Once Upon A Time: Into The Devil's Den, Part Four

By Rebekkalee Mouri-Hibiki

Emma woke with a start. She looked around, realizing it was someplace damp and cold. She could tell she was in some woods but that was it. She got to her feet, looking down to find she was dressed in a pure white nightgown and barefoot.

" What the Hell? " She said to herself. She froze when she heard a wolf howl. She looked around, " I better get moving. "

She took a few ginger steps, hoping not to step in mud... or worse. There was moonlight filtering down through the trees and it was just enough to help her see even though it wasn't very well.

The wolf howled again. " I hope that's Graham's friend, " She muttered to herself. She made her way through snarled roots and slippery patches. She scanned her surroundings, still nothing familiar jumping out at her.

What did catch her attention was a bright orange glow threading through the trees. ~Fire! ~ Emma thought. ~ I really gotta get out of here. ~

As she moved, she heard a different sound. It was more human, like a man sobbing. " Hello? " Emma called out. " Who's there? "

The man continued to sob, not answering Emma. He sounded distraught and perhaps in pain. Emma tried to locate where the sobbing was coming from but it seemed to come from all around. She moved quickly, listening hard but not really paying attention to where she was going until she felt her foot slip and she almost fell off of a cliff...

Emma's eyes flew open as she bolted up in bed, still feeling like she was falling. She grabbed her cell phone and checked the time, finding she had slept longer than she had intended. She had meant to only sleep three hours but instead slept nine. She got out of the bed, grabbing her boots from where she had left them. She put them on before grabbing her jacket and pulling it on.

She walked down the stairs, going into the back room. Mr. Gold was sitting at his work bench, deep in concentration as he worked on something Emma couldn't quite see.

" Hey, " She said quietly. She was still shaken by her nightmare. The whole thing freaked her out more than a bit.

Mr. Gold looked up, " Oh. You're up. "

" I so didn't mean to sleep that long, " Emma started.

" It's alright, my dear. As you can see, I am just fine, " Mr. Gold said. " It's been rather quiet all day and I have gotten loads of things done around here. "

" Nice to hear, " Emma muttered as she ran her hand through her hair.

Mr. Gold furrowed his brow. " Are you alright? "

" I had a bad dream, " Emma waved her hand. " You know, one of those where you're falling then you wake up but you still feel like you're falling. "

" Oh I'm so sorry, " Mr. Gold said. " Those are quite unsettling. It means that something isn't quite right. "

Emma arched an eyebrow, " Really now? How did you know that? "

Mr. Gold smiled, " I read a lot. Things like that are... a fascination of mine. I have a lovely book on dreams if you wish to borrow it. "

" No, " Emma shook her head. " I'm good. "

" Do you care to tell me about it then? " Mr. Gold looked curious. " Maybe I can help you figure it out. "

" Maybe later " Emma furrowed her brow when she saw her suitcase sitting next to the work bench. " What's that doing here? "

" I took the liberty of calling Miss Blanchard and asked her to bring you a few things, " Mr. Gold replied. " I thought you would appreciate the chance to get cleaned up tonight. "

" Oh, " Emma blinked, wondering if he was trying to hint at something. She made a mental note to do a sniff check when he wasn't looking. " I do. Thanks. "

" I also had her pick up some first aid supplies. She assured me they were in the suitcase, " Mr. Gold said.

" Great, " Emma said.

" Would you like to go get a bite at Granny's before we go back to my home? " He asked. " I'm sure you're ready to eat after being asleep for so long. "

" What about your chef? " Emma asked.

" Alas, it is Alston's day off, " Mr. Gold sighed.

"Oh, " Emma said. " I am hungry but I'm not leaving you here alone. "

" Maybe you can order and someone can deliver, " Mr. Gold suggested. " You are good friends with Ruby, are you not? "

" I am, " Emma nodded. She got out her phone. " I'll call now. "

" Could you order something for me as well? " Mr. Gold asked. " I am a bit sharp-set myself. "

" Well you're paying for yours because... " Emma started.

" I have an arrangement with Granny, " Mr. Gold cut her off. " I won't have to pay. "

" Oh, " Emma said. " So what would you like? "

" They know what I like. Just tell them it's for me, " Mr. Gold said.

" I'll be back in a few minutes, " Emma said. She walked of the back room to the shop so she could call Granny's Cafe. The phone rang twice and Ruby answered.

" Hey Ruby, " Emma said. " It's Emma. "

" Hey girl, " Ruby replied. " How jerk sitting duty going? "

Emma chuckled, " So far so good. Can I get an order delivered? "

" Of course, " Ruby said. " What will it be? "

" I want a burger with everything and fries, " Emma said.

" Got it, " Ruby asked. " And does Mr. Creeps-A-Lot want anything? "

" Yes he does. He said you would know what he wants, " Emma said.

" Yeah, " Ruby sighed then made a sound of derision. " I'll bring it over as soon as it's ready. We're kinda slow at the moment. "

" Thanks girl, " Emma said. She hung up. Now, all she had to do was wait. Mr. Gold seemed too absorbed in what he was working on to be any kind of company, not that she wanted to talk to anyone before she was fully awake anyway. She realized that she hadn't ever really looked at the things in the display cases so she began to.

She walked slowly behind the cases, looking at the things they contained. Some were mundane while others were chilling. She was fairly certain everything had a story as everything in Storybrooke seemed to. She leaned down, examining a piece of jewelry in one of the cases. It was a beautiful silver necklace with teardrop shaped diamond pendant big enough to ice skate on.

She looked for little longer when she heard the front door open, the bell tinkling. She looked up and saw it was Ruby. " Wow. That was fast. "

" I told you we were slow and someone ordered the same thing you wanted but left before their order was up so I guess you got lucky, " Ruby held out the take-out bag. " One hamburger with everything for you and one steak for Mr. Gold, rare. "

" Rare? Really? " Emma eyed the bag like it was going to bite her.

" I think he'd get it still mooing if he could. Grosses me out, " Ruby whispered then curled her lip, " I think he likes the taste of blood. "

" Ewww, yuck, " Emma shivered then reached into her jacket for some money.

Ruby put her hand up, " No charge. Mr. Gold called me right after you did. "

" He did? " Emma looked over her shoulder to the back room then back at Ruby.

" Yeah, " Ruby whispered. " Freaked me out. It was like he knew I was talking about him. "

" What did he say? " Emma asked.

" He'd take care of your charge, " Ruby said. " Hey, I gotta run. Things were picking up for the dinner rush when I left and Granny told me to make this quick. "

Emma took the bag, " Okay. See you later. "

Ruby left and Emma turned to go to the back room. The bell on the door rang again as it opened and Henry walked in. He saw Emma and hugged her, " Emma! "

Emma patted him on the back with one hand as she set the take out bag on a display case. " Hey kid. Where did you come from? "

" I was at the diner when you called and I followed Ruby here, " Henry didn't let her go and he seemed upset. " You're okay. "

" Of course I'm okay, " Emma said firmly.

" I was so scared, " Henry sounded like he had been indeed. " I heard that guy broke in last night and you got in a fight with him. "

" How did you hear that? " Emma arched an eyebrow.

" Mom doesn't know but I listened in on the upstairs line, " Henry said.

" You sneaky little imp, " Emma said.

" I had to. I was gathering intel for Operation Cobra, " Henry whispered.

" Right. Well, I'm okay. He ran after the fight, " Emma said.

" That means you have to go back to Mr. Gold's house doesn't it? " Henry furrowed his brow.

Emma nodded, " Uh, yeah. Until we catch that guy. "

" You can't go back there, " Henry said.

" Henry, " Emma put her hand over his mouth. " He's right on the other side of that curtain. Keep your voice down. "

Emma took her hand away from Henry's mouth. " What if he tries something? " He whispered.

" He won't try anything, " Emma sighed. " He was a perfect host the whole time. "

" He's tricking you, " Henry said. " That's how he works. "

Emma sighed, " Henry... I have to do my job. I'm sorry. "

" Have my mom's deputies watch him, " Henry said.

" He requested me to watch him, " Emma said. " And it's my responsibility as sheriff. "

Henry looked up at her, " Catch him tonight then. "

That was easier said than done. After running into the woods, Mr. Durbin could have gone anywhere, just not very fast. Emma sighed, " I'll do my best. "

Henry let go of Emma then looked like he had an good idea. " Emma! We have to go outside. "

Emma looked towards the back room then at Henry, " What for? "

" Operation Cobra, " Henry whispered then walked toward the door. " Come on. Let's go. "

Emma rolled her eyes and sighed, " Alright but quickly. "

Henry went out the door, Emma right behind him. He looked around then led Emma to the corner of the street. " Maybe there's some intel you could gather once he goes to sleep. "

" Are you asking me to snoop around his house? " Emma put her hands on her hips.

" Yeah " Henry nodded. " Do it when he goes to bed. "

Emma sighed, " Henry... "

Henry looked at his watch, " Uh oh. I need to get back to Granny's. Mom's meeting me there in ten minutes. "

" Then get going so she doesn't get suspicious, " Emma said. " I got to get back inside and eat. "

" Right, " Henry said. " See you later. "

" Yeah, " Emma nodded then watched as Henry hurried down the sidewalk. Once he was out of sight, she went back inside the shop to find Mr. Gold waiting for her.

" I'm finished for today, my dear. Are you ready to go? " He came out from behind the display case to reveal he had Emma's suitcase in his left hand.

" Looks like I am now, " Emma sighed as she picked up the take-out bag from Granny's. " Let's go. "