"Alrighty. Bathroom Break!"
Graham called out as Robyn continued to criticize everything he was doing.
"Go on. Shoo."
Glaring up at the man, Robyn rolled her eyes before rushing over to stand near Regina and Dorothy, Robyn grabbed her aunt's hand as everyone began to go their separate ways, only Graham, Ruby and Dorothy stayed put.
"Girls come on, stay close."
Leading the three girls off into a few bushes, Regina pulled out her hunting knife and held it firmly in her hand. Just in case.
The three girls followed and kept close, their boots coming down on crisp leaves. Stepping up to some bushes, Regina had the girls wait as she went around to the other side. Ensuring that nothing was hiding in them and giving them the all clear, Regina turned around to give them their privacy.
"One at a time?" Bonnie Anderson, the little brunette asked.
"Doesn't matter to me." Riley, Bonnie's cousin shrugged. "We used to take baths together, had to pee in buckets at the church, I've seen your freaking butt dude. There's nothing to hide."
The young blonde laughed at her older cousin's face, showing her shock and blush.
"Right I forgot, modesty is not your strong suit cousin." Bonnie rolled her eyes.
Shrugging Riley stepped behind the bush and started to do her business. Standing next to Regina, Robyn faced the other way just like her aunt.
"Are you having a good time?" Regina asked to break the silence.
"Yeah." Robyn smiled and then chuckled, "I like bugging Graham."
Looking down at the girl with a knowing smirk, Regina chuckled too and shook her head. She knew the girl found some enjoyment in making the grown man contemplate pulling his hair out.
Coming back out from behind the bushes, Riley straighten her pants while she waited for Bonnie.
Hearing the loud snap of a branch nearby, everyone's head turned, wide eyed Bonnie rushed to her cousin's side.
"What was that?" Bonnie looked around.
Keeping her eyes on the direction the sound came from, Regina remained still and squinted as she anticipated another sound. Everyone else was back in the other direction that they came from, she could hear the far off sound of their voices.
"Could've just been an animal." Riley said lowly, "Like just a squirrel or something."
Still looking toward the trees where the sound came from, Regina tightened her grip on her knife.
"Robyn, go relieve yourself. But make it quick."
"Uum." Robyn looked from Regina to the trees. "It's ok. I can hold it."
"Are you sure?" Regina looked down at the girl, finally taking her eyes off the trees.
At Robyn's nod, Regina sighed. "Alright. Let's get back to the others."
Bonnie was quick to move, grabbing Riley's hand rushing back the way they came. Robyn looked at Regina and took her hand, feeling the woman's grip settled her as they followed. Glancing back at the trees as Regina pulled her along, Robyn felt as if they weren't out there alone.
Regina sensed it too but hoped that it really was just a woodland creature out in the trees.
"Argh!"
Grunting as she stuck the end of the crowbar into another dead bug eyed monster, Emma shivered as she felt the skull and metal meet. She and Mulan had been at it for about an hour now, every time the took one down another rushed up to the gate.
It was hard to make sure the dead didn't begin to pile up onto each other, so when one spot got too cluttered, Mulan would drag the bar over the gate making noise to lure them away to a different spot.
Stepping back and taking a much needed breath, Emma sighed dropping her shoulders. Her arms had begun to shine from sweat and she could feel it dripping down between her breasts and down her lower back. The sun had come out more in the afternoon and was beaming down on them through the few clouds in the sky.
Pulling her mask down and taking fresh breaths, Emma cringed at the smells coming off the beasts trying to reach her through the wire. Glancing over at Mulan, Emma watched the woman as she quickly moved down the line the dead had formed along the gate and pierced through their skulls.
One dead guy in particular was huge and pushed against the force of the gate. A quick step back, Mulan pushed against his chest but still he persisted. Analyzing his size, Mulan decided to go low and pushed the bar low between the hole in the gate. Going for his already mangled leg, she stabbed it repeatedly causing him to pull back and swinging his arms low. As he was crouched, Mulan quickly pulled back and up, jamming the bar through his temple and he went limp against the gate.
Turning back to the few in front of her, Emma sighed and watched them. Looking down at her arms she saw how dirty they were now, covered in splattered blood and sweat. The blood went past her wrists and up, not too far under the rolled up sleeve of her plaid blue shirt.
Still breathing deeply and rapidly, Emma's gaze focused past her hands and onto the ground where a pool of dark blood was forming on the ground shimmering from the sunlight.
"I can't do this Em."
She had never heard her brother sound so small, so unlike himself. Looking up from the body cradled in her lap, Emma blinked through her tears holding pressure firmly on the gunshot wound.
"I can't." August sobbed and pushed the heel of his palm into the middle of his forehead.
Watching her brother breakdown, Emma couldn't control the tears that fell from her eyes. Hearing her mother's labored breaths, Emma looked back down at her mother's face.
"This is my fault. This is all my fault. I-I can't." August whimpered. "I'm sorry, mom! I'm so sorry! I shouldn't have-. I couldn't save them! Adam! Dad! I-"
"Hush." Mary Margaret reached up placing her hand on his chest. "August, shhh. Shhh."
Sobbing harder, August grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips. Looking up through his tears, he looked around and saw his father's and brother's bodies laid out on the ground along with the bodies of the men that had attempted to rob them.
"Look at me. August."
Letting his head dropped, still clutching at his mother's hand, he sobbed. Feeling fingers under his chin, he opened his eyes and lifted his head to look his mother in the eyes.
"You keep them safe...for me. Take of each other. Protect each other...This is not. Your fault." Mary pushed through and clenching her jaw at the spike of pain she felt inside.
Taking sharp breaths through the spreading pain, Mary relaxed as it passed and looked up at Emma.
"I love you."
A tear ran down the side of her face.
"I love you both...so much." She cried, "And your father and your brother, too. I need you both to be strong, be strong enough for yourself and Henry...Teach him how to be a good man."
Feeling the baby's body wrapped and pressed against her back, Emma felt like she was suffocating and drowning.
"I can't do this without you...Mom, please." Emma pleaded and sobbed.
"Yes you can." Mary shook her head and gulped. "You can...You are...your father's daughter. You're my daughter...so I know you can." Mary took a deep breath, "Don-...Don't let me turn...into o-one of those things." Mary Margaret struggled and whispered looking Emma in the eye.
Eyes going wide at what her mother was implying, Emma shook her head vigorously.
"No. No way! Mom, we're not doing that!"
"Emma-"
"No!"
"Please."
"I don't...I don't want to hurt you." Emma cried.
"I'll be ok." Mary whispered, "it'll be ok. Please, Emma...I don't...I can't be one of them."
Crying harder and continuing to hold her mother as her breathing got shallow over minutes until it completely...stopped, her hand going slack in August's grip. Shaking her mom to get a reaction, Emma whined and whimpered, pleading over and over for the woman to open her eyes.
Breathing with her mouth opened and sobbing hard, Emma hugged her mother's face to her chest. Hearing the scrap of shoes on the ground, Emma looked past August and gasped. Looking over his shoulder, August blinked away his tears and clenched his jaw growling.
One of the robbers whose throat was split open after he was stabbed, now dead but up and walking again, was limping towards them snapping his jaw and snarling, blood dripping down his jugular.
Getting up, August rushed towards the man and angrily pushed him back and then he pushed again and then again. Taking the gun from his waist, August pushed the man down finally getting him on the ground and pressing his foot into the mans chest. Cocking the barrel of the gun, August screamed and shot at man's head over and over and over again until the clip was empty.
Knowing that it was unpredictable to know when someone would change, Emma looked at her mother's face as she slowly pulled away and laid her down, the echoes of shots ringing in her ears but fading away.
She also knew that the only way to make sure someone didn't turn...was by destroying the brain. Looking down at the knife strapped to her mother's waist, Emma closed her eyes and took a breath. Opening them again, Emma saw her brother walking back over but he stopped in his tracks when he realized what she was about to do.
Looking over at his brother and father's bodies, August made a b-line for them and started checking the other bodies to make sure they wouldn't come back. Sighing Emma, looked back down and grabbed the knife, her hands slightly shaking.
Watching her mother's pale features, hoping that by some miracle her mother would open her eyes, Emma's eyes began to water again. Angling the the knife at the back of her mother's head, Emma's breath quickened.
"I'm sorry." Emma whined.
Quickly plunging the knife into the side of her mother's head, Emma dropped her head, hearing the sound of flesh being broke and the gush of blood. Removing the bloody knife, Emma dropped it, and watched as the blood started to blood under her mother's head.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry."
Emma cried and repeated over and over, sitting back on her butt, she openly sobbed. Not even feeling her brother's arms wrap around her, she couldn't see from all her tears.
"Shhhh. It's alright. I'm here. I've got you, Em."
"Em? Emma. It's alright, you're safe. Emma! Hey!"
Blinking rapidly, and seeing Mulan's masked face in front of her, Emma gasped and she just couldn't get a handle on her breathing. The last thing she saw before her eyes rolled back was the blood on the ground.
"Come one let's start heading back."
Regina motioned to everyone after they all were regrouped and accounted for.
"Cap?" Ruby stepped up and stood beside her. "Everything ok?"
Noticing the bothered look in the other woman's eyes, Ruby looked back from where they came and then down towards the little girl.
"Everything is fine, Ruby. It just gets darker earlier now." Regina reasoned. "I want to get back before it gets dark."
"Alright." Ruby furrowed her brow but understood. "Alright, you all heard the lady. Let's get moving."
As they all quickly made their way back to the trucks, Regina couldn't brush the feeling off that someone was watching them. Repeatedly looking over her shoulder as they trekked back, the woman kept her hand on her hip right above her gun. Emerging from the tree-line near the markers, Ruby was leading the pack and as soon as she set eyes on the trucks she drew her gun.
"Get the fuck away from my truck!"
Rushing forward past the six kids, Regina drew her gun and halted next to Ruby. Seeing a head full of red hair and small petite woman with big blue eyes holding a bow and arrow.
"Drop the bow!" Regina growled.
"No way! Ya put 'ur guns down." The woman had a heavy accent.
"Set the bow down and get the hell away from my truck!" Ruby stepped forward but stopped as the woman pulled her arm back.
"Hey!" Regina stepped up to get the woman's aim off of Ruby.
Graham stepped up next to them, his gun aim led at the woman after making sure Dorothy and the kids were safe just a few feet behind them.
"Look, M'not here ta hurt anyone!" The woman kept her aim steady but stepped to the side.
"Then what the hell are doing going through my truck?!" Ruby seethed.
"I just needed some supplies!" The woman huffed.
"Was that you back in the woods?! How long have you been watching us?!" Regina inched forward.
Furrowing their eyebrows, both Graham and Ruby quickly glanced at each.
"No. I mean yes but I haven't been for long!" The woman explained.
"What the fuck does that mean?! Either it was or it wasn't you!" Graham squared his shoulders.
Breathing heavily the woman sighed and stepped back again.
"Listen, how about we all just calm down. I'll go-"
"You're not going anywhere until you tell me what you were doing in my fucking truck." Ruby hissed.
"I already told ya! I was looking for supplies. Water! That's. All."
"How'd you get in?" Ruby squinted.
"Picked the lock."
"Are you alone out here?" Regina asked.
"It's just me and my father." The woman replied.
"Where is he?" Graham stepped back and to the side keeping his eye on Dorothy and the kids.
"Further out in the woods. He's hurt."
"How long have you been out here?" Regina pressed.
"A couple of days now...We-we're trying to get away from someone." The woman looked Regina in the eyes. "Look...I saw some men with same truck come out here earlier, in the same area you were in. I wanted to ask them for help but I didn't, they didn't look dangerous. I just-, they were men and I was outnumbered...I saw them leave and then now you came, with the same trucks, with children, and with bags...I didn't want to expose myself. I just wanted to get to the truck and see what I could find."
The red headed woman explained and as she did, she lowered her bow and held her hands up showing she meant no harm.
"Your father. Where is he?" Regina questioned.
"Not too far from the clearing you were near. Your men took out a good amount of the dead in the area so I put him there to keep him safe." She explained.
Eyeing the woman cautiously, Regina still had her gun aimed at her.
"What's wrong with him?" Regina asked and heard Ruby's gasp of shock.
"Cap!" Ruby gaped, "You can't be serious? She was going to steal from us!"
"Ruby." Regina sternly shut her down, never taking her eyes off of the red head.
Looking from brunette to brunette, the red head pointed to her head.
"He was stabbed in back but its his head too, we crashed a van into a building and he hit his head pretty bad."
"While running from this person you're hiding out here from?" Regina asked.
"Yeah." The young woman nodded and looked down.
'She was probably the same age as Emma, maybe a bit older.' Regina thought.
"What's your name?" she asked as she slowly lowered her gun.
"I'm Merida." The red head took a breath of relief.
"Ok. Tell me again. What happened out there?"
"I told you I don't know, she was fine one minute and then she wasn't."
"Did she say anything?"
"No she just-. Wait she's waking up."
Shivering at the cold feeling against her neck, Emma leaned away from it and groaned as she opened her eyes.
"Em?"
Looking up at her brother, Emma squinted in confusion.
"Em. Hey, how're you feeling?" August stepped closer and put the back of his hand against her forehead.
"I-" Emma thought about it, "I feel ok...what happened?"
"You passed out on me Swan." Mulan spoke up, standing next to August. "Scared the hell outta me."
"I passed out? But-...what?"
"What do you remember, Em?"
"Maybe we should wait for Doc." Mulan suggested.
Emma looked around and realized they were in the medical wing, and she was laying back in one of the beds. Looking in the bed next to her, Emma saw Henry sitting down with his legs crossed and book in his lap.
"Miss Swan, you're awake." Doc walked in and saw the blonde's eyes open. "You gave your family quite the scare."
"I-I didn't mean to, I don't even know why I-"
"Don't worry. It's perfectly fine, in the future I just recommend you take necessary steps to keep your body hydrated." Doc stated.
"She was dehydrated? That's what causes her to faint?" August asked.
"Well that...and what I believe to be was panic attack." Doc looked from brother to sister. "I took your blood pressure and it wasn't too alarming. So from from what Mulan described to me, you were hyperventilating before you passed out. Having a difficult time controlling your breathing, so your body became so overloaded with oxygen after a lack thereof from wearing the mask..." He explained. "You were so overwhelmed, and combined with the heat, your body just reacted in the best way it knew how to protect yourself."
Emma listened to him and still looked to be a bit dazed, but she was breathing normally.
"Do you remember what happened before you started to feel that way?" Doc asked.
"I was just...clearing the fence and I just...saw blood and I-" Emma stopped looking down at her hands.
"Em?" August said her name lowly.
Looking up at her brother, Emma's shone with unshed tears.
"Hey?" He placed his hand on her cheek. "I'm here. I'm right here."
'I'm here. I've got you, Em.'
"I know." Emma managed a sad smile and grabbed his hand that was touching her cheek, wrapping her fingers around his wrist.
"Mama?"
Henry's innocent voice spoke out across from them. Looking at his mother with concern on his tiny face, the boy went to get off of the bed but Mulan grabbed him and gently placed him next to Emma. Instantly wrapping his arms around her waist and placing his head on her chest, August placed his other hand on the boy's back.
Emma welcomed the weight, it helped her feel a bit more grounded.
"How do you feel now, Emma?" Doc asked.
"Um." Emma sighed, "Fine. A bit nauseous but I'm alright Doc, honest."
"Hmm." Doc nodded, "Well the nausea is expected after fainting and also if you feel a bit disoriented." He explained, "I recommend you just rest for the remainder of the day and get plenty of fluids. If you wish to stay in here you can, but I don't see any other reason to keep you."
Emma nodded understanding and went to get up.
"Also,"
Emma halted.
"I know that our lives aren't ideal and I'm almost certain no one ever expected things to be like this." Doc chuckled lightly but no one joined in. "What I'm saying is...I know we try our bests to eat well and maintain our health. But to truly have a healthy body, we must also have a healthy mind...You understand?" Doc asked.
"Mhmm." Emma nodded.
"Your lives were completely turned around and flipped. And you're young, Emma. Your body is being put through change all the time and your mind is still developing everyday...With the things you've seen and trauma you've had to endure, your mind, body, and soul all have to be at the same level... if not they'll just eventually block and hold you back." He finished.
"I...I understand what you're saying, Doc. Yeah." Emma sighed.
"I think you should speak to Archie." Doc suggested. "Or if not to him, to someone you trust."
Emma sighed and thanked him, watching as he walked away to help some other people.
"Do you want to stay here?" Mulan asked.
"Um. No, I'm alright. I'm sure they'll need the bed for someone else. I don't want to be in the way." Emma continued to sit up but stopped. "Woah."
"Nauseous?" August asked.
"Uhhuh." Emma groaned.
"How about you just rest here until Regina gets back?" Mulan suggested.
"Uh uh. The second Regina finds out I'm in here she's gonna think something's wrong." Emma shook her head.
"Emma's something was wrong, you fainted in my arms." Mulan huffed.
"I'm fine." Emma insisted.
"No. You'll stay here."
"Mulan-"
"Lay back down."
"It's not a big deal. I'm fine!"
"In my arms, Swan!" Mulan's voice raised a bit as she frowned. "Don't say it's not a big deal. You didn't see that state you were in. How pale you looked. You will stay here and rest."
Sighing in defeat, Emma huffed and sat back against the pillow holding Henry tight to her chest.
"August make sure she doesn't move. I'm going to go se what food I can get you." Mulan tutted and walked out.
Rolling her eyes at the woman's retreating back, Emma laid her head back.
"She's only like that because she cares." August spoke up.
"I didn't ask her to care." Emma frowned with her eyes closed.
"Hey." August squeezed her arm. "Don't be like that...What's going on in that head of yours?"
Emma sighed again and opened her eyes, looking at her brother and she studied him. He looked ok, his leg was way better than before, his eyes were bright and held light, life. They had never really spoke about what happened with their family that night. Never really spoke about their father, or their mother, or their brother.
"I was thinking about Mom." Emma admitted. "Remembering that night...before I passed out that what I was thinking about. Remembering what I did."
Seeing him tense, August looked away down at the sheets of the bed.
"It's ok Aug...we don't have to talk about it." Emma sighed and looked at the empty bed next to hers.
"We can talk about it." August sat up straighter and put on a brave face. "If that's what you want we can talk about it. Talk about what your feeling...I know...It's ok if you're angry with me, Emma. I understand I-"
"What?"
Emma looked back at him and shook her head, taking his hand.
"No August that's not-." Sighing, Emma squeezed his hand. "I'm not angry with you...That night. What you did was brave...Me. I-I didn't do anything. I should've done something."
"Emma-"
"If anything I'm mad at myself! Remembering that night and remembering all the things I didn't do."
"You had Henry, Em."
"I still could've done something!"
"You didn't do anything wrong, Emma."
"I didn't do anything at all, August!" She huffed and shook her head. "I was closest to Adam." Emma whispered. "He was so young, August."
"I know."
"It's not fair." Emma opened her eyes again. "I...I just don't understand why...why I'm here. Why I'm here and they're gone."
"Oh, Emma no."
August rushed forward and wrapped his sister and nephew up in his arms, adjusting his body until they were all fitted on top of the single white mattress. Holding Emma as she silently cried, August kissed her forehead and brushed her hair back.
"I didn't want to hurt her, August...I don't know if I did and it's getting to me."
"You didn't. Emma, you didn't."
"How do you know?" Emma asked very low.
"You helped her, Emma...It...Those were her terms, her own personal liberty. She didn't want to roam around and possibly be the cause of someone's death. She didn't want to cause anyone else any pain. Listen, I know it sucks..." August frowned.
Emma chuckled through her tears and looked up at him. "Yeah?"
"Yes, but...it wasn't about what we wanted to do...it was just about doing what she herself wanted. Do you understand what I mean?" August rubbed her back, looking down at Henry between them seeing the boy had dozed off.
"I think so." Emma replied.
"I know we should have really talked about this a long time ago. Talked about Adam and Dad..."
"I didn't want to make you uncomfortable. Bring up unpleasant memories for you." Emma sighed.
"I know. And I love you so much for thinking about me but we can talk about these things. You're always putting everyone before yourself. You can do this for yourself, Em. And we'll work through it together."
Emma felt some relief wash over her and snuggled more into her brother's shoulder.
"I love you too, Aug."
Grinning sadly, he kissed his sister's forehead once more.
"Get some rest, alright?"
"Would it be terrible if we snuck outta here?" Emma asked picking her head up and August chuckled. "I'm sure we could sneak past Mulan and make it to the cell."
Chuckling August shook his head.
"You're not going anywhere, Duck."
Emma sighed and poured as dropped her head back onto the pillow. August rubbed her back.
"Don't go pouting. Just let us take care of you, alright."
"Alright."