Emma, chest heaving, came barreling out of the house and slammed the door behind her, pushing herself against it to make sure it was fully shut before backing away. Upon feeling the sunlight on her back she let out a ragged and breathy sigh and slid down to sit on the front steps to calm her breathing. That was too close. She could already hear the dead throwing themselves against the door now. They clawed at the cracks in the door and tried for the doorknob, unable to quite remember how to turn it. Their raw and bitter rasps chilled her to the bone no matter how many times she had heard them in the two months since the world had fallen around her.

She wondered weakly just how many close calls she had left in her. She had thought the house was empty before she started going through the cabinets. The dead were making less noise these days though and you missed them if you didn't visually check each room now. She must have missed a bathroom or something because sure enough she had been tossing cans into her bag when they had shambled around the corner, jaws snapping and ragged arms reaching. Emma rubbed at her temples and glanced down at the gun in her holster and wished again for more ammunition. She had only a few bullets left and couldn't afford to waste them on raiding a single house. The former residents of this sunny Boston suburb with white picket fences were not the gun-toting types though and she had not found a single bullet since her first night. Not that it would do her much good anyway. Firing a gun attracted far too much attention. Well, at least I'm still alive.

Heaving herself to her feet, she picked up the bag of meager supplies she had gotten before the dead chased her out of the house. Another day, another few meals, it was really all she could hope for. Her friends needed food and she was the only one physically fit enough to deal with the dead in any efficient capacity.

"You can do this," she whispered, voice cracking at the edges.

Hook opened the door to his cabin and stepped out onto the dark deck of the Jolly Roger letting the door fall shut behind him with a quiet knock. Glancing up at the sky he saw no stars and no moon to fill the inky night. He walked warily across the deck and saw the dark form of a woman laid out. Her dark hair fell obscuring her face and she lay motionless on the deck. His heart clenched and his chest filled with ice. Milah. Not her. He couldn't lose her. He rushed to her side and placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Milah? Love... are you alright?" His lips trembled slightly. He heard her groan and for a moment his heart soared and his chest loosened. She's alive! "What happened love? Are you ill? Have you been attacked?" She groaned again in response and begun to stir. He moved to help her sit up and at that moment she opened her eyes and looked up at him. Her eyes were filmed over with death; her skin loose and grey. She opened and closed her mouth and raised her hands towards him, grasping for the air in front of her in an almost childlike manner. A rotten, festering scent washed over him as soon as she began moving.

He staggered backwards, his own mouth falling open and his eyes filling with tears. She stood up and jerked her head towards him. Her groans had become jagged growls and she took her first unsteady steps across the deck and came towards him, eyes wild. He made an anguished sound and swore. She reached him at that moment and her hands gripped his arm like a vise. He was helpless against her, too stunned and heartbroken to react. She leaned down, mouth gaping, and-

Killian awoke in his cabin, jumping. His heart still racing and body tense, he reached down to touch his arm where she had gripped him, almost expecting bruises. He felt the tears drying on his face. Oh how the gods love to mock me, he thought, an acrid taste rising in his throat. Not a day went by where his dreams weren't full of Milah. That night's fare was particularly bad and he silently thanked the heavens that the dead could not come back to torture you from beyond the grave. He took just a moment to collect himself before dragging himself out of bed. Sleep was pointless now.

His anguish slowly draining into anger, he focused all his thoughts on one thing: the crocodile. The beast who had murdered his wife in cold blood. Hook would find the bastard and today is the day he was finally going to face him. He had spent the last few years scouring the realm in search of a magic bean. As luck would have it, Cora had provided him with two magic beans, after he had assisted her in finishing a years long struggle against some far off queen. The Dark One had left the Enchanted Forest a few years ago. Everyone knew the story. He had finally succeeded when his so-called "lover", apparently a prisoner of his, completed a True Loves Kiss with him. The fairies believe that it must have been strong enough to call forth his greatest wish. Hook laughed under his breath despite himself, as if anyone could ever love such a horrid creature. The Dark One almost certainly had used her soul as payment in some nefarious curse. Regardless, Rumpelstiltskin and his prisoner-turned-lover are gone from this realm and haven't been seen since. It's assumed he reunited with his lost son by now and is living in this world without magic.

On this morning, he will follow them. Maybe he would steal the prisoner for himself after he destroyed the Dark One. She would welcome him with open arms just as Milah had in her escape from Rumpelstiltskin all those years ago. The irony. His mouth started to pull into a grin as he raised his hook and stepped to the wheel of the ship. He looked out at his busy crew readying the sails and securing last minute cargo. They slowly stopped working and moved to attention. When he was satisfied he addressed them confidently.

"Lads, this is the day we finally catch the crocodile. I have in my possession a magic bean- the very same kind that brought us to Neverland and back." No need to tell them about the other one he planned to save for a return trip.

"He is powerless in his current realm. There is no magic there and that is the only thing any of us know. We don't know what we shall find, but we are of course no strangers to adventure!" His crew were so easy to whip into a frenzy. They were shouting now, ready to follow him to the ends of the earth if he should wish it. Stepping to the bow of the boat he pulled a clear, lighter than air bean from his coat.

"We will kill the Dark One, and we will plunder his home, and we shall be victorious! Release the sails, we leave now!" his voiced raised in volume and he drew his arm back and threw the bean out into the ocean. The sea began to foam and swirl and he rushed to the wheel, gripping it with one hand and dragging it to one side.

Killian maneuvered the boat towards the growing portal at full speed like he had many times before. He felt more confident than ever. The portal responded to your thoughts and he had never wanted any place so badly before in his life. He then focused on thinking about this world without magic. This world where the crocodile lived. Just as the bow of the ship tipped into the whirlpool though, a single thought came unbidden into this mind. His dream. His Milah, staring up at him through lifeless eyes, growling and rotten. He gasped and let go of the wheel for a split second and the ship lurched terrifyingly to the side. He tore his thoughts back to this magic-less land where the crocodile resides. He tried to regain control of the ship but his momentary loss of focus had unbalanced them. The ship was threatening to capsize. He shouted orders to withdraw the sails and for his crew to secure themselves but the mast was already touching the water on the other side of the portal. He heard it crack before he saw the giant fissure in the mast. Too late now, they were already deep within the portal and would momentarily be surfacing on the other side. Things were moving in slow motion. He could see everyone shouting and trying to control the ropes to prevent more damage to the mast and sails. They spun faster and faster until everything went white, and then perfectly still. The sounds of the ocean calmed, and only the gentle creaking of small waves slapping the ship could be heard. His crew, slowly gaining their own vision back, looked up at their captain for orders. He looked out over the ocean and the bright orange of sunset reflecting off the water told him he had made it.

They had crossed realms.

Emma worked her way quietly back to the house she had dedicated as "base" a few weeks ago. She had met a woman, also alone, who had seen her skittering behind one of the cars in the suburb and approached. Emma had meant to keep away from other people but this woman had seemed kind enough. Her name was Claretta and she had lived in this neighborhood before everything happened. She invited Emma into her home and they secured it against the dead. Since then, a man and his young son joined them.

Walking through the door, Emma called "Hey Claretta, Harwell, I found a lot of canned corn. Way better than the off-brand beans we've been eating the last couple days. I figure it can be a treat-" she stopped when she came into the kitchen and saw Claretta had been crying. Her eyes were red and wide with terror. Harwell was holding her right hand.

"What happened Claretta? I told you not to panic; we will find your husband. You said he had gone to the safe zone outside of New York and I'm sure that is where he is now."

Harwell slowly shook his head and looked meaningfully at Claretta. The lines on his face were a mile deep. Claretta met his gaze for a moment and tossed her left arm onto the table and let her eyes squeeze shut as if gripped by a nightmare. A red, oozing walker bite on her arm just below her elbow was the only thing Emma could see for several seconds. She felt like the wind had been knocked out of her. She grabbed a chair and sat down, her legs turning to jelly. Her bag dropped to the floor, and the metallic thunk it made sent Claretta into another round of sobs as she jerked her arm back beneath the table.

"How did it happen?" Emma tried, sitting up straighter after a few moments.

"I just went outside for a second. I knew Missy- who lived on 12th street- used to have a dog. I suddenly remembered that her dog-" her throat clenched for a moment "her dog had diabetes and needed insulin. I just thought, if I can get that insulin, I can bring it to my husband when we found him. He would need it-"

"Was a walker inside?"

"No... I never even made it there. I got just a few streets down before one stood up from behind a trashcan. It was Missy! Missy!" Her voice rose several pitches. "and- and I couldn't do anything! She just came at me and bit down and I just ran and ran."

Emma didnt know what to say. This is why she had been the one breaking into houses so far. Claretta was so easily spooked. Harwell had problems with his legs from some old injury and his son couldnt afford to lose him, not now. Emma wished she had gotten back sooner. She could have helped Claretta with whatever she'd needed. Anything would be better than this outcome..

"Why didn't you wait for me to get back? I could have gotten the insulin.."

"You always do so much for us! You get all the food, you take care of the walkers when they get too close to this house, you do everything! I didn't want you putting yourself in danger again for something as silly as insulin... when my husband is surely already dead by now.."

"I told you he might not be-"

"Yes he is Emma. If he's not already dead he might as well be. Don't you lie to me anymore. Even if he lived initially there is no way he made it far. We are both too weak." Claretta's sobs overtook her speech at that last thought and she no longer tried to contain herself.

With that Emma stopped. Her lips tightened. "Ok." she said, releasing the breath from her lungs. She looked into Harwell's eyes and she saw him asking her to do it. Her chest tightened again and she tried to think of another way- No. It has to be this way. She tried so hard to seal her emotions back up in her mind. This is the world now Emma and you know what happens to people. You have to do it. She doesn't deserve that fate.

"Claretta, come with me. Show me where Missy was. We can at least put her out of her misery so she doesn't have to hurt anyone else." Emma said, reaching down for her right hand, trying to hide the pity that surely showed on her face. Claretta looked up and nodded, trembling. Emma almost wished she would say no.

"She was just this way... I'll show you... her lawn was always the prettiest and she loved that dog so much. If that had been anyone else's dog they would have put it down when they found out it needed daily insulin. Not Missy though.."

Emma listened as Claretta told her about Missy. Her heart felt like it was about to fall out of her chest. Of course Missy wouldn't put down a dog just because it had medical problem. In the old world, people used to actually treat problems.Unlike what we are about to do.

"Right there Emma, behind those trashcans is where I found her. Please do it. I can't bear the thought of her walking around out here forever..." her voice dropped off to a whimper.

Emma saw it still shambling around in the area between the two houses. She sighed and pulled out her knife. Claretta hung back in the open yard while she approached slowly. The wind was blowing towards Emma, so the walker couldn't smell them yet. She got right up behind it and brought her knife up, intending to kill it quickly. At the last second, the walker turned and snarled, and Emma had to look right into Missy's filmy eyes as she brought the knife down into its forehead with a sickening wet sound. Blood dribbled around her fingers and she withdrew the knife, letting Missy fall to the ground. She knew the walkers were already long dead, but those eyes... they were human eyes. Human forms. Killing them was getting too easy and too hard all at the same time. She stood still and composed herself for just a few moments, knowing what else she had to do. Claretta didn't have much time. If there was any other way, Emma would take it.If only I could be so lucky.

Silence.

"I know why you brought me out here Emma. I'm so sorry... you shouldn't have to.."

"Its... ok." Emma sighed and turned around to face her friend, putting all her emotions away. Sealing them behind tall walls. If this is what this new world required, then she had to do it. "You want this, right?" Even if it took a piece of her soul away to do so.

More silence.

"I don't want to be like Missy. and I am so grateful you came out here to make sure she dies too. She would appreciate it so much. Please.. I never want to be that." I shouldn't even treat a dog like this. I am worse than any monster.

Emma reached for her gun at her hip. She pulled out the handgun she'd never had to fire on someone before the world fell down. She looked it over and checked the chamber then turned off the safety. She slowly walked over to Claretta and gave her a tight hug. She wrapped her arms all the way around her and let her head drop to her shoulder before pulling back slightly. Claretta cried just a little bit more and Emma's heart cracked. I can't do this.

"I'm sorry too." She mouthed, just before she lifted the gun to the side of Claretta's head and pulled the trigger.

A single loud shot echoed off all the houses around her and Claretta's body dropped to the overgrown lawn. Emma didn't look down. She fought the tears forming in her eyes and said one more time before moving away.. "I'm sorry."

4/27/14 - AN: This story is obviously Zombie Apocalypse. I am basing these zombies off of the ones the The Walking Dead but I don't plan on using any of their characters except as maybe cameos, so I'm not going to mark this crossover. You don't have to know anything about TWD fandom except that the zombies are the slow dumb kind, not the fast mutated kind from video games. They call the zombies "Walkers" in universe and I like the term so I'm going to keep it.

Hook really fucked up with the portal there lol. I always thought it was a bit dangerous to have it work based on thought. Those times Hook went to Neverland he could have randomly ended up god knows where. Or Baelfire could have ended up on the moon if he had thought wrong.

Hook doesn't know Emma yet. Everything else will be answered in time.

I have created a tumblr specifically for this story, so if you would like to follow me I am theworldwithoutmagic on there(link on profile).

Please review and tell me what you think, or if this is even a good idea! :D I plan on pushing our characters to their limits in true ZA style. I think any ship is more interesting when you place them in the absolute worst situation imaginable: Everyone is dead and it's the zombie apocalypse.