When Emma exited the bathroom, someone put new clothes for her on the bed in the back room of the shop. She quickly dressed herself and approached the other women. Regina was eating a sandwich while Ruby bend over a city map. Both looked up when Emma entered the room.
"I knew it would look good on you" Ruby smirked and Emma checked her reflection in the cabinet to her right. Usually she'd never wear such a low neckline but she had had no choice in this case as Regina already had picked the other shirt which would have looked causal on Emma but Regina made everything look hot anyway. Speaking of her, Emma felt her burning eyes on her body and when she dared to meet them she received a small smirk and her heart beat faster. No way Regina Mills had just complimented her looks!
"I think we should go. I don't get why nobody already found us here, considering the blood traces in front of the shop" Ruby interrupted this moment.
"You're right. We're shouldn't push our luck any further. Let's go" Regina agreed and got up. "Did you find a spot where we can start or search?"
The other brunette nodded, "As these are rivers from the underworld I think we need to search at the deepest point of Storybrooke which is ..."
"In the mines" Emma finished.
"More than that, it's exactly where we just came from. The ground of the abyss" Regina sighed. She suddenly looked so tired that Emma just wanted to get her a bed where she could rest till all of this was over. But she couldn't let the brunette out of her sight after what just happened. She wasn't safe till they would put an end to this nightmare.
"I'm gonna grab some flashlights. Eat up."
A few minutes later the three of them stood in the huge cave where Emma had saved Regina. They hid behind a big rock, Ruby was the one that had to look around if the air was clear of murderous villagers.
When she came back she wrinkled her nose, "I've heard and seen nothing but I can't smell something, only blood."
"Oh, well, how are we gonna get down there?", Emma looked at the gaping void and then to Regina.
"We have to climb", the brunette answered. When she noticed the shocked looks on the other women's faces she added, "It's not that deep. I pushed your boyfriend over once and he survived easily."
"He's not my boyfriend" Emma immediately opposed. Ruby at the same time choked, "You did what?"
"Never mind", the brunette responded and made her way over.
"You guys know what?" Ruby said, "I'm just gonna jump down and if one of you falls I'll catch you."
With that Ruby's eyes flashed. She looked down the abyss, took in every detail in the darkness and jumped. Emma's heart stopped till she heard Ruby call that she was okay.
15 minutes later the blonde reached the bottom too, where the other women were awaiting her.
"I hear water" Ruby said. "It's coming from this direction."
She went first, needing no flashlight with her wolf abilities. Soon they reached an entry to another cave. The water sounds became audible for Emma and Regina now too. Emma felt goosebumps rise and when she looked over to the other women they seemed to feel the change of air too. Ruby growled, her instincts kicking in.
"It's magic what we're feeling" Regina explained. "Old and powerful magic."
Ruby suddenly stopped, grabbing the other women by their arms and whispering, "Don't move."
They froze, trying to be as quiet as possible. Then they heard it. Somebody clearly was in there and when Emma heard right he or she was in pain. Without thinking twice she started to move again.
"Emma!" Regina hissed but the blonde didn't stop. The other women had no choice than to follow her.