To Christina's great surprise it was a goblin. It was short, green, with a long nose and wide ears, dressed in leather armor, a bit of chain-mail and other filthy rags.
"I... I got magically transported here... Where is 'here', actually?" she stammered.
"It's the Realm Of Fantasy. The one separated but closest to the human realm," he answered.
"The human realm? Yeah, that sounds like my own world, all right," muttered Christina.
"Who transported you? Are you a sorceress? An enchantress?" the goblin said.
"No, nothing of that nature," grumbled Christina. "An old jealous witch sent me here. A wicked hag that thought she was irresistible in the eyes of my boyfriend! She fancied herself the love of his life!"
"Oh, and let me guess," smiled the goblin. "You tried to tell her to get someone like her or of her age and she didn't take this sensible criticism lightly. To get rid of you for good, she sent you to this world. She can then nurse her own delusions in peace with your boyfriend."
"Yeah, pretty much..." admitted the young girl.
"That's witches for you!" cackled the goblin. "An awful temper, just as much as fairies. But at least fairies can grant wishes. It's harder to meet a kind witch. And they think they're so great, travelling and living as they can in the human world."
Christina did catch a detail that could really help her.
"Wait... You said fairies grant wishes here?"
"Yep. Like genies."
"Then I just need to find one and have her send me home!" she exclaimed.
"Good luck, those creatures don't give away wishes easily. And good luck too to find a genie. They don't appear at every street corner."
Christina started crying. She was tired, lost to the last degree, and desperate. And who knew what James was enduring with these abominable witches? The goblin must have felt some pity for her because he approached her.
"There, there. You'll work things out. I can help you. This world isn't that bad, until you find a way to go back to yours."
"Well, if I could find clothes, it would already be something," she said through her tears.
"I know!" exclaimed the goblin. "Hide in these bushes and I'll get some clothes for you. Then I can show you around. I know where fairies live! If you work for them, they agree to grant you wishes. It won't hurt to talk to them, surely."
"Oh. That sounds like a plan," said Christina as sensed a ray of hope within her. "Thanks."
"I'll be right back, milady" said the goblin as he darted off.
Christina obeyed him. Perhaps things were looking up and maybe this world had a lot of beautiful things to offer.
The goblin returned with what appeared to be a pair of shorts and a small shirt. It fitted Christina, more or less. It covered her modesty and that was enough for now.
"Nicked it from a line with laundry," snickered the goblin. "Looks like they're for dwarves originally but it'll do."
"Yes. Thanks. What now?"
"Now, we eat," he said, producing a jug and a loaf of bread. "We'll go in town and from there join the forest with the fairies afterwards. You look hungry and I feel; like it too. Better than travelling through the town on an empty stomach. And if the fairies grant you a wish, they might doing so for me too, for helping you out so generously," he said with a wink.
"Oh, I'll vouch for you, you can be certain," Christina smiled.
She took the jug and sipped from it. She was thirsty! And she realized it was wine! Well, she doubted such things as legal age regarding the consumption of alcohol really mattered here. And it was the last of her worries. It was cool and it was what she needed right now. She then took a piece of the bread. It was simple but what was what her body required. The goblin was tearing off from his own half hungrily as well. Hopefully, things would work out. Also, the goblin proved that not all creatures were dangerous here. But as time passed, she started to feel drowsy. She yawned more than once. She even felt herself slump towards the ground. Even her breathing was deepening and slowing.
"Are you all right, milady?" asked the goblin.
Christina noticed his voice was full of solicitude. A solicitude that did not reach his eyes. A creeping doubt overcame her.
"I feel... tired," she slurred.
"You've had a tiring day, milady," simply said the goblin.
Her head spinning, Christina fell to the ground. She was already sitting down, luckily. As she lied down upon the grass, she saw the goblin smiling widely.
"You... You tricked me..." she said as her eyes closed forcibly.
"Aye. You'll fetch a pretty price for me. Gold coins aplenty. Humans sell well, very well. Lucky me to have found you first."
"Jerk..." murmured Christina before darkness and unconsciousness engulfed her.