﹅ ۰ ۰ ۰ 𝗗𝗘𝗦𝗖𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗦 ┊ ❪ 𝑨𝙲𝙴 𝙾𝙵 𝑺𝙿𝙰𝙳𝙴𝚂! ❫
▍𝗜𝗡 𝗪𝗛𝗜𝗖𝗛 ｡ ｡ ｡ ｡ kids from all different backgrounds,
whether that being raised by a villain, raised by a hero,
raised by a mom, raised by a dad, or raised by b...
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𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐙𝐀𝐁𝐄𝐓𝐇 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐒 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐎𝐃 𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐄𝐃𝐆𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐎𝐂𝐊𝐒, the familiar sound of waves crashing against the wooden posts filling her ears. The salty breeze swept through her hair, and tugged at her crimson cloak, the fabric rippling behind her like a billowing sail.
The Isle's perpetual twilight painted the world in hues of gray and muted purple, but her heart beat faster with anticipation, its rhythm unshaken by the dreary surroundings. She waited, her hands clenched into fists to keep them steady.
Then, she heard it.
"Evenin', Lassie."
The voice was unmistakable — smooth, teasing, and drenched in mischief. She turned sharply, her breath catching in her throat as her gaze fell upon him. Harry Hook. He leaned lazily against a wooden post, his tricorn hat tipped just enough to shadow his electric blue eyes, but not enough to hide the cocky smirk pulling at his lips.
"You're late," she said, folding her arms across her chest and attempting to feign annoyance.
Harry pushed off the post with an exaggerated shrug. "Aye, but I'm worth the wait, aren't I?"
Elizabeth rolled her eyes, fighting to keep her stern expression intact, but the faint tug at the corners of her mouth betrayed her. "Always so sure of yourself," she retorted, though her voice had softened.
"Only 'cause I know you so well," he replied, his grin widening as he closed the distance between them. Without hesitation, he slipped an arm around her waist, pulling her close in a way that made her heart race. His touch was as familiar as the sway of the tide, and the warmth of his embrace sent a shiver down her spine.
"How was your day, love?" he asked, his voice losing its edge, replaced by something softer, more intimate.
"Chaotic," Elizabeth admitted, leaning into him, her head resting against the firm plane of his chest. "The others have been impossible to manage. I swear, they're trying to drive me insane."
Harry chuckled, the sound reverberating through her. "That's why you've got me," he said, his fingers brushing a loose strand of hair from her face. "To keep you from losing your head."
Despite herself, Elizabeth smiled. "And here I thought you were just around to cause more trouble."
"Trouble's my specialty, Lassie. But I'm versatile." He winked, his cheeky grin earning a soft laugh from her.
She tilted her head back to meet his gaze. "Thanks, Harry. Really."
"Anytime." His tone was earnest now, his teasing replaced by something genuine as he leaned down to press a lingering kiss to her forehead. "Now, enough about them. How 'bout we leave all that behind? Just you, me, and the open sea?"
Her brows lifted. "The Jolly Roger?"
Harry's grin returned, sharp and full of promise. "Aye. Thought we could take her for a spin. No crew, no interruptions — just us."
Her heart soared at the thought, her lips parting in excitement. "Really?"
Before she could say more, he grabbed her hand, tugging her along the weathered planks of the dock with his signature confidence. The world around them blurred as they moved, her laughter mingling with the cry of the gulls overhead.
But then, everything shifted.
The edges of the scene began to fade, the vivid colors draining into an indistinct haze. The dock beneath her feet seemed to dissolve, and the warmth of Harry's hand in hers was replaced by cold emptiness. The sound of the waves ebbed, leaving behind only silence.
Elizabeth's eyes fluttered open, the dream slipping away like sand through her fingers. She was no longer on the Isle. Instead, the soft glow of the morning sun filtered through her dorm window, painting the walls in muted gold. She blinked, disoriented, her heart still pounding in her chest as fragments of the dream lingered in her mind.
For a moment, she just lay there, staring at the ceiling. She hadn't thought about Harry Hook in months — perhaps even longer. Ever since they'd broken up, she had buried those memories deep, refusing to let herself dwell on what they once had. It hurt too much. And now... she was with Jay.
Jay.
Her heart twinged with guilt as she sat up in bed, brushing her tangled hair away from her face. She glanced across the room to see that Ashlynn's bed was already empty, the sheets neatly made. The faint sounds of commotion drifted through the open window, drawing her attention.
Curious, Elizabeth climbed out of bed and padded over to the window, pulling aside the pink curtain. Below, a crowd of reporters swarmed the courtyard, their flashing cameras and rapid-fire questions aimed at Ben and Mal, who stood together like a royal spectacle.
Elizabeth frowned, her fingers tightening around the curtain. She watched as Fairy Godmother emerged from the chaos, pushing her way through the throng with determination.
As the scene unfolded below, Elizabeth's thoughts remained elsewhere, haunted by the echoes of her dream. She pressed a hand to her chest, willing her racing heart to calm.
