Days had passed since Mia and Scarlett's eerie encounter in the woods, but the memory of the man's words still haunted Mia, slipping into her thoughts when she least expected it. There was something dark and calculating in his gaze, something that had sent a chill through her. She could see that Scarlett felt it too, though neither of them had spoken about it since.

At school, Mia tried to throw herself into the regular routines—her friends' jokes, homework, and the comfortable distractions of daily life. But when Scarlett caught up to her at her locker one afternoon, the look in her eyes told Mia that the silence was about to end.

"Hey, do you have a minute?" Scarlett asked, her voice quieter than usual.

Mia nodded, a knot forming in her stomach. "Yeah. What's up?"

"Not here," Scarlett replied, her gaze flickering around the hallway. "Let's go somewhere… private."

They made their way to the quietest corner of the library, settling into the back where no one could overhear them. Mia could tell Scarlett had been holding this in as long as she had, the memory of the man's cryptic words lingering between them, an unspoken weight.

Scarlett leaned forward, her voice barely above a whisper. "I haven't been able to stop thinking about that guy from the woods. There was something… off about him."

Mia nodded, a shiver running down her spine at the memory. "I know. He knew things about me, about my family. It was like… he'd been watching us."

Scarlett bit her lip, her gaze serious. "Did you end up telling your parents? They might know who he is, or at least how he knows so much."

Mia hesitated, her usual defenses rising. "No. I didn't want to worry them. They're already dealing with enough, and it's not like he actually did anything… yet."

Scarlett gave her a doubtful look. "You don't think they'd want to know if someone's lurking around, knowing things about you?"

Mia looked down, fiddling with a corner of her notebook. "Maybe. But I'm used to handling things myself. And besides, what if I'm wrong? I don't want to bring it up unless I'm sure he's a real threat."

Scarlett sighed, her hand reaching out to rest on Mia's arm. "I get it. But… promise me that if he shows up again, you'll say something. I don't like the idea of you facing him alone."

Mia managed a small, appreciative smile. "Thanks, Scarlett. I promise."

They sat in silence for a moment, both lost in thought. It was strange how quickly Scarlett had become someone she trusted, someone she could lean on when things felt uncertain. And it was even stranger to realize how much that meant to her.

After a while, Scarlett broke the silence, her voice lighter but still concerned. "If we're not telling anyone, maybe we should at least look into it ourselves. Figure out who he could be."

Mia nodded, a spark of determination lighting up in her. "Yeah. If he's connected to my family, there has to be something in Storybrooke's records that could give us a clue."

They spent the next hour sifting through books and old town records, searching for any mention of someone who might match the man's description or connection to her family. But as the sun set outside, casting long shadows across the library, they were no closer to answers.

Scarlett finally sighed, closing a dusty book with a frustrated thud. "Whoever he is, he's covered his tracks well."

Mia leaned back, feeling the weight of her questions settle over her. "He has to be someone with a grudge against my family. And judging by his attitude, it's not a recent one."

Scarlett's brow furrowed. "And he was too comfortable with the idea of scaring you. Like he wanted you to know he was dangerous."

Mia nodded, a chill creeping up her spine. "Yeah. And the weird part is, I think I believe him."

They shared a look, the gravity of the situation settling between them. Scarlett reached out, her hand brushing Mia's in a silent gesture of support. Mia felt a strange comfort in the contact, a warmth that eased her worry, if only a little.

"Whatever he wants, he's not going to scare us off that easily," Scarlett said, her voice firm.

Mia smiled, grateful for Scarlett's strength. "Agreed."

They left the library together, the unease from their encounter still lingering but softened by their shared resolve. Mia didn't know what lay ahead, but with Scarlett by her side, she felt less alone in facing it. They would watch for the man in the shadows, keep their guard up, and if he returned, she'd be ready.