────── ★★★ ──────

────── ★★★ ──────

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟑𝟎
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐘 𝐑𝐄𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐎𝐍

────── ★★★ ──────

After convincing Rumplestiltskin to help her and Zelena find the Candy Killer, the two of them followed the Dark One down to the evidence room. The Thorne woman's emotions continued to grow as she thought about her daughter. All she could do was hope and pray that Cassie was still alive and safe, but that hope was shrinking with every moment she was missing. And on top of it all, Henry was still nowhere to be found.

Everly was soon brought back to reality when the evidence room doors opened. She didn't hesitate to follow Rumplestiltskin and Zelena inside before closing the door behind her. Since it was her second time in the room within the last twenty-four hours, the Thorne woman wasn't as interested in the objects surrounding her. However, the same couldn't be said about Zelena.

The former Wicked Witch laughed as she looked around at all of the objects in the room. "You can take the Dark One out of the pawnshop..." Zelena trailed off after watching Rumplestiltskin unlock a gate and walk into an even smaller room. "So what have you got down here for me then? Crossbow? Samurai sword?"

"I'm not giving you a crossbow, because you don't need one," the Dark One declared as he walked out of the room and placed a golden box on the table between him and the two women.

"What, so I'm supposed to fight a serial killer with a tchotchke?" the redheaded woman questioned without even attempting to hide the annoyance in her voice.

"I have to agree with Zelena on this one. This isn't your best work.," Everly announced, drawing all attention to her before she looked over at Rumplestiltskin and continued speaking, "how is some box supposed to help us find Cassie?"

"You're not going up against Hansel. You're fighting your past," the Dark One declared, earning a confused look from the Thorne woman that he and Zelena both chose to ignore. Not even a second after that passed when Rumplestiltskin slid the box over to the former Wicked Witch. "And that requires something entirely different."

Zelena just stared at the man in front of her for a moment before reaching for the box and opening the lid. A small smile soon appeared on the redheaded woman's face as she pulled the familiar object out of the box. "My necklace. How on Earth is this gonna help me? Kelly doesn't have magic."

"The Wicked Witch I knew didn't need magic. She found a way to survive even when it killed her. And do you know how I know that? Because you're still here, annoying me," the Dark One responded while the redheaded woman continued to stare at him with no emotion in her eyes.

Before their conversation could continue, there was a loud banging on the door. Everly instantly exchanged a confused look with Zelena and Rumplestiltskin before the latter went to see who it was. To their surprise, they found Officer Bryce standing on the other side of the door.

"Sorry to interrupt," the desk sergeant said before his attention fell on Everly, "there's a kid here to see you, Jo. He says it's urgent."

The confusion within the Thorne woman did nothing but grow as she stared at Officer Bryce. It wasn't long after that when Everly let out a long sigh and walked out of the room. Despite wanting to stay with Zelena and Rumplestiltskin to find Cassie, something within the Purest Heart told her this was the right move. She couldn't explain what it was, but after this long and everything she'd been through, the Purest Heart learned to trust her gut.

Not even a second after they reached the main floor, Everly heard a familiar voice shouting in the distance. Her pace instantly quickened as she and Officer Bryce raced through the halls. It wasn't long before they found themselves in the lobby, where a boy was shouting at an officer while being restrained by two more.

"I need to talk to Officer Emerson right now! Why isn't anyone letting me see her?!" Lucas shouted without bothering to hide the panic in his voice.

"Hey! Let him go!" Everly shouted, drawing everyone's attention toward her before the officers released their grip on the Nova boy. The Thorne woman couldn't help but glare at her associates as she wrapped her arm around Lucas and guided him into Rumplestiltskin's office. As soon as the door closed behind them, Everly turned her full attention toward the boy in front of her. "Care to tell me what's going on?"

"It's Cassie. I know where she is," the Nova boy announced, making Everly's blood run cold.

"I'm sorry, can you repeat that? You know where who is?" the Thorne woman questioned, earning an irritated look from the boy in front of her.

"Cassie! I know where she is! She told me in a dream!"

Everly hesitated for a moment before finding enough courage within her to speak. "Are you awake now?"

"It's...it's coming back to me in bits and pieces ever since that dream, but that's not important right now," the Nova boy responded before he began pacing around the room with his hands on his head, "Cassie came to me in a dream. She said that Jack kidnapped her and Henry."

"Jack? Why would Jack-" Everly cut herself off the moment the puzzle pieces snapped together. She tried to ignore the anger she felt for not seeing it sooner. She quickly forced Lucas to sit down in the chair behind him before going out into the hall and grabbing one of the officers. "Make sure he stays here. Call his dad and tell him where he is."

Everly ignored the shouts from the Nova boy as she pulled out her phone and dialed the first number that appeared on her screen. It only rang once before the person on the other end picked up. "Braxton, are you still with Jullian?"

"Yeah. We just finished questioning Jacinda about Henry's messages. I was about to call you. We know who the Candy Killer is," Sam responded while Everly exited the police station and jumped into her car, "we need you to meet us at Nick's place. We're gonna need all the backup we can get."

"I'm already on my way," the Thorne woman declared before turning on her Jeep and speeding toward her destination.

────── ★★★ ──────

Cassie just watched as Henry rubbed the rope against the corner of the pillar he was tied to. She knew that his attempt at freeing himself was hopeless, they were going to need something a lot sharper to break free. However, the Thorne girl chose to keep her mouth shut, not wanting to snuff out the little hope her cousin was feeling. She always loved seeing the hope Henry carried with him no matter what they were facing. It brought a little hope to her as well, but she also knew that it was going to take a lot more than that to set them free.

It wasn't long before they heard the jingling of keys, making both of their attention move toward the door. Not even a second after that passed when the door opened to reveal Jack, who entered the apartment without a care in the world. A wave of anger washed over Cassie as she watched the brunette man walk through his living space like having two captives was normal. But just as she was about to open her mouth to speak, Henry beat her to it. It was as if he sensed her anger.

"Hey. Hey, listen. I thought about it. And if this Zelena did what you said, let's take her to the cops," the Mills man said, causing Cassie to cringe, knowing that her cousin's words weren't going to help them in the slightest.

Her initial thoughts were soon confirmed when Jack smiled down at the Mills man before letting out a small laugh. "You know, Henry, I used to be just like you. Okay, one day I was Nick, a music lawyer. I'm taking a blood test, trying to save my daughter from some mysterious illness. And then...bam! All my memories came flooding back to me."

"What happened?" Henry questioned while Cassie continued to stare at the man with confusion in her eyes, trying to figure out how a simple blood test could give Jack his memories back.

"I don't know. But it all came back into focus and it will for you, too," the brunette man declared with a large smile on his face. It wasn't long before he squatted down in front of Henry to show him the paper he pulled out of his pocket. "This is all your dreams come true. I wasn't the only one that took a blood test that day."

Chills ran throughout Cassie's body, knowing what the paper said without even having to read it. She knew it would leave Henry in a state of confusion and that wasn't what they needed at that moment. Despite Jack showing that document to the Mills man in an attempt to help him, Cassie knew it was going to make everything ten times worse.

"This says that...that I am Lucy's father," Henry muttered under his breath while slowly looking up to meet Jack's gaze.

"You're welcome."

The Mills man just stared at his former friend, not understanding what was happening. That lasted for a moment longer before Henry cleared his throat and opened his mouth to speak. "No. That's...that's a...that's fake. That...that's forged. There...there's an explanation for that."

"Afraid not, buddy," Jack responded before his eyes moved away from Henry to meet the Thorne girl's gaze, "just ask Cassie."

Cassie hesitated as she continued to stare at Jack for what felt like an eternity. It wasn't long after that when she finally gathered enough courage to respond. "I'm fifteen. How would I be able to tell a real document from a fake one?"

"Because you're awake, just like the rest of your family," the brunette man hissed, tired of the games the Thorne girl was playing before he waved the paper around in the air, "and this...it's straight from Dr. Sage's office."

"Oh, the doctor you killed?" Henry retaliated, drawing Jack's attention back to him while the former continued to glare at his former friend, "why should I believe you?"

"Because I was there when Lucy was born, okay?" Jack responded without even trying to hide the anger in his voice, "I remember the look on your face. I've never seen Henry Mills look happier a day in his life!"

Cassie couldn't help but scoff, drawing both men's attention to her, only to find her staring at Jack with annoyance in her eyes. "Let me guess, Henry's Aunt Zelena brought flowers and a cake to celebrate?"

"No, actually, she wasn't there. You should know that but maybe you were too young to remember," the brunette man told her before moving his gaze back to Henry, "but she is here. And you know her as Kelly."

"Oh, Kelly? Right. The spin instructor. I'm pretty sure the only thing green about her is her kale juice," the Mills man responded with a hint of annoyance in his voice, showing his cousin that his patience was wearing very thin.

"She's also a witch, okay? You're not seeing the whole picture, Henry."

"Yes, I am! Kelly is not a witch!" Henry shouted, making Cassie jump and Jack stare at him with an unreadable look in his eyes, "she is a real woman, from San Francisco! She's got a real daughter! She's got a real fiancé! Do not make her a part of your delusional fantasy!"

The Thorne girl just stared at Henry with shock in her eyes. She had never seen him act that way before, but she didn't blame him after what Jack had put them through. Cassie kept her attention on her cousin for a moment before looking over at Jack, whose eyes now held a darkness in them as he stared at Henry. The Thorne girl couldn't remember the last time she saw eyes that held so much anger and hatred. They reminded her of the boy from the stories her parents told her about their past, which sent another wave of fear over the Thorne girl.

It wasn't long after that when Jack slowly stood up while keeping his eyes glued to Henry. He tapped the document in his hand against his palm a few times as he took a step back as if to get a better view of his captives. The silence around them lasted for what felt like an eternity before Jack finally broke it. "You know, man, for the Truest Believer, you can be really stubborn. I...I thought at least you would see what I'm trying to do."

"I do see what you're trying to do! And I am not gonna help you kill somebody!"

"Too late. You've already given me exactly what I need. You just don't know it yet," Jack responded, making a tense silence fall upon the apartment. The brunette man just stared at Henry for a moment longer before he reached down to grab a large knife that had a sleeve covering the sharp end. Cassie watched as he tossed it in the air before catching it as if it were a toy as he turned his attention back to Henry. "Now, I am sorry. But I've been tied to enough trees with you to know these ropes won't hold."

Before his captives registered what was happening, Jack took a few steps forward and slammed the knife's handle against the back of Henry's head, knocking him out.

"Henry!" Cassie shouted as tears began forming in her eyes, completely unaware of Jack walking toward her until he was standing right in front of her. The Thorne girl slowly turned to look up at the man, who was staring down at her with a hint of regret in his eyes. "You don't have to do this, Jack. You're a good person. This isn't who you are."

"I knew you were awake," the brunette man responded with a small laugh before the hint of joy faded from his eyes, "and I'm sorry, Cassie. Truly, I am. But I can't have you using your magic to wake him up."

Before Cassie had a chance to respond, Jack slammed the handle of the knife against the back of her head. The world around her seemed to spin before it plunged into darkness.

────── ★★★ ──────

Everly followed Sam and Hook as they sprinted up the stairs toward Jack's apartment. The Thorne woman had a million different emotions running through her veins. She was angry at Jack for taking Cassie, especially after all they went through together in the Enchanted Forest. He should've known better than to bring the Thorne girl into his games. What infuriated her more was the fact that he also took Henry, who had no idea why his friend thought he was a storybook character. But on top of all that, Everly was terrified that she wouldn't find her daughter after everything.

The Purest Heart was quickly pulled out of her thoughts when they finally reached the door of Jack's apartment. Hook didn't hesitate to kick the door down before walking inside with Sam and Everly right behind him. A wave of relief washed over the Thorne woman when she saw her daughter sitting on the floor. She didn't waste a second as she pushed past Sam and Hook to kneel in front of Cassie. Tears streamed down Everly's cheeks as she stared at her daughter, who was slowly coming around from her forced slumber. It wasn't long after that when Cassie's eyes flashed open, making a small smile appear on her mother's face. "Hey, Abi. Are you okay?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm okay. Totally fine," the Thorne girl responded through labored breaths while Sam went to check on Henry, "but I would be a lot better if you untied me."

Everly couldn't help but laugh at her daughter's words before the former began untying the ropes. As soon as she was free, Cassie launched herself forward and wrapped her arms around her mother's neck. The Purest Heart fell back a bit, taken off guard by her daughter's actions. But as soon as she figured out what was happening, Everly tightly wrapped her arms around Cassie as if she would never let go.

"I knew you would find me," Cassie whispered just loud enough for only her mother to hear, causing the smile on Everly's face to grow. Their moment lasted for only a bit longer before the Thorne girl ended the embrace to look the Thorne woman in the eyes. "But we have another problem."

Confusion instantly formed on Everly's face, unsure of what to make of the seriousness in her daughter's voice. However, before either of them could even think of continuing their conversation, Henry began speaking. "Nick, he's...he's after Kelly. He's crazy. He thinks she's a witch. We need...we need to get to her before he does."

"Yeah, we will," Hook reassured the Mills man while continuing to look around the room as if Jack would pop out at any moment, "both she and her daughter should still be safe with Weaver."

"But right now, we need to get out of here. Come on," Sam said before helping Henry to his feet.

Hook moved to assist the blonde man in getting Henry out of the apartment. While they did that, Everly helped her daughter to her feet before following the three men. As soon as they made it back to the Thorne woman's car, Cassie grabbed Everly's phone to call Felix and let her father know that she was safe. 

────── ★★★ ──────

────── ★★★ ──────