Alena ran. Her shallow breaths rang in her ears as she pushed herself forward. The thoughts swam in her head – but she ignored them.
She focused on the streetlights ahead of her. "I just need to…"
Her shoulder banged into someone else's. A familiar voice told her, "Careful, now. I'd wager you'd like to arrive at your destination in one piece."
Alena locked eyes with him. Dr. Facilier.
His deal flashed in her mind. The way he appeared in her nightmare still haunted her.
She then shook her head – Samdi couldn't get to her.
"I am really sorry I ran into you, but I really have to go."
"It's quite urgent, isn't it?" Samdi mused as he clasped his hands together.
Alena bit back a sarcastic remark before she took a deep breath. "Yes, actually, so I really need to go."
She moved past him and broke out in a jog. As she faded out of earshot, a slow smile spread across Samdi's face.
"Oh, Alena. Even with all your power, you'll never see what's coming."
Jacinda and Henry sat on the floor of her apartment. They reclined against the couch. She hummed, "Mm-hmm," as he held the mixtape and started to read off the songs.
"Okay. We got some Beyoncé... not a big surprise." He gestured toward her, earning a raised eyebrow, "Nice. Not a big surprise. Um…"
He then laughed before he continued, "Lauryn Hill. That's always a good choice."
She hummed once more, "Mm," as she nodded and smiled. An impressed look then crossed Henry's face.
"Oh, wow. Mikky Ekko, "Pull Me Down." Look at you!" He then nudged her leg. "Now, that is an impressively deep cut."
She chided him, "Don't act so surprised. You're not the only one with taste," tilting her head, "Henry Mills."
He let out another laugh. He then questioned, "Why do you... why do you do that... Call me Henry Mills?"
Disappointment flashed in her dark brown eyes. "Oh, you don't like it?"
"No, no. I do. It's so, uh…" He began before he trailed off as he tried to figure out what to say to her. "What?" she then offered.
"It's so you." The pair then shared a chuckle, a sweet smile breaking out across their faces.
As their conversation picked up once again, it became muffled as Lucy remained curled up in her bed. She read Henry's book and sipped on hot chocolate.
She set down her mug and licked her lips before the closet door creaked. A nervous expression crossed her face as she glanced at the door. She then climbed out of bed and meandered over to the closet.
She closed her eyes and placed her hands on the door knobs. She yanked open the doors.
She glanced around at the clothes and boxes. Seeing nothing, she sighed and scrunched up her face. With a shrug, she then walked back over to her bed. She climbed back in and grabbed the book.
A folded piece of paper fell on the floor. Lucy's mouth fell agape as she noticed it – she crawled out of bed and sat on the floor. She grabbed the page and unfolded it.
The page presented an illustration of Henry - his heart poisoned - lying on the ground. Lucy read from it.
"And Drizella stood victorious. For if true love's kiss should ever break the curse, Henry Mills would surely die."
A horrified expression overtook her features. She gasped, "True love's kiss."
Henry and Jacinda still sat on the floor, gazing into each other's eyes. He put his arm around her as they leaned in close.
Lucy ran into the room, forcing them apart. She panted: "Mom!"
Henry cleared his throat as he and Jacinda both turned to look at her. With a sigh, she softly began, "Hey…"
Lucy blinked and shook her head. "I'm…I'm sorry."
Worry crossed Jacinda's features. "Baby, what are you still doing up?" "I had a nightmare that something horrible happened."
Jacinda reassured her little girl: "It's okay. It was just a silly dream," as she reached for her arm.
"But I-I can't sleep now. Can we finish the game?" Lucy then leapt over the couch and slid in between them.
"Oh. Uh…sure," Jacinda faltered as Henry let out a chuckle. She mouthed an "I'm sorry" – he offered a nod in return.
"Here we go," she then said as she helped Lucy set up the checkerboard. Though initially disappointed, a teasing lilt came through Henry's voice.
"Yeah, is she gonna…You gonna beat me again, huh?"
Later that night, Lucy tossed and turned in her bed. She knocked Henry's book off the nightstand.
She jumped up with a gasp. She then glanced toward her mom – she breathed a sigh of relief when she saw her sound asleep.
She then leaned down and reached for the book. She grunted when she couldn't grab it. She then climbed out of bed.
When she picked up the book, she spied something sticking out between the pages. She furrowed her eyebrows before she shook her head.
"No. I don't want to know anything else that keeps my family apart."
She placed the book back on the nightstand. She then rolled over and pulled the covers over her head. Even as she tried to sleep, the book kept flashing in her mind.
"Fine," she mumbled as she rolled back over and grabbed the book. She then sat up and placed the book in her lap.
When she pulled the object from the book, her eyes widened. "The tapestry!"
As her eyes roamed over the fabric, she furrowed her eyebrows. "Wait, this is different."
She brought it closer to her face. "If that's Alena," she began as she pointed to the figure shroud in white light. She then moved to the figure shroud in darkness. "And that's the daughter of darkness, whoever she is."
Her finger stopped on something - or someone - in the middle. "Then who is this?"
The three figures joined together, a wave of light emitting from them. The darkness around them appeared faded where the light met it.
Lucy's eyes widened. "Alena is still gonna break the curse! And she'll have help!"
She then tilted her head. "But I don't know how. I better show this to Roni – she'll know."
She then tucked the fabric back in the book before she hid it under her pillow. She took a deep breath, a smile spreading across her face.
She then curled under the covers and drifted off to sleep.
Sabine closed the window on the food truck. She then turned to Drew, who stood beside her.
She waved her hands. "That is the most beignets I've made in a day... Or ever, really." She then nudged his arm. "I say we make a pretty good team."
"Yeah, we're a hit," he agreed as he smiled at her. "And, uh, I'm gonna celebrate by throwing out this trash."
He held up a trash bag as Sabine told him, "Yes," pointing to the bag, a teasing lilt in her voice. "Yeah," he agreed before both of them laughed.
She headed off as he walked toward the dumpster. Just as he dropped the bag in, Samdi slinked over.
"You're the Taste of the Heights. It's good to see you can take orders well." Frustration mounted on Drew's face as Samdi finished, "And not just from me."
Drew then complained, "I don't like doing this." Samdi waved him off: "Doesn't matter what you like."
With a shake of his head, he then spread his hands wide and reminded him: "The important thing is that you've gained her trust," gesturing toward him with his gloves.
"Well, why do you care about her?" Drew persisted, worry - and guilt - flashing in his eyes.
"She's going to help me get something that I've been after for quite a long while. In the meantime, the two of you can keep making magic together – and you can keep an eye on that friend of hers. The investor. She is important as well."
Drew knitted his eyebrows together. "Alena? How do you even know her? And what does she have to do with any of this?"
"See, now, that is my business, and nothing to do with you. All you have to worry about is doing as I say."
Samdi then sauntered away as anger rested on Drew's face. The worry soon took over before Sabine strolled up behind him.
"Drew?" He turned to face her, his mouth falling open and his eyes widening, "Did I hear you talking to someone?"
He glanced behind him. "I guess it's me," gesturing toward himself, "um, congratulating myself." A smile - albeit a bit forced - made its way on his face.
"Oh," Sabine commented with a chuckle, "Well, you forgot a bag." She handed it to him, and he tossed it in the bin.
She smiled at him before they headed back to the truck – but not before he tossed one final look over his shoulder.
"Oh, gods, can this really be happening?"
Alena paced in the hallway in front of an apartment. She had talked herself out of knocking twice.
She then ran her fingers through her hair. "Come on, Alena, you can do this. You have to do this."
She then took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She wouldn't get any answers if she let her nerves - or her temper - get the better of her.
Her shoulders set in determination, she stopped in front of the door. With another deep breath, she raised her hand and knocked.
A moment later, Nick opened the door. He tilted his head and furrowed his eyebrows.
"Alena? What are you doing here?"
A/N: I bet you guys didn't see that coming ;) I do hope you enjoyed this chapter, and I wanted to let y'all know the next chapter will be an original one entitled "The Other Side".
You should see it soon, and I hope you guys are looking forward to what happens next. Until next time :)