────── ❁❁❁ ──────

────── ❁❁❁ ──────

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟖
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐇𝐈𝐃𝐃𝐄𝐍 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓

────── ❁❁❁ ──────

It wasn't long after Scott left when Rev rushed across the room to check over her brother. Other than a small scratch on his neck, Russell was completely fine. However, that tiny cut was enough to make the Gold girl's blood boil. She wasn't the person who sought revenge on those who wronged her, but right now, that was all she could think about. So after cleaning up Russell's neck and placing a large bandage over the damage the son of Scar caused, Rev grabbed her sword and walked towards the window. To the raven-haired girl's dismay, she didn't make it very far before Zack got into her path.

The couple just stared at each other for a long moment in silence, unsure of what to say. Rev wanted to explain everything to Zack but there was something inside her telling her not to. Something that the Gold girl couldn't explain. On the other hand, the Wolf boy just wanted answers. He wanted to know why his girlfriend was always sneaking in and out of their hideout. But most importantly, Zack needed to understand why Rev, the girl he trusted more than anyone else in the world, was keeping secrets from him.

"Are you seriously thinking of going after Scott?" the redheaded boy asked, earning nothing but silence from Rev before the former let out a long sigh, "I thought you'd know by now that going against Scott isn't a good idea. Don't you remember what happened to Anthony Tremaine?"

"Zack's right, Rev," Russell said as he got up from his bed and walked across the room to stand next to the taller boy, "if you go after Scott, you're gonna get hurt."

Rev couldn't help but just stare at the two boys in front of her. She understood where they were coming from and why they were so concerned. Anyone with a brain knew not to go against Scott. And if you forgot, just look at Anthony Tremaine. He still had the scar to prove it. But the Gold girl also knew that what she was about to do was worth the risk, even if it didn't seem like it. Because going against the son of Scar was the only way to keep those around her safe...and it could even be their only chance to get off the Isle.

So after letting out a long sigh to calm her nerves, the raven-haired girl finally opened her mouth to speak. "I know this isn't a great idea but I need to go. If I don't, Crimson won't get the help she needs."

"Oh, so this is about her," Zack scoffed without even bothering to hold back his anger as he crossed his arms over his chest. Next to him, Russell watched his sister with a hint of confusion in his eyes. However, before he could voice the questions running through his head, the Wolf boy continued speaking. "Is she really important enough for you to risk your safety?"

"Yeah, she is," Rev responded, earning surprised looks from the two boys standing in front of her. She hesitated for a moment before finally deciding it was time to reveal one of the biggest secrets she's ever kept. "Crimson is the lost daughter of Rose Red. I need to make sure she gets reunited with her family."

Zack's face remained stoic while Russell stared at his sister with his mouth wide open. That lasted for what felt like an eternity as Rev stood and waited for an answer. It wasn't much longer after that when the Gold boy finally snapped out of his daze and broke the silence. "Look, Rev. I understand you don't want Crimson going through what you did but you need to think this through."

"What do you mean 'go through what you did'?" the Wolf boy asked while glancing between the siblings. After watching Rev send her brother a glare that made Russell flinch, Zack turned his full attention towards the Gold girl. "I need the whole story, Rev, and I need it now."

Rev hesitated for a long moment before letting out a long sigh. Her brain was telling her to keep her secrets to herself, knowing it was the only way to stay safe. But her heart knew she could trust Zack, he was there for her every step of the way after all. There was nothing he wouldn't do for her and she knew that. But was she really willing to give away everything to him? After having a mental debate in her head that made a wave of guilt wash over her, the Gold girl slowly turned around to face her boyfriend.

"My name isn't really Rev Gold and...and I'm not the daughter of Rumplestiltskin."

Russell couldn't fight the shocked look that appeared on his face as he stared at his sister. After helping her create a backstory for her and keeping her secret for all these years, the son of Rumplestiltskin was surprised Rev gave in just like that. But on the other hand, this was Zack that they were talking to. He was the one who found the raven-haired girl on the rooftops and who gave her a place where she belonged. The only reason they never told him about Rev's true identity wasn't because of him. It was simply because they never wanted Harriet to find out. So the less who knew the better.

On the other side of the room, Zack stared at the Gold siblings with wide eyes. In all honesty, he didn't know what to think. All this time he had a feeling that he was missing something when it came to Rev, but he never thought it was this. Then again, she should've seen it coming. The two of them didn't look even remotely like siblings. Despite all of this, Zack was still hurt. He felt as though he had a connection with Rev since the day he found her on that roof. But now it feels like the two of them were on different sides of the world. It took everything within the Wolf boy to push all his emotions aside before he finally opened his mouth to speak.

"Why? Why did you lie to us all this time? Why did you lie to me?" the redheaded boy asked, making Rev cringe in response before she looked to the floor.

"That's a little uncalled for, Zack," Russell declared, earning a glare from the older boy that he chose to ignore.

The raven-haired girl just stared at the floorboards for a long moment, not wanting to say her lineage aloud. She felt as though if she spoke about her family, the life she built up until then would come crashing down. Rev couldn't risk her brother finding her and forcing her to help her with his plans. And if her sister discovered where she was, she'd come looking for her. That alone would put her sister in even more danger and Rev just couldn't risk that. But she knew Zack deserved the truth more than anyone in the world, especially if she wanted to keep him in her life. She just didn't know how to say it.

"Please, Rev," Zack whispered just loud enough for her to hear, causing Rev to finally look up and meet his gaze. She had never seen him look so vulnerable before, which caused her heart to wrench.

"I wanna tell you. I just don't know how. My family's a little...complicated. I was a nobody before meeting you. Literally, no one knew who I was, which made it easier to make a new name for myself," the raven-haired girl responded, earning a shocked look from Russell while Zack continued to blankly stare at her, "a lot of people look up to my mother after her experiments ended up with her in a cell in a place that's already supposed to be a prison. I never thought she was all that, especially after she kept me locked away to help her with her potions. And then there's my brother, who tried to take over Auradon. My sister even made a name for herself after being the first person to join the Anti-Hero Club...but that's not necessarily a good thing."

"Wait, Zevon and Yzla?" Zack muttered under his breath, causing Rev's mouth to slam shut as she watched realization flood into the redheaded boy's eyes, "you're Yzma's daughter?"

The raven-haired girl didn't know what to say as her heart continued to pound in her chest. The best she could do was force a smile onto her face. "Surprise?"

Once again, the Wolf boy just stared at her in utter shock. He knew all about what Zevon and CJ did last year in Auradon, he even supported it. He also heard all the things that were said about Yzla as she walked through the Isle. Everyone felt as though she'd betrayed everyone by joining Yen Sid's club. He even heard the rumors of Yzma being locked away somewhere after trying to get people to test her potions. But he never heard about Rev, who he now knew was the eldest daughter of Yzma. Other than his own father, most villains valued their eldest child the most. He couldn't wrap his mind around why Yzma would keep Rev a secret from everyone.

But Zack also knew that all his questions had to wait for now. Because despite the betrayal he was feeling, the Wolf boy still cared about Rev more than he could describe with words. And right now, he knew all that mattered was convincing her not to go after Scott. No one's happy ending was important enough to get in the way of an angry lion, especially not some runaway princess.

"We can talk about this later, alright?" Zack calmly said, making a wave of shock wash over Rev as she continued to stare at him in silence. A long sigh passed over his lips as he took a step forward and wrapped his arms around the raven-haired girl, who hesitated before copying his actions. The two of them stayed like that until the Wolf boy's voice ended their moment. "What we need to focus on right now is not putting ourselves in a dangerous situation. You can't go after Scott, Rev. It's not a smart move."

Russell saw Rev tense after listening to Zack's words but chose not to say a word. He knew just by her body language that something big was about to happen. And knowing both Rev and Zack, he didn't want to get in the middle of it. You only make that mistake once in your life and live to remember it.

What felt like an eternity passed before Rev untangled herself from Zack's arms. He watched with a hint of confusion in his eyes as she sent him a small smile while interlocking her fingers with his. "We need to stop Scott from finding Skyler, Zack. It's the only way for Crimson to get her happy ending."

"Seriously? You barely talk to Crimson. And when you do, it's to be a messenger for Harriet," the Wolf boy responded while trying his best to contain his ever growing emotions as he kept his eyes locked with the girl in front of him, "why is this so important to you? Why is she so important to you?"

"Because I know what it's like to feel alone," Rev answered, making all the emotion fade from Zack's face. A million thoughts swam through her head as she debated revealing yet another secret to him. One that she has held since the day she found out who Crimson really was. Despite not wanting to tell him at that moment, Rev knew that Zack deserved to know. So after letting out a long sigh, the raven-haired girl tightened her grip around his hands and opened her mouth to speak. "She's important to you, too, Zack."

"No, she's not. She's just some girl from the streets," the Wolf boy scoffed, causing Russell to quickly stand up and make his way over to the couple.

"What? I'm just excited I can actually contribute to the conversation now," the Gold boy said after seeing the confused looks on their faces. A smile slowly formed on his lips as he turned his full attention to Zack. "Have you not heard the tale of Ruby Red?"

The Wolf boy simply shook his head in response, only for the grin on Russell's face to grow even bigger. "I'm surprised. After all, it ties into your history. Anyway, it goes like this. Sixteen years ago, your father, Zeke Wolf, found a way to get off the Isle. No one knew how or who he was because he was trapped in human form. One day, he met a princess by the name of Rose Red. According to the tale, she fell for him so Zeke decided to play with her emotions. But it went too far and she became pregnant with twins. The day he found out was the day he ran back to the Isle. After the twins were born, one of Zeke's followers that he gained while in Auradon found a way to kidnap Ruby Red and get her onto the Isle. But your father wanted nothing to do with her, which is why she grew up alone."

Zack's eyes stayed glued to Russell's as his brain processed all the information. If it wasn't for his father abandoning him when he was four, he wouldn't believe the tale. But it somehow all added up, meaning that Zack wasn't actually alone. Now both of them were in danger and it was up to him to make sure they both got off this Isle in one piece. A wave of emotion he couldn't decide washed over him as he looked between Rev and Russell. The next thing they knew, he walked past them before picking up his sword that was leaning against the wall. He just stared at it for a long moment before turning back with a large grin on his face.

"Let's go. We have a lion to stop."

────── ❁❁❁ ──────

────── ❁❁❁ ──────