You were wandering Storybrooke late at night, curiosity pulling you toward the mysterious shops along Main Street. The town was eerily quiet, the only sounds being the wind brushing against the lampposts and the occasional distant hoot of an owl. That’s when you noticed the warm, golden light spilling from Mr. Gold’s shop. Intrigued, you stepped inside.

The bell chimed softly behind you, and the familiar scent of antiques and magic filled the air. Before you could look around properly, a voice startled you.

“Who’s there?”

You spun around to see Emma Swan, her sheriff’s jacket slightly disheveled from her hurried steps. “Emma?” you asked, surprised. “What are you doing here?”

“Same as you, I guess,” she replied, her tone cautious but curious. “I was just… checking something. But it looks like we’re both stuck.”

You frowned, realizing the door had latched shut behind you. You tried the handle—locked. Emma tugged at the side door—it wouldn’t budge either. “Looks like Mr. Gold has a way of keeping people in when he wants to,” she muttered.

Hours passed as the two of you explored the shop, turning over old tomes, examining enchanted trinkets, and trying to find a way out. Emma’s usual confidence was tempered by the confinement, and you found yourself laughing at her frustrated sighs as much as you were trying to figure out an escape plan.

At one point, Emma nudged a strange amulet on the counter. “Maybe this could open something?” she suggested, half joking. You shook your head, “Or maybe it’ll turn us into frogs. With our luck, that’s just possible.”

Despite the tension, the two of you grew closer. You shared stories about your lives, confided secrets in whispers across shelves of curiosities, and even argued over silly things, like which spellbooks looked the most intimidating. The night felt endless, yet somehow comforting, because Emma’s presence made the strange shop feel a little less like a trap.

Finally, in the back room, you found a peculiar mirror etched with runes. “This might be it,” Emma said, her green eyes shining with hope. Together, you recited the words inscribed on the mirror. A shimmer of light enveloped the shop, and suddenly, the door clicked. Freedom at last.

You both stumbled out onto the quiet street, laughing breathlessly. Emma’s grin was warm and genuine. “Next time, maybe we don’t sneak into Gold’s shop at night,” she said.