Warning: Very brief and non-explicit mentions of suicide. Nothing serious and nothing detailed. 

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CHAPTER NINETEEN; THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FIVE

     Sage finally stopped counting.

     Three hundred and sixty-five days it had been since Thomas had been tragically murdered in front of her. Three hundred and sixty-five days of rotting in a cell in the tallest tower in the Queen of Hearts' kingdom. One meal per day, no sunshine, nowhere to sleep besides a hard floor, no clean clothing. There were rare days that would happen once or twice in a month where the queen herself would graciously (in other words mockingly) visit Sage in her cell to see if Sage had starved or gave in and hanged herself. Neither one of those things were ever going to happen. She had decided that a long time ago; she would not give the Queen of Hearts satisfaction by dying. No way in hell was that happening.

     The cell itself was tiny with three stone walls and a barred one. There was nothing in the cell besides a thin layer of straw spread across the freezing floor and an oval mirror with a rusty handle. The cell and the dungeon itself stunk of stale brandy and fresh cigar smoke, because the guard, who went by the name Bluebeard, didn't really "guard", more like sat in the corner a few feet from Sage's cell and drank and smoked. But the cell and the dungeon looked like heaven compared to Sage.

     Her baby blue corset didn't even fit her anymore since she had become so skinny, the short puffy sleeves were close to cutting off, and her black flimsy skirt was torn and viciously ripped. But her clothes wasn't her main concern. Sage's skin was deathly pale, along with the dark shadows that hung under her eyes and chipped nails that irritated her hands. Her feet were covered in cuts and bruises, which matched her arms and legs too.

     Sage was miserable, not even herself could deny that. The afternoon was rising, as far as Sage could tell. Bluebeard was in his usual attire; his clothes were ruffled, he was rocking a five o'clock shadow, and his breath smelt of musty liquor. Sage sat in the corner of her cell, his knees pulled to her chest with only a long, ratty dress keeping her warm. Her bony fingers lightly traced the white lines that were scratched onto the neighboring. Three hundred and sixty-five lines imprinted on the walls, each one marking a day in this hellhole.

     "You know ―" Bluebeard abruptly said, taking a moment to drink from his flask. He sounded disheveled, like he hasn't been sleeping for the past few days. "I remember when I first met you. You were seventeen and just met that con artist, um, what was his name again? Jackson?"

     "Jefferson." answered Sage, whose voice sounded weak, raw, and unsettled. She hasn't spoken in months. "Why are you bringing this up?"

     He ignored her question, "You were just a kid, a teenager. He was teaching you the ways of being a thief, a freakin' con artist just like him. Fuckin' irresponsible asshole, teaching a kid how to become a criminal."

     Sage narrowed her eyes, distastefully, "He was teaching me how to survive. Why the hell are you bringing this up?"

     "Criminal...crime, crime, crime." Bluebeard repeatedly mumbled the word under his breath, sliding further down the wall as he drowned the rest of the whiskey bottle. 

      Sage tapped her bruised foot against the straw-covered floor, biting down on her thumb to keep the tears away. She couldn't take it anymore. She had survived everything in her hellish life; the abandonment of her parents, running away from the orphanage she was locked up in, Jefferson loving another woman and leaving her, the death of her true love. But she couldn't survive another day in this cell, where she was slowly losing her mind.

     As quietly as she could, Sage grasped the handle of her mirror and lied it down beside her, away from Bluebeard's eyes if he ever glanced her way. She clenched her hand into a fist, before firmly pressing her knuckles into the heavy glass. Hot tears stung in her eyes, harsh gasps of pain lowly leaving her mouth as the glass slowly cracked under her pressure. Eventually, the glass split into medium sized shards. Her right hand was now cut up and bruised, her knuckles red and bloody. 

     As Sage seized one of the shards in her hand, Bluebeard suddenly wobbled onto his feet, before lazily stumbling over to Sage's cell. "It's time I put you out of your pathetic misery."

     Sage's eyes widened immensely as the guard, fear sparking in her heart. Suddenly, without a second thought, Sage leaped up and swung the glass shard at him. Bluebeard fell down to the ground, screaming in pain as a large slash of red ran across his face. 

     The brunette reached through the bars and ripped off the key that was hanging off of his belt. She reached around and unlocked her cell, darting out of the place and towards the dungeon door. The leading out of the dungeon was unsurprisingly unlocked, considering that all the guards of the kingdom were absolutely idiots. When Sage busted through the door, she found herself falling on her knees, landing on a red-and-white check board pattern hallway. The walls were a crimson red that matched the blood that was furiously pumping in Sage's veins.

     She scampered onto her feet, before taking off, sprinting down the hallway in a raving manner. Eventually, she came at a three-way corridor. Down on of them was a bustle of knights. Before she could run far from sight, one of the knights noticed her and his eyes widened in horror, "She's out! She's out! Get her!"

     Without a second of hesitation, Sage  stormed down one of the corridors, the sound of pounding footsteps chasing after her. She came to a long spiral staircase that led upwards, which she took. She didn't care where she went or what it would take, but she was getting the hell out of her.

     Low and behold, the stairs led to the roof of the palace that overlooked one of many of Wonderland' forests. She came to an abrupt stop once her feet reached the edge of a the roof. Down below was a large, crystal blue sea that looked incredibly deep. There was only one problem; the drop was around a hundred and twenty feet.

     When Sage turned on her heel, she was confronted by three knights. One of them looked at her, bewildered. "You'll jump and kill yourself just to escape?"

     "Yep." hissed Sage. "I'd rather die than go back to that place! What does that make me, asshole?"

     He cocked his eyebrow, almost mocking her, "It makes you bonkers! It's simple really, you're as mad as a hatter, but without the charm! 

     A wicked smirk twisted on her lips, along with a chuckle and a fiery gleam in her eyes, "You're telling me something I don't already know!"

     With that, Sage whipped around and jumped off the roof, falling down. The wind waged against her body, the gale slamming against her. Soon enough, Sage roughly dropped into a sea of water. Sparks of flashing pain pricked at her body, water filling her mouth and her lungs squeezing tightly together. For a split second, the brunette began to panic, until her senses knocked in. She kicked her feet up, her arms looping through the water. Sage jolted up from the water, the air welcoming her joyfully. Sage fearfully snapped her head left-and-right, trying to figure out where she was. The castle was in her eyesight, but it seemed like the tide had brought her feet away.

     The coast was merely feet away as well. As quickly as she could, the thief paddled her way to the land. Once the sea level dropped and she could touch the earthy land, Sage crawled out of the ocean on her bare-knees, her soaking dress clinging to her body. Sage twisted around and flopped onto her back, violently panting and coughing. The baby blue sky was somewhat blurry in her vision. Suddenly, her throat choked up and warmth spread through out her face.

     She wanted to cry, so damn badly. Tears brimmed in her eyes, but she refused to let out a single cry. With one shaky hand, she wiped her eyes and pushed her wet, brown hair out of her face.

     "Long time no see, dearie!"

     Startled, Sage turned back around and pushed herself back, looking like a frightened animal. Rumpelstiltskin, the man himself, stood across from her with a wide grin on his scaly face, "Well, well, well, dearie, it's been awhile since we've last talked! My, you look terrible."

     A burning, red-hot rage filled up inside of the young woman. She stood up and angrily walked over to him, "You! You BASTARD! I've been trapped in that cell for a year! Rotting there, feeling absolutely miserable! You couldn't even, oh I don't know, save me!"

     Her yells shook the surrounding forest, a flock of black ravens scattering in the sky. Sage shook her head, her eyes hard and ice cold. "I don't want anything to do with you! We're done! I am NEVER going to make a deal with you, you deceitful ass!"

     Sage stormed past him, marching her way into the forest. Rumple remained expressionless, but called after her, "I have a proposition for you, dearie! One that may interest you!"

     "Forget it!" snarled Sage, still not looking back.

     "It involves Thomas!"

     That made Sage stop right in her tracks, a splitting pain stabbing in her chest. Thomas...the man she loved, the man she lost a year ago. Her face grew sorrowful, her lips trembling. "What?" She croaked, hating how her voice weakly cracked. 

     As she slowly turned, Rumple stepped towards the woman. "You see, I can help take away that pain that lingers in your heart. The aching feeling of loneliness, the guilt eating away at your mind, the insufferable pain feasting on your heart. It's called heartbreak, dearie! Perhaps, you're familiar with the feeling." 

     "I am." snapped Sage, her eyes becoming blurry with water. "You don't need to educate me on it!"

     "Then you're well aware that your pain will never fade. It will eat away at you." For a split moment, Sage could have sworn that a hint of sympathy was in Rumple's eyes, but it vanished as soon as she saw it. She must have imagined it. "Work for me, officially. Become my personal thief. You will be rewarded and under my protection."

     "What does this have to do with Thomas?"

     A sigh left the Dark One's mouth, before he opened his once closed fist. Lying on his shimmering palm was a small ring that was silver with a single, pale pink diamond. "This ring belonged to Thomas. He was going to propose to you, dearie." Sage looked up at him, bewildered. Her heart pounded against her chest, words stuck in her throat. She couldn't speak. It wasn't possible. "He came to me two days before his death and your imprisonment. He was hoping to exchange all of his life savings for this wedding ring that I owned. According to him, he wanted to make a 'romantic gesture', of sorts. The boy wanted to declared his love for you and ask for your hand in marriage."

     Silent tears trickled down Sage's pale, dirt-smeared face, as she reached out and gently grasped the ring in her calloused hand. Something was plundering into her stomach, something that made her want to get down on the ground and throw up. Her face softened, "He wanted to be my husband?" She questioned. 

     An uncharacteristic frown settled on the Dark One's face, "Yes, dearie."

   Her jaw clenched, a muscle jumping. Heavily breathing, Sage clenched the ring in her hand, before looking back up at the man, only to see that a smug smirk had taken' its place on the man's lips. "Sage, I know you, probably better than you know yourself. I know that you need an escape from your pain; work for me, do my bidding, and you'll find out that with a little push, all that pain can go away."

     "Deal." whispered Sage, allowing her desperate need for a release consume her judgement. 

     Rumpelstiltskin let out an ominous giggle, clapping his hands. "Wonderful! Lets go find that Looking Glass I came through! We've got some work to do."

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     Sage tried to think back to the last time she was at a funeral. Graham, who died because of his heart problems, didn't have a funeral. Sage was in too much grief to plan one and Regina, his secret lover from hell, just didn't care. Thomas' body was disposed by the Queen of Hearts, which meant Sage couldn't have a service. That and Sage was locked in a cell for a year so the time for a funeral had gone and passed. When she thought hard and long, Sage recalled going to a few funerals for some of her fallen friends. This, unfortunately, was one of those times.

     The funeral for Dr. Archie Hopper was planned rather quickly. After Regina disappeared into hiding and Emma broke the news to Henry, Sage directed all of her focus into creating a funeral, one that would gather all of Archie's companions together. But funerals caused more pain than it did relief. As the group of Storybrooke civilians gathered around the stone grave of Archie, Sage couldn't help, but feel like something was wrong. The service was going as it was planned and everyone that was invited came, but...

     Oh, wait, she knew.

     Archie was gone.

     It took a funeral for Sage to finally come to terms with that. Death tended to welcome Sage like an old friend, but prior to the curse being broken, she hasn't lost anyone from Storybrooke. Unless Graham counts, but he only died after Emma arrived in town. Sage kept a firm, yet comforting hand on Henry's shoulder the entire time, knowing that it was extremely difficult for him to realize that his former therapist was killed by his mother.

     Mary Margaret stood astride from the black coffin that would soon be lowered into the newly dug grave. "Some of us knew him as Archie. Others, as Jiminy. But we all knew him as a true friend. And though, he may now be gone, he will always live on inside of us." Tears welled up in the short-haired woman's eyes, but she quickly wiped them away. Pongo — Archie's dalmatian — whimpered, tugging at the leash that was tied around his neck. He kept trying to go to the coffin, he wanted to see his owner. "Reminding us to be our best selves, to do the right thing, to always fight for what we believe in. So, we shouldn't think of today as goodbye, just as a way of saying... Archie, we'll be listening."

     Marco slowly walked up and leaned Archie's umbrella against the grave. "I miss you so much, my friend. Well, at least, you are in a better place."

     A single tear slipped down Sage's cheek, but she turned her head away, trying to control herself and her emotions. 

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Six Months Later

     The man smelt of old bourbon and musty aftershave, just like Sage had remembered. Bluebeard stood in front of a Victorian fireplace, watching the red flames dance across the logs of wood with his back turned to the rest of the room. The armory room, which he was currently in, was dawned with dozens of blazing swords hanging proudly on the velvet walls. His usual bottle of whiskey was being lazily held in his right hand; once and a while the older man would take long swigs of the amber, toxic liquid. 

     "Tsk, tsk, tsk, drinking on the job." Bluebeard quickly whipped around at the sound of a woman's voice. His stony, dazed eyes landed on a slim figure that sat on top of a wooden desk, her legs hanging of the side. It was Sage. She grinned humorlessly. "Then again, you always had a habit of getting day-drunk, didn't ya Blue?"

     Over the course of six months, Sage dramatically change from a melancholy prisoner to a intimidating and fierce-looking woman. Her browns eyes were hooded with dark, midnight-black makeup which contrasted from her pale skin and rosy lips. Her hair, once unkempt and wild, was a shade darker and half of her hair was pinned back. She had ditched the raggedy, torn dress to tight, leather pants and a puffy white, long-sleeved blouse with a black corset that only covered her stomach. There wasn't a hint or gleam of vulnerability in her eyes anymore; no, it was replaced with a hue of darkness and sharpness. 

     The half-drunken' man widened his eyes, before speaking, incredulously, "Sage?"

     She slid off the desk and took a few small steps forward. No expression lied on her face, only a deadpan, stoic hardness to her features. As she stared at the familiar man in front of her, a flashback of all her harsh memories of staying in that dungeon was playing her head. "Hello old friend." Sage's voice was cool and silk like a snake. "Long time no see."

     "How are you ―"

     "Here? In the castle?" The brunette paused, taking a moment to glance around the room. "Well, it seems like you're not the only knight who likes to drink away his problems." She then pulled out a crumbled piece of parchment from her back pocket. She straightened it out and showed the font to him, a grin of pure sarcastic amusement written on her face. "You see this? It's a Wanted sign. It says 'Sage Chamberlain: Most Wanted and Dangerous Criminal in Wonderland. Award for Capture is Ten Thousand Gold Coins'. Wow! Most wanted and dangerous criminal in all of Wonderland? The Queen must really want me back in her little torture chamber."

     Bluebeard shook his head, "No, she wants you either brought back or shot dead. She's up for either, milady." 

     "Well, I have no intention of returning." scowled Sage, who then balled up the parchment and threw it on the ground. The brunette leaned back on the table, her sharp, emotionless eyes bleeding into Bluebeard. "Tell me, Blue, did your Queen take pleasure in knowing I bested her? I doubt it."

     "She nearly ripped out my heart!" Bluebeard angrily snarled, spit flying out of his mouth. "Because of you!"

     "She shouldn't have killed my true love!" Sage snapped back, her harsh glare acting as icy daggers digging into his skin. "She shouldn't have locked me in a dungeon for a year and tortured me. I recall ― " She pointed an accusing finger at Bluebeard, before dropping it. Carefully watching the man, Sage began to slowly walk around. "― you helping her with that. Three hundred and sixty five days of pure hell."

     "I didn't have a choice!"

     "Everyone has a choice." The brunette stepped closer and closer to Bluebeard until she stood in front of him. "The Queen broke my heart. I've come to return the favor." Within the blink of an eye, a metal dagger was stabbed into Bluebeard's stomach. He grunted in pain, blood seeping from his shirt and dribbling out of his mouth. "And since I can't get close enough to kill her, I'll kill you ― her second in command."

     "Please." whispered Bluebeard, his throat choking up with blood. 

     Sage hatefully spatted. "Do you have any idea what its like? To lose everything you've ever loved in a split second? To spend an entire year being tormented? If you do live this ― "She harshly chucked. "― God I hope you don't, but if you do, tell you Queen that I would rather hang myself then go back to that place."

     With that final, ominous promise lingering in the musky air, Sage sharply withdrew the dagger and Bluebeard fell onto the floor, rolling around in pain. Sage dropped the knife, it landing in a small pool of blood. Her heart was thumping against her chest and bile was beginning to rise in her throat. 

     She had just killed someone...for the first time. A part of her, a large part, felt disgusted with herself. Another part, a small yet different part, felt some sort of satisfaction; that bastard got what he deserved. 

    "Very good, dearie." Sage turned around to see none other than Rumpelstiltskin sitting at the same spot she was previously at. He smiled, wickedly. "I've taught you well."

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     After the funeral, everyone returned to Mary Margaret and Sage's apartment, which, know that she thought about it, was no longer just their's; David, Emma, and Henry were now permanently staying there, until they could all find a house big enough for all of them. The whole lunch gathering was going smoothly until Leroy brought up a rather debatable topic; when were they going home, back to the Enchanted Forest. It was a good question and everyone seemed split on it; half of them wanted to stay in the quaint little town of Storybrooke, while the other half wanted to get out of the place they were cursed for twenty-eight years and depart to their old world. 

     Truth be told, Sage was one of the few people who didn't know what the hell she wanted. On one hand, going back to the Enchanted Forest did sound somewhat pleasant, but it wasn't the realm she had once known; Cora had taken over and the Ogres were causing chaos across the land. Then again, Storybrooke had been her home for the past twenty-eight years, despite that fact she was stripped away of her freedom and was completely miserable during those three decades. 

     Henry wanted to depart to the Enchanted Forest as fast as possible, but he was a kid who thought fairy tales were all sunshine and rainbows. Sage didn't have the heart to tell him that their lives were some stories, they were real and people don't always get happy endings. Besides the topic of staying or going, Pongo, Archie's dog, had officially been given' to Henry by Emma. The thought of Henry owning Archie's former pet made Sage smile so brightly; Archie would have wanted it that way.

     Sage stood in front of the sink, drying off the last dish from the dishwasher with a rag. Once she was done, she wiped her hands off and turned around to look over at Henry. The ten-year-old sat at the dinner table, drawing something with intense care. Pongo lied by his feet, his tail flipping up-and-down, but soft whimpers still leaving his mouth once and a while. Sage frowned; that poor dog still missed Archie.

     Emma came from the bedroom and peered over to see what Henry was drawing, "You plotting your escape from Shawshank, kid?"

     No, they're blueprints." Henry shook his head. "I had some ideas for what to do if David and Mary Margaret move out. Look."

     As Sage walked over to join the pair, Henry held up the large piece of paper so that his mother could see. The blonde rose her eyebrows, looking perplexed. "You want to make Mary Margaret's room an armory?"

     He nodded, enthusiastically. "Yeah. You know, for weapons and stuff. To protect us – from Regina."

     Sage's heart sank down into her stomach, along with an ounce of anger bubbling inside. She could never in a million years understand why Regina would still continue to be evil even if it meant she may lose her son. Emma and Sage both shared a look of distress. "She's not going to hurt you. We don't let her." Emma tried to reassure the boy, looking a Sage once again with a determined glance. 

     Both Sage and Emma crouched down so they met with Henry on an eye-level; he looked solemn all of a sudden. "She hurt Archie. What if she wants to take me back?"

     "Over my dead body." The brunette confidently said, her eyes set and firm. No one in hell was Regina or anyone else going to hurt or take Henry away from his family. She nearly lost him once and she was not going to lose him again. 

     A sudden knock from the door broke up the intense conversation between the trio. Sage was the first to reach the door. Pongo hurried to the door, whimpering and sniffing. When she opened it, she was met with an uproar of shock. "Archie." She gasped, before a wide, bright smile grew on her face. The two old friends wrapped into in a large, friendly hug, both back to be in each other's company. "What happened to you?"

     "It was Cora. She kidnapped me."

     Sage sharply pulled back, her shock and happiness replaced with worry and slight terror. As Henry and Archie developed each other in embraces, Sage's heart rapidly pounded against her chest. Cora, here, in Storybrooke. She had thought she had left that dreadful woman back in the Enchanted Forest. "Oh, Henry! It's alright! I'm fine." Archie smiled as him and Henry pulled away.

     Sage and Emma looked at each other, wide eyed, before looking back at Henry. "Henry, we were wrong. Regina didn't do it." Emma stated.

     "I knew it!" Henry grinned, before pausing. "Maybe we should let her know."

     Emma nodded in agreement, "Yeah, but something tells me either way, we're gonna pay the price."

     Sage swallowed heavily, having a gut-retching feeling that this so called "price" would only end in Regina winning and them losing. 

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not edited.

do you guys like the way Villain Sage looks? I do ; )