It was only going to be so long before Emma completely lost it.
Swiftly after Emma and Snow had jumped into the portal they were promptly deposited into the middle of a vast and angry sea. They had been treading the ocean for hours, barely keeping their heads above water, neither knew how much longer they could continue this before succumbing to the waves.
Emma wasn't in control of the situation, and nothing bugged her more than not being able to manipulate circumstances into her survival. Despite how stupid it was, Emma couldn't seem to stop the thoughts of Henry, her son, from invading her mind. What if we die out here? David and Henry will be left alone and Regina will..
"Emma! Look! It's a ship!" Mary Margaret yelled, the hope she was so well known for coloring her cries. The two wasted no time screaming and swimming towards the ship, eventually the ship was close enough to show a few men looking over the side at the women.
"Look at what we have 'ere Liam, cap'n will be more than happy with us for finding two beautiful dames," said the man. It was hard for Emma to tell but he didn't seem to be pleasant looking, or pleasant smelling for that matter. Neither of them did.
Suddenly a rope was thrown out to the side of them, both of the skuzzy men holding the end a predatory smile on each of their faces. "Emma, are you sure we should.."
"It's the only option that we have." Emma replied swiftly, cutting her off. She didn't like the idea any more than her mother did but their choices really were slim. "Grab onto my waist."
Mary Margaret and Emma were hoisted up, slowly. The men struggling with pulling both of the women at the same time, but not uttering a word to ensure that their masculinity stayed intact. Once the women were on the deck, Emma immediately wanted to jump back over the side of the boat. Death be damned.
The man who had spoken was just as unpleasant as Emma had expected. He wasn't tall but what he lacked in height he made up for in bulk. His hair was nonexistent, except for the dirty brown beard that stained his face. The odor coming off of him was repelling, at best, and his smile showed teeth that had never seen a day of care. This frightening man was now, leering at Emma and her mother, a sick hunger evident in his eyes.
"Touch me or my mother and I swear that you will regret it," Emma growled fierce as she could. She was unwilling to let either of these men see the fear that was coursing through her body, no one would be able to harm her ever again.
The other man, Liam, didn't seem as unkind. By no means did either of the women feel safe around him but his demeanor was uninterested in the two women, focused on other things. The hair on his head was long, stringy, and once seemed to be blonde but Emma couldn't tell beneath all of the grime. Before she could finish her assessment the man cut in, "We need to get the captain Chad. Until then I'll put the women into the brig and bring them the supplies that they may need."
Chad. The man to avoid, got it. "Where's the rest of the crew pirate?" Mary Margaret spat as Liam grabbed Emma and led her towards the stairs, which she assumed led to her new prison.
"Dead." He said, not missing a beat, and grabbed her mother almost as an afterthought. Emma considered resisting, knowing that she may just be able to defeat this man with Mary Margaret by her side. "Do it and I will not hesitate to kill you," the man breathed in her ear.
That was all Emma needed to hear. She would wait, until this so called captain came to talk with her, and if he denied them their freedom she would escape. The brig didn't seem to be kept up with well, many of the hinges rusted. It wouldn't be the first time she would have to rely on her dark past to get her out of these ridiculous situations that she kept getting herself into.
Time passed. Mary Margaret and Emma took turns sleeping, just in case Chad was to come around and try something with either of them. They were provided food and some kind of watered down alcohol, neither could complain they were being neglected, but Emma was getting tired of waiting. She was beginning to doubt this "Captain" even existed.
"Hey! Bozo's! Is your Captain ever going to come down and talk to us? Or did you make him up to please your own sick fetishes!" Emma screamed.
Mary Margaret looked astonished but held quiet, knowing that this was the only way that her daughter thought things could be completed. She couldn't say she disagreed with her tactics either, because she heard a heavy clomping down the stairs, and eventually around the corner.
Before either of them knew it Chad threw open the door, and had pinned Emma to the wall, his body pressed firmly against her. Mary Margaret ran towards Chad but before she got to him he said, "If you do anything or even scream Princess, I'll have no problem slicin' your little friend 'ere," the knife made its appearance against Emma's side, "and if you, darlin', decide to fight me, ya already know what I plan to do to ya. I would 'ate fur you to lose your life before we had any fun at all."
After he stopped talking Chad ran his free hand up Emma's side, slipping underneath the red leather jacket she loved so much. She decided she'd burn it after this, it no longer held any appeal to her, whether she were to be cold or not. She let him take a few minutes groping her, it was nothing that hadn't happen before and he was falling perfectly into her trap. Slowly and surely she felt the knife move from its ridged stance against her side, eventually removed from her skin altogether.
"Now!" she yelled, hoping her mother had caught on. She elbowed him in the stomach, and turned around quickly, thankful for all of those self-defense classes, then with the heel of her boot drove her foot deep into his abdomen, knocking him back against the other wall. Mary Margaret took over then and hit the disgusting man in the head with the food tray, until he was knocked out.
It was only then that they heard Liam enter, casting a look of disdain towards his crew mate, and asked, "Has he hurt either of you?" His eyes shifted between both of the women shaking their head in response before moving into the cell.
Liam gestured for the women to leave from the cell, he then disarmed the attempted rapist from all of his weapons, before leaving the cell and locking the door behind him. "I know you think me cruel but a man should never try to force a woman. Pirate or not."
Nothing was said for a while afterward, both women followed Liam, too worn out to ask any questions. They followed him into another segment of the ship, a cleaner area with better lighting, and eventually they stopped at what seemed to be a small living quarters with a few bunk beds. Though it was obviously neglected, it was clean, and much more comfortable than the prison cell they were locked in. The beds were made, and had pillows and blankets on the ends of each bed.
"You two can stay here for the night. The Captain wants to speak with you tomorrow," he said pointing at Emma.
"What about Mary Margaret? I won't go in there without her, anything he says to me can be said to her as well." Emma said defiantly, ha, argue with that.
"Either go alone or not at all, it's up to you," and he left with no other words, leaving the door wide open behind him.
"Emma," Mary Margaret began, "It isn't safe! As your mother I can't allow you to do this. Look at what happened with Chad, you can't trust pirates. And you especially can't go to them alone. We can find another way, it's what our family is good for."
Emma took a deep breath, preparing herself for the response she was going to receive, "I have to. It's the quickest way back home."
"You can't! There has to be another way to escape from this ship. There is no reason for you go make whatever deal with that man and be forced into god knows what!"
"I can and I will. Mary Margaret, mom, I have to get home to Henry. And this is the quickest way to do that," her tone heavy with the gravity and truth of the situation. She wouldn't be away from Henry for long if she could help it, and Mary Margaret knew that.
Later that night Emma was tossing and turning in her bunk, although comfortable she couldn't escape the fears that were reawakened by her attacker. Nights in various different homes, one particular man coming into her room late at night, shushing her quiet. She was only ten.
"No." she said to aloud and to herself. The sound warded off the dark thoughts and she knew there was only one way to rid them altogether for the night. So, Emma put on her boots and fled out onto the deck, without her usual red jacket.
She walked along the side of the ship, marveling at just how beautiful the ship really was. The wood was polished and gleaming, it was obviously well used but someone definitely loved this boat. Some of the sails were up, but no wind passed through them. It was a peaceful night, and she decided to sit in front of the rails, feet dangling through as she stared at the ocean. When she was a little girl she dreamed of escaping the world on a boat like this, with no cares in the world and no one to let her down anymore. That time was over.
"You must be the lass that has caused so much trouble aboard my ship," said a voice that held a charming Irish accent to it. Emma flipped around to face the sound, standing up quickly in a defensive posture.
Once her eyes focused on the man, she immediately regretted it. He was the most handsome man she had ever seen: his eyes a clear blue; black hair that begged to have hands run through it; a strong jaw with only a small amount of stubble; and his mouth set in a daring smirk. He was tall, taller than maybe even David, and his black long jacket did wonders for him. Not even the hook could deter from the obvious beauty this man had. Wait, Emma thought, a hook?
"You've got to be fucking kidding me! Let me guess, you're Captain Hook."