Re: 10th floor stairwell, 12:05 am
Hannah's glance was brief and fluid, shaped by years of training herself to notice things without being noticed. Her stepmother would stand over her while she made her do the housework but would always become angry if she ever looked up, and her stepsisters-- no, that wasn't right. She didn't have any siblings... did she? She gave her head a light shake, unable to keep back the stab of empathy the sight of the woman's aged body had brought forth. Her own dress seemed to shimmer like diamonds in comparison to what the old woman wore, but little did her companion know that the beautiful gown and jewels were nothing more than magic, a facade that was supposed to end at midnight.
"My name is..." She paused, wanting to say Cinderella without knowing why. Perhaps it was just a nickname. "Hannah." It sounded both wrong and right at the same time, and she pondered why as they slowly ascended the staircase. "Would you mind terribly, madam, if I asked yours?" Although Hannah wasn't usually rude, this was a whole new level of politeness for her.