It was quiet-very, very quiet. That was the first thing Hook noticed as he slowly awoke. He could not hear the quick footsteps of the nurses or the rumors flying out about the stranger. Otherwise known as the man who had hit him with one of those-what were they called? Those strange horseless carriages that were everywhere in town? Oh right. A car. It was quiet. The decision about the man's fate must have been decided. It did not concern him, so he could not care less.
After another moment of listening, just to be sure he was alone, Hook opened his eyes. He groaned as pain shot through his chest as he slowly shifted to rest against the pillow. It must have been the middle of the night. The lights were turned down low, and the only nurse in sight was snoring against a desk nearby. He tried to sit up properly, but was held back by the handcuffs chaining him to the bed.
"Damn sheriff", he muttered under his breath. It was ironic how nearly every time they met, he ended up tied or chained to something. The Swan girl must have been in to that sort of thing. Hook wouldn't mind getting the chance to find out…but he would have to do so later. For now, he needed to figure out a way to get the hell out of there.
Instinctively, he moved his left arm over to pick the lock with his hook….but it was gone. There was nothing there but a nub. His eyes darkened dangerously as he remembered the day he had lost his hand to the Crocodile. He could remember it as if it were yesterday. The smell of the sea and of blood…the wicked gleam of the Dark One's smile…his love's last words…
"I got him", Hook whispered to the darkness. "I got him, my love. I took what he loved most…just as he took you from me.".
He smirked as he remembered the look of sorrow and despair on Rumplestiltskin's face. Now he knew what it was like to lose the woman you loved most. Now he knew what it was like to have everything he loved ripped away from him. The girl had lost her memories. She had no idea who the Crocodile was. He was nothing but a stranger to her. He had seen the look in her eyes as she stared up at Rumplestilskin. She had been terrified of him. As she should be. He was nothing but a cruel, heartless monster…Hook had done the woman a favor.
But now was not the time to rejoice in his victory. He had to get out of here. Hook looked about the room for something…ANYTHING…he could use to escape. His eyes soon locked on a tray of food on the table by his side. But not just on the food…but on what was beside it. A small, white, plastic fork…that was all he needed. With more grunts of pain due to his stiff and wounded body, he managed to grasp hold of the utensil with his remaining hand. He twisted his fingers until he was able to successfully manage to get one of the prongs into the key hole. A moment or two later, it made the faintest click before sliding off of his hand. Hook was free.
He glanced back over to the nurse and was relieved to see she remained blissfully unaware and unconscious. Good. He didn't want any trouble on his way out. Hook had to bite his lip to silence any sounds of pain as he slid off of the bed and rose to his feet. Swiftly and quietly as a thief in the night, he slipped out of the room and began down the first hall.
It seemed that nearly everyone had been so busy with the stranger to Storybrooke over the past twenty-four hours that they had all either gone home or simply fell asleep at their posts. It just made his escape even easier. Usually, he would be disappointed with the ease of it all. No struggles, no fights, no cut throats…but this time was different. He was left without a weapon or his hook. It would be best to simply slip away without any trouble.
Hook stopped suddenly as he heard the tiniest noise break the silence. He flattened himself against the wall and hid in the shadows, waiting to see what would come. But no nurse rounded the corner suddenly. No doctor hurried past him. Perhaps he had imagined it…no. There it was again. Only it wasn't coming from the hall…rather, it came from just beyond the slightly cracked door he stood next to. Cautiously, Hook peeked around the corner of the door, ready for a fight if need be.
It was her. It was the girl-Belle-asleep inside. She did not seem hurt-the Crocodile had obviously healed her wound. But he had not shot to kill. No, he had shot to make her forget. Her long brown hair fell around her pretty face as she remained peacefully asleep. The sight was a far cry from the last time he had seen her. Hook wondered how many times Rumplestiltskin had come to her. How many times he had tried to restore her memories already. And how many times she had begged him to leave her alone or screamed in terror at the sight of him. Hook smirked in triumphant at the thought.
He turned to go and leave the hospital behind, when a new thought struck him. A way to ensure that Rumplestiltskin was NEVER reunited with his beloved. Already, a plan began to form in his mind and a look of determination and mischief entered his eyes. He turned back to the sleeping girl and whispered, "Sweet dreams, dear Belle.". He then turned around and crept back into the other room and back to his bed. One thought ran through his head as Hook fixed the handcuffs around his wrist once more: This was going to be fun.