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"You are the piece of me I wish I didn't need.
Chasing relentlessly—still fine and I don't know why.
If our love is tragedy why are you my remedy?
If our love's insanity why are you my clarity?"
—Clarity, Zedd.
Bright sunlight lit the back of her eyelids in a searing orange glow. Emma groaned and rolled over onto her side. Soft white sand met her face. Frowning, she opened her eyes. Slowly, painfully, she sat up.
The sky stretched on for miles around, brilliant blue with not a cloud in sight. The soft rustle of palm fronds met her ears, and she looked up to see half a dozen palm trees surrounding her, swaying in a light sea breeze. Brilliant blue waters danced just a hundred paces away, lapping against the gleaming white shore. A low moan off to her side made her whip around. Hook lay sprawled on the sand beside her, a grimace on his face as his eyelids fluttered.
She knew she had to get away from him. Escape somehow. But where could she go? She didn't know this place. Where on earth had his blasted magic powder sent them? Or where… not on earth.
Hook sat up, running a hand back through his sandy tousled hair. His dark eyes roved the beach, narrowing, then came to rest on her.
"Where are we?" she demanded.
He heaved a sigh, dropping back to land flat on his back in the sand. "Last place I wanted to be," he groaned.
"Where?"
He clenched his eyes shut, screwing up his face. "Neverland."
Emma stared at him. "Neverland," she repeated.
"Too right, darling. I'd hoped never to lay eyes on this place again."
Emma stared at him for a moment. Then she lurched to her feet and began walking away across the sand.
"Now just where do you think you're going?"
She didn't answer. She was seething. If Hook hadn't held her up at the last moment, she'd be on her way to Henry right now. Now she was trapped in another world without any means to get back. This was all his fault. She didn't hear him come up behind her, so she gasped in surprise when he snagged her wrist in his hook.
"Lass, let's talk about this a moment—"
Emma whirled and lashed out with her fist, satisfied to hear a resounding crack as it connected with his jaw. Hook staggered backwards, his eyes flying wide in shock, and she spun around, sprinting across the sand. But he recovered faster than she. His arms closed around her waist, pinning her arms at her sides and snapping her back against his broad chest much like he had before they'd dropped through the portal. She struggled, stomping down on his foot, but he only held her tighter, crushing the breath from her.
"Let me go!" she gasped.
"No can do," he grunted close to her ear, only slightly irritated. "There's something you need to know about this place. This is—"
A startling zphhwt made Emma jump in his arms. A feathered dart shuddered in the sand at her feet. She felt Hook exhale behind her.
"…Cannibal Cove," he finished.
Panic surged in Emma's chest. She struggled harder in his arms, and he thankfully released her, but only to grab her hand and tug her along after him.
"Come on, we've got to get to high ground!"
"What—"
Her query was drowned out by the shrill warble of at least three dozen stark naked savages tearing across the sand toward them, feathers and war paint plastered across their sun browned skin. Emma's heart leaped into her throat. Hook yanked her after him, and she stumbled into a run.
Darts streaked the air around them, pelting the sand. Emma gasped when she felt a sharp stab of pain in her calf. She kept running, ignoring the burn that slowly spread up the back of her leg.
They reached the forest line and ducked into the trees, climbing the slope into the forested mountains at a rapid pace. She could hear the cannibals screaming in rage behind them. They ducked between boulders, jumped over creeks, and hopped ravines, all the while climbing higher and higher.
Finally, the rabid shrieks faded away into the distance. Emma panted, dropping to her knees. She felt dizzy and lightheaded.
"Hook…" she rasped. "I think…. I think I…"
He looked down at her, his eyes sweeping the bamboo shafted dart embedded in her leg. His face blanched.
"Poison darts," he whispered.
Emma thought she would puke at the expression on his face. "Poison…?"
And then the world tipped sideways and she knew no more.
Emma awoke to a gentle rocking motion. She groaned and opened her eyes, staring up into a huge indigo sky. Brilliant stars littered the blue expanse, glimmering like a thousand diamonds in the cool darkness. The dark outlines of palm trees swayed against the night backdrop, moving past her at a steady pace. Emma frowned. She realized a strong pair of arms supported her beneath her back and knees, her head nestled up against a warm shoulder.
"Ah, you're awake. Finally. I was hoping I wouldn't have to try Sleeping Beauty's kiss."
Emma stiffened. "Put me down."
"I'm not sure that's such a good id—"
She jerked out of his arms, shoving him back, and fell to the ground. She tried to struggle to her feet, but gasped with sudden weakness and slumped back to the sand. Hook laughed and slid his arms around her once more, lifting her again.
"Perhaps you should consider listening to me more, love. It'd save you quite a lot of pain."
Emma gritted her teeth as he continued to carry her. "What did they shoot me with?"
"A substance that imbues paralysis in its unfortunate victims," he replied. "You're lucky I got it out in time. The effects should wear off soon. You'll be feeling a bit tipsy over the next few days."
"Next few days?" she repeated, her voice growing shrill. "I'm not staying here for a few days! I have to get back to Storybrooke! I have to get back to Henry!"
"All in good time, lass. I've no more magic powder with me at present. But if we get back to my ship, I'm sure we could rustle up something."
"I don't want to go back to your ship. I want to go home."
Hook sighed, adjusting her in his arms. As he did so, a strange burst of sensations exploded in her stomach. Unnerved, she removed her gaze from his face, focusing on the sky instead.
"Unfortunately, darling, you'll have to put up with it if you want to return to your little fellow." He stopped, looking down at her, and she was forced her meet his gaze. "We ought to find a place to take shelter for the night. The creatures that roam these mountains aren't the sweetest."
It took only a few minutes for him to find a small cave in the mountain face, the entrance sheltered by a hanging curtain of lichen. He set her down just inside the mouth, and set to work building a fire. Emma sat, stretching her legs and trying to regain the feeling in them, while she watched him work. The muscles rippled in his back as he leaned forward, snapping the thin branches to build a small teepee, then striking flint and steel together to light the dry wood. She had to look away.
"I suppose there's worse people to be sharing a cave with," Hook said, looking back at her with a cheeky grin that made her heart flutter. She swore inwardly. He shouldn't make her have such a reaction. He was a no good, untrustworthy sea scalawag. He arced a eyebrow, noting the expression on her face.
"I do hope I don't have to worry about you double-crossing me again," he added.
She glared at him. With a resigned shrug, Hook settled himself against the wall. She waited until she heard the sound of his breathing soften. Then, keeping her footsteps light as a cat's, she crept toward him. If she could hit him hard enough to knock him out long enough, she could escape. She could find her own way back to Storybrooke, without a pirate on her tail. Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself, and made for a quick jab at his solar plexus.
His hand shot out, catching her by the wrist and twisting her arm in a painful grip. Emma yelped, and tried to pull back, but he yanked her forward until she landed between his legs.
"Really , love? This is how you treat me after all I've done for you?" He sighed. "Now what were you planning on doing once you subdued me? Tromp around in the dark until you were eaten by a roaming werecat?" At her pale expression, he laughed. "Oh, yes, we have those here and much more."
With an irritated glare, he turned her around so he wouldn't have to look at her. Emma cried out in protest when he wrapped both arms around her, pulling her snug against his chest, his arms caging her so that she couldn't move a muscle. She struggled, but the man's hold was like an iron trap.
"What are you doing?" she demanded.
"Trying to get some sleep," came the weary reply. "I won't be able to get any shut eye knowing you're prowling around free to punch me senseless all night long. This arrangement is far more manageable."
"Okay. I promise I won't try anything," Emma huffed, squirming against his grip. She couldn't budge his arms an inch. He only chuckled behind her, ruffling her hair and making an odd shiver ripple across her abdomen.
"Oh, I know you won't. Now hush. I need my beauty sleep, you know."
Emma growled, writhing in his arms with all her might. He only pulled her tighter against him.
"You may as well quit. That's not going to get you anywhere."
"I'm not quitting till you let me go!"
"I'll let you go in the morning. Now quiet. You'd be prudent to try and catch some rest as well. We've got a long walk ahead of us tomorrow to my ship."
Emma glared daggers into the opposite cave wall, but finally gave up her struggles. His chest rose and fell behind her, brushing against her shoulder blades. She stiffened when he pressed his face against the crook of her neck, sighing in exhaustion. His breath tickled the hair on the back of her neck, and it was all she could do to fight another shiver. Soon his breathing evened out, becoming deep and regular. Despite her predicament, it felt oddly comforting.
With a sigh of resignation, she laid her head back against his chest. His heart beat loud and strong against her body, bringing back memories of Neal. Not painful memories, like her fresher ones, but warmer ones, from many years ago.
She allowed her eyes to drift closed. She'd never slept outside before. The wild sounds from the night outside made her suddenly grateful Hook had stopped her half-brained escape plan. The warm weight of his arms around her felt strong and protective, and she realized it wasn't the worst position she could be in. Giving into her exhaustion, she snuggled back into his chest and drifted off to sleep, listening to the sound of his heartbeat.
Okay, guys. Please review. Seriously. I have no idea where to go from here. Give me ideas! It's early enough on in the story I can incorporate anything you want into this story. The plot's just a baby, so it needs lots of support, haha. :) Thanks!