I think it was season 6 finale that showed darkness chasing Henry, so this one-shot is inspired by that. I hope you'll enjoy this one.

Darkness was coming to get him. It has been snatching parts of him for years, taking everything that made him who he was. Now, in the final reckoning, it will devour him whole.

He's been living a lie for so long, there was nothing but fear and anger inside him. Only one person knew when and why it started and how much it has already taken from him. He tried to run away from everybody so they wouldn't see, so he wouldn't hurt them. It was a fully rational decision, he was glad he could still make those. The heart of the truest believer was now anything but.

Henry would look into his mother's tearful eyes and feigned strength. He would take Cinderella's hand and tell her he would protect Lucy because he still loved his daughter. They believed him or they wanted to. But he knew that there was no help. That numbness, rooted deep inside his core, was killing him slowly. Like his spirit was trapped in an eternal sleep, waiting for a voice to call his name and save him from the dark. That was something nobody could see and understand. Soon, it would be clear to all.

The cloud of darkness was literally chasing him, for he was to become its vessel and take over the realms. With the final speck of hope, he was pushing his way through the murky forest. The darkness was screeching, calling out to him. He had to get to the book; the book has always been the answer. It might not save him but it might give someone the answer how to destroy him if and when it comes to that.

He was drenched in sweat, he was cold. Though, he was always cold now. His body was bruised and scratched from the falls and thorny bushes. Feeling he had the slight advantage, he burst into the dilapidated cottage, barring the door behind him.

"Wake up. It's time." he picked up Lucy. She knew the drill. They made the escape plan a while ago. But now that it's here, it seemed they didn't think of everything. She was on the verge of tears, "Don't be frightened. I'll stay behind and give you time to escape."

"No, I won't leave you. I'll help you fight."

The wind was howling louder.

"No. You have to make sure it stays safe. You need to get to safety and share these stories."

"No one will believe them."

"Someday, someone will." he hoped his assured voice hid his fear that it might not happen.

The door began to shake. Henry jumped and Lucy let out a sobbing sound, "Don't worry about me. Go!"

"I-"

"I know…" then he added, "Me too."

He gave her a final kiss and she ran. The door was about to break. He raised his sword. This was it. He was ready.

The darkness much bigger than Pan's shadow, much more dangerous than any wraith or demon forced its way through the door and was surging to possess him.

In his last act of defense, he screamed and swung the sword. The thrust to the ground pushed the air out of his lungs. But after one ear-piercing screech, it all stopped.

"Henry!" someone was calling his name, "Henry, are you all right?"

A worried face was hovering above him, hands roamed over his body, checking for sign of injury. Before it all happened, he would have tucked the unruly strand of hair behind her ear and told her not to worry.

Instead, he pushed himself off the ground and started to pack some essentials. He had 30 minutes at best before it returned, and he had to move it away from Lucy and the book. The darkness had sensed what he was trying to do with the book, "What are you doing here, Drizella? I told you to stay away."

"I guess you lost the ability to feel gratitude as well." she huffed, though his demeanor was not novelty to her, "You can stop packing."

He snorted, "I really can't. I need to go and buy Lucy at least a day."

"A day won't make a difference." she grabbed his arm and turned him to face her, "Look at me! Listen to me!"

He took a deep breath and looked her in the eyes. He didn't like that. She could see into his eyes like open doors, leading to the dark, cold place his broken spirit was dwelling.

"You don't have to run anymore. I found a way to give you time. And I'll find a way to bring you back."

She spoke with such assurance it was making him think it could be real. He was shaking his head, "Don't say that if-"

She grabbed his hand and led him outside. It took a moment before he realized what the spreading purple mist was. He could barely stomach the thought, "Drizella, please…" in his weakest moments, he had begged her not to let him die like this, to save him from nothingness before he came undone, "Please, tell me you didn't."

She smiled, her lips were trembling, "How could I have when the heart of the thing I love the most is still here?"

He removed her hand from his chest and placed a kiss in her palm. He wished what he felt for her wasn't being taken from him. He wished he could show her with every gesture how much he loved her. But she knew everything and never asked him to hide, "How then?"

"I made some deals." she admitted reluctantly, "I'll remember and make sure the curse breaks once there is a way for us to defeat the darkness. That's all that matters."

"I'm sorry. I should have never put you in this position."

"You didn't. My heart is already black." it was the constant reminder that they could have found each other earlier. But Drizella was grateful now. Her heart the way it was, allowed her to do things that were necessary. Nobody suspected her because they believed all she wanted was to get revenge on her mother, "This is just another scary thing we get to do."

Despite everything, he chuckled. It was true. "The scariest. But you'll need help. I should tell my mom, somebody must know about this and us-" he stopped and let out a shaky breath. It was pointless. There was no time for anything, the curse would soon engulf them and send them to the land without magic. He won't remember his mom or Lucy, or that he once loved Cinderella and that Drizella was his real fairytale story, "I don't want you to leave me. I need you in front of me to remind me there's something more."

They were both terrified, "I'll find a way to be by your side." she assured him. She had to be strong for the both of them. Tears were threatening to come out, "We'll figure it out."

"Always."

Like breathing new life into him, she kissed him as the dark curse consumed them.