Once Upon A Curse

Chapter 5

A few weeks had passed since Emma had decided to stay in Storybrooke and Layla was trying to process everything that had happened. She was mourning the loss of sheriff Graham and hasn't left her room since her died from an apparent heart attack. He was like a father to her and now that he's gone her heart felt numb, but what she couldn't understand was how her mother could keep acting like everything was okay.

She was disrupted from her thoughts by her little brother barging into her room panicking. "Layla get out of bed I need you help, Emma wants to leave town." Henry practically screamed down her ear.

"And that's my problem because?" she grumbled back not caring where Emma was going. "If she wants to leave she has every right to, she has her own life." Layla continued.

"She can't leave she has to break the curse." Layla sighed at her brothers response but decided to go with him so he doesn't do anything stupid.

The two siblings arrived ay Mary Margaret's apartment and Layla knocked on the door. They waited a couple seconds before the door swung open to reveal Emma.

"Hey, Emma. Everything okay? You sounded strange over the walkie." Henry asked making his way through the door into the apartment.

"Oh, um No, I'm okay. Just, um Yesterday, when I tried to take you away, you were right. I cant take you out of Storybrooke. But I cant stay either." Emma said packing the last of her things into a small bag on the kitchen counter.

"Wait you tried to take my brother?" Layla asked but her question was blanked by Henry who was more focused on Emma leaving Storybrooke.

"What?" Henry questioned Emma.

" I have to go." Emma sighed and looked between the siblings. "Go? You mean leave Storybrooke?" Henry asked getting upset.

"Yeah. I spoke to Regina, and we made a deal. Im still going to be able to see you, just not Every day." Emma explained and Layla stood by the door confused as to what was going on.

" No! No, you cant trust her!" Henry said and Layla sighed again at her brother. "Henry for the last time, if Emma wants to leave town it's her decision."

Emma nodded and said "I have to. Its my only choice. Its whats best for you, Henry. Every time I fight her, someone else gets hurt."

"No, no, no! Youre just scared. This happens to all heroes. Its just the low moment before you fight back." Henry argued back to Emma trying his hardest to convince his birth mother to stay.

" Henry! This isnt a story. This is reality. And things have to change. You cant skip school, you cant run away, and You cant believe in curses." Emma said sadly and Layla nodded her head in agreement. "She's right Hen." Layla said.

"Y-you really dont believe?" Henry asked as he grew more upset at the situation causing Layla to feel an ache in her chest seeing her brother upset.

"I... This is how it has to be right now. I made a deal, and I used my superpower. Shes telling the truth. Shes going to take really good care of you, and you have Layla." Emma continued to explain to Henry.

"Yes, but she wants you dead." Henry snapped causing Layla to wrap her arm around the boys shoulder. "Henry enough, even if you think moms evil you have me to protect you." Layla said trying to reason with her brother.

"You're the only one who can stop her!" Henry said to Emma

"Stop her from what? All shes ever done is fight for you. It just Got out of hand. Im sorry". Emma said sadly knowing she couldnt do anything else. "She's right Henry mom will always be on your side." Ciara added.

Henry hugs Emma. The two of them continue to embrace, when Henry notices the turnover on the table. "Where did you get that?" he asked.

"Regina gave it to me." Emma answered furrowing her brows as to why he was so concerned with the turnover. Henry grabbed it and looked at the filling. "Apple!" he shouted which made Layla grow more frustrated with him.

"So?" both Emma and Layla asked at the same time.

"You can't eat that. Its poison." He said warning Emma.

"What? Okay thats enough Henry time to go" Layla said trying to escort her brother out of the apartment. But he avoided his sister and continued to fight.

"Don't you see? The deal It was all a trick to get you to eat that, to get rid of the saviour." Henry continued to try and explain to both of the women.

"Henry, come on. Why would she do that when I just told her I was going to go?" Emma asked him.

"Because as long as youre alive, youre a threat to the curse."

"Henry, youve got to stop thinking like this." Layla said standing near the door of the apartment.

"But its the truth! And you leaving isnt going to change that." Henry continued to argue and was becoming more upset that neither of them believed him.

"l'll prove it to you." Emma said and went to take a bite of the turnover.

"No!" Henry yelled as he snatched it from Emmas hands.

"Henry What are you doing?" Layla asked getting more annoyed with her brother. He turned to look at her with a sad smile before saying

"I'm sorry it had to come to this. You may not believe in the curse Or in me. But I believe in you." He takes a bite of the turnover. Emma and Layla looked at each other as nothing happens.

"See? You want to have some ice cream with that? And then we can go back to talking about..." Emma said turning to the kitchen, but turned back when she heard a thud.

"Henry... Henry... Wake up." Layla says with panic as she rushes over to her brothers side. "Henry!" she yelled as tears began to steam down her face.