Storybrooke
"Again," my drama teacher shouts, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I should have listened to my wife and had someone else be Christine." Mister Bryland is as surly as his wife, having the same grudge against me that she had. It's not my fault they both decided to be teachers and can't afford their rent. Still, managing to snag the lead in Phantom of the Opera was a miracle that I wasn't complaining about too much and I would repeat the song as many times as it took to get it right. I clear my throat, glancing down at my script once more before continuing where I left off in the song. Eli, the one person in Storybrooke that I would rather not touch with a ten-foot pole, is playing opposite me, his black cap billowing out as the air conditioner kicks on.
"In sleep, he sang to me, in dreams, he came, that voice which calls to me and speaks my name,"I pick back up as Eli leads me across the stage, looking back at me over his shoulder every now and then as expected. His touch made me feel sick to my stomach, tears threatening to fall as flashbacks to his abuse came to the forefront of my mind. I don't think I'll ever get over that fear of being touched by men I don't know extremely well; hell, I still had a tendency to shy away from Papa's touches and I know he'll never hurt me. "And do I dream again? For now I find the Phantom of the Opera is there inside my mind." Eli holds his fake torch higher as we continue to walk back and forth across the stage to mimic how long it would actually take to get to Erik's lair.
"Sing once again with me, out strange duet," Eli starts, though it's slightly muffled through the half-mask he wore. "My power over you grows stronger yet, and though you turn from me to glance behind, the Phantom of the Opera is there inside your mind." I do just that, staring at what would be the audience in just a few weeks' time. With relative ease, Eli grasps my hips as we come to a stop and lifts me up into a large wagon that acts as our boat for now, using a pole to wheel us across the stage.
"Those who have seen your face, draw back in fear," I continue, swallowing down my nerves as we reach the part I always screw up. "I am the mask you wear."
"It's me they hear…."
In unison, Eli and I begin the overlapping sequence that's the hardest in the entire song," Your/my spirit and my/your voice in one combined. The phantom of the opera is there inside my/your mind!" I'm allowed a second to draw in a breath as Eli continues to wheel us around, him standing up and me sitting on a small bench.
"He's there, the Phantom of the Opera." There's a moment of me just vocalizing, but it was simpler for me and I didn't have to focus much on that part as my mind began to drift. I've only been back a full day and most of the time's been spent in this damn auditorium instead of at summer softball practice. Coach is gonna cut me up into tiny pieces and feed me to her pigs, I just know it. Coach Murdoch wasn't an understanding woman at the best of times, but the one thing she hated most was when her athletes started extracurricular activities that interfered with her strict schedule.
"Finally," Bryland shouts, cutting into the song and gaining everyone's attention. "Why don't we call it finished for today and we'll pick it up at the same time tomorrow?" The students around me let out sighs of relief, beginning to take off their costumes. "Miss Gold, try to have your act together tomorrow or we'll find someone else who will." I nod, taking off the white robe and giving it to one of the students that works backstage to hang up. Maybe I should just quit this stupid play and focus back on getting a softball scholarship? Getting out of this town because of softball has been my pan for the last twenty-eight years and I wasn't modest enough to deny that I had some real skill as the catcher and a batter.
One look at my watch tells me I've missed practice, so I decide to spend the next few hours at the docks before I'm expected at the welcome back party being held at Granny's. I pull my jacket on over my Marvel tee, walking out of the auditorium at a fast walk. "Morgan," Eli calls, jogging after me. I pick up my pace, practically sprinting by the time I make it out of his sight. I don't feel like dealing with him right now, just because I have to pretend to love him in the play doesn't mean I have to in real life. He makes a terrible Erik anyway, holding none of the false charm that Gerard Butler played him with and no part of me could gather up any of the sympathy Christine felt. Shaking my head, I cut across town as quickly as I can without stopping to mingle with anyone that crossed my path.
I couldn't be happier when the docks finally come into sight, a smile finding its way onto my lips as I seat myself on the edge of the dock. Not liking to wear shoes when I don't have to and knowing my toes won't get frostbite, I take off my flip flops and dip my toes in the cool water. The splashing sound of the waves was soothing, coaxing me to close my eyes and let my mind wander to happier times. Before the Curse struck, I was just one of those teens that wasn't able to sit still for long and I spent hours practicing with Excalibur to pass the time until Papa had time for me. Sometimes I would practice my sewing or help Trista with chores, though she always grew cross when I used my magic to enchant the brooms. I probably shouldn't have used so much water to scrub those floors either.
Humming under my breath, I kick my feet back and forth slowly, creating more waves and letting the cool water splash onto my jeans. "Upon one summer's morning, I carefully did stray down by the walls of wapping,where I met a sailor gay. Conversing with a young lass, who seemed to be in pain, sayingWilliam when you go, I fear you'll ne'er return again."
"I said it before and I'll say it again, you have your mother's voice." I jump with a gasp at the unexpected voice, looking over my shoulder to see the man who spoke. Killian Jones stands behind me with one hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "Hello again, darling," he grins at me, the earring in his left ear catching the light and winking at me. "You're just the person I've been looking for." With wide eyes, I get to my feet and give him no warning as I turn to sprint back to town. I don't get far before the pirate picks me up over his shoulder, ignoring my screams and slaps as he carries me to the edge of the dock.
"Help," I scream, beating on his back with my fists. "Please, someone! Papa!" Instead of throwing me into the water like I expected, he holds one of his booted foot over the edge and steps down. I squeeze my eyes shut, waiting for the cold water to drag me down and drown me, but when nothing happens I open my eyes again and find us on the deck of a ship.
"You didn't think I'd kill you, did you?" He chuckles, carrying me into his cabin and dropping me down on his bed. "Now, be a good girl, and stay in here out of trouble." He grabs a length of rope off a cluttered table and bends forward to tie my hands together, but I start struggling again as bad memories come back. Eli had tied me down before to keep me from running, he'd done it exactly like Killian is trying to do now, and I could already feel my breakfast trying to come back up as I swung blindly.
"Please," I almost sob as the terror makes it hard to breathe," please, don't! Not again, I can't do it again, I'll be good!" I don't stop fighting until there's no long a weight pinning me down, my eyes opening and landing on Killian as he looks at me in dawning horror. "Please..." I couldn't stop the tears or the fact that a curled up against the wall as far as I could get from the man across the room, my knees drawn up to my chest. "Please, don't tie me down, please."
"Did Rumpelstiltskin hurt you, Vee," he asks, barely more than a whisper. His bright blue eyes were focused on the yellowing bruises along my arms, old evidence from the last time Eli had managed to hurt me. They've been there for weeks, but were finally starting to go away so that the only proof of my abuse would be in my head. I shake my head to let him know it wasn't Papa's fault, not needing him to have another reason to hurt the only person on this earth that loves me unconditionally. "Who..." His voice breaks and he has to take a moment to calm down before speaking again. "Who did this to you, sweetheart?" I open my mouth, fully ready to tell him, but then snapping it shut again. It was all my fault, I should've been stronger and told Eli to leave me alone instead of letting the abuse continue. If I hadn't been so weak, then none of it would've been able to happen in the first place.
"No!" I draw in a sharp gasp when Killian sits on the very edge of the bed, his hands held up in a gesture that meant peace. He was too close to me, far too close and there was nowhere else for me to go without having to move by him.
"I'm not going to hurt you, Vee," he promises with all traces or arrogance wiped away. He looked almost defeated and so exhausted, the circles under his eyes darker than ever. For the first time since I met him, he actually looked his age. "I want you to know that you're safe aboard my ship and no one will ever touch you without your permission." As if to prove his point, he sits on his hands and meets my gaze so I can read the distress there. He was struggling to contain his anger and his pain, though I wasn't entirely sure why that was. "I want to help you." I'm not entirely sure if it was because I needed some form of comfort or he reminded me of Papa in that instance, but I threw myself forward and wrapped my arms around his middle.
He freezes for a second, then wraps his arms around me tightly to return the hug, resting his chin against the top of my head. He was so warm and smelled like something I remember from my childhood; comforting and familiar, and home. I still had that feeling that a scream was building up in my chest and I'd explode if I didn't let it out, but wasn't so bad with Killian holding me like he would never let me go again. He wasn't scary, he was the person that wouldn't let me get hurt as long as he could help it. Killian Jones was safe.
"I-I have to go for a little while, Vee, but I want you to stay in here until I get back." He presses a light kiss to the crown of my head before gently extracting himself from my arms. "I shouldn't be long, alright?" I nod, too drained to do much of anything right now. He brushes some of my loose hair behind my ear before walking out and shutting the door behind him. I didn't have to get up to know the door would be locked, so I figure it's a good thing I'd rather just stay where I am for a little while.
Wait a damn minute, did I just get kidnapped by the guy I thought was stuck in the Enchanted Forest? This is an all new kind of messed up.
I flop backwards on the bed, staring up at the hammock swaying above me in time with the waves crashing against the side of the ship. The only available light source is a small, circular window that allows the sunlight inside, though not much seemed to get through and it only got darker as the day went on. He could have at least brought my shoes in. My wet feet were cold even when I sat up enough to pull the sheet and comforter over me and curled up into a ball.
I was just starting to drift off when the door to the room slams open, Cora striding inside while pushing Archie in ahead of her. His hands were bound and his round glasses were crooked on his face, the very image of frayed nerves as his kind eyes widen when he spots me. "Morgan," he gasps, fighting against the magic Cora uses to keep him moving. I sit up a little, watching on in shock as he's tossed into the hold of the ship, Cora shutting and locking the door set into the floor afterwards.
"Hmm," Cora hums," looks like Hook is getting one part of his revenge after all." She smirks, patting my cheek and draining any magic I had left in my system before walking out, the door shutting and locking behind her. Just great, now I'm trapped on a big boat with a cricket, a woman hell-bent on ruining her daughter's life, and my stalker. Could life get any better or am I just lucky? I scoff, rolling onto my side and pulling the blankets over my head to block out the light.
Is one normal afternoon too much to ask for around here?
Neverland
Pan watches the teen through a portal his Shadow provided, absently rubbing the back of his neck. She wasn't as beautiful as Wendy, but she would be a great tool if he could manage to get his hands on her. With Morgan, Pan would be able to manipulate both Hook and Rumpelstiltskin in one go. Maybe he would have them fight to the death and make Morgan watch?That would certainly be an entertaining game as long as he drained the teen of all her magic. She wasn't an easy person to control, he'd learned that the last time he'd kidnapped her, but he believed it could be possible as long as he had someone she loved.
He frowns as he realizes that would be the same way to manipulate Hook into obedience, not liking the similarities between the two. She was so much like Hook at times that it almost unnerved him, her small quirks reminding him of all the times he'd confronted the pirate Captain. Perhaps her hero side was from when her father was in the royal navy?
"That's the girl we're after," Felix asks, coming to stand beside his leader with his club in hand. "She doesn't look like much."
"No she doesn't," Pan agreed, taking her in with ease," but she could be useful later on. Tell our agents to bring her to me when they bring Henry." Felix nods, leaving to make the call as the portal collapsed in on itself. Those two idiots would cease to exist the second they stopped being helpful; he had already given the boys instructions on what to do the second Greg and Tamara set foot on Neverland. "I'll have two less morons to deal with and two more pawns to set in motion on the board."
Storybrooke
I jerk awake, looking around the dark cabin for the reason why with blurry eyes. Great, my glasses must have fell off when I was asleep. Hardly any light was coming in through the window, letting me know it was late, but the faint glow of a candle allowed me to make out two shapes. Humans, a man and a woman, probably no one I actually want to see right now. I make a small noise as I roll onto my back, rubbing at my face to clear it of sleep.
"Ah, you're awake." So it's Hook, which means the woman is probably Cora. Fantastic. "You must be hungry." Hook walks over to his desk, picking up something wrapped in paper and dropping it beside me. "Here, these fell off when you were tossing and turning." Hook slides my glasses over my eyes, the blurriness disappearing instantly and throwing his face sharply into view. Gently, like he was handling a newborn, he helps me to sit up in the bed. "How are you feeling, Vee?" I give him a deadpan look, one eyebrow cocked up in a 'what do you think' position.
"Well, I've been berated by an asshole, touched by a guy that I'd really like to murder slowly, and then kidnapped by the guy who swears he's my father. How do you think I'm doing, Hook," I snap, glaring up at the pirate. "And let's not forget to mention the fact that the bucket of crazy over there just kidnapped the only therapist in town that's treated everyone that she's interested in." Cora perches on the edge of the desk, looking Hook and me over at her leisure. "The only bright spot in this otherwise dismal day is that you have good taste in food." I grab the Subway sandwich, unwrapping it and eyeing it cautiously before taking a huge bite out of it. "What do you want Archie for anyway," I ask around a mouthful of food. Cora's nose wrinkles in distaste at my lack of manners, but the way I see it, I'm the kidnapped child here, so I don't have to be polite.
"He may have information about the Dark One that I need to destroy him." I snort, taking another bite. "You could always tell me what I need to know."
"Even if I had a clue about what you needed to do, I wouldn't tell you. The man may be an over-controlling, temperamental pain in my ass sometimes, but he's still my Papa and I wouldn't choose some rum-soaked pirate over him." Hook lets out a sharp sigh, beginning to pace back and forth in the cramped space.
"What will it take for you to realize that I am your true father?"
"Oh, I know you are. Shit, I look just like you. My deal is that Papa is the guy that raised me and you're just some asshole that resorts to kidnapping me so you can have some dinner conversation. You see, in the balance of things, I'd rather stay with the guy that doesn't try to tie me up."
"He cared for you," Cora guesses," and in return, he gained your love and trust, but do you have his?" I frown at her question, nodding my head. "Are you sure? The Rumple I knew only cared about one child, and it wasn't you."
"He is using you, Vee," Hook adds on, giving me a pleading look. "He's using you to cause me pain."
"And you're not trying to do the same thing," I snap, throwing the sandwich at his head. He ducks and the food explodes against the wall in a shower of lettuce, pickles, and mayonnaise. "I'm tired of just being a pawn dammit! I'm a person, believe it or not, and I'm old enough to decide who to believe!"
"Please," Cora laughs. "You're barely old enough to cross the street by yourself. The only reason Rumpelstiltskin didn't kill you in front of Hook all those years ago is for this exact reason. He knew that if he raised you correctly that you wouldn't have a problem turning your back on your father and it would kill him." I slide down the bed to the floor, drawing my knees up to my chest and resting my forehead on them.
"Just go away." I can feel tears stinging my eyes and I don't want them to see me cry. I don't look up as I hear the door close, knowing it was only Cora who left. Hook sits next to me on the floor, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and pulling me to his side, letting me bury my head in his shoulder, my face still hidden from his sight.
"I'm sorry you had to find all this out like this," he says softly, his thumb rubbing my arm in a soothing up and down motion. "I just don't think it's right for my daughter to be used." I sniffle, a few tears escaping and running down my cheeks. "Please, Vee, just think about what I said." After a few more minutes he gets up and leaves the cabin, locking the door once more.
"Morgan?" The voice floats from the grates in the floor just above Archie's head. "Morgan," he asks again a bit louder," are you okay?" I scoot over to peer down at him, knowing I'd be no help without any keys.
"Well, I've been better," I answer, voice rough from crying. "Do you think my papa is doing what they said? Is he using me to hurt Hook?" There's a pause while Archie tries to gather his thoughts.
"I think…. Maybe it started out that way, but if Gold didn't actually love you, then he wouldn't protect you as fiercely as he does." I nod, leaning back against the wall and closing my eyes. "Have you been here this entire time?"
"What do you mean?"
"Morgan, you've been gone nearly all day." I scoff, staring at my bare feet with little interest. That's just my luck. Papa must be freaking out by now and I still can't believe I slept away so much of the day. "Has he hurt you?"
"No, just locked me in here."
"Can you get us out of here? I know you have some access to magic." I shake my head as I stare down at him, pulling at the hem of my shirt. My magic wasn't cooperating with me yet in this new land, like there was still some barrier that hasn't crumbled yet. With a sigh, I lean back against a wall and stare up at the window.
Hook returns a few minutes later, picking me up and putting me back on the bed, tying my hands to the headboard so I don't get any escape ideas. I let him this time, holding my breath until it was done.
"Let her go," Archie shouts. "This isn't the way to make her trust you, it will only push her further away!"
"You better listen to him," I add," he's like a human conscience." I nod when Hook raises a brow, eyes wide as I try to convince the pirate. Hook rolls his eyes, adjusting the blanket so that I'm covered up. "A polite kidnapper, my lucky day."