Emma sat alone still unable to take her eyes off those documents, like a list of all her mistakes all the times she was rejected. Eight homes in fifteen years and stint in juvey. They weren't exactly hallmark memories and now, she lost her best friend feeling like everything else was slipping away. All because of this resurfacing in her life again. Emma still struggled to understand how this all connected.
Emma slammed the documents onto the floor no longer able to look at them the papers flew about into the air slowly fluttering down around her. Sitting in silence waiting on Mary Margret and David to comeback as the checked on the commotion outside. Emma heard a phone vibrating on the table not hers, but David's and she answered recognising the name on the screen.
"Hi" Emma said rather aggressively, anger getting the better of her she wanted to yell at someone and was begging to realise who the real enemy was.
"Emma, so glad to hear your voice it's been a while" Emily answered with surprised glee.
"I know it was you, they told me what you've done" Emma said so angry and upset at everything that had happened today.
"Me, all I've done is protect you, they set the creature free to go after your friend, I was the one keeping control of it" Emily said trying to sound like an innocent bystander.
"No, you're a liar" Emma replied but she didn't sound like she believed it the walls of the diner felt like they were closing in on her, she needed to get out.
"When those two came by today, that's what set the creature after your friend now it's free to take everyone" Emily said trying to confuse Emma.
"No, I know it was you, that's what you do" Emma replied her voice braking as it all became clear.
"What do you mean?" Emily replied getting frustrated her lies where not as easy for Emma to swallow anymore.
"What happened to me and Lily, it was you wasn't it?" Emma asked frustrated.
"I thought it would be you, showing off your powers that night, didn't even suspect your friend was special; the truth is she would have been fine if you hadn't shared your food with her" Emily replied trying to sound like it was a sad memory but there was anger underneath.
"You drugged us, that's why I couldn't remember properly, everyone thought I was crazy or a criminal and now" Emma paused looking outside for a sign of Mary Margret and David "they know everything" Emma replied starting to yell, part of her still fearing that she would be abandoned again.
"It wasn't me exactly, but I was there. When the dragon showed her scales so to speak, off course they took her, locked her up. I knew where the real power was" Emily paused while Emma processed. Emma's heart racing as the memories came to the forefront of her mind putting the final pieces together.
"And I knew she would lead us back to you, so I set her free" Emily finally admitted.
Emma gasped sitting back in the booth, realising that Lily was trying to warn her after all that time locked away, she came for Emma only to get taken by the monster. Now Elsa was gone as well, Emily was making sure Emma had no one. Having all her documents there for Mary Margret to find, hoping this would all unfold just as it did. This thought just made Emma more angry realising Emily had been playing this game for Emma's entire life making sure she never had a home or even friends.
"You're the reason I got sent to juvey and now, they know everything" Emma said thinking of her parents just outside wondering if they were next to be taken by the creature is, they would give up on her.
"Emma it's ok, don't worry about them, they abandoned you but I'm still here, I understand you" Emily said.
"Just because you've known me longer, doesn't mean you know me better" Emma replied.
"Me and you we can leave this town together, tell me where you are?" Emily pleaded.
"What?" Emma gasped confused about this nutjob.
"I know you Emma you feel betrayed and alone you've been here before, but this time will be different they won't ship you off to another home, you can stay with me" Emily said.
"They won't let you take me this time" Emma replied anxious referring to all the other homes Emily had pick her up from.
"I'm pretty sure they'll be gone soon if not by choice, then it will take them" Emily replied trying to sound sincerely concerned for Emma.
"No" Emma responded with a gasp filling the need to get out of the diner like she was suffocating in there.
"You don't know what you want Emma, you never have" Emily responded like she had this conversation with Emma before.
"Yes, I do, and I know exactly what I have to do" Emma replied dropping the phone.
Emma grabbed the dust and the totem from the table and went out the back-exit marching down the middle of the street. There was no point in hiding from the monster chasing her, it could feel you. Sense your intentions and Emma intended on ending this now. It would not take away anyone else she loved, Emma thought as she left her parents behind hoping the storm would follow her.
Emma wasn't sure if this was the right decision but running was her coping mechanism she could run until she couldn't breathe and then keep going, anything stop the pain. Emma recalled the first time she felt like this, just seven years old. It wasn't the first foster placement she had left behind. However, it was the first time she was uprooted from a place that felt like home.
Emma felt like she was right back there in that horrible moment. Standing on the front porch holding a garbage bag full of the few things she owned. Looking over at the people who had cut off her crust and tucked her in, who she laughed and cried with over the past year. People she believed truly loved her. However, as the social workers car came to a halt and Emma realised, she wasn't loved and she wasn't safe, she ran. Only making it about five blocks before giving in to her fate knowing she had nowhere to go, Emma waited by the curb. Emily found Emma sitting in the gutter alone and she simply hoped in her car hopeless without a word. This time was different though, this time Emma had something to run towards, a promise to keep.
The winds where howling and the streets where empty after being on a leash for over a month the creature had taken out almost the whole town in an hour. Some had fled indoors not that it could help them. Doors where not an issue for such a monster. Emma smiled seeing Killian's car out the front of the school she knew he'd still be here with the others; Emma hadn't even stopped for a breath bursting thought the entrance to the empty halls of Storybrooke high. The wind gusting in behind her sending a great ruffle of leaves and rubbish inside.
"Emma" Mulan's voice called out confused as she stood at the end of the hall. Emma had never seen her in such a state. Mulan always looks so strong and composed. Now she was a blubbering mess and Emma ran over to her. The pair didn't say a word, but Mulan grabbed Emma's hand and for a moment the grieved together.
"Hey, you two, come on" Red called out from down the hall her arms full of whatever she could get from the teachers' lounge that could be used in the ritual.
They quickly let go made their way down the hall to the library where the rest of the gang minus Belle were working on completing the ritual all the elements where in place. They had the dust, the totem, candles, books and each other hoping that it would be enough the save Storybroke.
"Emma, what are doing here?" Killian said surprised but he couldn't help but smile seeing her in front of him.
"I keep my promises" Emma responded referring to the fact they had promised to be by each other's side next time things got dangerous and things had defiantly gotten dangerous.
"Your parents, are they?" Killian started to ask but didn't finish.
"They were ok, when I left" Emma replied feeling guilty.
"What happened today?" Killian asked concerned seeing Emma's vacant expression.
"Nothing, I couldn't stay, Emily said she would hurt them" Emma paused "It doesn't matter I'm here now and I'm getting my best friend back" Emma said.
"Then let's get started" Anna replied, it was the first time she'd spoken since her sister was taken to focused on the mission at hand, trying not to fall apart.
"We can do this" Red said trying to reassure everyone, the only one of them yet to fall apart by the recent events trying to focus on the task in front of them.
"I don't know if you guys have noticed but my sister was the one in the family with the magic skills, that thing took our only chance" Anna replied walking off starting to push the tables and chairs out of the way to make more space for them.
They all quickly scrambled as the day became night the sun setting on this chapter in their lives, they only hoped they could survive the night. They weren't even sure exactly what was about to happen or if this ritual would work. It was a shot in the dark, but it was all they had.
A voice cried out in the storm outside impossible to make out with the winds howling so loudly. It was two people calling for someone desperate and unyielding they called for them again and again. They all stopped ready to go out and help not able to just listen to someone in such despair and not offer assistance.
"The best we can do for them, is finish this" Mulan said trying to be composed but she wanted to run out there as much of the rest of them.
"We can't be interrupted when it starts" Red added, wondering if they might come in here as the voices got closer.
"They creature will mostly likely attack once it realises it's at risk" Killian added knowing exactly what such a beast might do when cornered concerned the passers-by would get caught up in the crossfire.
"Then we lock ourselves in, stop anyone else from being in danger" Red replied, looking over at the couch in the corner gesturing for them to place it in the doorway. Stopping anyone who might step into the library unaware of the impending danger.
"I don't know exactly what's going to happen but if anyone wants to bail" Emma announced to the group deflated not ready to lose anyone else today.
"No, we have to do this, together" Killian responded.
"The answer is love, right" Red said smiling as she walked over to help them with barricading the door. Locking out anyone who would try and burst in on there and interrupt the ritual.
The voice called out again and Emma's heart sunk realising it was her father calling for her.
"It's my parents" Emma said realising, she was about to run out to them, but Red put her hand on her shoulder stopping her.
"There safer out there" Red reassured her.
"Right" Emma said as her Killian and Red finished propping the couch in the doorway completely blocking the entrance. Emma's heart sank feeling more hopeless with every second that painfully ticked by. Feeling like putting the couch up against the wall was the finale nail in the coffin of a life that Emma could never have.
