Chapter 7
Emma POV:
I'm now fully clothed and sitting at the table with my mom and Regina.
"So when did these visions start happening?" Regina asks.
I look down trying to recall when. "I think they started right after we got back from the Enchanted Forest.
"So when you had your first seizure?" Mary Margaret asks.
"No, it was before that, as I was walking up to the apartment." I admit. "Like I said, they come in waves. Most of them are quick and I don't really feel anything except a little shaking."
"Do you think this is magic related?" Mary Margaret asks Regina.
Regina doesn't even flinch, "Oh it definitely is. It could be because she is the savior. But more importantly, what are you seeing with these visions?"
"I never remember them after they happen." I lie. "Maybe I should book an appointment with Archie. He may be able to help me with controlling them and trying to remember."
"I think that is a great idea, Emma." Mary Margaret says. "It may even help you open up and bring those walls down."
I nod, knowing I do put those walls up, but its to help protect me from having my heart broken. I look over at Regina and I can tell she's not buying it but she doesn't say anything.
"I finally told Killian I loved him." I admit.
"What?! What did he say?" Mary Margaret asks
"He said he loves me too and that he will always protect me." I smile and I can feel my cheeks turn red.
She's smiling, clearly happy for me. "Emma, I'm glad you found someone special to share your life with."
And the sick feeling returns. "Well I had a long day. I'm going to hit the sack. I'll go see Archie in the morning. Goodnight!" I turn and walk up to my loft and crash on the bed.
I can still hear them talking downstairs quietly but I can't make out what they are saying. I drift off to sleep not long after I close my eyes.
I wake up the next morning not long after 11:00 am. Wow I really needed that. I feel well rested even though I can see my sheets are ripped off my bed. I must have been having nightmares but I don't recall what they were about.
I walk downstairs. No one is here. I see a note from my mom. It says;
Don't forget to go see Archie today. Call me if you need anything. Love mom
Well now that I'm alone I can think of what I should do about these visions. I sit at the table with a note pad and start taking notes. Last nights vision is clearest in my mind right now. I gave Gold my possessions which means, that this time travel spell to change Killian's future is going to cost me my life. Which means we can't have a future together.
Realization hit her like a ton of bricks. No matter how the future plays out, we will never be together. I rip the paper of notes off the note pad and crumple it up in my pocket.
I walk out of the apartment down the street to Granny's Dinner. I could really use a grilled cheese. I get there and order. While I'm waiting for it to be made, Bell comes running into the Dinner.
"Bell, whats wrong?" I ask
She's trying to catch her breath as she explains, "Rumple. His heart. He says its almost gone." She pauses "He says we're in danger!"
"I'll call the apprentice. I'll meet you at the shop." I say, I know whats coming. Its the darkness. My visions are starting to come true.
I rush over to Gold's Shop and find Bell and the apprentice already there, hovering over Gold's still body.
"What are you going to do?" I ask.
The apprentice looks up at me and back down at Gold. "We are going to pull the darkness out of him and contain it."
I see the hat on the floor next to him now.
Bell asks " Does that mean that his heart will be healed?"
"Perhaps. If the strength is there." He pauses and puts his hand on Gold's chest. "This is more power than the hat has ever been asked to contain."
"Do what you need to do." I say, knowing this isn't going to work.
He starts to chant "Purest evil, blackest bloom, darkness, too, can find its doom." And with those words he pulls out Gold's heart. Its blacker than I've ever seen a heart get. He activates the hat. "Never dying but contained, bound inside the falcon's chamber, shorn of anger, thornless danger, there forever to remain!." With those last words the darkness is sucked into the hat.
I notice the dagger change and the name was removed. Gold's heart is now completely white and clear as he puts it back in his body. He still remains unchanged, lying on the floor.
Bell checks his pulse "He's barely breathing!"
"Rumpelstiltskin was the dark one for centuries. His return to the man he used to be will not be easy." The apprentice replies. He runs his hand over his body. "This spell will preserve him until we discern if we can help him."
"Lets put him on the cot out back, Bell." I suggest.
"Okay." She agrees.
We both pick him up and lay him on the bed. Its 3:00 pm now. If I remember correctly the darkness will only be contained in the hat until 10:00 pm. That doesn't give me a whole lot of time to plan or find a way to stop it.
"Are you going to be okay, Bell?" I ask.
"Yeah, I'll be alright. I hope he can recover from this." Concern in her voice.
"I have a feeling he will." I pat her on the back and smile. "He's stronger than he gives himself credit for."
I leave the shop and start walking towards the station. I want to find Killian and say goodbye. I'm not sure what to do but I want to see him one last time. I'm fated to die now and I'm not going to let my life go to waste. I'll make sure he can move on and that I won't be around to kill him this time. When I become the dark one I don't know if I'll still be me.
I see the station in the distance across the street. I stand on the other side of the road. I can see him in the stations with my dad but I don't want to go in. I'm not even sure I'm ready. What will I say to him.
I hear a loud thunder clap above me and then the rain comes down heavy. I'm only standing there a few moments and I'm already soaked.
I see Killian coming out of the sheriff's station across the street. He looks up and sees me standing there. He runs across the road to me. I guess its now or never. I have to keep it together or this is never going to work.
"Emma, what are you doing out here in the rain? You'll catch a cold." He grabs my arm and tries to drag me towards the nearest shelter. I pull my arm out of his grasp.
"It's over Killian." I say coldly. "We can't be together. This was never going to work between us." I move my hands between us to explain my words.
He turns to face me, water dripping down his face, "Why are you saying this now? I thought you had an amazing time, as I did, yesterday." He says in a whisper, now looking down at his feet.
"I did. It was the best date I've ever had." I say, being completely honest.
Now looking right at me again he asks "Then why? You even told me you loved me. Was that a lie? I thought we were going to build a future together" Killian starts to raise his voice, clearly starting to get frustrated with her.
I pause for a moment, still standing in the rain. This is so much harder than I ever thought. Nothing could prepare me for this moment.
I look down averting my eyes from his, "I thought I loved you," I lie, "but we are just too different. You're a pirate and I'm a princess. I'm sorry, Killian. I really am. It's just not meant to be. We were fooling ourselves, thinking this would ever work. Our world's are just too different"
Killian pulls my chin up so I have to look directly at him. I can feel his breath on my face and the warmth of his touch "I know you're lying to me, Swan." He can see right through me, can't he? "You know you can tell me anything. What's really wrong?" He asks.
Still holding my chin up I reply, "We can't have a future together. I thought that's what I wanted but the more I think about it the more I dread it." I know he knows I'm telling the truth now. I saw that future and I never want it to come true. He drops my chin with that reply.
I walk backwards a few steps and turn and start to walk away, tears starting to fall down my cheeks. For once, I'm glad for the rain, because it's hiding my tears and drowning out my sobs.
"Swan!" Killian says behind me. I turn to face him, hoping the rain really is hiding my tears.
"Did you ever love me? Not Captain Hook the pirate, but just me, Killian Jones?" He asks, with so much sadness in his tone
I nearly choke on my words but they come out so clear, "I never loved you." I lied "If I did, do you really think I would leave you like this?" I turn then, cause I can't bear to look at him anymore. The tears are spilling out now. How could I say that to him?
I continue to walk down the street knowing after saying that he won't follow me. I don't even know where I'm going, I just need to get away from here.
I walk in the rain, relieved no one is around. I remember the last thing Killian said to me "Did you ever love me? Not captain Hook the pirate but just me, Killian Jones?" I think to myself. Of course I did. Many times. I do love you! More than you'll ever know.
I turn a corner and bump into Regina. She straightens out her coat, while holding an umbrella in the other hand and seems to notice my tears. "Emma, what's wrong?" She holds the umbrella over both of us now.
I can't even get the words out. Seeing her here, I lose all my strength. I collapse on the walk way. Trying to speak but only uncontrollable sobs come out. Regina bends down and hugs me for a few moments.
I stand up and she stands up with me. Tears are still falling but I manage to tell her. "Killian and I broke up, for good."
"Why? I thought things were going well. I mean, he's certainly not my ideal man but you both seemed to make each other happy." Regina looks at me with confusion.
"It's the only way I can save him."
I can see the realization on Regina's face when she hears those words. "Your visions you've been having. There about him? I knew you were withholding the truth."
I nod while trying to wipe the tears and rain off my face.
"Why don't you tell him the truth? Hook is strong enough to be there for you. Sure he's an idiot but so are you. You always decide everything by yourself. You told me yesterday that he told you he would protect you..."
I interrupt her "I kill him." Finally saying it out loud, it really feels real.
Looking at Regina and seeing she finally knows my fears, I continue, "I'm leaving Storybrooke."
"When?" She asks
"Tonight! If I'm right, the darkness is going to come out of the hat and come for you!" She points at her. "And I'm going to get sucked away and consumed by the darkness."
Regina looks surprised "The darkness? What are you talking about?"
"Gold isn't the dark one anymore." I state
She seems to understand now, "And you know this from one of your visions?"
I nod! "Yes, and you're not going to tell anyone what happens to me! In order for my plan to work you have to forget everything I said to you and everything you see tonight. Can you do that?"
Regina replies, "I may be able to mix up a memory erase potion. But you're not exactly giving me a whole lot of time."
This has to work! If it doesn't then everything I undid will be completely wasted.
"Just try!" I beg! "If I'm right, then I will be gone soon. Meet me outside the library at 10:00 pm! Come alone!"
Regina nods and we both part ways.
It's 6:00 pm now when I arrive at home. I don't have much time to make this plan work. I need to say good bye to my family but that's easier said than done.
I walk in and my mom is feeding Neil and my dad is cooking something on the stove. "Hi honey!" My mom says!
"Hi!" I give her a half smile.
"Oh my god, Emma, you're soaked. What happened?" Mary Margaret asks.
"It started to rain when I was out. I didn't have an umbrella. I'm just going to go upstairs and change." Which was completely truthful.
Quickly I run up to my room and grab a bag. I peel off my wet clothes and put on a sweater and some jeans. I can't say goodbye yet. I need to have my bag packed first and ready to walk out the door before I say whatever it takes to keep them from following me.
After a few minutes I hear my dad from downstairs, "Emma is everything alright?"
Argh, what do I say to him.
"Everything is fine, dad." I yell down still throwing clothes into my bag, scrambling to make sure I don't miss anything they know I wouldn't leave without. I look at the strip of pictures Killian and I took yesterday and smile at them. I'm going to miss him so much. Holding back tears she puts the photos in her bag. I Think I have everything now. I walk down the stairs with my bag in hand.
Now they know something is up. My mom asks, "where are you going?" David crosses his arms and stands next to her mother.
"I'm leaving Storybrooke." I state!
"Why?" David asks "I thought you were happy here? What about Henry?"
"I'm going home!" I shout, my voice breaking in the right spot.
David walks forward, "did he hurt you?" His tone edged toward anger.
Knowing he was talking about Killian I instantly reply, "No!" I yell a few octaves higher.
"Did he break up with you?" David asks again.
"No!" I yell "I broke up with him." I go to the door now, about to turn the knob when my mom grabs me and turns me to face her.
Mary Margaret now asks "What happened, Emma? I thought you loved him?"
I glare at my mom, as fresh tears start to fall knowing exactly what I have to say in order for them to let me leave.
"I do love him. That's the problem. I can't do this anymore! I don't want to end up trapped in this town. I can't put down roots here." Her hands drop from my arms. I turn away and walk out the door.
David follows me now outside the door grabbing my arm. "Emma, don't go. We just got you back."
"Just let me go, David." I say my father's name, instead of dad to get my point across. "I tried to make things work but you and I bother know I don't have a future here. I won't be happy if I stay."
With those words he lets go of my arm and I run down the stairs and out the door. Its not raining as hard now. I get in my car and start the ignition and drive towards the town line.
I turn down a side road towards the park where my vision of killing Killian happens. It's dark now and no one is there. I speed up and drive my car into the pond. I grab the strip of photos and leave all my other possessions in the car and roll down the window. I climb out trying not to get the photos wet and swim to the shore.
I watch from the bench as my car sinks into the pond. There it goes.
I start to walk back into town. I should have thought this through better. I could have asked Regina to pick me up. No turning back now.
I look at the photos of Killian and I, and I start to cry again. I'm sorry Killian, this is the only way I can see me being able to change your fate. If we aren't together anymore, if you don't love me, than you won't follow me. As long as your in this world, away from me, you'll be safe.
She makes it to the library with seconds to spare, Regina already waiting. "I've done what I needed to do. Here's what you need to do. When I absorb the darkness the dagger used to control the dark one will be left behind. I need you to take it and throw it in the bottom of the well in the woods. Then forget everything! Can you do that?" I ask
Regina nods. "You think this plan will work?"
"It has to." I reply.
The future is always changing and already it's completely different now than it was in my vision.
I look up at the clock. It's 10:01. I have less than 14 minutes to get the dagger. "Wait here." I tell Regina.
I run over the Gold's shop. The sign says closed but the door is unlocked. I walk in and see Bell. "Any change?" I ask
"No he's still not awake." She replies.
"Is the hat still here? I may have found a way to contain the darkness. It may save Gold but I need the hat and the dagger." Being completely truthful but withholding the details of me absorbing it.
Bell walks to the back for a moment but comes back quickly with the dagger and the hat. "Thank you, Bell."
She replies "I'm glad you're feeling better. I heard you took some time off from work. I hope that this will be the last time you have to save us. With darkness gone maybe we will all get our happy endings." She smiles at me, genuinely hopeful.
"I hope so." I smile back at her. Except for me, I think to myself.
I walk out onto the street. It's now 10:13 on the clock. I rush back to Regina. As soon as I reach her I drop the hat and the darkness comes out, surrounding Regina. At first I hesitate, seeing it now, the darkness, it scares me. Will she still be herself when she takes the darkness. I never saw a vision of myself when I was dark except when I kill Killian. No one else is here so she knows she's changed fate. Hopefully it will be enough.
She reaches up with the dagger in her hand. Taking all the darkness into herself and she disappears into the night, leaving Regina alone with a dagger that has Emma swans name on it.
