Later that night, Archie was out walking Pongo down Main Street, swinging his umbrella, when he heard the sound of frantic, running steps behind him. He turned around just in time to be plowed into by someone who knocked him off his feet and landed on top of him, knocking the air from his lungs and his glasses askew. He felt the person above him scrambling to get back up as he was finally able to gather himself enough to look up as he pushed his glasses back into place. He was startled to see the blond hair and red jacket as he gasped out, "Emma?"
He was further stunned when said woman looked back at him with intense fear and confusion as she stopped trying to stand for a beat and asked, "Whose Emma?" He didn't have much time to process the response though as she managed to get back on her feet and offer her hand as she also offered him an apology, "Sorry guy, I didn't see you there. I didn't hurt you too bad when I knocked you down did I?" He only managed a weak no as he stood back up, umbrella in hand, before she was dragging him by the other hand toward an alleyway, Pongo obediently following despite the fact he had dropped his leash at some point during the fall. When he tried to speak again she hushed him as she watched the street and moments later The Evil Queen appeared, walking down Main Street. His blood ran cold as he followed her confident stride down the middle of the road.
"Oh, Miss Swan, where are you?" The Evil Queen was wearing a wicked smile as she kept moving. "I just want to talk; you don't have to be afraid of me." The Queen waited a few beats before her face was marred by an angry smile and she gritted out, "I will find you Miss Swan, you can hide but not for long." With that there was a cloud of purple smoke and she was gone.
Archie could feel as Emma relaxed slightly beside him but he couldn't himself, not until he got some answers, so he tried to get her attention with a soft, "Emma?" When she didn't even seem to register it he frowned as he put a hand on her shoulder briefly and tried again, a little less calm, "Emma, talk to me, what just happened?"
She finally turned to him but he was once again startled to see an annoyed frustration showing on her face as she asked in return, "Seriously, dude, who is this Emma you keep talking about?"
Frowning with deep concern he told her slowly, "You're Emma." When she seemed to look at him like he was crazy he started to let himself see what was going on and so he asked her in a serious tone, "Who do you think you are?"
This seemed to give her pause as she looked at him, truly looked at him for the first time since running into him. Far too many emotions ran across her face for him to catalogue before it seemed to settle on a confused and sad uncertainty and she let out a barely there, "I don't know." That was the moment Pongo chose to make his presence known to Emma as he let out a soft bark before nudging her hand with his head. She was looking down with her brows furrowed while she petted him as she said a little louder, "I don't know who I am." She looked up briefly and Archie could see the fear behind her words shining in her eyes.
Not knowing what to do but knowing they couldn't stay standing in an alley with The Evil Queen out looking for Emma Archie made a decision. Holding out his hand toward Emma he told her, "I'm Archie Hopper and this is Pongo, it's a pleasure to meet you."
Emma looked at his hand with suspicion for a moment before taking it and shaking it once. She seemed to be studying his face as she said, "I'd tell you my name but I'm having trouble remembering it at the moment, though it appears you already seem to know it, to know me." She took a slight step closer as she asked, "Am I right, Mr. Hopper, do you know me?"
Furrowing his own brows slightly he told her, "Dr. Hopper, and yes, I know you, I've known you for over half a decade now." Letting that sink in for a beat he assured her, "We're friends and even if you can't remember that I know you know it because you can tell when someone is lying." He moved his hand to her elbow as he looked her in the eye and asked her, "Am I lying to you right now?"
After studying his face for a few moments Emma's face relaxed slightly as she said, "It doesn't seem like you are." She pried her eyes away from him long enough to assess the street around them before turning back and telling him, "My gut is telling me that I can trust you, and I always trust my gut, so if we are friends like you say than you are probably willing to help me. I need somewhere to lie low while I try and figure out what in the hell is going on right now."
Without hesitation Archie told her she could hide out at his house and reassured her that almost no one would think to look for her there. She seemed to question that but didn't say anything so with him leading, the three of them made their way quickly to the doctor's house. Emma didn't miss the protective posture of either the man or the dog as they made their way through the darkened streets. She had no idea what was going on, why she was being chased by some crazed magician who seemed to think she was a bird but she at least knew she could trust this man. She wasn't sure how she knew it but nonetheless she did.
