Days passed quietly enough, but Mia's mind was anything but calm. The strange encounter in the woods lingered at the edges of her thoughts, unsettling and confusing. She tried to brush it off, focusing instead on her friends, her family, and the small sense of comfort she was beginning to find in Storybrooke.
One afternoon after school, Scarlett found her in the library, a familiar gleam of excitement in her eyes.
"Hey," Scarlett whispered conspiratorially, "Grace and Nick heard about an old cabin near the edge of town. It's supposed to be abandoned, but they think it might have something to do with all the strange things going on lately."
Mia raised an eyebrow, feeling a flicker of curiosity. "You're saying there's something in there worth checking out?"
Scarlett nodded. "I figured, why not see for ourselves?"
The thrill of discovery was too tempting to resist, so Mia agreed. They met up with Grace, Ava, and Nick near the edge of town, where the woods grew dense and quiet. As they ventured into the shadows, the air felt heavier, and Mia sensed that this wasn't like the other times she'd explored Storybrooke with her friends. There was something different here, something that made her stomach twist.
The cabin appeared as they rounded a bend in the path. It was old and weather-beaten, the windows cracked and dark, and the door hung slightly ajar, creaking as the wind shifted.
"Well, this place isn't creepy at all," Ava muttered, shivering as she clutched her flashlight.
"Come on, it's probably just an old hunting cabin," Nick replied, though Mia could see the nervous flicker in his eyes.
Mia, Scarlett, Grace, Ava, and Nick crept through the dimly lit cabin, a thrill of nervous excitement filling the air. The place seemed abandoned, with dusty furniture and piles of old books left to decay. They were on edge but intrigued, each step deeper into the cabin sending a rush of adrenaline through them.
But just as they started to relax, the door swung open with a creak. They froze as an older man stepped inside, his eyes cold and calculating. Mia's heart skipped a beat as she recognized him: the strange man from the woods.
"Didn't I warn you to keep your nose out of things?" he sneered, his gaze sharp as it settled on Mia.
"What do you want?" Mia demanded, her voice steady but her pulse racing.
The man's expression darkened. "I need information," he replied, his tone deadly calm. "And unfortunately for you, I'm done being polite."
Before anyone could react, he pulled out a gun, pointing it at them with a chilling calm. "All of you, sit. Now."
The kids stared at him, paralyzed with fear. Scarlett grabbed Mia's hand, squeezing it tightly, and Mia felt her own fear mirrored in Scarlett's grip.
One by one, they were forced to sit against the wall as the man—a man who now revealed himself as King George, David's father—tied their hands and feet with coarse rope, ignoring their pleas and struggles. Once he was finished, he picked up Mia's phone from her bag and gave her a mocking smile.
"Let's call your dear old dad, shall we?" he murmured, tapping through her contacts.
Before Mia could protest, King George pressed the call button for David, activating the video chat and holding the phone so David could see them all tied up against the wall. Mia saw her father's face appear on the screen, his expression going from confusion to horror as he took in the scene.
"Mia?" David's voice was strained, panic in his eyes. "What's going on?"
King George leaned into the frame, his smile twisted and cruel. "Ah, David. Long time, no see."
David's face went pale. "George… what are you doing? Let them go. This is between you and me."
"Oh, I intend to get what I want," George replied, his voice dripping with venom. "You know exactly why I'm here, David. I want to know everything—the weaknesses you've never admitted to, your plans for the town, your allies… and how to destroy it all. Your little girl can tell me. Unless, of course, you'd like to hand over the details yourself?"
David's expression hardened, his voice shaking. "You're insane, George. She doesn't know anything. Let them go!"
But King George only laughed. "If you want them unharmed, David, you'll cooperate. Otherwise, I'm afraid your little girl will suffer."
With a sneer, he turned the camera toward Mia. Before she could react, he slapped her across the face, hard, his ring slicing into her cheek. Mia bit back a cry, glaring up at him defiantly, but her vision blurred with tears.
David's horrified gasp came through the phone, followed by Snow's choked sob as she appeared next to him, her face stricken with terror.
"Stop it! Please, stop!" Snow cried, her eyes brimming with tears. "She's our daughter—don't hurt her!"
But George ignored her, turning the camera back to himself. "Think it over, David. I'll give you one more chance. Otherwise, I'm afraid she'll be paying the price."
He ended the call, tossing the phone aside and turning his attention back to Mia, his eyes cold and merciless. "Now… where were we?"
He yanked Mia by the collar, dragging her closer, his voice low and menacing. "You're going to tell me every detail you know about your father. His friends. His plans. Anything that could be of use."
Mia gritted her teeth, staring defiantly into his face. "I don't know anything. And even if I did, I wouldn't tell you."
George's jaw tightened, his eyes blazing with fury. He backhanded her across the face again, harder this time, her head snapping back from the force of the blow. Blood trickled from her lip, but she lifted her head, meeting his gaze with fierce determination.
"Go to hell," she spat, her voice steady despite the pain.
George's expression darkened, and he grabbed her by the hair, forcing her to look up at him. "You're going to regret that, girl."
He pressed a small knife against her arm, dragging it down her skin in a slow, painful cut. Mia bit down on her lip, trying not to cry out as the blade sliced into her flesh, leaving a thin trail of blood down her arm. Her breathing came in short, pained gasps, but she refused to give him the satisfaction of hearing her scream.
As her friends watched in horror, Scarlett struggled against her ropes, her voice pleading. "Please, stop! She doesn't know anything!"
George turned to her, a cold smile creeping across his face. "Ah, but maybe you'll be the leverage I need." He moved toward Scarlett, holding the knife against her shoulder as he glanced back at Mia.
"If you won't talk to save yourself," he said slowly, "perhaps you'll talk to save her."
A surge of panic raced through Mia's chest, and she struggled against her ropes, her voice shaking. "Leave her alone! She has nothing to do with this!"
George ignored her, pressing the blade slightly against Scarlett's shoulder, drawing a faint trickle of blood. Scarlett whimpered, her face pale, and Mia's heart twisted with a desperate need to protect her friend.
"Stop it!" Mia shouted, her voice cracking. "I told you—I don't know anything!"
But George's expression only grew colder, and he leaned in closer to Scarlett, ignoring Mia's pleas. The rage and fear boiled up within her, and she felt a strange warmth stirring in her chest—a fierce, burning energy that grew stronger with each second.
Just as George lifted the knife, a blinding flash of light exploded from Mia, filling the cabin with a powerful, brilliant glow. George was thrown backward, slamming into the wall and collapsing to the ground, his grip on the knife loosening as he hit the floor.
The light faded, and the kids sat there in stunned silence, blinking against the lingering brightness. George lay dazed on the floor, completely still.
At that moment, the cabin door burst open, and Emma, Snow, and David rushed in, their faces filled with horror and desperation. They took in the scene—the kids tied up, George unconscious, and Mia bloody and battered.
"Mia!" Snow cried, rushing to her side. Her hands trembled as she worked at the ropes, her gaze darting over Mia's bruised face and bloodied arms.
David hurried to help, his expression grim as he untied the others, checking each of them for injuries. Emma crouched beside Mia, her face a mixture of relief and horror. "Are you okay? What happened?"
The kids shook their heads, still in shock. Scarlett looked at Mia, her eyes wide with confusion and awe. "There was… a bright light. It came from Mia, and then… George was on the ground."
Snow and David exchanged a stunned glance, but their relief quickly turned to worry as they realized the extent of Mia's injuries.
As soon as the last rope was untied, Mia's body slumped forward, her strength fading. Snow caught her, cradling her daughter as she struggled to stay conscious.
"Mia?" Snow's voice was choked, her hands shaking as she brushed Mia's hair back from her face. "Stay with us, honey. Please."
But Mia's eyes fluttered closed, her body limp as exhaustion and pain finally overtook her.
David placed a hand on Snow's shoulder, his voice thick with emotion. "We need to get her to the hospital. Now."
Emma helped them carry Mia out of the cabin, her heart pounding with a mix of fear and confusion. She didn't know what had happened back there, but one thing was clear—Mia had somehow unleashed magic, magic powerful enough to knock King George unconscious.
As they hurried to the hospital, Snow and David held each other close, their faces etched with grief and determination.