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Link to Chapter 1:
post/90865265855/cs-au-after-finally-escaping-reginas
Only in her dreams does she get mere glimpses of what really happened that night.
Sometimes two unfamiliar faces popped into her mind: one, a woman with hair as black as the feathers on a raven's back; the other, a man with blue eyes that would put the sky to shame. That was all she remembered of them—the people she assumed were her parents—before hearing their echoing screams in her mind.
They had died protecting her.
The rest was a blur—so had the past 18 years been, in a way.
Living with Regina (if you could call being imprisoned 'living') was purely hell—but at the same time, it was the only life she had ever known.
So as Emma ran away from the castle, her hands clammy, her heart racing, a victorious smile sprouting on her face, she felt more alone and afraid than she ever had in the damp, dark jail cell that she had called home.
Although she had planned her escape for over a year, carefully mapping out every detail and working out any kinks that might come along the way, she truthfully hadn't given much thought on what she would do afterwards.
How would she support herself? Where would she stay? How could she protect herself? Would she be able to evade capture again? What if Regina found her? Would it be all for nothing?
Emma internally warred with herself, pushing back any thoughts of doubt or uncertainty. All she could think about now was how to get off this damned island.
Ducking into an alleyway, she stripped off the guard's armor that she had stolen off the unfortunate soul who had gone to give her the daily meal of stale bread and pungent cheese. Regina's militia had to have realized she'd was gone by now, so she knew she had to exercise caution. Now barefoot and wearing nothing but a long dress that resembled a burlap sack and a blue cloak, she sprinted down the alley, her feet making thudding noises on the cobblestones.
The smell of salt and rotting fish wafted towards her, reminding her that she was one step closer to the sea. To her way home. To freedom.
Emma quickly peeked around the edge of a butcher's shop to check for any guards that may be looking for her down by the water's edge. The only person around was a shriveled-up beggar, who was doing no harm by sitting underneath a nearby weeping willow.
She composed herself, trying to slow down the pounding of her heart, keeping her eyes locked straight ahead as to not draw any unnecessary attention to herself. As she passed the beggar, he spoke, his voice hoarse and small.
"Spare a coin for the poor, girl?"
Emma kept walking, not wanting to look at the man she was refusing help. Guilt flowed through her, but she couldn't stop now that she had gotten this far.
A strong hand landed on her shoulder, causing her to cry out and whip around to face her assailant.
A seagull called out a warning before flying away.
It was the beggar, all right, but his face told a different story. This man was not old or homeless, and certainly not helpless. And his name was Sidney Glass. Regina's right hand man.
Sidney's deep voice rang out, his hand having moved to her wrist in a tight grasp, preventing her from going anywhere anytime soon.
"Regina would be disappointed in you, Emma, if she could see you right now." His voice was dripping with venom, making Emma's blood run cold. Something about his smug demeanor told her that he was right.
Another voice from behind the pair reached Emma's ears. It belonged to someone Emma thought she would never see again: the evil Queen herself.
As if sensing Emma's fear, the she-devil let out a bitter laugh that sent shivers down Emma's spine. Emma didn't dare turn around to face her.
"You think you can run from me?" Regina was so close that Emma could feel her breath on her neck. She knew this was the end. There was no one to save her; nowhere she could run. Her plan had failed. She had failed.
Emma heard an intake of breath as Regina opened her mouth to say more, but her attention was immediately redirected to Sidney, who had let out a strangled scream and was now looking down at his chest. Both Emma and Regina followed his gaze to see an arrow piercing through his heart.
With one lingering look at Regina, Sidney Glass crumpled to the ground, to reveal a figure standing in the shadows.
"You." Regina's voice could instill fear into the hearts of men. Hell, it could make her feel like she was falling into a bottomless pit.
Emma couldn't see his face, but the stranger stood still, saying nothing.
"Come out and face me, you traitor. You coward."
Regina took a few steps and was now in front of Emma, giving her a clear shot to jump onto the sailboat that was just about to leave down by the docks. But something familiar about this man made her stay.
As if on cue, the figure stepped into the light, looking at Emma and commanding, "GO!"
Graham.
Her only friend in the world: a guardsman who had joined Regina's forces two years ago. He was the one who had convinced her to run away in the first place.
Taking one last look at his face, hoping hers conveyed the overwhelming amount of gratitude she felt for him, Emma ran like hell, jumping onto the sailboat, ignoring the captain's yells of protest.
After emptying her pockets and begging the old man to take her to the mainland, he agreed and they continued on in silence.
Emma watched from afar as somehow, Graham managed to hold off Regina, with all of her power and magic and strength. She swore that if he made it out alive, she would find him and take him with her. She would come back for him one day.
...
The full moon shone down on the water that night, casting an eerie glow on the ship below. The waves silently lapped against the edge of the boat. Emma stood on the deck, looking out at the endless expanse of sea before her, wondering if this was all a dream. To think that her escape had only happened just hours ago. It's the calm before the storm, she thought.
Just then, lightning shone down from the sky, sending an earsplitting crack through the air not too far from where she stood.
I didn't mean that literally, Emma thought bitterly. But something told her that this was Regina's doing.
Rain poured down in sheets, soaking both Emma and the old captain in seconds.
The waves were no longer calming and beautiful, but rather huge, dark, and menacing.
"Hold on, lass!" the man shouted; a wave crashing over the boat just then, nearly knocking Emma off her feet.
When she glanced back to the helm of the ship, she found it empty, panic filling her lungs. The had been washed overboard. He was probably in the water, gasping for air—or worse. And it all her fault.
Once again, she was all alone. In a fit of pure desperation, Emma ran to the front of the ship, grabbing the wheel—not to steer it; there was nothing to steer towards with all the fog and rain clouding her vision—but simply to have something to hold onto.
Emma heard a low roaring sound to her left. She began to look for the source, but she saw it too late. Her eyes filled with terror and her face blanched as she prepared for the impact of the huge tsunami-like wave rushing towards her.
It struck the ship like a bolt of lightning would, setting the port side ablaze. It was magic, there was no doubt, which meant...
Regina.
The ship was sinking. She had lost. All of this had been for nothing. The planning, Graham's sacrifice... all of it.
It was then that Emma dove overboard, knowing she had no other choice left.
The icy cold water almost sent her into shock, but she pushed herself to swim to the surface, her lungs begging for air. She managed to reach the surface despite the violent sea around her, grabbing onto a piece of stray plywood to stay afloat.
And that was the last thing she remembered before the ship came crashing down on top of her. Everything went black.
Next on Crashing into You...
We meet Captain Hook and the rest of the crew on the Jolly and find out exactly what he plans to do with our runaway...