A/N: I am super excited about the MAJOR changes I've made to this next chapter. I had it in my mind not to focus on Killian so much, like the game forced us to see Abby's life. (Who cares, right? lol) BUT, given that Killian will be a very dark and bruiting villain, I felt it important to focus on him in a way that I always thought, Naughty Dog should have guided Abby in Joel and Ellie's lives. I hope all my gamer readers will enjoy this and look forward to what's to come. Happy reading! :)

Trigger warning: This chapter contains explicit description of gore and violence.

Leaves rustled in the darkness of the woods. In the distance you could spot a well lit up Jackson community. It was silent. Not a dead corpse in sight.

"They sure keep this place very secure." A man muttered, his blue, dark eyes looking on in the distance. He reached for a pair of binoculars that hung around his neck, placed them over his eyes for a closer look. He could spot three on guard, a redhead girl that looked to be in her teens, a man in his forties, and Emma. Standing inside the tallest tower, looking on through the scope of her rifle for any sign of infected.

"We shouldn't be out here. Let's just go." A much younger man behind him whispered out to him, going ignored. "Killian."

"There she is." Killian muttered, passing along the binoculars to his companion as he pointed in Emma's direction.

"That's her?" He asks, seeing Killian nod before he takes another quick peek through the binoculars. "Holy shit. You found her."

"Finally." Killian took his binoculars back, his eyes never moving away from Emma as his head shakes.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Shoot her right now, and get it over with. From this distance you could shoot her in the head and no one will even spot you." The man whispered, earning himself a glare from Killian.

"Don't be stupid." Killian resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

"What's stupid about it? I thought you wanted her dead."

"And I do. And she will be," Killian's eyes turned back to Emma. "But if we're going to do this, we're going to do this right." He picks up his binoculars to observe her again, seeing Regina coming up behind her with a glass mug that she hands over before they share a kiss.

"So…" The other man waits, exchanging his gaze to Emma and Killian. "Do you have something in mind?"

"I just might." There's a tiny smirk formed on Killian's lips that proves just that. "Let's get out of here before we're spotted." Killian stands, walking away.

"Wha- Killian! Shit!" The man looks back at Emma before rushing to catch up with Killian's quickened footsteps. "I don't get it. If you have a plan, why not put it to motion now?"

"Because it's not the right time now. Not until I say it is." Killian continues to walk, his eyes dark with rage.

"Until you say it is," the man scoffs. "It's been months since you've found her. You've waited years for this moment, and now you're just going to walk away?"

"I'm not walking away, Daniel. I am simply planning our next move in my head, and right now isn't the best time to do it."

"So, when then? Until when are you going to allow that bitch to keep drawing breath after what she did?" Daniel gets no answer, growing aggravated with Killian, so much that he grabs his arm to force him to turn. "Killian, she killed your brother-" A sharp gasp was drawn out of him upon Killian's hand wrapping along his throat in a tight manner. His body was slammed against a tree, it made his brain rattle.

"Mention my brother one more time," the swish of his knife is heard before the sharp metal is brought near one of Daniel's wide eyes. "And I will cut out your eyes. Followed by your tongue. I've waited a long time for this, and you will not ruin it by being an idiot."

Daniel raised his hands up in defeat, feeling Killian's hand loosen from his throat, but not before slamming him against the tree once more.

"Drink up, you'll need your strength if you're going to keep watch." Regina nodded toward the cup Emma held in her hand.

"Did you get me coffee?"

"Ew, no." Regina's nose scrunched up.

Emma smirks, taking a sip, knowing how much Regina hated coffee. The taste and warmth of tea coated her tongue. And something else- a familiar taste. "Lavender?" The scent hits her nostrils as soon as she mentions it.

Regina smirks. "Very good."

"Where on earth did you manage to get lavender out here?" Emma asked, holding up her cup.

"That Ms. Swan is my secret. If I tell you, I'd have to kill you." Regina winks.

Emma chuckles, taking in another sip. "Mm, I would kill for a cup of coffee. But, this is good."

"Lavender is good for anxiety and insomnia. Maybe tonight you'll get some good sleep."

"Wishful thinking." Emma looks off into the darkness, hearing a few distant crickets but nothing more. No sign of the living or the dead. Only them.

"I get haunted, too, you know." Said Regina, seeing Emma's eyes turn in her direction. "I never talk about him, but most nights, I still see Robin's face, or pieces of it lying on the ground. The flames surrounding us."

Emma took one more sip. Her mind traveling to Mal. The pleading look on her face as she pleaded for her life before she pulled that cold trigger.

"Talk to me, Emma." Regina's hand lands on the blonde's bicep. "Let me into your mind for just a minute."

That was the last place Emma wanted Regina to be in.

Emma locks her gaze into Regina's, her hand cupping against her cheek. "You don't want to know what haunts me. My only concern is that you outlive this world."

"We." Regina is quick to correct Emma, removing her hand from her face, her arms are quick to wrap around the blonde's form. "You have to outlive it with me. Otherwise, what's the point?"

The corner of Emma's lip tilts into a private, small smile. "Right."

"Promise me. Promise me that you'll outlive it with me."

"I promise." Emma wouldn't dream of breaking that promise. Her entire purpose was Regina. She had figured out ways to get under her skin with time, to make her feel a love Emma didn't think she would be capable of feeling anymore. The last thing she wanted was to lose that.

Regina's lips touch Emma's in a gentle kiss. She can feel Emma's arm snake around her waist, pulling her close. Same with the cotton of her shirt, followed by the roughness of the rifle's strap that's over her shoulder. Followed by the softness of strands of hair that caress the sides of her face.

"Emma, do you read me?" Graham's voice comes through the walkie-talkie that's strapped to Emma's waist. It causes both her and Regina to part from their kiss.

"Loud and clear, Graham." Emma speaks through the walkie, her eyes on Regina.

"Is Regina there with you?"

Emma places the walkie near Regina's mouth. "Hi, Graham." Regina smiles through her greeting.

"Gina. When you two are done making out in there, be on the lookout. Kathryn and I are nearing the gates."

"Copy that." Emma straps the walkie to her waist before setting the now empty cup aside before reaching for her refile. Her head cocked to the side as her eye looked through the scope. She could spot two familiar figures riding along on their horses. Kathryn and Graham. "There they are." She made her way out of the tower to lean over the rails and whistled to the two on guard at the gates below her.

A simple whistle meant anything. This particular one gave them the knowledge it was safe to open up the gates.

"You won't believe what I stumbled upon." Said Graham. He dismounted his horse as Emma and Regina made their way down the tower. His hand patted along a dead buck. The biggest he had seen in ages.

"I'm sure Pete is going to have a ball cleaning that thing up." Said Regina.

"I'm just glad we'll have enough to last us for winter." Said Kathryn, taking their horses down to the stables.

"We still would need to hunt for a little more before the snow covers up the ground completely." Said Emma.

"Agreed." Graham nods. "You and I will handle that, when the time comes. I already talked to Kathryn about it."

"Sounds good to me." Said Emma, feeling a pat being given by Graham right on her shoulder.

"Thanks for keeping watch."

A knife blade cut along a sculpted figure of a horse. Thin layers of wood dropping by a pair of black boots. The crackling of a fire was the only sound tonight, until there was a knock at the door that froze Killian's hand.

"Come in." He said, continuing to carve.

Killian and his group had taken shelter inside an entire football stadium. The wonders about that was the space and the rooms, plus the cafeteria it had to provide. They had turned into a perfect home.

Daniel entered, shutting the door behind him while holding a plate of food. The chatter and laughter of their group muffled by the closed door. "I brought you some food."

"I'm good." Killian shakes his head, giving his attention to his sculpting once again.

"People are wondering why you aren't out there, joining in on the fun. Alice is out there having the time of her life." Daniel remains standing behind Killian.

"Good. She could use a distraction." Killian's hand jerked upward, his sculpting becoming rougher with motion.

"I talked to some of the guys. We aren't really leaving from here, are we?"

"It's just temporary. I'm going to need you and at least four more to come with me."

"For how long?" Asked Daniel. He never questioned Killian's way of thinking, but this time, he wondered what idea was putting his gears in motion.

"Just until winter."

"Killian. That's two months. What of Alice? Are you really planning on leaving her here?"

"Alice doesn't need to see what's going to happen." His eyes looked away from the wooden statue, into the crackling fire.

"What are you talking about?" Daniel moved further into the room, taking a seat next to Killian on the floor. His eyes were met by Killian's dark blue ones.

"I have a plan. A plan that won't fail, and I'm going to need you with me while the others stay behind elsewhere."

"You know you can count me." Daniel nods. "Do I get to know the plan?"

Killian drew in a calm intake of breath, his hand carving out the wooden horse. "You and I will leave tomorrow. I've been observing Emma for a long time now and tomorrow, I know she will make her rounds with her brother. Possibly that girlfriend of hers."

"Yeah, so? Are we finally doing it?" Daniel asked.

"No. No, I've decided not to kill her after all." His voice is low and raspy.

"You-?" Daniel's eyes widen. "What do you mean you aren't going to kill her? I thought that's what you wanted. That was the plan all along-"

"I know the plan, Daniel. It's been my plan. And as my plan, I can change it."

Daniel knew better than to argue with him. Especially when he was deep in thought like Killian was now.

"I want her to suffer, twice what I suffered. I want her, right here," he holds out the wooden horse in the palm of his hand. "To have her in the palm of my hand. To gain her trust, to make her feel like I am someone she can rely on. And when she least expects it," his fingers wrap tightly around the wooden figure, until his knuckles turn white. "We'll have our fun."

"What do you mean by that, Killian?" Daniel asked.

The corner of Killian's lip tilts up into a sinister smirk. "Just trust me. After I am done with Emma Swan, she won't even recognize herself."

"Well, that sounds good and all, but I still don't understand why leave her alive."

"Because…" Killian's eyes look upon the dancing flames in front of him. "I don't want her dead. I want her broken."

"Daddy, look!" A little blonde girl came running into the room, jumping right into the comfort of Killian's lap as she's holding up her little hand to show Killian her new gifted silver ring.

"What do you have there, Alice?" Killian smiles, his eyes falling on her ring.

"Mia gave it to me. She said it was too tiny for her."

"She did, did she?"

"Is it okay if I keep it?" Alice asked with hopeful eyes.

"Of course. She gave it to you, that means it's a gift."

"Will you lay with me until I fall asleep?" She asked her father.

"Of course I will." His eyes land on Daniel as he places a gentle kiss at the top of his daughter's head.

Daniel stands, smiling down at Alice. "Good night, Alice."

"Night, Daniel."

Once Daniel is gone, shutting the door in place, Killian picks his little girl up and moves her over to her cot. He snuggles her deep into her covers as she reaches for a plush bunny rabbit that has seen better days. It used to be white, but now it is ashy, its ears hung down very loosely and worn out. It was also missing an eye.

"I have something for you." Says Killian as he lies right behind his daughter's little body before holding out the wooden horse in front of her.

"How pretty!" Alice beams, gripping onto the horse with all of her might. "Thank you, daddy!" Her neck stretches as far as it can reach until her lips place a kiss against her father's scruffy cheek.

"You're welcome. Always keep that with you, to remember me by, if someday I'm not here."

Alice frowns. "I don't like you talking about that, daddy."

"We have to, Alice." Killian brushes Alice's bangs away from her eyes. "This world is filled with bad people- bad things- that can take us at any moment."

"But you're strong. You can defeat them." She smiles up at him.

Killian chuckles. "Luck runs out, my love. But, I'll be around for a very long, long time."

"You promise?"

He couldn't promise that. But to Alice, there was no way of saying no to her on anything.

Killian nods as he hums.

"Do you really have to leave tomorrow?" Alice asked.

"Aye, I do. But it's just for a few months. Besides, you'll be well taken care of by Mia."

"She likes you." Alice smiles.

Killian's brow rises. "She told you that, did she?"

"Uh-huh," Alice nods. Her eyes study the wooden horse her father gifted her with. "Daddy…"

"What?"

"Where will you go?"

Killian drew in a breath, "Daniel and I have to help another community of people. They don't know it yet, but they need us."

"Why do they need you?"

"Because they do." His brow lifts once again. "What's with all the questions, Alice?"

Alice rotates her little body until she is facing her father directly. "Are you going with these people because you're going to do bad things to them?"

Killian's brow creases. "Who told you that?"

"Jack did. He said you and Daniel are going to kill some people because you want to hurt them. But, that's not true. Is it, daddy?"

Killian's jaw tightens in anger. If there was one thing he swore to himself was that Alice would never know the type of monster he had to become. The monster this world and Emma Swan had turned him into. "Of course not, love. That isn't true." He lied, giving his daughter a gentle smile. "Sleep now," he whispered as Alice closed her eyes.

Once Killian saw it was safe to leave the comfort of Alice's cot, he moved over to the floor where his knife was and reached for it. He tucked it away inside of its holster before he made his way out the door.

Chatter filled the room once Killian entered the auditorium where everyone was enjoying their meals.

"Killian," Daniel stood up from one of the tables he was sitting, holding up a piece of bread. "Are you hungry after all?"

"No. Where's Jack?" He asked in anger.

Daniel pointed straight to Jack, who was standing in line, among others who waited to get their food. "Hey- whoa, where you going? What's going on?" He followed Killian, who marched straight toward Jack.

"Hey, Killian," Jack laughs along with a friend of his. "Wait, until Greg tells you this joke, you'll die laughing- ah!" Jack looked down at his hand, seeing his fork that Killian had suddenly taken from him, stabbed right through.

The auditorium fell silent. Everyone in line scattered away, eyes wide in fear as they fell on Killian's angry demeanor and Jack's cries of pain.

"What the hell's the matter with you?!" Jack shouted, screaming in pain as Killian grabbed a hold of the fork again, only to twist it within Jack's injured hand. "Ahh!"

Killian pulls the fork out of Jack's hand, watching him squirm in pain. "What were you thinking telling my daughter of my plans?"

"What?" Jack grunts in pain, holding his injured, bloody hand close to his chest. "She's lying! I didn't tell her shit!"

Killian's hand caught Jack's throat and squeezed as he slammed his body against the wall with a hard thud. "I know you, Jack! You've opened your mouth before to everyone in this room before, don't try to lie to me and on top of that call my own daughter a liar."

A woman in their community covered her little boy's eyes before rushing him out of the auditorium in fear.

"You know better than to tell Alice anything that we do outside of these walls. Don't you?" Killian squeezed at his throat, hearing him gasping for air. "Do you remember what I told you I'd do to you the next time you opened your big mouth to anyone in here?" His knife swished as he held it before Jack's mouth.

Jack looked down at the blade in fear, shaking his head. He wanted to talk- he tried- but couldn't. How could anyone talk when the very air inside of your lungs was being squeezed out of you?

"Open your mouth." Killian hissed. His gaze turned to Daniel, who quickly aimed his handgun at Jack's temple.

"Now, Jack," Said Daniel. "Make it easy on yourself. Open your mouth or we'll open it for you."

Under pressure and fear, Jack opened his mouth, his lips trembling in fear. And what followed were his agonizing screams as Killian's blade began to cut right through his tongue, again and again and again. Tears came out of his eyes that were shut tight and the taste of blood was instant inside of his mouth.

Killian yanked the last bit of tongue that was left to rip it completely out of Jack's mouth before tossing it on the floor. His hand was drenched in blood, as well as the blade of his knife. He reached for a few paper towels that were near him as everyone watched in silent fear. "Let that," he pointed to Jack who laid on the floor. His mouth covered in blood. His crying muffled. "Be a lesson to every one of you!" Killian shouted, his eyes throwing daggers to every single person in that auditorium. "Nothing that goes on outside of these walls is to be reported back to my daughter. Nothing. If anyone else has trouble following that simple rule, you'll be suffering the same fate as Jack here." After cleaning his blade, he placed it back against his hip and cleaned his hands to the best of his abilities before tossing the crumbled and bloodied paper towel right at Jack before exiting the auditorium.

Daniel followed Killian's lead, up a hill until they reached the very top. It was a good fall from that altitude, which is exactly what they needed.

"Alright, so we're here. Are you going to tell me the next step of this plan of yours or what?" Asked Daniel.

"This is where Emma and her brother will be coming through at any moment. They always like to check that this whole area is cleared." Killian explained. He had observed Emma and all of her moves enough to know her well by now.

"Yeah, so?"

Killian turned to face Daniel, a sinister smile stretched out on his lips. "So, now comes the next part of the plan."

"Which is?"

As Killian's smile grows wider, Daniel is taken by surprise when Killian kicks him right off the cliff. His body landing hard against the dirt, he can hear one of his ribs break. It hurts so much, he can't help but scream in agony.

Killian turns to the sound of two clickers, he blocks one as it charges right at him, knocking him on his back. This wasn't part of the plan, but Killian loved when his plans unexpectedly shifted to his will. Using his feet, he managed to push one clicker off of him, by flipping him over and watch him tumble down the cliff. Taking his knife, he quickly stabbed the other right through the brain before making his way down toward Daniel, who through his pain, finished off the last clicker.

"Are you alright?" Killian asked as he reached the bottom.

"No! You pushed me, you fuck!" Daniel shouts, holding onto his rib in a groan. "I think I broke my rib."

"Quit crying. It'll heal." Killian picked up a rock, the heaviest he could find on the ground before joining Daniel on the floor.

"How the fuck-" Daniel groans. "Was breaking my rib a part of your fucking plan?"

"If we are going to become a part of their group, we have to look like we've just been through hell. It's the only way we'll get through their walls." Killian placed his foot out, reached for a rag he kept in his back pocket and bit down as hard as he could on it.

"What the fuck are you doing?" Daniel asked, eyes wide.

"Mm!" Killian lifted the rock and slammed it down against his leg, again and again until he saw the fibula break through the skin. Daniel watched in horror as lastly, Killian struck himself across the face with a smaller rock, seeing a trail of blood run down his irritated cheekbone.

About a minute after, Emma and Graham stopped their horses right near the two battered men, and dismounted them.

"Whoa," Graham pulled on the reins of Tarzan before dismounting, his hand placed on his weapon, ready to draw, while Emma aimed out hers. Her eyes landed on Killian's busted leg. "What happened here?" Graham asked.

"W- we- my friend and I, we fought off these two clickers. They just came out of nowhere. We fell off that cliff and," Killian huffs out a good breath. "My friend. I think he broke his rib. Please." He holds out his hands, looking as defenseless as possible. "H- help him. Please."

Graham looked over to Emma. "Keep your weapon on them." He told her before kneeling over to Daniel to check up on him. And by checking on him, he frisked him, pulling out his knife from its strap, and his weapon from its holster.

"We're harmless. We promise." Killian's eyes land on Emma again.

"No one's harmless anymore," Graham chuckles. "Haven't you heard," he moves over to Killian next and makes sure to strip him clean of his weapons. "The world went to shit and we all turned into monsters."

Emma's gaze never tore away from Killian, even as he looked up at her.

"I guess you're right about that." Said Killian.

"So, what's your name? Or should we just call you Mr. Harmless?" Asked Graham. He stood beside Emma and handed her the weapons, which she made sure to put away.

"I'm Jones. Killian Jones." Killian points to Daniel. "That's Daniel. Colter."

"And it's just you two?" Graham hovered over them with his hands placed on hips.

Killian looked over at Daniel, then nodded. "Unfortunately."

Graham and Emma share a look.

"But, you were with a group before, right?" Emma asked.

"We had a small community, but it caught fire a few months back. We lost everyone. And everything. And I…" Killian's jaw clenched. He could be a damn good actor when he wanted to be. "I lost my daughter."

"What do you think?" Graham turned to Emma, who kneeled before Killian to look him square in the eye.

"Where was this community of yours?" Asked Emma.

"Just a few miles down. You can go see for yourself, although you won't find anything. Daniel and I, we've been shacked up in a cabin we found deep in the woods."

"The woods, huh?" Graham's finger taps on the cold steel of his handgun.

"He's telling you the truth." Said Daniel, his eyes exchanging looks between Emma and Graham.

"He speaks." Said Graham. "Here I thought you had lost your tongue."

"Have you had to kill people before?" Emma asked Killian, who never looked away from her green eyes.

"Hasn't everyone?" Killian asked with almost a snare to his tone.

"How many?" She asked.

"One."

Graham laughs, "Oh, come on. Why don't you piss in my ear and tell me it's raining, too." He withdrew his weapon and aimed it right at Killian. "How many?"

If there was one thing Killian hated was to have a weapon aimed at his face. But he resisted his anger and answered their question with some truth to it. "Thirteen."

Graham's brows hit his hairline. "That's a big number to remember. Are you sure you aren't just looking to kill us?"

"Look," Killian hissed in frustration. His eyes throwing daggers into Emma's. "If we wanted to kill you, don't you think we would have done it by now? Besides, we're hurt. What good would it do us to try and fight you, when we know our odds aren't so great? All we're asking is a place to spend the night and heal, and we'll be on our way."

They wouldn't, of course. Being on their way wasn't a part of Killian's plan. He would win over Emma. He would gain her trust, if it was the last thing he did.

Emma looks over at Graham, who shrugs before turning back to Killian. "We'll give you and your friend some shelter. But you're only there to heal. Nothing more. You don't talk to anyone there, you don't look at them. We keep your weapons while you're there. You won't get them back until you leave, which won't be until you've healed."

Killian looks over at Daniel, who isn't too keen on this crazy idea, before he looks back at Emma and nods. "That's fair."

"It goes without saying, but we'll warn you anyway," Graham spoke up next. "If you try anything- anything at all. Especially against any of our own, we will kill you where you stand."

"Deal." Likewise. Killian thought, hissing through clenched teeth as he was helped by Emma and Graham to stand, and mount Emma's horse with a bit of struggle.

Daniel was helped up next, and it wasn't after they were safely stored up on their horses that Emma and Graham took out two blindfolds from their backpacks.

"What do you think?" Graham whispered over to his sister as they are hunched over their packs.

"I say we keep a close eye on them. Alert the others once we've arrived." Emma whispers back, standing to her feet and handing over a black blindfold to Killian, who looks at her puzzled.

"What's this?" Killian reaches for the blindfold.

"Well, you don't think we'll trust you not to alert others where our community is, do you? Put it on." Said Emma.

Killian wants to snort but refrains from doing so. He simply follows Emma's instructions. "I told you. There are no others. It's just Daniel and myself."

"Yeah, we'll see about that." Graham mounted his horse once Daniel placed on his blindfold. "How are your ribs? Do they hurt?" He looks over his shoulder at Daniel.

"A lot." Said Daniel.

"Well, the ride will be a bumpy one. You might want to hold on." Graham clicks his tongue to make his horse move.

"How about you," Emma looks over her shoulder at Killian, who is sitting still in front of her. "Are you comfortable?"

"Having a beautiful woman like yourself with her arms wrapped around me and coming to my aid? More than comfortable." He smirks.

Emma rolls her eyes, given that he couldn't see a thing. "Don't count your blessings, Jones." She clicks her tongue and moves her horse forward, riding in the direction of their camp.

A/N: What did you guys think of the changes? Should Naughty Dog hire me to write Part 3 for them before they f**k it up? LOL!