going to find Ashley and help her," I reassured him, trying to ease his anxiety.
Henry nodded, though he still looked troubled. "You're right. She is the Savior, so it's her job to help them and bring back their happy endings."
I managed a small smile. "Sure it is, kid."
We finished eating in a quiet, subdued atmosphere. Henry, his coat already on, made his way to the door. "Where are you going?" I asked, my confusion evident.
"I'm going to look for Emma and see if she found Ashley yet," Henry said, determination in his voice.
I sighed heavily, shaking my head. "No, you're not. If Mom comes home and finds you missing for dinner, she'll kill me. Then she'll find you and kill you."
"Well, she is the Evil Queen," Henry muttered, a touch of defiance in his tone.
I rolled my eyes, feeling a mix of exasperation and concern. "Henry, let Emma do her job. Stay here."
Henry headed towards the door, his resolve unshaken. "Well, it's my job to help her," he said before stepping outside into the crisp evening air.
The house felt eerily quiet after he left. I trudged back upstairs to tackle my homework. The old wooden stairs creaked under my weight, and the dim hallway light flickered as I passed by. When I entered my room, I noticed Henry's book lying on my bed, its cover adorned with whimsical illustrations of fairy tales.
Curiosity got the better of me, and I sat down on the edge of the bed, the soft comforter rustling beneath me as I opened the book. The pages were filled with tales of Snow White, Alice in Wonderland, Beauty and the Beast, and Hansel and Gretel, each story imbued with a darker, more intricate twist than the versions I was used to. The room was lit by the soft glow of my bedside lamp, casting gentle shadows on the walls as I flipped through the pages.
I turned to Snow White's story, my favorite. The narrative was vastly different from the one I knew but engrossing in its own way. I was drawn into the tale of Snow White and Prince Charming, their love story painted with vivid, emotional details. It was easy to see why Henry was so captivated by this book; it radiated hope and true love.
The story revealed that Snow and Charming had their daughter, Princess Eva, shortly after their marriage. Eva was described as having dark brown hair and forest-green eyes, a beloved child of the realm. As I read, I felt a chill run down my spine. The illustrations of Eva's face seemed eerily familiar, almost resembling my own baby pictures. The book left me with a strange, unsettling feeling that I couldn't quite place.
I shook off the unease, dismissing it as a result of overactive imagination. I closed the book and turned my attention back to my homework, the quiet of my room a stark contrast to the chaos of my thoughts.
An hour later, my phone rang, jolting me from my concentration. I glanced at the screen and saw it was Henry. "Anna, I'm on my way home. I found Emma. She and Ashley were at the hospital, and Ashley had her baby. My mom made a deal with Mr. Gold, and he agreed to leave Ashley and her baby alone. Oh, and Sean, Ashley's boyfriend, came and they got back together," Henry said, his voice bubbling with excitement.
I sighed with relief. "I'm glad everything worked out, but you better get home before Mom does, or we're both dead."
"Okay, I'm five minutes away. Mom's driving me home," he replied.
"Henry, she's not your mom," I said, trying to remind him.
"Yeah, yeah, I know," he said dismissively before hanging up.
Ten minutes later, I heard the door slam shut downstairs. Henry burst into the house, panting. "She's not back yet?" he asked, his eyes wide with concern.
"Nope, you're safe," I said, feeling a wave of relief.
We managed to have a relatively normal evening. We ordered a pizza, the savory smell wafting through the house, and enjoyed a family dinner, a rare moment of peace with Henry not accusing Mom of being evil. The warm, cheesy slices were a comforting end to a chaotic day.
After dinner, I approached Mom, who was drying dishes at the sink. The kitchen was filled with the warm glow of the overhead light, casting soft shadows on the walls. "Mom, can I talk to you for a sec?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
She looked up from the sink, her expression softening with concern. "Is everything alright?"
"I want to get a job," I said, my voice steady despite the nerves bubbling up inside me.
Mom's expression turned puzzled. "What do you need a job for? I give you whatever you need."
"I want to get out of the house more. Maybe learn some responsibility so I'm not always relying on you," I explained, trying to articulate my reasons clearly.
She sighed, her shoulders relaxing. "Alright, if that's what you really want. But what kind of job are you looking for?"
"I was thinking of asking Sheriff Graham if I could intern. You know, filing papers, answering phones," I suggested.
"If I let you do this, you need to promise me you'll be safe and stay out of anything dangerous," she said, her tone serious and concerned.
"I know, Mom, I promise," I assured her.
"And please don't do anything stupid," she added, turning off the sink and drying her hands on a dish towel.
"I promise," I said, hugging her tightly. She embraced me back and kissed my forehead, her touch warm and reassuring.
As I headed upstairs to get ready for bed, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was shifting. Maybe it was the book, or perhaps it was the prospect of a new role. Either way, tomorrow promised new challenges, and I needed to be ready.