"I'm sorry…"
"Swan… Swan!" the chain rattled as he tugged at it, jaw set in anger as she walked away, the ground rumbling beneath him.
"Emma…" his body pitched forward, shoulder strained as the chain broke from the wall, his cheek shredding against the ground as pressure robbed the air from his lungs. He gasped, feeling several ribs crack under the giant's grip. Stone ripped at his clothes and gravel tore into exposed flesh; the ground beneath him replaced with air. His arms flailed and grappled for purchase as he fell. A sharp snap reverberated through his ears as his hook sank into the flesh of the bean stalk.
He stilled for a long time, his heart hammering against his broken ribs, and eyes squeezed shut as he hung there. His hand closed around one of the vines, fire rippling through his skin from that tiny movement, and he stilled again, jaw set and eyes closed as he rammed his shoulder into the beanstalk. A wet pop and a sharp hiss escaped him, the dislocated joint now back in place, but the pain licking up his spine. The hook slid, tearing a fissure, every muscle tense as the agony intensified.
He was only a fraction closer to the bottom, nerves frayed and patience deteriorating. He glanced towards the ground, his breath short and choppy as he rested his head back against the bean stalk. His hook slid again and he cringed, another wet pop squelching from his shoulder. A breeze brushed against his back as Killian started to move again. It was the sun was peeking up through the clouds again before he could see the ground… too far to fall… The hook slipped farther this time, jostling from the flesh of the stalk as he toppled backwards.
The crunch and abuse of his already broken ribs flooded his ears as he body collided with uneven segments of the stalk. The air squeezed from his lungs as broken bones bounced off of unforgiving dirt. He screamed. The quiet of the field no contest against the blood pounding in his ears. Even the thought of moving hurt. Breathing made him ache. It seemed as if even blinking was too much. Killian's eyes slipped closed as he lost consciousness, crumpled and broken at the base of the bean stalk.
-.-
The sound was faint. She wasn't sure what had made it, but it made her insides lurch... her heart push into her throat. Emma stopped, chewing on her lip as she contemplated what to do... why it bothered her so much.
'He's up there because of you...' she sighed, a knot of guilt crinkling in her stomach.
"No... You can't go back there-" Snow cut in, arms crossed over her chest.
"I'm going. Shouldn't take anymore than two days. If it does, come and look for me..." before they could argue she took off.
Emma ran, tripping over tree roots and kicking up leaves. She backtracked for hours, chewing at the inside of her cheek as she appraoched the field, worried at the silence... There was no movement. She crept closer, eyes fixed on the shadowy lump, pupils blown as she realized it was Hook... as she realized he wasn't moving. The rational part of her brain attempted to convince her it was just a trick... Killian was getting back at her for leaving. He was just going to spring up once she got close... But as Emma knelt at his side, he remained still; only a shallow rise from his chest.
"Hook..." her hands hovered, no real place to touch him that didn't appear broken or covered in blood. His eyes rolled under heavy lids, hand gripping at the dirt as a whine slipped from busted lips.
"Hook... Killian," she brushed some of the hair from his forehead, breath hinging on the sound of his voice.
" 'mma..." he swallowed thickly, eyes cracking opening slightly as he tried to look at her.
"I'm sorry... I-"
"Heard that ... before," it took everything he had to hold her gaze, his consciousness slipping away again.
"I know..." the corners of her mouth dropped, trembling hands pulling at the edges of his jacket to get a better look at the damage.
