"Hello! Hey I know you can hear me!" A voice called out from one of the neighbouring cells. Killian opened his bruised heavy eyes trying to blink away the haziness and forces on the damp corridor. He opened his mouth to answer her the pain shooting through his whole body the slightest movement a big effort.

The wish to be done with this life ever present over the past twenty four hours or however long it had actually been. It certainly felt like he was paying for his days as a cruel pirate who didn't care about anybody but himself and revenge. A never ending battle that the only way to repay all the sins he committed was to take everything this cruel place threw at him.

However the last shred of hope could be by talking to this person who sounded like they were in distress with what was going on. Killian took in a raggedy breath leaning his head against the hard stone wall and urging his voice to work. "I haven't even done anything wrong". The voice continued not backing down anytime soon determine to get somewhere.

"Hello". Killian spoke huskily his throat dry and rough just another pain to deal with.

"So somebody is there?" A scrapping sound echoed off the stone wall followed by the clanging of chains.

"Yes sorry for staying silent I found it quite hard to answer". He rasped keeping his aching body as still as possible to avoid any pain.

"They hurt you too?" He nodded realising almost immediately they couldn't see each other.

"I'll survive lass like I always do". It was silent for a couple of minutes each contemplating their own thoughts not wanting to give too much away about themselves or the situation.

"If your so sure, have you met the god of the underworld?" She laughed in a sarcastic tone a chain rattling across the stone floor.

"Got it". The sound of a lock clicking open followed by the metal door creaking open filled his ears causing him to look around at the corridor. A tall woman appeared with long brown hair tied back in a ponytail and a long purple tunic that split up the leg.

"Shall we get going?" She grinned widely tucking her hand into the pocket of her long tunic and brining out a old rusty metal key.

"All this time you had a key?" Killian stared in disbelief as she unlocked the door and yanked it open offering freedom. "Love even if I was to escape these cells there is no way of returning to the land of the living. It's a lost cause I'm afraid one that cannot be resolved". He sighed deeply shifting his stiff aching legs on the dusty ground. She huffed crossing her arms over her chest and shaking her head.

"You don't know what's waiting for you until you go and see". The wind whistled down the long corridor sending a chill in the air which was strange with the place itself being so humid.

"Love I will just slow you down your better going ahead without me". Meg shook her head striding forward and holding out her hand to help him to his feet. Killian lifted his good hand bracing himself for the impending pain of the simple task of getting to his feet. She gripped his hand tightly and pulled slowly adding her other hand for support, conscious of letting go until he was fully stood leaning against the wall.

"So do you not have family?" Meg rolled her shoulders easing the tension and the forceful use of her muscles.

"I do but it was for the best". He closed his bruised eyes for a couple of minutes picturing the very moment his love stood before him with tears in her eyes unsure of what to do. A memory that would haunt him for the remaining days that he was breathing in this cruel world.

The thought that he would never see Emma again and spend precious moments with her again broke his heart in two the same way it had with Milah all those years ago. "The saviour right? Who is currently here trying to find a way to rescue you". She raised a eyebrow placing a hand on her hip and tilting her body sideways a smirk on her lips. Killian frowned unsure if in fact he had heard her right, Emma was down here in this awful place?

"Still have no hope of what the future holds?" She scowled at her own words and turned her head away trying to show no feelings on the matter.

"I think it best love that you go on ahead without me, send a message to Emma". Suddenly a loud growl filled the air sending a chill down their spine.

"We really don't have much time you either come or stay in this hell hole". Meg pocketed the metal keys in her tunic swiftly turning on the heels of her sandals towards the open cell door.

"I fear I won't make it lass". Killian closed his eyes against the pain vibrating through his body it feeling a lot like he was froze to the spot.

"We can only try". She shot a look over her shoulder to check to see how far away the beast were before striding forward to his good side placing her arm along his back for support. He nodded pushing slowly off the wall clenching his jaw so not to cry out in pain from the movement.

Meg waited a couple of minutes then slowly at first took a step forward guiding him towards the open cell door. They tried to ignore the sound of heavy footfalls causing the walls and floor to shake with each movement of the beat. "Do you know the way lass?" Meg grunted in reply straightening her back and taking his weigh much to her body's protests.

Killian stumbled slightly missing a step and nearly toppling over taking the young woman with him. He stuck out his stumped arm knowing it wouldn't be any help if he was to fall. She waited until they were steady once again before continuing to walk down the long corridor.

The beast was now gaining on them only about a foot away they daren't look back to see what it actually was that was guarding the cells. They managed to come to a stop near a cross roads unsure of which way to go. "Leave me here and you go ahead". Meg frowned about to protest but saw his determinate facial expression and slowly lowered him to the floor.

"What if that monster gets you?" She grasped her hands together genuinely worried about her new friend.

"I have survived much worse lass don't worry about me". The tension in the air was thick for a couple of moments she was still unsure of whether to leave or not. Another loud roar from the beast soon made her decide what to do.

"I will come back with help". She shouted over the thundering stampeding noise quickly coming closer now by the seconds. There was regret in her eyes still unsure about leaving him in such a state, knowing that making promises to return didn't mean much. Meg stepped around him and sprinted off down the corridor finding some steep stone steps leading up to a heavy metal trap door. She raised her hands up and placed them palms up on the metal surface pushing with all her strength.

It very slowly lifted up revealing the light from the outside world. Meg grunted just managing to move the trap door to the side and slip though the gap in the ground. She straightened up and brushed off the dirt from her tunic glancing around at her surroundings. The charred black trees blew in the wind some of the branches with bright flames licking up the centre of the trees.

Meg shivered turning on the heels of her sandals shoes going and lifting up the metal trap door moving it back across the hole blocking out the noise. She dusted off her hands all the while turning in each direction trying to decide which way to go. It had been a long time since she had set foot in this charred broken forest, most possibly the first time she had arrived in this literal hell hole.

Meg sighed deeply resisting the urge to scream at what her life had become after all these years. She hated the fact that Hades had something on her and she was at his beckoning call and every need all because of the simple mistake of falling in love.

The sound of talking and shoes crunching on the decaying ground caught her ears straight away. Meg stopped dead in her tracks wondering if it would be best to run the opposite way or put on an act like she had done for the past couple of years.

It had simply become a game to play people and make them feel like she was the victim before leading them to the God of the underworld. She spotted three people ahead deep in conversation unaware of her presence at the minute. Meg glanced around for a place to hide instead of a confrontation with these unknown people and having to hand them over to Hades.

She was just about to turn around and leave when someone called out to her. A woman with shoulder length black hair strode forward waving her hands to catch her attention a blonde and red haired woman following close behind.

"Hello". Meg froze on the spot unable to speak or move let alone speak instantly trying to form a plan in her head. "Maybe you can help us?" The dark haired woman spoke up coming to a stop in front of Meg.

"I can try". She hugged her eyes flitting to each woman trying to read their expressions.

"Have you seen anybody in the attire of a pirate captain?" Emma interrupted quickly before the other woman could interrupt or say something else. Meg nodded crossing her arms over her chest and learning to one side fixing her gaze on the dark haired woman.

"Yes I've seen him". Emma's eyes went wide at the mention of somebody else able to help with their situation. "He wasn't in the best of shapes I'm afraid". She gasped at the news placing a hand over her heart eager to hear more on the situation.

"Please can you help us?" Emma begged not consulting the two other ladies on the matter.

"Of course". Meg smiled pleasantly resisting the urge to glance over her shoulder at the trap door.

"Tell us everything please". She straightened up her shoulders confidently and took a step forward.

"I will but could we please move from these woods I find them quite disturbing". Regina nodded hooking her arm around Emma's to redirect her in the way they had come.

"I think it best if we meet up with everybody else and discuss this". She pulled on the saviours arm forcefully pulling her in the direction they had come.

"Lead the way". Meg grumbled sending silent curses to the lord of the underworld for sending her on this mission. She lifted up her dress and stepped over the fallen tree stumps and leaves on the dirty ground. Emma turned to Regina unsure of the decision and how fast everything was moving forward.

They talked in whispers a heated discussion on the matter not wanting to make any huge decisions just yet. Regina frowned muttering something back to the blonde then taking her arm and leading her off.