𝑺 𝑾 𝑨 𝑵 𝑸 𝑼 𝑬 𝑬 𝑵

~3~

The hodgepodge group of fairytale characters paraded themselves down the middle of Main Street in a raucous display of merriment. Dwarves were shouting inappropriate jokes to one another as the royal Charmings dreamily linked their arms together and Ruby bounded about the crowd like an overgrown puppy in the growing twilight.

If it had been any other night they would have all worried about someone calling in a noise complaint and having them arrested for disturbing the peace, given the late hour that they had left the diner. But as it was, they had the resident sheriff partying alongside them and were too high on the adrenaline rush of friends being back to be concerned about their growing volume level.

Emma had her arm slung carelessly around Henry's shoulders and they were walking in tandem, smiles blown wide across their faces and deep into a discussion about his new favorite comic book.

It was good to be back.

As they made their way towards their separate apartments, the group passed by the mayoral mansion and out of habit, Emma cast a curious glance down the mayor's elegantly manicured path. Spying on Regina's whereabouts was something she had done countless times before.

But the whole structure was strangely cast in shadow. Emma slowed her pace a little as she peered into the darkness. It wasn't like Regina to leave the outside lights unlit. She usually left at least half of her house lights on so that the mansion shone like a beacon of judgment and wealth all through the night, her constant presence looming over the sleepy little town in an endless display of power.

Emma's forehead furrowed in confusion and she stopped walking all-together as she squinted into the black.

There was huddled mass lying on the doorstep of the mansion.

And suddenly her body was moving in some sped-up version of autopilot as she untangled her arm from Henry and her feet directed her towards the mayor's house; her legs beginning to run without her telling them to.

"Hey Ems! Where're you going?" Ruby called out.

Emma didn't respond; just quickened her pace as she dashed faster across the street. Something was definitely not right.

The sheriff felt the color drain from her face. "Regina?"

She tried to swallow around the knot in her throat as she recognized the prone form spewed across the porch. Her heart beat too fast in her chest and the blood pounded in her ears, all of her instincts screaming at her to hurry up as she nearly jumped the iron gate in her haste. Emma raced to where the mayor lay and sank immediately to her knees beside the figure. The blonde placed a hand on Regina's arm but none of the mayor's usual warmth graced her fingertips; Regina was as cold as new-fallen snow. It scared her.

Rolling the brunette onto her back, Emma caught Regina's head in her hands as it fell to the side. A vacant face stared back: eyes closed peacefully as if she was asleep, all of the usual scowl marks and creased laugh lines erased from her face in its unnaturally relaxed state. She looked stunningly innocent like this and it made Emma's heart clench painfully in her chest.

"Regina?" Emma asked again, her voice rising a little in panic.

The sheriff pressed her ear into the mayor's chest. No pulse. No heartbeat. She leaned back; Regina was as still as a corpse.

Emma's short-circuiting brain told her that if she said the woman's name louder she might actually respond, "Regina!"

Emma lifted her up slightly and shook the mayor by the shoulders. Nothing. She was heavier than she should have been.

"Regina, come on. Don't do this."

The brunette hung limply in the sheriff's hands as lifeless as a rag doll, her head lulling back on her shoulders in a decidedly frightening way.