Chapter 14

As the car pulled into town, Regina noticed Story Brook was a shadow of its former self. A thick layer of fog hung over everything, the buildings crumbed down around her. It looked like a tornado had ripped through town and no one had bothered to restore anything. There was an air of dread you could feel the moment the car crossed the border. The whole town felt like another world, Regina had not felt anything like this in years. The dark magic had polluted the environment. It was everywhere.

"A lot has changed since you left."

"I see that." Regina said shaking her head in disbelief. A man in full body armor, helmet and everything was standing at the border with Red in partial body armor. Regina noticed only four dwarfs stood with them, all in body armor as well. She did not see Snow anywhere. A few other people stood with them but none Regina could place. Emma stopped the car and got out, Regina followed closely behind her.

"Regina" Charming said removing his helmet his voice low and hostile.

"Where is my daughter?" Regina said crossing her arms over her chest.

"She was last seen getting food with Henry. They seem like… friends. " Charming pointed to the militia. "We felt it was best not to engage them at this time. Henry wasn't hurting the girl and she followed him of her own free will. "

"So you let two teenagers run around town by themselves and now they're alone somewhere. That's really great; you are the biggest idiot I have ever met."

"Sometimes it's best to not upset him. I have to think of this town first. We can't risk everyone else's life for one girl." Charming said growling at the other woman.

"If anything happens to her, there will be nothing left of your town."

"I told you Emma, this was a bad idea. We should never have given into his demands. You should never have brought that witch back here. Now were going to have to deal with her and that monster." Charming spat at his daughter. Regina noticed he looked like he aged 30 years since the last time she saw him. His hair was completely grey; wrinkles ravaged his once handsome face. He looked every bit old enough to be Emma's father now. No longer the strong nobleman, he was broken now, she saw it in his eyes. Something caused the once charming man to lose his spark.

"She is our only hope to save him. I still believe he is worth saving." Emma yelled back in her father's face.

"That freaking monster is beyond saving. This was a bad idea. You have wanted to drag that woman back since the day she left." Charming said glaring at Regina. "Now she is here and you are going to regret bringing her to him. Nothing good has ever come from that boy. Nothing good has ever come from her." Charming said pointing to Regina.

"You don't know her or where she has been. She has been a good person for a very long time, and I believe he is worth saving. She might also be the only person who can save your wife." Emma said getting in her father's face.

"That person will never have it inside her to save my wife, she will probably smile and pat the abomination on the back for a job well done, and you brought her here.

"She can save him, and maybe that will save Mom."

"No this was a bad idea. Now we just have anther monster to deal with, at least this one I can kill." Charming said reaching for his gun. Regina's hands started to glow red; she surprised herself how easy magic came back to her. She stood ready for Charming's attack when Emma grabbed her inflamed hand putting out the fire and turned back to her father.

"NO, I did everything you always wanted and it cost me everything. This time we are doing it my way, and no one is going lay a finger on her."

"Guys, fighting each other won't help anyone." Ruby said stepping between everyone and pushing Emma away.

"Then you do it alone, I am not helping you." Charming looked around, "We're not risking our lives because you stupidly think that," Charming pointed to Regina "will save anyone."

"You're wrong, she isn't alone, she has me. David you have surprised me, in your old age you have become quite the coward. Letting your daughter save what's left the town without your help. " Regina said from behind Emma.

"She stopped being my daughter when she left to find you."

Henry allowed Mack to read their mother's dairy. The things inside it made her cringe. She thought her childhood had been bad. It did not compare to the things her mother had been through. From an abusive manipulative mother, to the girl she saved betraying her. She had to reread the part where her mother's true love's heart had been ripped from his chest and crushed in front of her. Henry explained why he killed each person. They all had a part in destroying her. She could tell that her mother had slowly gone crazy with each entry becoming darker. Everything inside the book became about one thing, hurting Snow White.

"What happen to Snow White?" Mack said as she finished reading the book." Last thing in here is about the curse being cast." Mack said looking up at the boy who just shrugged and look away. "Did you…"

"No." Henry took a deep breath. "No she isn't dead, just a sleep. I used my mother's sleeping curse on her and then trapped her behind a death curse so no one can get to her to save her. "

"Death curse?"

"That's what I call it, it's a field around her, and if a person inters it they will age at a rapid rate. They will never be able to reach her because they will die of old age first, hence the death part."

"Did anyone ever try?"

"Her true love did once; he put his foot in and age about 20 years before the sheriff tackled him and wouldn't let him go in again. He begged me to put him under the curse too. I repaid the cowards begging by blocking his dreams so he couldn't visit her in his sleep. He has slowly gone insane, never to be with his true love again in this world or the next." Mack looked horrified when Henry told her. He still had no idea she knew he was taking about his own family.

"That's awful."

"It's only fair; Snow White did the same thing to my mother. So I took her true love away."

"Do you really think doing all of these things will really make your mother happy?" Henry shrugged again.

"I was a horrible son and she left me. I needed to make it up to her, give her what she always wanted. That way maybe she will forgive me for what I did to her and what I am…"Henry did not finish his sentence he just took the book away from Mack

"What if she isn't the person who wrote all of this stuff anymore? What if she changed, what if seeing you do all of these things doesn't make her happy."

"People don't change, they just fool themselves into thinking they can."