She opened her eyes, white….white…everything around her was white. The ceilings, walls, clothes, bedding's were all white. Hana lay in her bed and looked at the clocked across the room.

6:59 a.m. right on time.

She mutters to herself as she drags herself up from bed. It was always routine and she had done it everyday 365

days of the year ever since she was old enough to know the routine by heart. The clock strikes 7 am and the knock comes at the door.

Oh Hana, baby…time to eat your medicine.

Came a voice from a lady dressed in white. But Hana knew already, she didn’t resist and gulp down the pills that

were handed to her. She knew better to comply than to fight back or there would be repercussion for any objections. After taking her medicine, she looked at the lady face more clearly. The lady had blacked hair, brown eyes, a nose that was big and flat with thin lips and swollen cheeks. The same lady she sees 365 days of the year. She went by the name Choba. No last name though. Maybe she did have a last name but Hana never knew of it.

Sweet dreams…Hana.

The lady said to Hana as she tucked Hana back to bed. After putting Hana backed to sleep, the lady went out the

door. Locking the door from the outside.

Stupid girl. She said with a grin and walked away from the door.

The room was bright and very spacious. A desk was set right in the center of the room. A man sat in the chair with fingers interlocking each other.

Did she resist?

No. She took it and went back to sleep.

Excellent. Any abnormal behavior to report?

No.

Good. Just a few more years and all of hard work would paid off. The inheritance would be ours.

Why not now? I'm so sick and tired of that little girl.

Patience. Patience my dear and all of it would be ours.

We come this far and Hana is almost grown up. You will get your shared and I will get mine. The guy said as he got from his chair.

We've been stuck in this place for so long because of her! I feel like I'm at my limits! The lady yelled pulling some of her hair out in frustration.

SLAM!!!! The guy slam his hand on the table making a loud noise and shaking the stuff that were on top of the table.

Didn't I tell you to be PATIENCE! If you rush things and our plans get ruined, you will be the first one to pay! I risked too much for it to end! He said in a loud booming voice that seemed to echo around the room.

The lady shrink back in shocked but straighten her loose hair and calmly went towards the door.

Fine. I'll do it your way. I've better get my share. She said as she shut the door behind her.

The guy sat back down in his chair and pulled out a cigar. Lighting it up and looking out the window. Window full of only overgrown weeds and trees.

Only in time, it will come soon. He said as blew a puff of smoke into the air.

Hana open her eyes and looked at the clock.

11:59 a.m. Just on time. She whisper to herself.

She got up and went to the bathroom across the room. Having no breakfast and only the pills she was given. She emptied herself. She washed her hands, brush her teeth, and comb her hair. Then she looked at the mirror again. Seeing her reflection once again.

I'm okay. She whisper to herself, trying to comfort herself.

Knock, knock. There was a knock on the door which signals her food. She went out the bathroom and sat on the only table in the room. The door open and in came Choba with a tray of food.

Oh! You are already up and ready. I guess you must be hungry. Choba said as she placed the tray on the table and then gave Hana chopsticks and a spoon.

Hana looked at the food on the tray. Soybean soup with side dishes and a bowl of white rice. The same meal almost everyday. Was she ever tired of it? Yes, but she needed to eat and was quite hungry. Choba waited for Hana to start eating before she left the room. Waiting outside the door.

Hana finished everything off of the tray of food and Choba came back into the room with 2 pills in her hand.

You know the drill. Choba said and handed the pills to Hana. Hana took the pills from Choba and looked at it.

Again. She said in her head. With a sigh, she looked at Choba face and swallow the pills. Choba walked Hana back to bed and took the empty tray of food out.

Sweet dreams Hana. Choba said as Hana closed her eyes and fell into deep sleep once again.

Night came on swiftly with the stars shining brightly in the

pitch black sky. Hana was reading one of her favorite books about human anatomy.

It was one of the few books she was allowed to keep in her room. But ever since

she was little she have been told that she was sick. That she was never allowed

to step outside of the walls that have entrapped her all her life. The doors

were always locked and she was restricted from entering certain areas of the

building. Everyday life seem monotonous and was always followed by a routine. But

Hana have always wondered what the outside world was like. She read it in books

about how there are cars, rainbows, animals, and so much more. The only window

in her room show her trees and more trees. Nothing but greenery outside with overgrown

vines and tall uncut grass.

Knock. Knock. Before a third knock came, the door began to

open. In came Choba dressed in her white dress.

Come! She said in a stern voice.

Hana looked at Choba with a wide glare. To where? She said

in her head. But she got up from the table and closed her book. She walked

towards the door where Choba was standing waiting for her. They both walk

outside the door and Hana noticed that Choba didn’t lock the door as she

usually does.

Lucky day for you. We are going to the library room. You get

to choose a new book.

As Hana heard this, her eyes glisten. She was overfilled

with joy. The library room was filled with shelves of books. But she was never

allowed a lot time in the library room. If she could, she would be content with

living in the library room instead of her own room. The library room was also

the only room that wasn’t white. But wooden walls covered the entire room and

every shelves was filled with books.

15 minutes. Choba said as she unlocked the library room door

with one of the many keys she carried.

15 MINUTES! Hana said in her head. That’s too little time!

But she rushed through the door as soon as it open and went to the first

shelves of books.

Hm…. Which book should I get this time? Another human

anatomy book or a book about different types of teas. Hana said to herself as

she scanned through the titles of the books on the shelves. 12 minutes have

already passed and Hana was in panic. She didn’t found a book yet.

Well, I should get any book. It should be fine. But such a

shame. No! I don’t get that much time, I must find a good book. Hana said to

herself again and then she saw it. A book that had a yellow binding on it and

was just sticking out that look like it was screaming pick me!

Time’s up! Time to go Hana! Choba said in a loud voice getting

her keys ready to lock the library door up. Hana looked at Choba with a tense

expression. She grab the yellow book and followed Choba out the door.

As they went back to Hana room, Hana looked at the yellow

book again and the title in bold black font read Rapunzel. What a weird name,

Hana thought to herself. What is a Rapunzel? The book had no summary and no

picture. Hana sat at the table in her room, pushed the human anatomy book aside

and open to the first page of the yellow book that read Rapunzel.

You know what time it is. I’ll be back. Choba said as she

left the room and locked the door.

Before Hana could reply, Choba had already left the room.

No! I don’t want to go to sleep now. I want to read my new

book. Hana said to herself with a worried expression. She wanted to find out

what the book was about and couldn’t wait till tomorrow to read it. She didn’t

want to go to sleep so soon. She heard the door unlocking and in came Choba

with the pills in her hand.

Hana looked at Choba with a troubled expression. She wasn’t

ready to fall asleep and the pills she ate always made her fall asleep.

Come on! Choba said to Hana in an exasperated voice.

Hana got up from the table and went to her bed. As she sat

on the edge of her bed. She looked at the yellow book sitting on the table.

Then she looked at Choba with the pills in her hand. She was going to do

something she never done before. She was not going to take the pills tonight.

As Choba gave her the pills, she looked at Choba once again and then she looked

at the two pills in her right hand. She move the two pills to her mouth and

pretended to swallow. She quickly looked at Choba to see if she noticed but she

didn’t. Choba tucked her in bed, turned the lights off and went out the door of

her room and locked it. Hana lay in her bed feeling a mixture of emotions and

thoughts. She got away with it! She didn’t take the pills. She quickly sat up

and spit the two pills out in her right hand. Got up from her bed and ran to

the bathroom to dispose the pills down the toilet. As she step out of the

bathroom, she saw the yellow book. She went towards the table in the dark and

took the yellow book with her. In the drawer next to her bed, she fumble for a

flashlight. The flashlight was only there in case of an emergency. But this was

an emergency, for once in her life she was doing something she never done

before. She sat on her bed with the covers over her, she turned on the

flashlight and open to the first page of the book and the first sentence read, “Once

upon a time…”.