The Son Of Alice || A Once Upon A Time Story

Black Rabbit

"Cold."

"I remember cold." I muttered with my eyes closed.
"What else?" Dr. Hopper asked. He moved two objects together in a strange contraption that made the sound of a gentle ringing bell.
"Screaming. It smelled like a fire might start. And it tasted..." I paused for a moment.
"It tasted like death." Tears welled up in my eyes. Dr. Hopper sat up, and I looked away towards the floor.
"I think that's all the time we have for today, Alexander, we'll have another session later this week." He said. I left in a hurry without saying anything else. The outside air was cool, I wore a plaid scarf and a warm jacket. It was December, getting close to the holidays. Six months have passed since the crash. I was looking forward to a brief break from school so I could have more time with Kenzie.
No one has been able to penetrate the ice wall. Storybrooke was already isolated but this takes the cake. The only way to leave was by plane. I went for a walk in the woods to clear my head.
The smell of pine trees filled the air. A thick sheet of snow covered the dirt, except for the cleared out path. I held my hands in my pockets to keep them warm, until something caught my eyes closed just up a head. It was a small animal with dark fur. I thought maybe a possum or a raccoon, but as I got closer I noticed it was a rabbit. Its hair looked soft, with jet black pigment.
It noticed me and began to run away, down the path. Now, I know to follow a rabbit when I see one. I dashed after it. It was quick. I knew it wanted me to follow because it didn't hide, and its movements seemed careful and precise as if its path were chosen. I followed it off the main walkway, into a thicker section of the woods, getting pretty far away from civilization now. I slowed down into a full stop when I heard a voice. Like chanting. I didn't understand the language. The air was getting colder here. The condensation of my hot breath filled the air in front of me.
I sensed danger. Something was off. I reached for my sword but it wasn't there. Of course I couldn't just go walking about in town with a weapon, now could I? Time to brave the storm. The black rabbit had been waiting for me, and I followed it into a clearing.
Someone was there, floating. Yes, floating. It looked to be a young man from the back of his head. He wore all white clothes with very pale skin and dirty blonde hair. He should've been freezing, but there he was, chanting. This place was different, it was dangerous, beautiful, powerful. I think I stepped on a twig. It happened so fast. The rabbit ran off and an icicle flung towards my forehead and hovered just in front of my face, inches away from killing my. I held my breath.
"Mister Kingsleigh..." I heard as the chanting stops. The young man's feet gracefully touched the ground. He had a veil behind him, it looked like it had been made from frozen mist. His face turned, and I recognized him.
"Bollocks." I said. "You're the guy from the ice cream place."
He drew closer. A smile came to his face. His teeth were blindingly white. He chuckled a bit. "Of course that's how you know me."
"What are you doing all the way out here? Aren't you cold?" I inquired.
"You're incredibly naive aren't you, Alexander?" He said.
"I beg your pardon?" I stood still.
"Your namesake means defender of man. You want to protect the world but you don't want it to change." He wandered as he spoke.
I had to text Mackenzie, quick. While he wasn't looking I told her to meet me asap.
'I'm off work at six. See you soon' she responded with a heart.
I looked back up at him, he continued. "However, you'll make a nice ice sculpture in my kingdom when Storybrooke is frozen over," he got right up close to my face.

"Cousin..."