Believer || Peter Pan

Chapter One: The Lost Girl and Lonely Huntsman

Elise Gold ran frantically through Storybrooke in the pouring rain, desperately searching for the mayor's son, Henry, who had slipped away from her watch maybe half an hour ago.

I can't believe I fell for it. She fumed as she searched. Snuck out while I made him a snack. That was low.

She had had just barely spotted him as he crossed the city's lines, she dashed after him, calling him by name, but either he didn't hear her over the wind or he ignored her. She guessed the latter after his dubious plan.

As she herself reached the city line, she felt she couldn't go on. She couldn't leave. She wanted to leave, but couldn't, despite knowing she should.

Confused and worried Henry would catch Pneumonia, she felt she must get inside, somewhere warm and hope Henry was doing the same.

She fidgeted with her golden pan flute necklace tensely as she sat in her father's shop, waiting for him to return. He'd gone.... Who knows where? When would he be back, if at all? She just hoped the Mayor's wrath would come tomorrow, after a good night's rest. Maybe she could run. Or at least, hopefully, her father would be back by then to tame her temper.

She lasted the night, thankfully. The mayor hadn't come by. Maybe Henry came home on his own? Just went exploring.... At night... in the woods.... Yeah, right. She was doomed. When the Mayor got to her, she'd be lucky if she ever got to practice archery again with all the 'volunteering' she'd be forced to do.

She heard the bell to the shop ring from her father's office, as she did her assigned reading for the day, and jumped in her seat.

"Trinket!" She heard her father's nickname for her and immediately relaxed. He strolled into the office. "How'd it go with the boy last night?" He questioned in his knowing way.

She cringed, "He--he..."

"I heard."

"Is the Mayor livid?"

"Of course. But the boy's back, safe and sound. No Harm, no foul. I'm sure the Mayor can be reasoned with." He hung his coat up. "Now, if you finish up that chapter quickly, Graham could use a break from the new girl in town. Go get lunch." He smiled.

"If I run into the Mayor?" She felt like she was shrinking in her seat.

"Well then you pay for breaking your end of the deal."

"Baby sitting isn't a deal, dad."

"Did you not agree that in exchange for making sure her son was home safe all night, you'd get paid? That sounds like a deal to me, Trinket. Now, just forget the chapter. I have some work I need to do in peace. Go, go." He shooed her out of his office.

She hurried quickly to the Sheriff's station. Maybe she'd get to meet this so-called New Girl. She knew better not to ask her father, she'd get a vague answer. She'd have to find out herself.

As she arrived, she nearly got smacked by the front door as people hurried out, among them, the Mayor, Graham, and some woman Elise didn't recognize. She held her breath as the mayor passed but only got a quick passing glare before she and the new girl were gone.

"Whoa, what are you doing here, Little Huntress?" Graham stopped.

"Not 'little' and I was looking for you. Dad sent me to get lunch with you."

"Did he now?" Graham looked after the Mayor. "I'm supposed to be looking for the mayor's boy, he disappeared again. It's my job. But i'll tell you what. Meet me at Grannies in half an hour and if I haven't found him by then, we can eat while we patrol. Deal?"