Once upon a life time.

" Fresh catch of the day! Get your fish here! " The vender announced . " Get your fish here Salmon, trout, eel all straight from the lake" The vender added and Helen flinched in her sleep.

She didn't want to wake up but the disturbing smell filling her nose couldn't let her sleep in peace. Her bed didn't feel comfortable at all and she frowned at the feeling.

Helen drousily opened her eyes shoving away the dirty rug covering her body only to see people moving around in her room.

Wait, this isn't her room, it is something else. Helen is frightened but chose not to freak out since it is just a dream.She immediately got up to her feet feeling the gritty surface.

Helen looked back at where she was sleeping, it was a sack like thing fit enough for someone of her size . " This isn't my bed" . Helen muttered. " And where is my phone" . She was confused.The scene before her was like something out of a history book. The cobblestone streets were lined with timber- framed buildings, their thatched roofs and wooden signs creaking in the gentle breeze.

Helen moved a few steps forward taking in the kind of people surrounding her. Men were dressed in breeches and waist coats while women in long dresses and aprons .

It looked more like a fish market to Helen given the disturbing stench of fish and the different fish species hanged about in every stall she was surrounded with . Some stalls had men working in them but most of them were being runned by women . Besides that , all she could see were men moving about with fish in their hands to different stalls .

" Miss , get out of the way". A sharp voice startled Helen from the back but she wasn't given a chance to see whom it belonged to when a strong force sent her tumbling to the ground. Her palms and knees scraped against the rough cobblestones and a sharp pain shot through her head as she fell. Helen winced at her feeling.

" Why does it have to hurt?" Helen looked at her bleeding palms and knees as she struggled to get back to her feet.

The pain she felt worried her this time ." If it's a dream then why does it feel so real?" . She searched around with her eyes for any help.

Finally, her eyes landed on a muscular man sorting fish in his stall . Helen ran quickly to his stall to try her luck . " Uhmm... excuse me" She said , her voice shaking slightly. The man partially posed his work and gave him attention. His brows were creased and face frowned in disgust. It somewhat reminded Helen of her boss but she immediately sent the thoughts at the back of her mind.

" Uhmm...sir....where am l ? I mean what's going on ? " She bit her lower lip at the questions she had just asked the man. They made no sense but anyone in her state would have asked the same.

The man whose expression had changed at the moment burst out in anger ." Are you stupid or something? If you just want money say it at once, otherwise leave my stall before l use this on you aswell." Helen's ears hurt as he showed her the huge knife that he was using to sort the fish.

With those words , the man spared no other minute for her and went back to his work.

Helen looked at him closely and saw no hope of help from him. She realized that she had to do this on her own and thought real first.

Suddenly,an idea popped into her head and her lips curved into a smile .lt wasn't her best, but she had to give it a go.

With a new found sense of determination, she took off in a sprint dashing towards the cliff overlooking the lake. Her bare feet started to hurt from the cobblestoned path as she struggled for breath but it didn't stop her from going on and without hesitation, she leapt off the cliff soaring through the air before plunging into the lake below . " Hey , is she crazy " , " Someone stop her" Helen heard voices of both male and female shout out before but gave it no attention since she was leaving anyway.

The icy water enveloped her , shocking her senses The waves were also pretty strong for her and they started to mingle her about. Helen began to feel terrible about her idea because there was no sign of waking up. To make matters once, the poor girl knew nothing about swimming. She had only tried her luck hoping that it might trigger her out of the horrible dream.

Helen started fighting for her breath under water as she gulped huge amounts of it down her throat seeking room for air till when her stomach was full. However after many attempts, she finally gave up and lost consciousness.

Helen.

I slowly sat up , my eyes scanning the unfamiliar surroundings. I was in a simple rustic room with rough - hewn stone walls.

A small barred window high up on one wall let in a sliver of sunlight casting a warm glow over the space.

As l took in my surroundings, a young man burst into the room. He was tall and lean with a strong jawline and piercing brown eyes that sparkled with kindness. His dark hair was mussed and his worn leather tunic was open at the neck revealing a smattering of dark chest hair.

" Grandma, come quickly. The miss is awake" He exclaimed, his voice low and urgent. He took a step closer and l felt a jolt of surprise at the intensity of his gaze.

Just then, a diminutive grey - haired woman bustled into the room , her face creased with worry .

" Oh child how are you feeling?." She asked her voice soft and soothing. She hurried over to my side. " Why did you jump? And these bruises..... how did this happen?" Her hands fluttered over my palms.

I didn't know what to say, I was so lost at the moment. This wasn't a dream and the thought of it left a piercing pain in my head.

" I'm..... I'm fine " l stammered , trying to process the unfamiliar kind strangers who seemed to be caring for me. " Where am l?"

The old woman smiled her eyes crinkling at the corners." You're in our home child. My grandson Thomas pulled you from the water".

My gaze flicked to Thomas who was watching me with a warm smile. " Do you have any family members around child? " The old lady added.

" I...l don't have any" No answer seemed appropriate for such a question. My family was my dad alone. The old lady looked at Thomas with pity all over her face before turning back to me.

" You can stay here with us as much as you want"

I had no idea why she was being so nice to me. But l couldn't decline such an offer when l had no where to stay. I nodded slightly with no emotion on my face.

" Come, let's get you cleaned up. " She helped me to my feet. " Thomas , make something for her " she added and Thomas hastily left the room.