Chapter 33

Emma

I had to get to Killian. I had to be with him and make a plan to get out of this House of Horrors and I could not count on Walsh to help me. I prayed that Killian, and Stanom for that matter, had not been hurt.

I paced around the large tower room. In the corner or the room concealed by a tall wardrobe, was what looked like a scarecrow but this one had a pumpkin head complete with a generic carved jack-o-lantern face with a smile. He was propped up in a corner, sitting position, with his pumpkin-head resting in the nook of the corner the brick wall and the side of the wardrobe created. He was life-size, thin, and with denim clothing. I walked to the tall, wide window. There was no glass. I could see the Deadly Desert beyond the green forest prominently stretched between the trees and a tall mountain far in the distance.

"Must be Nome King's Mountain," I muttered to myself. I looked down to the ground where there was cement below. I stared at the wide Deadly Desert, which looked like a dried-up lake. How would we get across it? I couldn't see a way to the Nome King's Mountain other than the Deadly desert.

I turned and walked to the closed door that held me prisoner.

On the wall was the head of what looked like a moose, or a gump, with antlers, staring blankly off into the distance. This place gave me the creeps. There were two more old-fashioned sofas in the center of the room facing each other. On the opposite wall were two eagle's wings. It seemed like Mombi was a weird psycho and animal killer. They must have been trophies. Or maybe they were Walsh's. I didn't know him anymore anyways to know his weird hobbies.

"Hello?" I heard a light male voice speak to me.

"Holy shit," I said with a gasp as I whirled around to see who was speaking to me. My heart pounded as I looked around the room to see who the voice came from. I didn't see anybody. I stretched out my hands, ready to use my magical weapons against anyone who may cause harm.

"Who's there?" the rather calm, friendly voice called out.

I realized the strange voice came from the pumpkin scarecrow. I slowly stepped closer to it. He moved to sit up and stared at me through eyeball-less triangular eyes and his frozen smile. He made a gasping sound. "Hello there," he greeted me. "Who are you?"

I kept my distance as I said, "You first. Who are you?"

"I'm Jack. The Pumpkin Head. I mean no harm to you."

I gave him an odd once over. "Who put you up here?" I asked.

He wobbled as he attempted to get to his gangly, wiry legs. "Can you help me?" he asked as he stretched out his long arms and woody hands. "And I will tell you."

I apprehensively reached to help him stand to his feet. "What are you?" I asked.

He was about half a foot taller than me.

Jack replied in a soothing voice, "I am a scarecrow. My Mom who created me, made me to scare off the Princess Mombi. I have been here asleep for a long time. Is Mombi still out there?" he whispered and peeked to look at the closed door.

I glanced backwards and replied, "Yes. And she means to kill me in three days. But I have one day to get out of here. I'm guessing that you don't like Mombi?"

"No. My Mom brought me to life after she created me. But Mombi took her place and turned everyone to stone who wouldn't follow her new wicked rule. She trapped my Mom in a mirror, and brought me here. She put a sleep spell on me. But magic awoke me." He paused to look at me in awe. His pumpkin-head could move slightly to make expressions. Jack looked like he was marveling at me. "And here I am. Brought back to life. You are kind, aren't you?"

I half-smiled. "Yes. But I guess that gets you nowhere around here. So, your Mother? She's the blonde woman trapped in the mirror?"

"Yes. Princess Ozma. She is a kind soul too. She is the rightful ruler, but Mombi came out of nowhere. She wants to do away with anyone with magic. Anyone more powerful than her."

I sat on one of the sofas and Jack copied me and sat beside me and faced me.

"Am I going crazy?" I asked him. He tilted his head to the side. I resumed, "Did I fall asleep and am I dreaming?"

"No, I don't think so."

"Ozma appears to be human. Maybe in her late teens. Why are you her son, you are a pumpkin on a scarecrow's body. No offense." I waved my hand in the air.

"I am not offended. She created me. I suppose I wasn't good to scare away Mombi when she came here."

"Where is she from?"

"I do not know. Have you seen my Mom?"

I nodded. "Yes, she's trapped in the mirrors here. She gave me a key. And My husband Captain Hook is here, but I don't know where. I need to get to him. But Walsh locked me in here."

"Walsh. I know who he is," he said gloomily. "He is my Mom's lover."

"Wait, what?" I said, shocked at that statement. Walsh never mentioned that. I figured that Walsh was just lonely and mourning her. "Does Walsh know Ozma is trapped in the mirror downstairs in the storeroom?"

Jack nodded. "She's been there before I was put under a sleeping spell. Mombi got jealous of her. She wants to be the fairest in the land." He moved his green branch like fingers in the air. "Walsh is kind, but he bowed down to Mombi and became her guard. It was that, or she would turn him to stone too. Just like the others. I am sorry she means to kill you."

I smiled at him. "Walsh didn't say anything about Ozma. Why hasn't he freed Ozma?"

"I don't think he can. Oh, I am worried about my Mom."

"I saw her. But she didn't stay in the mirror for long. She seemed afraid of something and faded in the mirror. I will free her if I know how."

"I do not know how, but Mombi did it. So, we must defeat her. Everything is under Mombi's spell. She is pure evil. Where did you come from? And what is your name?

"Emma Swan-Jones. I'm the Savior. I'm from Storybrooke."

"Oh! That must be why you are here. She must have sought you out. Perhaps you are the key to free us all. She must know you have the power to defeat her. And take off the curse that has turned this place into a haunted, dark land."

"She brought me here. Walsh told me that. But she'll soon have my head."

"Heads are like her way of being the prettiest woman in the land. She favors Walsh. He succumbs to her every whim. But he must do this to remain alive. I could tell before he brought me up here." He looked toward the window then at me. "Is he your friend?"

"Walsh?" I sighed, as he nodded. "No. Not really." I didn't want to explain how complicated that question was. A loaded question. I pursed my lips together. "He gave me twenty-four hours to live in here. He wants to help me. But I won't pay his price." That was all I wanted to say. The rest was private.

"Your husband is prisoned I assume," Jack said.

I nodded solemnly. "I need to get to him. How can we get to Nome King's Mountain? There's something that will help me to leave Oz. But first, I want to defeat Mombi. And free your Mom."

Jack gasped cheerfully. "You would do that?"

"Yes. But tell me everything about Mombi and how to get my husband and escape from this place."

"She has a can of powder of life. She keeps it in her cabinet with her original head. Hideous it is." He shuddered. "Not as pretty as the other ladies' heads. Anyway, she locked it in cabinet 6. It is locked with a key. That is what Mom used to bring me to life before Mombi found out. You can use it to bring anything to life."

"So maybe the statues of stone?"

"Mombi did that. I think it is her curse. I doubt that. But you can make anything come to life."

I reached in my pocket and produced the red key that Ozma had given me. Killian must have put it in my pocket. "Ozma gave me this."

"That is probably the key you might try," said Jack. "To cabinet 6."

"I thought cabinet 31 was her original head?"

"She has so many."

I nodded. "I saw. She's a psycho."

"She keeps Ozma to torture her by her seeing what Mombi has done to her kingdom. At least Mombi didn't take her head." Jack shook his large pumpkin head.

"I'll unlock the door and get us out. We need to find Hook, then we will sneak into her cabinet in her closet and take the powder of life. Then we can build something to…" I looked around the room. I saw the wings, the gump head, the sofas. "Is there rope up here? I can make this happen. We can fly to Nome King's Mountain."

"The Nome King was turned to stone by Mombi too."

"Is he evil?"

"Yes. He loathes Mombi though. She took over his life too. Nome King's Mountain is enchanted though. He took the emeralds. So, she turned him to stone. He has the way to restore Oz with its emeralds. He is powerful too. He can be brought back to life. Perhaps he would defeat Mombi. I don't know who is more powerful of the two."

"Walsh said Nome King has something to get me back home."

"He does. He has the ruby slippers. He likes precious jewels. Anything that sparkles and shines."

"Okay, so this is the plan. We get Hook and Stanom. You guys will build the flying vehicle. With that gump head. I will grab the powder of life. Then we fly to Nome King's Mountain."

"Yes. Good idea, Emma. Except beware of Nome King. He isn't kind like you."

I nodded. "Dearly noted."

I turned to the door and waved my hand over the door, I concentrated on the lock and moved it with my powers. I forced it open and pushed the magic away. The door unlocked. I smiled at Jack.

Jack sighed with happiness. "You are a witch. A good one I assume."

"Not a witch. But yes. I will defeat Mombi one way or another. We will free Ozma."

"I will stay here. I am terrified of Mombi," said Jack.

I exhaled, knowing that I would most likely run into Walsh. "That's fine. If Walsh returns tell him nothing. I don't trust him."

"Bless you. You really are the Savior," said Jack.

I slowly opened the door and crept outside. The halls were dim and quiet. Walsh wasn't in sight. I traipsed quietly down the hallway. At least I had a plan. I was certain I was going nuts. I could have imagined Jack, but this place was bewitched, so it made sense. I didn't remember Jack from any stories or movies.

I pondered the new information Jack had given me. So, Walsh was in love with Ozma. So why would he cheat on her? Perhaps he gave up on all hope. Or he wanted me just for a while. Either way, Walsh was not going to get it. I didn't need him to help me. He was a coward and had sided with Mombi. In a way. He had to be helped too, and I would, but I didn't trust him. I saw him as an enemy. His story was too complicated, but if he had black mailed me, then I would have to avoid him. He was unpredictable, and probably not a friend. But I could be wrong.

I tiptoed down the steps that swirled and spiraled downward to the massive, elaborate golden rooms below. At least I knew the story of Ozma. Perhaps if I killed Mombi and freed them, they would also have their happy ending. I was sure that Mombi was the one behind everything. Bringing me here, maybe the time traveling demons, maybe even the one who stole Regina's item and opened her crypt. Mombi was lethal and probably more powerful than any foe we'd faced. Or it could have been Nome King. Now, if I could only figure out a way to defeat Mombi. I needed to figure out her weakness besides her ladies' heads fetish and being the fairest in the land.

I finally arrived at the landing and saw no one. I walked towards a door that I saw opposite to Mombi's throne room, which had the doors closed. It seemed like it was nighttime, judging by the still quietness. I wondered where Killian was and Stanom.

Killian where are you? I asked in my mind. I didn't know where to start. Fear crept in my mind if he was really all right and safe. I came to the closed door that I had no idea what was inside, but I had to search this place. I slowly opened the door. The door made a soft squeaking noise. I grimaced and paused and looked in. I didn't see Killian and Stanom, so I sighed. It was empty. I turned and saw Walsh standing right behind me.

I gasped and grabbed my chest. "Holy shit." I stepped back from him, trying to recover from the sudden scare.

His eyes were bewildered and vexed.

He whispered, "What the hell are you doing?"

I closed my eyes for a moment and whispered, "Walsh. Please, don't turn me in. I need to find Killian. Please just…help me."

He shook his head and looked over his shoulder. There was no one there. I sensed he was afraid of something, probably Mombi. "Emma. I told you my price."

I licked my lips and said, "Where is Killian?"

"Not without paying my price. We discussed this."

I sighed and shook my head. "My answer is no."

He exhaled and looked away for a second and then smirked at me. He pushed me into the room behind me and closed the door.

I felt wild fear now and panic. I didn't know what he would do, so I backed away and held up my palms and frowned at me. "Don't take another step," I said.

Walsh came forward and ran towards me. I pushed him with my powers. He flailed against the wall and crouched from pain and then glared at me and stood up, hunched down and touched the back of his head. I must have injured him.

"Dammit Emma," he hissed. "I will not tell you until we do this."

I let out a long breath. "Will you ever give up? I know about Ozma."

His eyes narrowed. "How?" he asked defensively.

I glared at him back and dropped my hands. "You'd cheat on her?"

He took another step closer to me. "She's gone."

"No, she isn't. She's in the mirrors. Don't you know?" I retorted.

His eyes were blank. "She isn't. And why talk about her. She's my lost love, yes. But so are you."

I staggered back. I held up my hands again, ready to fight him. "I don't trust you. So, I don't want your help."

He took a step closer anyways. His eyes were determined now, which scared the shit out of me. I stepped back a few paces.

He frowned and said, "Mombi killed her."

"What?" I said, confused.

"Yes. For kissing you."

"She knew?" I said under my breath.

He nodded sadly. "Look, Emma. This isn't a place you want to stay forever under her spell. I said I will help you." He started walking slowly towards me.

"Stay the hell back. I'm warning you, Walsh. I told you no. I will find Hook without you. And I will get out of here. And I will defeat Mombi. So back off."

He smirked at me and kept walking towards me like he wasn't afraid of me. His eyes were a little tender, which frightened me. I narrowed my eyes, ready to battle him. "What in the hell are you doing?" I whispered. "Don't mess with me."

"You know, I could make you."

"What?" I exclaimed, stunned beyond measure. I swallowed hard, realizing what he meant.

He nodded once. "I want to help you, Emma."

He came closer. I stopped moving backwards because there was a wall and a chair there. His hands reached for me.

I said, "Don't touch me. I will hurt you if you do."

He pushed me into the chair behind me. I gasped. I growled, "You're a monster. Why do you want sex so badly? I told you, I will not cheat on Killian. I love him and you'd rip away my marriage and ruin it. Trust me, my husband doesn't stand for cheating."

"Because. I need this, Emma. I won't explain why, but please. You help me, and I help you." He leaned over me with his eyes blazing with love and anticipation. He was tenacious.

I swallowed hard and backed away from him in my chair. I jumped out of it and climbed out the side of the chair, but he grabbed me and slammed me back. He pinned me down with his body and gripped my shoulders and pinned me back until I couldn't move.

"Walsh, stop," I hissed as he held me in place. I closed my eyes, realizing he was going to do this. I shook my head. I tried to kick him, but he held down my legs with his hands.

"I told you to stay upstairs. You didn't listen."

"Just kill me then," I said under my breath as he hovered over me. "I rather die than do this."

He looked wounded for a moment but recovered and said in my ear, "This will free me. The price. It's true love at least for me. Then I will help you."

I drew my head back. "You're more deranged than she is."

He looked thrown off and shocked.

I pushed him backwards and he fell to the floor on his back.

I ran for the door, but he grabbed my leg and tripped me. He leapt on top of me, but I shoved him with my palms. He hurled back against a wall and crumped to the ground. I ran for the door and opened the handle, but I saw Mombi passing by. I gently closed the door. She had seen me.

I locked the door and muttered, "Dammit." I looked at Walsh who stared at me with a wounded, startled expression.

"Mombi is out there?" Walsh whispered.

I pressed my lips together and looked back at the door. I was trapped.

"I don't trust you," I whispered. I glowered at him.

He came forward quicker than I thought he would and grabbed my hand. I didn't resist because I was trapped either way. He led me to another door across the room and opened it. He led me through and quickly closed it. It was a dark hallway. He tugged my hand and led me all the way down the darkened corridor.

He said softly, "I didn't mean to hurt you. It's just you're so beautiful. I just can't resist you."

"Well, I rather you kill me than her. So have at it."

He led me to another doorway down the long, black hallway. He guided me inside with his hand. I dropped it and muttered, "Walsh, I said to you already. I'm married. I'm not interested. So, either kill me, or let me go. There is no alternative."

He turned on the light. It was a bedroom with red blanket and a chair. There was a dresser and a picture of a monkey like from a circus. I recognized it from his apartment in New York. There was also a padded chair and a crimson rug in the middle of it. There were no windows.

He locked the door and faced me.

I closed my eyes and sighed. I said to him as I opened my eyes, "If you're going to force yourself on me, trust me, there will be hell to pay."

"I'm already helping you, Emma. I could've turned you in," he said gently. He waved his hand around us, "She won't come in here. You are welcome to stay here. And hide out."

"Your personality disorder has got me perplexed," I said. "I don't get what you're doing, but I said. I don't trust you."

"And you either want my help or you don't. If not," He tossed his hand in the air towards the door. "Go face Mombi then. Be my guest."

I tilted my head to the side and frowned at him. "You brought me here."

"Because I don't want to watch her murder you in cold blood," he replied as he sat down in his armchair and stared at me.

I folded my arms and looked around the windowless room. It was all brick walls and nowhere to go. He knew I was stuck.

After a time of silence, Walsh whispered, "Did she see you?"

I nodded tersely and looked at the bed. If he was going to rape me, he would have me cornered. I figured I was running out of places to run. I didn't speak to him. I knew that he was against me.

"Emma, I really need you to help me too," he said with pleading eyes.

"You're crazier than I thought," I retorted.

He sighed and looked at the locked door. "How did you escape from the tower?"

"Like I said. I am not telling you. And I honestly think you are my enemy. A friend wouldn't do this. A man who loves me wouldn't hold me captive." I held my hand in the air to indicate his chambers. "You say you love me, but you force it." I glared at him with cold eyes.

He frowned at me and said, "But I led you to refuge from Mombi who would've ripped your head off. Trust me." He raised his eyebrows expectantly.

"Then why isn't she looking for me?" I asked.

"She is by now."

I felt like my heart stopped. I exhaled from stress and gazed at Walsh. "Would you help me, even if I wouldn't give you what you want?" I asked. He didn't respond. He just stared at me.

I added, "Please tell me where Kilian is. If he's still alive."

He brought his hands together and shrugged and placed his palms under his chin as he stared at me longingly. He watched me eagerly, not answering.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Is my husband alive?" I asked and then softened my face. "Look, I know what you want but I can't." I said helplessly. "Please understand my answer."

"I still can help you. But it was foolish to run out of the tower. You were safe there and you had time. Now you don't. I don't think you understand how stupid it was to escape. Now you're being hunted by her. Do you not see what I am sacrificing?"

"Do you not see that you are black mailing me and I'm worried that my husband may be dead?"

"So, your final answer?" he prompted.

I looked into his eyes and made up my mind on what to do. I pressed my lips into a thin smile.

"Fine," I said.

His eyes lit up. He rose and walked towards me in an intimate way. He reached to hold my face.

I waved my hand in front of his face and created a memory spell that he would think that we did it, but I knew it didn't happen. I led him to lay back in his chair and he closed his eyes. It would only be a moment before he came to. I sat on his legs, feeling very uncomfortable and awkward and leaned over him, making sure I seemed like we had slept together. I rested my head on his shoulder just as he woke up. I used my magic to change my blouse and jeans into something else. I vvwas now wearing a dress, so that he may think that we easily did it. I gave him a coy, half smile and sat up and touched his stomach but felt so obnoxiously awkward and out of place. I would never do this with another man besides with Killian, but now Walsh had a memory that we had had sex in the chair. I slowly stood up and gave him a soft half smile. I said, "Now will you help me?"

He grinned at me and said, "Wow. You're amazing." He looked at me with loving eyes. "Didn't think you would actually do it with me."

"Satisfied?" I asked, feeling gross inside. At least I had learned with my magic to do memory spells. I never used it on my Killian though. That was always for real. I would never betray him. Not even for our lives. So, I lied, but this was my only way to save him and me and everyone else here.

"Just don't tell anyone what this." I said and nodded firmly. I had the false memory too. It made me feel so disgusted, but at least Walsh thought he had what he wanted.

"You're still as good as I remember. I missed it so much," he said softly as he sat up as if he had had a really good night of sleep. "I must've fallen asleep; it was so incredible."

I rolled my eyes and looked away. "Like I said, I have your word now. Do not tell Killian."

He nodded with a smirk. "I promise." He raised his eyebrows.

I faked a smile and stood up. My dress looked like a casual, but silky and curve fitting dress. Walsh looked me over, clearly recalling his false time I had fabricated with him. To me it was just a bad dream, but I knew it wasn't true or real, so I had nothing to feel guilty about.

I sighed and said firmly, not commenting on the artificial memory of him that he was clearly still reveling over, "Now, tell me about Killian. Where is he? Is he okay?"

His eyes were content now, not so murderous and lustful, but he still had that warm look like he admired me. Walsh, you will never get to me.

"He's still alive. I know where. Now that you've fulfilled your side of the bargain, I'll fulfill mine, "
he said with a satisfied smile.

Playlist ~

Don't You Realize – The Flaming Lips

Under Your Scars – Godsmack

Hearing Damage – Thom Yorke

Last Kiss – Pearl Jam

Love Spell – Inkubus Sukkubus