A/N
I wanted to post this chapter to give everyone a better idea of what is going on without actually giving the whole plot away.
This'll serve as a time jump chapter, except there'll be several.
Hope this answers some questions!
Chapter 3 "2013"
September, 2013
"Is this it?" Emma looked around the dingy, little apartment that would be her home for the next three years. Thank goodness she wasn't alone.
"Hey! This has been my home for the last couple of months, you know" Elsa pouted, attempting to tidy the pillows on the sofa up to make it seem a little better.
"Oh, come on! We won't even be staying in this shit-show most nights." Belle practically pranced into the room, throwing her bags to the ground. "Ruby and I called the end room, by the way" She glanced over to Emma, making a point of letting her know that she wouldn't be joining them.
"I'll just crash with El" The blonde flashed Elsa a smile, which was not returned. "Where is Ruby, by the way?" Emma dropped her bags onto the sofa and was met with a glare from Elsa, who just threw them back onto the ground.
Belle began her tour around the apartment, scavenging through drawers in the kitchen, "She's gonna be a little late" She picked up a straw with what looked like a penis, on the end. "Uh, El?"
Elsa's head snapped up and she stared at Belle in shock horror. "Get that back in there! It's not mines!"
Emma burst into fits of laughter as she watched the other blonde chase Belle around the tiny apartment, bumping into furniture and knocking bags everywhere.
Belle and Emma had met through their mutual friend, Ruby, who was also living with them in the cramped little flat. Ruby and Emma had known each other from kindergarten, way back in Storybrooke. Emma never really classed Ruby as a best friend but when she learned of Ruby's acceptance into the same art school, they decided that it'd be better to stick together.
Elsa was the newbie to the group. She had already studied at the university for a year and fortunately, had decided to post an ad for three new flatmates. Luckily, Belle knew a friendly face when she saw one and the four girls had previously met up before officially becoming flatmates.
Emma was wandering the apartment, heading towards her new bedroom when someone knocked on her front door. She looked over her shoulder to the other girls and then shrugged, "must be Ruby" she swung the door open, prepared to throw her arms around her friend. But it wasn't Ruby at all.
"You alright, darlin'?"
The blonde took in the sight before her. A scruffy looking man, his black leather pants were practically a second skin and he wore a ripped, transparent shirt that possibly could have been white some time ago. She was sure this was what her mother had warned her about; beggars and
homeless folks. Except this man before her didn't seem to be any of those things. Just "creepy as fuck" she thought. "Hey" She mumbled, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"I live next door" he looked Emma up and down with a somewhat predatory gaze, which Emma did not like at all, "you got a name, love?"
She nodded, shifting from one foot to another, "I'm Emma"
Belle and Elsa finally looked around to witness their "neighbour" standing by the front door with their friend. The red-head made her way to the front door, "Hello, mate!" She laughed, eyeing up his leather pants and the eyeliner smudged under his eyes, "Wow, you're really going for the Jack Sparrow/Russell Brand look, aren't you?"
Creepy's eyes shot up to the red-headed beauty, who was now apparently trying to insult him. "I can go for any look you want, babe" he sent her a wink, which was met with a gagging noise.
Emma, mortified, said her goodbyes to her new neighbour and headed back into the living room. Belle was on the sofa, laughing so hard that she had just started wheezing.
By this time, Ruby had gotten into the apartment and dropped her bags at the front door, "Great, she's gonna have a fucking asthma attack!"
Elsa spun so fast she was sure she had just gone back in time, while Emma ran towards the door to hug her friend. "You took your sweet time" She wrapped her arms around the tall brunette's neck, hugging her tight.
"Traffic was a nightmare, sorry guys" She let go of Emma and made her way over to Elsa and Belle. "Okay ladies" She patted Belle's knee and pulled a bottle of champagne from her handbag, "Let's make a toast!"
Emma grabbed four plastic cups from the counter, while Ruby popped the champagne which cause Belle to start screaming, thinking for sure that it was gonna hit her head. Ruby poured the four cups and each of the girls raised their cups, yelling simultaneously, "To new adventures"
October, 2013 (Halloween)
The four girls were spaced out around the living room. Elsa and Ruby had taken over one of the sofas, leaving Emma on the armchair and Belle sprawled out over the floor.
"See, this part gets me every time!" Belle piped up, throwing a malteaser at the TV screen. She rolled onto her back and then leaned up on her arms, looking at the other three girls.
Who were all asleep.
"Nerds" Belle rolled her eyes and bounced up. She dragged her feet all the way to the bathroom, hoping to wake them up, especially after leaving her to watch a horror movie on Halloween, all by herself. She flushed the toilet, washed her hands and then glanced up to the mirror, half expecting someone to be behind her. She smirked at the mere thought and then proceeded to brush her teeth, only, something caught her eye.
When she rinsed her mouth, she noticed a small hole in the wall. It was only about an inch wide and she couldn't see anything through it but it was still there. She thought of all the insects that she was terrified of, climbing through the hole and that was enough to make her forget all about it. She flicked the light switch and headed out.
The bathroom door closed.
There was a light creaking noise, followed by a sharp sound of metal against stone and that small hole on the wall, lit up.
November 2013
As November was soon coming to an end, the girls had decided that they would start decorating the flat even though each of them would be going home for Christmas. They each decided to take on a different task. Emma was in charge of decorating the Christmas Tree, Elsa was in charge of decorating each of the windows, Ruby was in charge of making Egg Nogg and Mulled Wine and Belle was left to decorate the rest of the flat.
It took them about four hours, all in.
"This place kicks the North Pole's butt" Belle yelled out, throwing Christmas tree confetti over the floor, while Emma finished off the tree with the star on top and Ruby poured them all some mulled wine. Elsa sprayed more fake snow on the windows and all four girls then stood back to take in their teamwork.
The girls sat down to dinner together, drinking Mulled Wine and watching TV. They were discussing possible activities they could partake in during the holidays when something on the TV caught Belle's eye.
"Guys, look" She gestured to the TV and Emma grabbed the remote to turn it up.
"Three bodies have been found in a slaughter house in central London today. The three girls have been identified and named by their families and police are now investigating each murder. The three girls were reported missing when they didn't return home after a night out, two days ago."
"Holy shit" Ruby whispered, her hand covering her mouth as the pictures of the slaughter house were brought up on screen, "I've been there before, tons of times"
"Did you murder anyone?" Belle piped up, the other three girls just glared at her and shook their heads. "Whatever, I bet it was creepy next door" She bit into her slice of pizza and turned back to the screen.
December, 2013
"Belle! Move your ass or I'm gonna leave without you!" Ruby screamed, standing by the front door with her handbag swinging on her arm.
Belle was brushing her teeth so quickly she could practically feel her gums burn. She rinsed her mouth several times and then checked her make up in the mirror. She took the mouthwash from the cabinet above and rinsed her mouth with it before she leaned over and spat out, into the sink. As she came back up, something caught her eye. It was that same hole in the wall.
She knelt down past the sink and closed one eye to make it easier to peer through. "Ruby!" She yelled, "Get in here, now!"
Ruby rushed into the bathroom, expecting to find Belle flat on her ass or with a broken neck. She leaned her head to the side, trying to figure out what the red-head was doing. "What's going on? Got another huge-ass pimple?"
Belle turned over her shoulder, her face much paler than usual. "I think creepy has been watching us"
The brunette stared at Belle, shaking her head. "Belle, this isn't funny" The red-head gestured to the hole in the wall. Ruby looked from Belle, to the hole and then knelt down. Her breath hitched, peering into the room next door.
It was dark, the furniture covered with large white sheets. There was a solitary chair sat in the middle of the room, a bottle of whisky sitting adjacent from the chair leg. She gulped and stood upright once more.
"What a fucking pervert!"
Belle grabbed a rag from the bath tub and stuffed it into the hole, "problem solved, let's go!" she grabbed Ruby's arm and tugged her towards the front door, "come on, he's just a creep"
January, 2014
Emma sat on the plush sofa in Archie's office, accompanied by the doctor and his dog, Pongo. Her eyes darted around the room and she fiddled with her hands in her lap, nervously. All the while Archie observed her actions and facial expressions.
"Emma, we have forty minutes left." He set his notepad aside and leaned forward, "I know that this is very scary and you're still processing what has happened but you can talk to me" He offered a reassuring smile.
The blonde remained silent, looking up at the fish tank that covered half of the wall, opposite her. Pongo nudged her hand with his nose, urging her to pet him, Emma looked down at the Dalmatian and run her fingers over his nose. "I could talk about it"
Archie perked up, hoping that this would be the break through that they needed.
"But it won't bring Belle back. She'll still be dead. It won't change what happened that night and it certainly won't stop me from having nightmares." She was transfixed on the spot on the end of Pongo's nose, "I'm done" She shook herself from the trance and stood up.
The doctor tried to reason with her but he could tell, Emma was in no mood to be dragged back into the events of that night. He watched as she left his office for the 4th time that month. He had gotten nowhere. He plucked the tape recorder from the coffee table and brought it to his mouth. "Week four; Emma is still supressing the memories of that night and refuses to talk, in detail, about the events. This will be Emma's last session."
Archie pressed the stop button and threw the recorder onto the sofa, opposite him. Just then, the phone rang. He dragged himself over to the bookcase and picked up the phone, a voice spoke before he could,
"Doctor Archie Hopper?"
It was a female voice, he tried to figure out who it could be on the other end of the line, "Yes, this is he"
"My name is Regina Mills." She spoke, "I was wondering if it would be possible if we could meet? Preferably, out-with Storybrooke."
Archie's brows furrowed in confusion, "Are you looking to start sessions?"
"Doctor Hopper, my mental state is perfectly fine." She replied. "This is about Emma Swan" He looked up, not expecting that name to come up. He was given a time, a day and an address. "Doctor Hopper, it is with thee up-most importance that you do not share my location." He nodded against the phone and whispered, yes. "Emma cannot find out"
Present Day
Archie paced up and down his office, awaiting a knock on his door. He jumped when the clock chimed, telling him that it was now midnight. The phone rang and he picked it up instantly.
"Did you get the instructions?"
He nodded his head against the phone and picked up the sheet of paper laying on his desk. "Yes" He started, his hand shaking slightly, "How can they be sure that—"
"They've been using trackers for months now"
"Regina" Archie faltered, "What if this plan doesn't work? Why can't we just tell her-"
"Her friends are dead, Archie" Regina hissed through the phone, "We protect her, at all costs" The brunette paused for a moment, "She's the last one—She's our only hope"
Emma was startled awake by a scream from the TV, her eyes opened slowly and she took in her surroundings. She had fallen asleep on the sofa.
She stretched out her arms and legs and got up, making her way over to the kitchen. She grabbed a glass of water and turned towards the stairs, only she noticed that her father's laptop was still lit up over on his desk. Emma rolled her eyes and sat the glass back down before she brushed her finger over the mousepad. The screen lit up, catching Emma's attention.
There was a message.
EVENT 23 HAS BEGUN
PROTECT EMMA SWAN AT ALL COSTS
- VENUSTUS
Emma re-read the message over and over, trying to make sense of it. She scanned over the name, "venustus" the blonde shook her head, "who is venustus?"
A/N
Who is venustus?