Notes: So okay, the setting of this one is going to be a little complicated but here it is. It takes place in some version of Storybrooke in the year 1999. It's obviously an AU, one where the world was panicking about the new millennium being the end of the world. It's basically a survival story, they are hit with a disaster and now they have to deal with it. With that being said… enjoy!
P.S. Huge thanks for Tiffany for brainstorming with me!
When Darkness Falls
The order to evacuate the city came at five o'clock in the afternoon, when the roads were already blocked and darkness was creeping upon them.
It came a little too late, if you asked her... well, actually, it came out way too late for any of those who remained behind to do something about it. They couldn't leave by car, they sure as hell couldn't leave by sea and walking out was apparently embarking into a suicide mission.
Staying was risky too, at least according to the phone conversation she had with her mother earlier on, as the town was just not ready to receive a category five hurricane with sustained winds of more than 165 miles per hour and well, since they were so close to the shore, they were also not ready for the widespread flooding that was expected.
It was a hard to grasp situation, especially because the most recent development of the storm projected that it was going to be a disaster… no, that it was going to be a huge catastrophic event; and what was even worse, the local government was not letting people know about it.
They were just.. they were keeping it under the rug.
Sure, the residents of the small and sometimes forgotten town knew a hurricane was coming, the event has been all over the news after all and since it was going to be the first time such a phenomenon menaced to sweep the area, people were on the lookout.
Some of them even fled already, packing whatever they could and leaving town at first thing in the morning.
Now, if they did that, it was because they wanted to and not because the authorities warned them, as the true magnitude of what was coming was for some reason, classified information, as Cora Mills simply put it.
The risk the town was facing was something the powers that be somehow, someway managed to keep in the shadows, even when keeping such important information away from all the residents was putting so many at risk.
"Regina, darling, if we tell them how big this is now, everyone will try to get out of there like a bunch of cockroaches and with that thing already about to hit, they will end up being caught in the middle of it. They'll die trying to get out so the best thing I can do is let them stay home. We'll send a rescue team as soon as the whole mess clears out. It will be fine, and if we are lucky, we'll even be able to cash in some federal disaster funds to make the town thrive from this. Everyone will benefit from this at the end…"
Now, being her mother's daughter has made Regina's skin to be a little too thick and she even like to brag about how having the woman's cold blood running through her veins turned her into a complete bitch, not that she was, of course, but in the competitive field of her life in New York, the reputation served her well.
She was good at it, at pretending, at acting as if she was a step over everyone else, but the reality was that she was more her father's daughter than she was ever Cora's.
However, being under the politician's constant rule did make her grow into a hardcore cynic so she was rarely surprised by most of her mother's antics.
With that being said, even for her standards, the crudeness of what her mother and those in charge were doing was a bit too much.
"Are you serious? People will die here… can't you at least warn them?"
No, that has been the Mayor's answer. They issued the evacuation order because it was protocol and very necessary if they wanted to cash into some relief funds, but actually telling them the imminent risk would incite chaos into a group that already thought the world would end by the end of the year and that was the last thing her mother wanted.
What if they rioted and started looting? Mr. Gold wouldn't approve of that so they better keep them in a blissful ignorance.
They would send a helicopter to get a few important citizens out of town, a ride that of course included her, as the Mayor's daughter; but the rest of the residents were basically going to be abandoned to their luck.
"That sounds terrible. Very Titanic-ish." She has said, her voice cold and detached but the grip on the phone turning her knuckles white.
"Leave everything to me. You just worry about getting into that helicopter and forget about everything else…"
The ominous conversation happened a little less that one hour ago, time that Regina took to pack the few belongings she brought over. It wasn't much, since she just came over for the weekend, so once she was ready, she headed into the City Hall building, as it was there where the infamous helicopter was going to pick them up.
She made her way up there with a bad feeling eating her inside out, especially when she noticed a bunch of people crowding the bus station. There were not a lot of them, but they were enough to make Regina feel awful about how they were being played dirty.
They didn't know it, but no bus was going to take them out… they were trapped, and if they didn't find a place safe enough soon, they could die.
Chewing hard into the inside of her cheek until her eyes watered with the pain inflicted, the brunette woman looked away. She wanted to think that none of what was happening was her problem. Storybrooke wasn't her home anymore, hasn't been since she left for college years ago and that she happened to be there was just a cruel prank from destiny.
Because yeah, it was only her luck that the biggest storm that the East Coast has seen in the last century was going to make landfall in Storybrooke while she was unfortunately there.
"No, you'll not be here." She told herself as she drove her Mercedes into her mother's designated parking spot in front of The City Hall. "When this storm hits, you'll be home, relaxing in the tub with a glass of wine."
True, the hurricane, that for some reason was moving south, was expected to hit New York city too, but it was not going to have the same catastrophic effects there and well, it wasn't the same thing riding such a huge storm in her Manhattan condo than in Storybrooke, Maine.
She was going to be fine once out of town… she just needed to kick the image of the small crowd waiting with all the belongings they were able to pack, waiting for a bus that was never going to pick them up out of her mind.
"Damn you, Cora, damn you to hell." She hissed and no, not for the first time in her life. "I can't believe you're making me do this. God, I'm going to need something stronger than wine after this."
With that thought taking over her thoughts, Regina Mills got out of the car, grabbed her designer travel bag from the passenger seat and after wrapping around her a scarf that was supposed to keep her from the chilly September air, she started walking around the building, the sound of her high heeled boots against the pavement preceding her.
Now, it was still early for the effects of the hurricane to fully hit them, but she could feel an eeriness in the wind softly howling around her that she didn't quite like, it was rustling the trees and making her hair swirl all over.
It was also too cold, enough to send a shiver down her spine. Luckily, it was a short walk and yes, she would have made it fine… she should have, and she would have done it with ten minutes to spare; but as she went around the corner, she noticed with surprise that there was a small bunch of people gathered there.
They caught her by surprise so she halted on her tracks, and yes, the first thing they did upon seeing her, was bombard her with endless questions.
There were the where's Mayor Mills? Why they issued an evacuation order so late? What was going on? And of course, the what are they going to do with us?
"I don't know." Was all she was able to say over and over again as the crowd surrounded her.
"You don't know where your mother is?"
A voice that screamed everything but kind, cut into the middle of the incessant questions, giving Regina no other choice than to look in its direction to see none other than Emma Swan standing a few paces in front of her, her arms crossed over her chest and her eyes hard as steel set on her.
Regina's back straightened at the sight and she had to fight hard against the urge of snarling her lips in annoyance, because no, she wouldn't say that she was enemies with the blonde, but they sure as hell were not friends.
"She's not here." She said at last, her chin tilted up in silent defiance and her voice dripping with that overbearing tone Daniel has tried in vain to make her sweeten down.
"Obviously. So where is she?"
Clearing her throat as a way to stop herself from blurting out that she was not Cora's nanny to keep track of her whereabouts, Regina kept her face neutral.
She had to, as the Mayor's daughter, it was her burden to remain stoic and calm in situations like this.
"She's out of town; now if you'll excuse me." She continued, walking pass Emma and closer to the building's door.
"Oh really? How fucking convenient."
"We tried to leave, as the evacuation order said, but the roads are blocked."
Now, this second voice that spoke up, Regina recognized immediately, even if she hasn't heard it in years.
It was a bit different, deeper, a bit raspy, but that English accent was simply unmistakable.
Turning around on the heels of her boots, Regina lifted her face in his direction. She spotted him at once and yes, it was Robin, as she already knew, but he looked so different from the scrawny kid that used to bug the hell out of her during their school years that for a moment, she didn't know how to react.
He looked good, more than what she remembered, damn him, and that was saying a lot considering she used to have the biggest crush on him…
"Is it true they will send a bus for us? There are some people waiting by the station."
The one asking that has been Mary Margaret and in an instant, Regina realized that most of the people there went to school with her. Sure, Mary Margaret was a few years younger so they didn't have the same classes, and neither did Robin, Killian or Zelena, who were a year ahead, but the rest were former classmates. Emma, David, August… she could even see Tink and others standing in the back.
These were some of the people Cora was leaving behind… people Regina knew and in a way grew up with.
Hell, even the first boy she ever kissed was there, awkward as it has been, and the person she once considered to be her best friend was too, so how was she going to do this?
"What are we supposed to do here, Regina? What is even going on?" Tink asked and screw it; she couldn't do it.
It was her father's side the one that took over, because the part of her that was Cora Mills would never give up on sentimentalism.
Taking in a deep breath, Regina looked at Tink, trying to find the right words to describe what was going on.
It wasn't fair, because it was not her job to say what she was going to say. It was her mother's duty, and her staff… as she has not been elected into any public position.
But, she was the only person in town that knew this so what the hell, she better get it over with so that at least her conscience could find some peace in the fact that she at least warned them.
"Late this afternoon, the Mayor's office was informed that the hurricane found some highly favorable conditions that allowed it to undergo a very dramatic intensification, so it will hit… hard. It will come a category five, which is unprecedented in this area. That's why the order was emitted, because Storybrooke is not expected to withstand the impact."
There were some deep sighs and more than a few groans as she dropped such a bomb. Regina heard it all, watched the way their faces fell as she remembered her own reaction when Cora told her.
"Alright, and how will they do it, how will they take us out? I saw in the news that this will make landfall very early tomorrow so time's running out."
And here it goes, she thought as her eyes fell on Tink again. She was still having a hard time assimilating what she was going to say so breathing in, she let it out… like a punch to the gut.
"There will be no bus coming, no one will. So the best thing you can do is find a safe place to stay, the higher the better and just… wait for everything to be over."
"Wait… they are leaving us behind?" David, another one that has grown out of his awkward teenage years scoffed; Regina just nodded, refusing to meet his eyes.
Yes, that was exactly what was being done. It was something Regina hasn't been able to digest well ever since she was told, but it was the only truth. The Mayor, her mother, chose not to tell anyone on time and now it was this.
"This can't be… I can be giving birth at any time now…" Zelena whined, making Regina take notice for the first time that the woman was in the last stage of a pregnancy.
It shook her to her very core.
"I'm sorry… I don't know what to say." Regina said genuinely, her tough façade almost crumbling; but then as if in cue, the sound of the helicopter approaching disrupted the sudden silence and everyone looked up to see it land at the back of the building.
It took them a few seconds to register it, but when Gold, his wife, Midas and Sydney emerged from their parked cars and headed in that direction, things apparently became crystal clear.
They were the five secure spots chosen to go out. No more, no less…
"This is fucking unbelievable." Emma almost yelled, her hands going to the top of her head as she stared at Regina in disbelief. "They sent a helicopter for you but blocked the road for us?"
For the first time in her life, Regina felt so very small. Cora raised her to have this not so humble notion that as a Mills, she was above everyone, and it was not like she believed it, but she was undoubtedly proud. But in that moment, she felt like the most disgusting piece of trash ever.
She even felt disgusted with herself.
"You should probably all stay at the City Hall until the storm passes, it's high enough so it won't get flooded and there's no chance of the building collapsing. It's the strongest structure in town."
Yeah, her mother would have a heart attack with that one, but who cared?
"Really? That's all you have to say?" Taking a few steps in her direction, the blonde groaned. She obviously meant trouble and Regina was ready for it, but before she could get too close, August grabbed her.
"Forget it. It's not worth it."
Now, by the way he pulled at her, Regina assumed he meant to take her away, but before he could, the woman eyed Regina coldly. "I hope you and your mommy are unable to ever sleep again after doing this."
Blinking a few times, Regina lifted her chin up and faced Graham instead, he was standing at the back with a serious expression on his face, his eyes, like all the others set on her.
She ignored the reproach in the stare and just clenched her jaw. She knew he worked at the sheriff's office, so he was the one to speak to. "If there are people by the beach, they should make it up here, same as everyone who doesn't have a secure roof. As the people at the bus station…"
"I'll get to them." He said somberly before leaving.
After that, the rest of the crowd started to leave as well, all but Tink who was looking at her with something she couldn't quite pin, Robin, who had his hands raised a little in what she could easily read as a what the fuck gesture and Zelena, who was by herself and softly crying.
That right there made her feel worse, like one of the cockroaches her mother was always comparing people with. That was probably why she did what she did.
She didn't think much about it, didn't weight on the implications her actions would provoke, she just rode on an impulse and grabbed Zelena by the arm. "Come, I'll give you something."
Turning from the others, she walked around the building and when she was by her car, she pointed to the helicopter. "You are going to be the one leaving, okay?"
"What?" The redhead asked in surprise because much like Emma, they were not friends. They never have been.
"Just get your things and go." She said, a bit exasperated as she pointed at the duffle bag Zelena just dropped.
Not thinking it twice, the visibly pregnant woman picked up her stuff and without a look back, she jumped into the helicopter.
Regina just watched, shocked by her own wild impulse but unable to tear her eyes away. She just stood there until the image of the helicopter faded…
"She didn't even say thanks." She said when she felt someone stand by her side. She didn't have to look to know who it was, especially when that someone wrapped an arm around her and rested her head against her shoulder.
"Your mom is going to kill you."
Regina's snorted, even when there was no trace of amusement in it.
"Not if I drown here first or I don't know, get hit by a falling tree or something."
"You won't. City Hall happens to be the strongest building in town, or so I was told."
Looking up, the Mayor's daughter found herself eye to eye with the same pair of blue orbs that so long ago would make her feel like melting on the spot.
They had always been so full of mischief that it was weird to see them shine with something else, something deeper; but even though there was that slight difference, they apparently had the same pull on her.
Robin Locksley… it was weird, because growing up, he was the epitome of what she disliked in boys. He was loud, too cheeky and God, he apparently had a thing of bugging the hell out of her. But at the same time, she has been drawn to that dimple smile of his and those bright blue eyes… even when she would first cut her right arm off than admitting it out loud.
But that has been long ago, when she was a simple naïve kid that knew nothing about life.
"It is the safest place, but I won't be staying there. You know, I don't want to be lynched by an angry mob lead by Emma Swan as I try to sleep."
"What will you do then?" Tink asked and much as it happened with Robin, Regina started to remember how it has been before with her.
They have been inseparable, best friends, the person who has stood by her when her father died and when Cora was being to much and she needed a breather.
It changed though, when her mother made her go into a specialized school. They tried to cling to their friendship at first, but as it often happened in those last teen years of anyone's life, they grew apart. Then, Regina left town…
"I'll stay home, it can't be too bad there."
"Regina, you can't stay there on your own…"
Scrunching her nose because she just knew what Tink was going to say next, the brunette walked away.
"There's no place to sleep at the City Hall, or food, so I think you better start getting ready. It's going to be a long night and an even longer morning."
Meaning to end the conversation there, Regina walked to her car and after one last look at her past, she drove away; never imagining that it was not just going to be a long night what she was about to face, but the longest few weeks of her life.
And that in those weeks, the past and everything she left behind in Storybrooke would come knocking on her door…
TBC?