"Where've you been?" Scarlett asked casually as he came up beside her on a side street.
Goldilocks pressed into him as he slung an arm around her, "Exploring the town."
"Still scoping it out?"
"I want to know every detail." she smiled taking away his coffee cup.
"Planning a heist?"
She shrugged, "Haven't seen anything I like yet. Besides…I don't think anyone in this town would hire me. I don't have many friends here."
"Who needs 'em? You've got me."
They strolled along the quiet street in silence.
"What's nearby?"
"What do you mean?"
"What's outside of Storybrooke? Towns, cities, other ports. Places to- -"
"Stay away from the town line." Scarlett faced her
"What?"
"Nothin' good ever comes from it. Some forget who they are. Sometimes you can't cross back over. Just stay away from it." He begged her.
"Will slow down."
Will sighed, " I don't know much about it. Just what I've heard…some have crossed over have no memory of who they are. Others can without forgetting but they can't come back."
Goldilocks turned the words over, "What if they had magic?"
"I don't know. Maybe" Will shrugged, "But I do know all magic comes with a price." he reminded her.
…
Goldilocks burst into Mr. Gold's shop. "I want to talk to you."
"I find it difficult to believe the reputation that proceeds you." Mr. Gold commented on her entry.
"The town line."
"What about it?"
"How to cross it and get back. How to cross it and not forget who I am. I want to know everything."
"Already planning your escape route?" Gold carefully arranged his display. "I thought you wanted him to suffer longer than this. Or are you losing your nerve?"
Goldilocks grit her teeth, "That ship…next time I go back has to be the last time."
"Those demons that torture you. They won't stay on the ship. Trust me dearie they'll find you."
"When have you ever faced your demons, Dark One?" Goldilocks snapped.
"You have beans left. Go back to a land you know when this is over."
"I want to get out of town for a bit. Somewhere I won't have to worry about Emma. I won't waste beans on that."
Gold sighed, "What have you in exchange for my help? Nothing. Just as I thought." Gold held up his hand, "I don't owe you any favors. You owe me. When I want that favor I'll find you. In the meantime stay away….the sheriff is already watching you like a hawk."
Goldilocks slammed her hand on the counter, "Tell me! Or I'm sure Bell - -" Goldilocks clutched her throat as her voice disappeared.
"You dare threaten me?" Gold stood calmly behind the counter, "We made a deal, Dearie. And if you threaten me again I will take your voice and throw you back into your nightmare."
Tears sprung into her eyes as Goldilocks stared trembling.
"Now run along."
Goldilocks stepped onto the street a lump growing in her throat and demons swarming her mind.
…
Goldilocks pushed herself deeper into the corner of the cabin. Shadows filled the corners and she wished they were dark enough to hide her from him. Captain Hook swayed with the ship as he moved about the room and she knew immediately he was drunk.
"No please." she begged as he pulled her to her feet. She didn't know why she still begged. Why she still bothered fighting. Hope had long since fled from her and no one on the ship came to her aid. He kissed her roughly and she fought against his hold. The hand that had held her to him on the back of her neck struck her face. Goldilocks crumpled to the ground at his feet.
"I've told you lassie." He grabbed the bottled of rum from the table nearby, "Best not to fight. Keep doing it and I may tire of you." He slurred
"You've never kept that promise." she hissed.
He took a fistful of the golden curls and pulled her head up. She clutched at his hand as he dragged her to her feet and threw her at the bed. Stumbling at the force she caught herself against the bunk. His hand closed around her throat and pulled her to his chest. Her vision darkened as he squeezed her neck.
"Please," She gasped
"Maybe tomorrow we'll cut out your tongue." He contemplated, "Then you'll no longer be able to beg."
She coughed as he released her throat and drew a breath, "No! Killian- -" he struck her again; this time with the back of his hook. Her head pounded and she felt warm blood trickle down the side of her face. Bloody fingertips came away as she touched the wound. Her hand clutched his ankle as she slowly righted herself on the floor of the cabin.
"I am the Captain of this ship," he reminded her "You would be wise to address me as such."
"Captain Hook, I'll be quiet. I won't make another sound." her words came out slowly; her grey eyes lifted to his face full of pain.
Hook remained towering over her, his hook dropped to his side dripping with her blood, "There is hope for you yet, Goldi." he turned, eyes searching for his bottle. Her hand shakily made its way to his hook. Lily white fingers closed around his hook as she gave it a quick turn and pulled. The hook popped off and she drove it forwarded into his thigh. Hook let out a cry and as he stumbled Goldilocks pulled the hook out of his leg and drove it into his shoulder. Both crashed onto the bunk as Hook barreled forward. Pinning her beneath him Killian Jones pulled the hook out of his shoulder and threw it aside. Goldilocks clawed at his face as she struggled beneath his weight. Her head pounded and her vision swam as he laid another blow. Hook grabbed her arm and flung her across the room sending her crashing into the heavy table. Snatching the spilled bottle of rum Golidlocks turned in time to land a blow on the Captain's head. Glass shattered and Hook fell to the floor. Shaking Goldilocks stood over him fearing the moment a crew member entered the dim room. The ship was quiet and if she listened carefully she could hear the waves lapping against the sides of the ship. Ragged breathing filled her ears as she stepped away from the body of Captain Hook and moved to the doorway. Silently she moved through the hall past her prison cell. Pausing when she reached the deck she took in the empty moonlit ship.
…
Goldilocks walked quickly away from Gold's shop. The scratch of the pavement under her boots slowly pulled her out of her memories. Stuffing her hands in her pockets she continued on her way with eyes nailed to the ground. Something struck her shoulder and she turned to the intrusion quickly.
"Robin."
He noticed the nervous twitch and tear stained cheeks,"Goldilocks."
She stood across from him with eyes flitting between him and their surroundings, hands still in her pockets. He wondered if she had a knife there.
She shifted, "Well…I guess I'll be seeing you." She waved a balled fist from inside her pocket and turned on her heel
"Stay away from Scarlett." She stopped at his words, "I don't want to see you in the Merrymen's camp again."
She grit her teeth, "Why the sudden change?" She turned to him gray eyes piercing into his. The fear he'd seen before gone.
"Will is often the cause of a lot of trouble. But he's a good man…he doesn't need to be mixed up with the likes of you."
"The likes of me? You mean a thief? Like you, Robin Hood. Or do you think what you do is too noble to be called what it really is."
"There is no honor in what you do."
"What exactly do you mean by that?"
"You're a thief for hire. You've attempted murder -"
"And you're in love with the Evil Queen." she sneered "You people..This whole town. All of you pretend you're better than me but you're not. You love the Evil Queen, the Sheriff loves a pirate….and Snow White….well she isn't so pure is she? This whole town is full of it's own dark secrets yet everyone looks at me like I'm the worst among them. You should all ask the Queen's mirror who is the worst of you. I'll stay away from your camp Robin." She turned again and walked away, "Have fun telling Emma why I've disappeared again."
…..
"She's gone. Again." Emma slammed her hand on the table.
"You had to antagonize her didn't you?" Regina glared at Robin.
Robin let out an exasperated sigh, "I just wanted her to stay away from Will. I'm sorry…I should have stayed out of it."
"You were trying to protect him." David comforted
Robin shook his head, "I should have let them be. Maybe this mess would have been resolved if I had. Or we could have tailed her from the camp."
"It isn't anyone's fault." David announced, "She was bound to disappear again."
Emma rubbed her forehead, "No sign of her…. no sign of Killian."
Two weeks. Hook had been missing for two weeks and Goldilocks had disappeared over a week ago. Emma knew it had to be connected.
"Emma," Snow White gently drew her daughter's attention "Hook's ship is gone. It's been gone…"
"He's not gone." Emma stated. "I know it."
"Then what do we do? There's been no sign. She can't leave the town." Regina contemplated.
"She could if she's used one of her magic beans." Emma thought "Robin, are you sure Will hasn't still been in contact with her?"
Robin shook his head, "He's been looking too."
….
Scarlett cast an empty bottle along the road side. Breaking, the noise shattered through the dark of the night as he stumbled down the dimly lit street. The night air felt cool on his hot face and the moon shone bright helping him find his way home. Turning slightly he looked back at the broken bottle pieces annoyed he couldn't get another drop from them.
"Will Scarlett what misery are you drowning this time?"
Will spun wildly to the voice. A blurry figure came into focus. Her golden hair shone in the moonlight. "Where in the bloody hell have you been?"
She shrugged, "Around."
"You can't have been part of this." he pointed an accusing finger at her. "Not you. You're a thief. Not a murderer, not a kidnapper." his words slurred as he took an unsteady step towards her, "You wouldn't do this." he whispered.
"Do what, Will?"
"Cap'n missing. Been missing a while…Word is he's dead. They're looking for you." he told her worriedly.
"They won't find me."
He stopped in front of her, "Just tell me you didn't do it?" he touched her golden hair recalling the night it'd been red with blood.
"He's alive. For now"
"Bloody hell…Goldi." he ran his fingers over his short hair, "Let's get out of here." he paced, "Go back to Wonderland. Leave this whole mess behind! You kill him you'll never come back."
"I can't…what he did."
"That's on him. We leave you never have to see him again. Let's go back to Wonderland! We can start over. Remember the adventures we had?"
She looked at him fondly as she cupped his cheek and he leaned into the affection, "I'm not your Anastasia, Will." suffering flashed through his eyes and her eyes softened, "This world is better for you."
"Please, Goldi," he begged clutching her hand "Just come back. Don't go so far I can't help you."
"You'll always be my lighthouse, Will." she squeezed his hand "But it isn't time for me to come to shore. Not yet."
….
Scarlett trudged through the Merryman's camp wondering if he'd really seen her the night before. His head pounded and he still thought he felt the soft touch of her hand on his cheek. Moving past groups of Merrymen in various states of their morning routines Scarlett ignored their greetings. As he dove deeper into the woods their voices grew faint til he believed himself to finally be alone.
"Little early in the week to be this hung over isn't it, Will?"
Scarlett clenched his fists, "You're the last person I want to see right now Robin." he turned and looked upon his leader.
Robin took in the disheveled man before him. Anger flashed through Will's eyes and his jaw clenched. "She was wrong to drag you into this. I didn't want you to be hurt by any of it."
"Goldi never dragged me into anything."
"Will…this isn't your fight. You aren't apart of this."
"Bloody hell." Scarlett paced the forest floor, "I became apart of this the second I found her in a dark alley covered in blood. I saw what he did to her….I saw the blood, the bruises, held her when she woke screaming in the night. She never deserved any of that….Hook….. Hook never paid for what he did to her."
"So she should be judge, jury, executioner?"
"No…it shouldn't be her. Robin….they find him nothing is going to happen. He gets off on a year of tormenting her…what will she get?"
"Will, where is she?"
"I don't know." Will answered sorrowfully.
…
Emma sat in the station staring at the ticking clock. Each tick aggravated her as she sat thinking over her case. There was no bread crumb of evidence to follow. Goldilocks' only connection in town was Will and Emma didn't believe he was involved.
"Thought I caught a glimpse of her last night." Emma started as David sat down on the other side of the desk. "Couldn't sleep so I went out for some fresh air. Coming out of the woods I saw a figure that looked like her. I followed but whatever it was…it just vanished.."
Emma shook her head, "It's like she has magic we didn't even know she had."
"Maybe." David contemplated, "Maybe she does have magic."
Emma thought about what he said, "If she had magic…why not use it to kill Hook?"
"It was personal. Magic takes that away."
"What if she made a deal?" Emma's eyes lit up. "Regina said she would make deals with people in exchange for her theft. She's used magic to transport herself…what if she used magic to capture Hook?"
"Gold." David said decidedly, "But what could she offer that he would want?"
"Magic beans. She has to have some leftover."
David nodded, "Okay wait," he stopped Emma as she excitedly gathered her things, "We watch and wait. Gold won't admit to anything. We have to play this right."
Emma sat at her desk, "The ship…the Jolly Roger is the key. I know that's where they're keeping him and it can't be far. It must be cloaked or something."
David nodded, "I'll ask Regina if she can come up with something to break it."
"I'm coming with you."
…
Regina stood beside Emma on the docks. The cool ocean breeze blew calm off the water as Emma scanned the horizon. At Regina's command both raised their hands to the ocean. Concentrating Emma closed her eyes as they both sent a pulse across the ocean waves. Water rippled at the force and Regina frowned. The force moved straight across the water to the horizon. With nothing to force it to come to a halt. Emma looked from the water to Regina's face
"What happened?"
Regina sighed, "There isn't anything there."
"There has to be. It has to be somewhere." Emma stated desperately clutching to the small lead.
"It could be anywhere…Anywhere along the shoreline for the town…or not in StoryBrooke at all." Regina told her gently.
….
Emma walked wearily into the small inlet. Since the failed attempt with Regina Emma had gone down the shoreline in hopes of finding some sign of the ship, David followed closely behind offering silent support. Slowly Emma raised her hands again and sent out another blast of magic across the ocean. Her arms dropped to her side dejected. Turning she began to go on her way.
"Do it again" David stopped her, "Right there" He adjusted her slightly and Emma allowed a glimmer of hope. The air rippled as she sent out another blast. "There's something there." David smiled.
New energy filled Emma as she gathered all her strength for another blast of magic. The air slowly peeled back as the magic sifted through the air revealing the dark outline of the beached Jolly Roger. Emma let out a gasp as ship loomed above her. Looking back at David he nodded her forward and they rounded to the gang plank. Ascending they both landed with heavy boots on the deck of the Jolly Roger gazing at the quiet ship. Wind sifted through the sails overhead, gently flapping them against the rigging. Turning about there was no indication of anyone on deck and Emma softly treaded forward to go below. Her own breathing filled her ears as she moved through the ship. Light sifted from above as Emma's eyes adjusted to the dark interior; her footfall accompanied by David's behind her.
"Swan?" a strained whisper struck her ears.
She squinted as she moved towards the bars, "Killian" she breathed a sigh of relief when she finally laid eyes on him.
He sat leaning against the iron bars as he gave her a slight grin; his gaunt figure making it a frightful expression. "I knew you'd find me eventually. Just didn't think you'd try to shake my ship apart."
Emma clutched his hand through the bars, "Killian. Are you alright?"
Killian nodded and Emma kept her emotions in check,"We're going to get you out." she assured him. "Lost track of Goldilocks over a week ago" she told him as David worked on getting the cell door open. "Has she been here?"
Hook nodded, "Aye she's been here. Stayed away for a while. Started coming more often not too long ago."
"Did she hurt you?" Emma tried to make a visual assessment. He looked starved but otherwise not in bad shape.
Hook shook his head, "She's the tortured soul on this vessel….not me." Hook had a distant look in his eye, "The screams….they were becoming unbearable."
"Is she here?" Emma pressed
"Left in the night."
"Got it!" David announced as the lock sprang open.
"Can you walk?" Emma asked as they helped him to his feet.
"Aye, as long as I have you to lean on."