Chapter 3:
With her newfound information, Emma was able to find out that there was an underground-type of area in the hospital for the psychiatric wing. It had been a part of the original blueprint, but life happened and plans were changed and now they just use it for the really really bad cases.
And it was her only lead.
It was nearing 6 o'clock at night when she pulled in to the hospital. The winds were picking up and the chill had turned to full on freezing. Emma pulled her hat on and tightened her coat around her before she got out of her tiny car. Her hair started flying the minute she set her foot out. She all but ran to the entrance.
The nurses seemed surprised to see her again so soon, but they ignored her after she flashed her badge. She guessed they thought she'd go talk to French before visiting hours were over, because the receptionist said "only till 7," when she walked up.
Emma rested her hands on the counter, "Actually," she began, tapping her fingers, "I need to visit your…psychiatric ward." She gauged the nurse's expression. "Is that okay?"
The woman glanced up and Emma saw the same fear that was in French's eyes. How many people were under the Mayor's tyranny?
"Uh…" the nurse fidgeted and started looking around, "We're not supposed to…" Emma cut her off, "It's very important. Sheriff business."
She stared into the other woman's eyes, trying to convey the importance of the situation. Something must have gotten through because the nurse let out a great sigh.
"I'm going to get in so much trouble for this…" Emma heard her mutter. The woman looked up, "Okay. But be quick. Mildred is working down there and…just don't use my name." Emma didn't even know her name, so that was fine. She watched as the nurse turned away from her and started working again. For a second she was confused, but then saw the other woman's hand subtlety reach under the desk and press a button. A buzzing noise went off and Emma understood, quickly turning, and paced to the big metal door to the left of the reception desk where the noise came from. The door was unlocked and as she pulled it open she glanced at the signs next to it, telling her that, yes, this was where she needed to go.
She padded down the stairs, trying to be quick but silent. She took her hat off and stuffed it into her pocket, despite the fact that it got even colder the farther she went, if that was even possible. She rubbed her hands together and could see the landing in just a few more steps. Looking up as she touched down, she saw another desk. This one had a stern looking woman behind it, her dull blonde hair curled in the front into two large spirals with her nurse hat holding it up. Her cold eyes caught on Emma and Emma tried to push down a reaction. She couldn't back down now, not when she was so close.
The woman, Mildred, cocked a thin eyebrow, "Can I help you?" her dry voice was like ice. Emma swallowed. She hadn't thought that far ahead.
"Um," she thought swiftly, "One of the nurses needs to see you. Something about a new patient." Emma took measures to ensure her face gave away no lie.
Mildred considered her, "There can't be another patient, this ward is full."
Emma took that into account. She shrugged, "Then I guess someone's going to have to straighten that out."
Mildred studied Emma, and although it made her uncomfortable, she forced herself to not break eye contact. The woman smirked and started rounding the desk. "Alright. I guess it's going to have to be me then."
She stopped next to Emma, "Watch the desk for me, Sheriff Swan?"
Emma darted her eyes up, surprised at the use of her name. Mildred's smirk was still intact and something about her expression told Emma that she knew she was lying. Emma didn't look a gift horse in the mouth though. She nodded, her expression hard, "Sure."
Mildred returned the nod and continued walking, her heels clicking up the stairs. The minute Emma heard the buzzing of the door she immediately strode around the desk, and started looking.
There were, like the Mayor's office, many papers she went through. As she was sifting through them her hand brushed across something. A rose. Emma lifted it, a needling feeling coursing through her veins along with confusion. This was important, she just knew it. She forced herself to put it down. She had to hurry.
Her hands finally landed on a sheet with the patients of the ward on it.
"There can't be another patient, this ward is full."
Mildred's statement flickered through her mind, as she stared at the sheet with every name slot filled.
Except one.
Number 20.
Emma laid the sheet back down, her brain full of static, her body in a daze. Beth was here. She had to be. Emma walked out from behind the desk. She started down the long hallway, the concrete walls seemingly going on forever. She took a left, and then a right, and then another left. She passed by a lonely mop that still had water in the bucket, and a fleeting thought of where its owner was briefly hit her.
But that thought went out of her mind when she caught sight of cell number 19.
She froze. Her eyes slid toward the door directly to its right. The number twenty adorned the sign next to it, and Emma's heart suspended.
She was here.
For a moment, she felt indecisive and uncertain. Which confused her. Didn't she want to find Beth? Find out the mystery behind Mr. Gold's past, and why he was the way he was? What his connection to this girl was?
Right?
An unknown, but familiar, emotion gripped her heart, stopping her in her tracks. She wanted to find out…didn't she?
Her gaze unfocused, a nameless sadness running through her. A few minutes seemed to tick by before she finally shook her head, starting towards the door. This was just stupid, of course she had to know.
Still, her hand shook as it raised to the peephole. And it paused when her fingers just barely brushed the knob. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. She gripped the handle and started to lift-
A buzzing sound made her jump, ripping her hand away from the door. Mildred was back. Emma took one more look at the cell, before sprinting back around all the other hallways. She just managed to arrive at the spot when Mildred's heels came into sight. Emma tried to conceal her harsh breathing.
"So," Emma began, "did you get it all straightened out?" She shot the woman an innocent look, to which a look of disbelief responded. Mildred walked all the way behind her desk, "Actually, there was no new patient." She pinned Emma with her piercing stare.
Emma widened her eyes, "Oh? Are you sure, because I could've sworn…" she trailed off at Mildred's look. "Well, my bad." She sent a chagrinned smile at the older woman. Mildred shook her head, "Yea. Your bad."
Silence stretched for a moment. Emma tried not to fidget. Mildred lifted an eyebrow, "Anything else?"
Emma shook her head, "Oh! No, um, that was it. Thank you for your time." She smiled at the nurse (which wasn't reciprocated).
Mildred stared, unamused, and nodded for her to be excused. Emma took it and hurried as fast as she could back up the stairs. It wasn't until she was out of the hospital and in her car that she let out her breath.
And then hit her head on the wheel.
Repeatedly.
She was Right There!
She let out a loud groan, and hit her head a few more times.
This is why she doesn't let her emotions get the better of her. Because it screws her up, and she can't get the job done.
She should've acted when she had the chance.
She hit the wheel again as she finally lifted her head. She was aggressive in her movements as she started the car, almost breaking the key as she turned it in the ignition. She stomped her foot down and sped out of the parking lot.
'At least', she reasoned as she drove, 'I got something out of this…'
She parked her car on the street.
There's an empty cell in the psychiatric ward that should be full. And the Mayor had a contract hidden in a locked drawer with French's signature on it regarding a patient. She knew for sure that something suspicious was going on. And she now had some information.
She let out a breath, 'Hopefully that'll be enough,' she thought, staring out window to the building across the street.
She bit her cheek, raising her courage before opening the door. The wind nipped at her heels as she headed over, the looming sign sending tremors through her stomach.
Mr. Gold's Pawn Shop
The little bell jingled, and she knew there was no turning back.
Cliffhanger! :) Okay, I swear Gold is in the next chapter. I had started a drabble the same time I made this and somehow I managed to combine the two, so yea, he's definitely in the next one.
Hope you guys enjoy this chapter. I know there are some inconsistencies in the canon of some things, but just stretch the truth a bit please. :)
(Btw, I added in a reference of sorts from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, I know that a bunch of people saw similarities between the nurse in the basement and the mop guy with two characters from that movie, and while I have never seen it personally, I thought this great way to give her a name ;)
And I'll be doing what the writers do- There'll be little parallels and ironies hidden throughout- for example the room number- there's usually a reason for a lot of the stuff that I name or write. Maybe not all the time, but most of the time. Its actually really easy to do!)