Craving

Chapter 8

Regina set out tea on the table for the humans that now occupied the dining area. She grabbed a juice box from the fridge for herself and Zelena, relieved at the courteous nod her sister sent her way. She was glad she didn't have any hard feelings about moving out. Or, if she did, she masked her emotions well. Checking her aura, she noticed Zelena was nervous, not currently harboring any ill feelings toward her.

Also occupying the table was Ruby, a close friend of Mary Margaret, David, the woman's distraught boyfriend, and Emma. David shakily reached out for his cup of tea, a distant look upon his face. He had been the first to realize Mary Margaret had gone missing and had informed Ruby first thing.

"Walk us through the past twenty-four hours again, David," Zelena coaxed.

"Okay. Well, I had stayed over at her place the night before, as I wasn't really in the condition to drive home and I wanted to make sure she would be alright as well. We'd both been drinking. I woke up to a note from Mary Margaret, saying she had gone to work for a staff meeting and would be back around lunch time, to make myself at home."

David paused to take a sip of his tea, his hands still trembling. Regina began to wonder if he was just nervous, or if it was some sort of neurological condition. Apparently, Emma had noticed too, for she shot an anxious look her way.

"I got up and showered, made myself breakfast. I spent most of the morning tidying up the mess we'd made the night before." The man blushed at that, a smile tugging at his mouth. "And, as expected, Mary Margaret returned around lunch time. I had a little meal waiting for her and we sat and talked for a while. Around evening time, I had to go check on the animals at the shelter, so I thanked her for letting me stay and told her I'd see her soon."

David swiped at his eyes, his shoulders slumping forward. "That's the last time I saw her."

Emma leaned forward to hold David's hand, knowing he must care very deeply for her friend to be this emotional about it. Zelena, however, was skeptical.

"So, David, you were the last one to see Miss Blanchard. When did you report her missing? Why did you assume she wasn't in town?"

David floundered for an answer, surprised at the third-degree he was receiving. Emma squeezed his hand gently and he offered her a nervous smile. "I didn't hear from her the rest of that night or the next day. I dropped by her apartment to see her and she wasn't there, but her phone was. She didn't show up to work—"

"She didn't stop by the diner for her normal breakfast order," Ruby added.

David nodded. "Right. So, I looked for her everywhere and came up empty. It's not like her to just go off the grid like this. I know her; we've been dating for a few months. So I called Ruby and asked if she'd seen her. When she said she hadn't, I dropped by the sheriff's station and filed a report before calling you both."

"Sheriff Graham is presumably searching for her, is he not?" Regina asked.

Zelena nodded. "He said he'd let us know if he found her. Or any leads as to her disappearance."

"I think we should start a search party. Most people in town would be willing to look for her," Ruby suggested.

"But what if she's not in town?" Emma counteracted her suggestion. At Ruby's piercing glare, she shrunk back in her seat. Apparently, the woman was still pissed about her leaving the bed and breakfast.

"Continue your thought, Emma," Regina said.

Emma looked relieved at her reassurance. "Well, I mean... David said he already looked for her everywhere in town. And people are going missing from other magical hidden towns, right? What if, somehow, Mary Margaret wandered over the town line and couldn't get back?"