The Last Safe Place

Gone

Emma threw herself into the her work with the group over the next few weeks, determined to finish the fences as quickly as possible.

It wasn't easy. Each day began with an exhausted morning, the relentless nightmares plaguing her at night. They were always the same—she'd find herself back in that moment with August, watching helplessly from the sidelines as everything unraveled too fast for her to save him.
Sometimes it was the brutal amputation replaying in vivid detail. Other times, it was the sound of his scream that left her rattled and on edge before the day even began.

But every morning, without fail, Emma would step foot onto Main Street, and Henry's cheerful voice would crackle through the radio as he sat by one of mansions many windows, a beacon of light amid the weight of it all.

"Looks clear out there, Emma!" he'd chirp.

Sometimes, he would ask her a random question at the most random moment when she thought he wasn't watching. "Do you like pancakes or waffles more?" She'd chuckle, and the rest of the group would look at her with a knowing smile.

Other times, Henry would leave his hand pressed on the mic while he chatted with Regina, the static crackling softly in the background. In those moments, Emma found her ears peeking up at the sound.

His innocent chatter had a way of pulling her, and everyone else, out of their heavy thoughts, and she found herself looking forward to the next time his voice would sound from the radio.

Their hard work began to take shape, the fences rising steadily around the town's perimeter. Some days, they'd manage to clear and secure entire roads and others were slower, as they scavenged for materials or reinforced weak points. But it was progress, and every time a new fence was secured, Emma felt the tension from her shoulder release just that little bit more.

Every Saturday, Emma would walk next door clutching her notes, ready to update Regina on their progress that week. At first, their meetings were strictly business - Emma a bundle of nerves as Regina listened carefully, her sharp eyes scanning each detail Emma laid out. But, very quickly those nerves disappeared, and Emma found herself looking forward to them.

She had unexpectedly began to find Regina's presence reassuring - finding small victories in the way Regina would give small nods of approval, or when she'd let out a deep chuckle at something Emma would say, one that would leave a shiver of pleasure down her spine.

Soon enough, their meetings stretched longer. Regina began offering her a drink, and Emma never found a good enough reason to refuse, and she'd find herself sat in Regina's study, sipping her Jack and Coke whilst Regina teased her, a smirk playing on her lips, leaving Emma with an unexpected lightness and warmth on her cheeks.

Today, Emma was looking forward to her meeting with Regina even more so than usual. After weeks of long hours, sweat and aching muscles, they had finally finished the sturdy fencing around Main Street. The main entrance was still just a makeshift barrier for now—nothing more than some scrap metal and wood thrown together for temporary protection, but it was a huge accomplishment, and she ended the evening on a high, her mind already buzzing with excitement at the thought of telling Regina the good news.

As the group finished packing up for the day, Emma noticed Shane lingering by the fence, his eyes fixed on something down the street. His posture was relaxed, but there was a strange intensity in the way his gaze swept across the area. It wasn't the usual exhausted satisfaction of a job well done—it was something else.

"Hey," Emma called over, stepping closer to him, "Is something wrong? Did we miss something?"

Shane blinked, as if snapped out of a trance, and quickly shook his head. "Nah," he replied casually, giving her a quick smile. "Just...taking it all in, you know?"