"What do you want?"
Regina glares at the old woman behind the counter angrily, finding her tone to be entirely loathsome despite the fact she has other, more important things on her mind.
"Ruby. Where is she?"
Granny opens her mouth- presumably to tell the Mayor the young brunette is otherwise engaged- but as she does so, the waitress pops into view at the window separating the kitchen from the restaurant and spots her visitor.
"Regina... Madame Mayor... What can I do for you?"
When the older woman simply purses her lips and shakes her head, Ruby takes note of the high color to her cheeks and motions that she come through to the back curiously. Following the Mayor with a growing sense of trepidation, the young waitress faces her anxiously as they stand hidden behind a shelf of produce and dried goods.
"What... Uh...?"
"Have you seen Emma?"
And just like that it's out there. No 'Miss Swan' bullshit, no beating about the bush. She had thought originally upon going to the schoolteacher, but had found the idea simply too hateful. Besides, she may despise the young brunette who now studies her open-mouthed and riddled with idiocy, but there is no changing the fact that Ruby knows what she knows, and right now she has little time for small talk.
"Um, yeah, last night... Why?"
The waitress's bright eyes go swiftly from caged interest to wary concern, and for that the Mayor is grateful; it saves her having to admit her own fears.
"She's not at home."
"Oh. I... I don't know... I thought-"
"-Henry just came home and said she wasn't there... He was crying. Today is his birthday."
"I know... Emma... Emma wasn't there?"
"No."
"That's weird..."
"Do you think she would have gotten cold feet?"
Ruby blinks in surprise. Regina's question seems genuine, and her intelligent eyes are filled with anxiety. Choosing her words carefully, the waitress continues warily.
"No... I was round her place last night... We made a cake and she decorated the place. She was excited. She wouldn't have bailed... Maybe she was called in on an emergency?"
"Her phone was lying on the kitchen table."
"... And she wasn't there?"
"No."
"...That's... That's really weird..."
"She hasn't said anything to you?"
"About taking off? No! Nothing!... Something about this... It doesn't feel right..."
Heavily lined eyes glisten fretfully and the Mayor nods in reluctant agreement.
"No. That's what I thought too."
"But, like, who would want to hurt Emma? I mean... The only person I would have thought would harm her is... Well... Umm..."
"Me?"
"... Yes."
"I wouldn't lay a finger on her... As I believe- according to Miss Swan- you know."
"... I know."
"There is one other..."
"Mr Gold."
"Precisely."
"But why? I mean... I know you guys had it out in here... Same with Emma... But what does he want with her?"
"I... I don't know."
"Do you think he-"
"-Miss Lucas I haven't a clue what that hateful imp wants with the Sheriff, but if he so much as looks at her in a way she doesn't want him to... Rest assured... I will make him regret it."
Ruby regards the darker woman levelly as the Mayor hisses at her intently; watching as the darker woman's eyes flash with anger. Pulling herself up to her full height, she nods bravely.
"And I would be next in line..."
Regina pauses, studying the younger woman critically, coming to the slow realization that for now she has much in common with the waitress; the young brunette evidently distraught at the disappearance of her friend and prepared to go quite some way towards getting her back.
"You really think he'd... I dunno.. Kidnap her?!"
"I don't know what to think. All I know is that my son is at home under the impression that his... His mother... Didn't want to spend time with him today. Now, for a long time, I would have wished that to be true, as I'm sure I don't need to tell you. Now, though... I refuse to believe that to be the case, and the only person I know that would have the audacity to stand between a young boy and his birthday wishes is Gold... I don't know what he wants, dear, but I guarantee you... I plan to find out."
The blonde wakes up groggily, her head pounding and her stomach churning nauseatingly. She blinks lethargically in an attempt to adjust to the dim light of the room; rolling her head to the side weakly. She becomes slowly aware of the fact that her mouth has been gagged with some form of bitter tasting material which rubs coarsely against her lips and tongue, and struggles against the urge to heave up the contents of her stomach.
For a brief, disorientated moment she wonders if the Mayor is behind her current predicament; incoherently pondering on whether this is the result of a game gone too far. Struggling to sit up, she notes with a terrible sense of distress that her wrists have been cuffed tightly to what she concludes are bedposts, and she knows instantly Regina isn't behind this.
Regina wouldn't let her be cuffed in such a way.
Not anymore.
Coming out of her drugged stupor as she breathes fretfully through her nose, she struggles to lift her head to survey her surroundings; her heart beating frantically in her chest. Shaking her head in denial, she attempts to yell out through her gag, but the resulting sound is so pitifully muffled it only serves to terrify her more. Vaguely aware that she has started to cry, she trembles fitfully on the hard mattress, kicking her feet uselessly as she chokes weakly on her restrained sobs.
No. No. No. No. Please no. Please! No. No. This can't be happening. No. No! NO!
Thrashing wretchedly on the bed, she stills only when her brow glistens with exhaustion and her breathing comes out rough and ragged. Struggling helplessly to control her racing mind, she begins to yank desperately at her restraints.
She begins to yank hard.