~Chapter 4~

~another note because there's a lot to explain~

So, I've been extremely inactive lately but I finally logged onto my account and saw that I have almost 600 views on this story! So, I'm writing the fourth chapter so I can hopefully raise it to 600...or maybe even 700! I'd really appreciate if we got it to that many reads so please favorite and leave a review!

Love, Isabel

~Emma's POV~

I woke up, gasping for air. Coughing and clutching my chest, I sat up and bent over myself to breathe. I still felt nauseous and sick, but I finally caught that wisp of air that would help me catch my breath.

Mom was holding a glass of water out to me and I took it willingly, my mouth dry and my lips cracked.

I drank it and felt the cool liquid slide down my throat, instantly making me feel better. I expected the nausea to stop, but it was still there, a dull feeling in the back of my mind.

"Are you okay? What's wrong? What happened? Who did this?" Questions swirled around the room as my family became even more confused.

"I'm fine," I said. I felt strange. Something had happened when I was unconscious, but I couldn't remember.

I shrugged it off and tried to get up, but my legs wouldn't support me for some reason. I was weak. Something really was wrong. Something had happened.

Killian helped me back onto the couch, brows furrowed, looking worried. The feeling wasn't just in him, though; I was as worried as he was.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, something I hadn't been able to do minutes before.

"Should we be worried? Or are you okay?" My dad said, his voice shaking a bit.

"Something's always wrong here," I muttered under my breath. "Go," I said decisively, "find him. He's dangerous now. But whatever happens, don't kill him. I need my son back." Tears filled my eyes.

They refused to leave at first but finally agreed. As they closed the door, I decided to get some rest, so I shut my eyes to sleep.

The trouble was, I had the strangest dream.

I woke up, confused as to what happened in the dream, and drained the rest of my water. I slowly tried to stand but couldn't move my torso to sit up.

It was like I was paralyzed.

~Henry's POV~

I sat in the woods on a stump, killed a bird or two, and waited. I knew my family was going to come, as I had written, and I was ready to show them just who they were messing with.

I magically produced a crystal orb to see their progress to find me. The heroes were all in the diner, contemplating what to do next. I decided to speed up their quest. "The woods," I whispered into the orb.

I watched as their heads turned in confusion. They were talking in hushed tones, and finally, what I had been waiting for happened. They all got out of the booth they were seated in and rushed out the door without a second glance.

I wondered what would happen if I had stayed good. I probably would be sitting in the diner while my family talked, drinking hot chocolate and wishing I could say something. If I could say anything.

I sort of missed having a normal life. Sure, I used to think Regina was evil, but she turned good.

My mind was almost happy about that, until the dark side of me took over once again. She was weaker, afraid to use her magic. What ever happened to the evil, outspoken Evil Queen everyone knew?

I decided that after getting rid of the rest of them, I'd fix her personality next. She would be perfect to wreak havoc if she was back to her old self.

Yeah, I'd do that. But then, all I had to do was wait.

I wondered how long it would take for them to make it here. Maybe they weren't the heroes everyone believed they were. They had neglected me, left me behind. I knew what was going on, but they ignored me because of my age.

I shook my head and sat back down on the stupid log, waiting.

After minutes of silent waiting, I looked up at the sound of footsteps. I was expecting my mother to be leading, but to my surprise, it was my grandfather.

"What'd you do?" he demanded, stepping closer. I laughed and relaxed.

"What did I do? All I wanted was a battle. If you won, I'd back off, but it seems my mother was too cowardly to attend...what a shame!"

"You know what you did to her!" Regina stepped up menacingly. My grandmother pulled her back slightly, breathing in new words of realization. "Maybe he doesn't..."

"She's right," I replied, pointing to her. "So, what happened?"

"We don't know," Hook explained. "It's like she's paralyzed. She can't walk, and she called my talking phone and said she couldn't move anything below her torso. She's having strange dreams, too."

My eyes widened. She was becoming dark. My dark side should've been happy about it, but my feelings were flickering back to disbelief, terror.

Suddenly, there was a voice in my head. Kamir.

"Having fun? This is all part of my plan, young one."

"Why are you doing this?" I couldn't take it anymore. I knelt on the ground, tears streaming down my face. The darkness...these voices...seeing my loved ones in pain...No. I couldn't love.

Kamir was twisting my thoughts. My head spun as he resumed in his aggravatingly long and painful monologue happening in my head. I couldn't hear it anymore over the rushing of fire in my ears.

I gave myself up to him and let go. The wave of unconsciousness swept over me.

~No One in Particular's POV~

Together, the family carried the boy back to their place of residence. Miss Emma Swan was laying on the couch helplessly, unable to move, staring at the ceiling with tears in her eyes.

Hook rushed to her side, holding her face in comfort. The others set Henry down on the other sofa gently. They spoke worriedly in hushed tones as he woke up.

Emma turned her head to see the visitor and widened her eyes. "No," she gasped, "what is he doing here?"

"I'm not going to do anything, Mom," he said calmly, wandering to her side of the room.

She wished she could move. She was ashamed of what he had done for her.

"I think I'll be able to help," he finished. "I don't have light magic, but if we transfer her darkness into me, she'll be-"

He was interrupted by Hook. "No," he said, "You're not going anywhere. I have worked too hard to get you to like me and I am not throwing that away." He smiled, a weak smile, but a kind attempt at facing their situation.

"We'll have to find something else. If we take the darkness out of Henry, he'll have no power to reverse this."

"Wait," Henry said, an idea striking.

They all turned their heads to hear the brilliant idea that just might save their lives.

He explained the plan to faces brightening.

He called it Operation Narwhal.