Dark Hearts | Once Upon A Time

XXXVii. Puppet Boy

Storybrooke. Present day.

HIDING BENEATH BLANKETS, Erica snuggled deeper into her pillow hoping to block out the world for a few more days as she still wasn't ready to face the world just yet but it seemed as though the world had different plans as the blondes blankets were rudely ripped away from her body allowing cold air to seep into her bones

"Get up." Emma stated peering down at her sister who had curled herself into a ball to try and keep herself warm, a few minutes passed and Erica still hadn't said anything or moved so in order to change that Emma nudged her sister's side and stated again "Get up"

"W-What are you talking about?" Erica asks her sister but she doesn't look at the blonde as she didn't want to see the disappointment that was probably shining in Emma's eyes "Leave me alone I deserve to stay here forever"

"Well I'm not going to let that happen" Her twin stated, hands on her hips and a new sense of determination in her voice as she nudges her sister's side once again making Erica move out the way and allowing Emma sit down on the bed "Now you're going to listen me and you're going to listen to me right now, you are a good person and you will always will be no matter what the prophecy says about you"

"But the prophecy--"

"To hell with the damn prophecy Ric! A year ago we didn't even know that fairytales were real and that the Evil Queen had cursed everyone to live in a quaint town in Maine but they do and our parents are none other than Snow White and Prince Charming so isn't it a bit less crazy to think that maybe you won't turn dark and even if you do maybe you can still be a good person even though you have the darkness inside of you but in order to know for sure you need to get up and eat and shower" Emma explained softly and it took a minute for Erica to understand what her sister was telling her to do and she knew that one day she would turn her soul dark, but that didn't mean she couldn't stop living her life

"When did you get so wise?" Erica quipped

Emma smiled half heartedly "I had a good teacher and besides that I didn't want to go alone when I met Neal and like yeah Henry said he'd come but I was hoping you would come along to? You know for sister moral support"

Groaning Erica rubbed her temples, right now she really didn't need a run in with Neal and his girlfriend was the last thing she needed but she didn't want to disappoint her sister after all she had just got her to feel better than she had in a few days and so that is why the blonde said what she next "Yeah I'll come just give me a couple of hours. to get showered dressed eat something and clear my head and I'll meet you afterwards. Where are you meeting Neal?'

"At the house Neal is using while he's in Storybrooke" Emma informs her "Listen Ric I know you're not exactly Neal's number one fan but can you at least be civil while we're talking to him. If not for my sake then at least for Henry's"

"Okay" Erica sighs out

* * * * *

Storybrooke. Present day.

After a quick shower and something to eat Erica must admit she did feel better, but Erica still felt like she needed to clear her head but she needed to do that without any interruptions which meant going to a place where she could hear herself think and away from the prying eyes of the people looking at her either sympathetically or like she was a horrible person

Erica just wanted to feel like herself for a little while

Music pulsated through her ears as she ran through the forest, sweat slick on her forehead and body and her heart racing like a stampede of wild horses and with every step she took she felt her head clear just a little bit more