Archie Hopper was slowly beginning to lose track of time sitting and intermittently dripping blood in one of the storage hold's of Hook's ship. He couldn't see the sun from his makeshift prison and had lost his watch during one of Hook's sessions in trying to get the information the pirate captain desired, but Archie didn't have anything about Rumpelstiltskin to appease the pirate and even if he did the former cricket wasn't going to share. He did know things people had never shared with another living soul, but they belonged to those who had spoken them. Even if he had only gotten his PhD from a curse, he still had the integrity of a man who knew the right thing to do despite the immediate danger he faced.
When Cora had tried her hand at forcing Archie to speak, it only resulted in Archie coming close to the brink of death as she squeezed his heart so tightly in hopes of coercing him to spill his secrets. Instead amongst his gasps of pain and tears streaming down his face, he had only sent a silent apology to the woman who actually owned his heart before Cora lost interest and let Hook have his way again.
Archie allowed himself a moment of respite as he leaned back and closed his eyes, but not to sleep. He tried to focus on anything other than the pain coursing through his body. He could see Ruby in his mind's eye and focused on her. She made him feel alive in ways he would never be able to explain. When he had known her in their other world she'd made him feel insignificant because all he had done was talk about what should be done, but she had acted. He wanted to act in this world and do everything for her she deserved.
Except that would never happen unless he managed to rescue himself since according to Cora everyone believed him dead at Regina's hands and there would be no one searching for him. Rescuing himself was not something he excelled at if his earlier years were any indication, but to see Ruby again, perhaps help save Regina from digging herself into a deep hole when she was beginning to redeem herself, and keeping the town from being destroyed meant he'd at least have to try.
He took in a deep breath and opened his eyes. He focused closely on the metal ring holding the ropes that had torn and rubbed his wrists raw. The ring had been jerked a few times after Hook hit Archie across the face hard enough that sent the ginger man reeling back and only being stopped by the ropes around his wrists. Archie gave the ring a sudden tug, ignoring the slight surge of pain as the rope bit into his sensitive skin, but on the bright side the a sprinkle of sawdust indicated the metal ring could quite probably be pulled out if he continued to work on it.
He was about to try again when he heard footsteps and doors opening nearby. They weren't the heavy steps of Hook's boots or the clacking of Cora's shoes. It was as if the person wasn't sure of their surroundings or what they were looking for. He debated making a loud enough noise to signal that he was here and settled on staying quiet in case if it was a friend of Hook or Cora's who also had an affinity for trying to make crickets chirp.
The door to the room above him and Archie held his breath in anticipation.
"Hello?"
Archie nearly gasped in surprise when he heard the speaker. He didn't have the best ear for voices, but he quickly recognized this one. She was the only person in town that he had seen recently with this particular accent.
"Down here," Archie spoke. His voice hoarse from his screams of anguish and lack of water from his captors. "I'm down here."
He watched as the lid was opened and the gentle, smiling face of Belle appeared above him. Her face quickly became an expression of concern likely at the sight of the injuries she could see.
"Oh, Archie," Belle breathed. "What have you gotten yourself into? Everyone thinks you're dead, doctor."
"I'll explain later," Archie replied. "Can you get something to cut the ropes?" He held out his bound wrists. Belle nodded then retreated from his view. He only had to wait a moment when a sword suddenly came into his eye line and nearly poked him. "Belle, watch out."
"Sorry," she returned with a sheepish look. "It's a little awkward and the sword's heavier than I anticipated. I haven't handled one in a while."
"It's fine," Archie told her. His wrists were finally freed and he quickly leaned over to undo the ropes around his ankles. He slowly stood and relished the ability to stand without restrictions.
"Archie, enjoy your freedom away from the bad man's ship," Belle advised with a gentle smile. He ducked his head slightly then took Belle's proffered hand to help boost him out of the storage hold. She got herself under his arm when he swayed as his body reminded him of the beating it had recently taken. "Whoa, there. Do you think you can make it up the stairs?"
"I could do a number of things to get away from here as quickly as possible," Archie answered. "And I do mean quickly. Should Cora or Hook return we'd be in definite danger." He frowned and looked at Belle. "Why are you here?"
"I, um, had a run-in with the captain," Belle informed him as she slowly led them out of the room and towards the stairs that would take them to the deck. "And that led to Rumpel being overbearing and quite suspicious in my eyes despite some of his explanations. I decided to do a bit of snooping."
"Alone?"
"I really do hope you aren't going to lecture me, Dr. Hopper," Belle advised. "I would think that Jiminy Cricket knows better than to tell a woman that she shouldn't wander out at night alone."
"Oh, no," Archie said with a shake of his head. "I'd rather not end up with a black eye for my ridiculous statement. All the women I know are fully capable of taking care of themselves on a dark street filled with unsavory characters."
Belle let out a giggle and the two made their way up the stairs where the ocean air beckoned to Archie beyond the closed door at the top.
"Now, now, Doctor Hopper, we aren't all that unsavory. Just a bit misunderstood."
Belle and Archie froze, exchanging a quick glance of shock before turning to see Captain Hook at the bottom of the stairs aiming his gun at them with an amused smile on his face.
"I must say, my dear lady, I was quite surprised to see that Cora's little charm didn't fool everyone. However, you must be an intelligent woman to discover my vessel. Perhaps also the cricket's special lady friend. Those beautiful chirps have to attract someone."
"What do you plan to do with this us?" Belle asked.
"Ah, now, love, let's not ruin the surprise. You'll be given the care deserving of such a lovely woman," Hook responded. His every word oozing with the charm that had probably attracted many a lady. Perhaps even a man or two if some of Hook's techniques with the doctor earlier were any indication. Archie could almost hear Belle's eyes rolling. "Now, let's come back down here and we'll get ourselves sorted while we wait for Cora to return."
Archie sighed and gave Belle a wan smile when she slipped her hand into his own and squeezed his fingers. They made their way back down the stairs to the waiting Captain Hook. He gave Belle a mock bow when she reached the bottom, but both he and Archie were unprepared when she took advantage of Hook's gentlemanly gesture bringing her knee up to make contact with his nose. He stumbled away, yet, managed to quickly recover and pointing his weapon once more at them. Except Belle was prepared with her own. A sleeker, modern version that even had Archie gaping in surprise.
"Belleā¦"
"Can it, Archie," Belle interrupted. "This has turned into a rescue mission and I very much intend on making sure of following through with that."
"I highly doubt you'll be following through with anything."
And with Cora's sudden declaration, all hell seemed to break loose from Archie's perspective as it was followed up with gunshots, magic flying and blurs of figures all fighting as his body decided now would be a good time to shut down.
