Rockabye

Chapter Eight

Maine

Emma watches as the ruby red brake lights shine brightly into the dead of the night. August slowly veers his car off toward the side of the road and tosses the car in park. To Emma's surprise August exits the car as Neal follows lead. The bug's wheels slowly rolling against the gravel until the car comes to a complete stop.

Through curious green eyes, Emma watches August stroll over to her side of the car. She begins rolling down her window and peers up at her life long friend, puzzled by their sudden stop. There's an eerie sensation causing the little hairs on the back of her neck to stand to attention.

There's nothing but thick trees surrounding them, making Emma feel smaller than she has ever felt in her life. Even in the heart of the city, with skyscrapers towering over her, she never felt so insignificant. Not one noise is to be heard outside of her vehicle, not even one crickets sings into the night.

August leans down and folds his arms across the frame of the yellow bug.

"Why did we stop?" Emma immediately questions. This trip has already been far too long and she is passed antsy to rescue Regina.

"We should probably just travel in one car from here, that way we don't look too suspicious." Emma raises one eyebrow in questioning. "One car, get in, get out," August confirms.

Neal leans forward so he can meet those shady blue eyes he hates so much. "What's the escape plan? Never enter a place if you don't have an escape route."

"Well I know where's she held up, but I'm not too familiar with the building. We are just gonna have to scope out the area when we get there," August casually suggests. "Now ditch this car and hop in mine. Yours sticks out like a sore thumb. How you two use this as your get away car while stealing other cars, I'll never know."

August walks away without another word spoken as Emma rolls her window back up. She begins unbuckling her seatbelt when Neal stills her action. Emma's eyes flick to her boyfriend's, finding nothing but fear in those brown eyes.

"Baby, please, this doesn't feel right. Something is off. I'm telling you. I think August is just some puppet in this whole scheme," Neal attempts to express his feelings, his voice softer than Emma has ever heard before.

"Come on, you know I can't leave her. Whether August is setting us up or not, I can't leave Regina behind. I can feel that something is off. I know she's in danger."

Emma cups her boyfriend's scruffy cheek to help settle is anxiety about the near future, despite the heebie-jeebies crawling up the back of her neck. She stretches forward and places a soft kiss to his lips. It's a short kiss, but tender enough to calm him down.

"If things get too crazy, we bail," Neal firmly states.

"Okay baby," Emma replies.

She agrees even if she doesn't mean one word she says. She would never abandon Regina.

~~~~~~~~~~

Boston: Age Sixteen

"I can't believe you ran away again!" Regina scolds in a hushed whisper as the two teens wait in an alley.

Regina and Emma have their backs up against a red brick wall waiting for their next move. They watch as an older gentleman locks his yellow Volkswagen Beetle and strolls toward his destination across the street.

"I had to, I had no choice. Lily screwed me over, yet again," Emma tries defend her actions as she watches the man carefully.