Archie didn't really know how he exactly managed to fight his way out of his restraints and out of the hold, the entire experience was hazy and foggy. He could only recall that one strike of hook's hook had sliced some of the rope of his bonds, but how he had managed to get anywhere else was a mystery.
He had been locked up for what seemed years, but any true passage of time had been lost in the hold, his sleep patterns made irregular by Hook's appearances to interrogate him, and his injuries making any sleep allowed to him restless and painful.
Night had fallen and both Hook and Regina were gone, probably off in the town plotting something, making now his only chance.
He crawled onto the deck, his legs weak from disuse and the many injuries he had sustained, and he ignored the disconcerting blood trail he was leaving, and carefully made his way down the stairs. Halfway down one leg gave way and he almost fell into the cold water of the dock if it hadn't been for a pained grab at the hull of the ship.
Now on dry land, he began to limp his way slowly though the street of storybook. His brain was on autopilot, heading for the one place he knew he'd be safe.
Emma heard a lite thud outside, as if someone had dropped something as they were going down the stairs, but she thought nothing of it. That was, until Pongo, who had been lying dejectedly on Henry's bed, waiting for him to return from school, perked up, barked sharply and bulleted towards the door, leaping and clawing at the wood.
Emma pulled him back and clipped his lead on. Pongo was never this lively usually, not even greeting Henry this excitedly.
It was only after she had restrained Pongo to the dining table and had opened the door, did she see what had caused to dog so much excitement, though Emma wasn't about to start celebrating.
Archie lay slumped against the wall beside the door, his head lolling disconcertingly to one side. He was covered in injuries, some only small and superficial like the bruises and cuts to his hands and arms, while others looked a lot more serious, like the bleeding cuts to his legs and torso and evident broken bones by the way he held his limbs, but all were numerous.
"Archie!" She cried, kneeling down next to him. Behind her, Pongo went mad, pulling and tugging at his lead to try and get to his owner.
"Shh, Pongo!" Emma scolded, then urgently turned back to Archie. "Archie, can you hear me?"
She felt an erratic pulse under her fingers and breathed a relieved sigh, but didn't drop her guard.
"Hang on in there, Jiminy." She told him "We lost you once, and we 're never letting that happen again..."