Chapter Ten

Hook's hell

The lines of souls descending and ascending the spiral staircase is of epic proportion. No one speaks. They are all consumed by their sins which they hall on their backs or push in front of them. The trio fall in between the lines of souls as new souls emerge from the cave entrances and others disappear into them. Emma wonders what exactly it is they're doing? Where they are going doesn't appear to be such a mystery as they reappear with new items: metals, chains, coal and other materials normally used by iron workers. Emma looks up but she can find no sky nor roof. The structure continues up as if forever; with the busy souls entering and existing like a massive bee hive made of stone.

When she reaches the bottom Emma finds more souls hard at work. The place reeks of sulphur and strange gases she can't place. It looks like a scene from the past. Men and women covered in soot are pouring coal into giant furnaces while others stoke the fires. Other people are banging away at metals forming what looks like weapons and such. There are similar creatures like the ones encountered on the beach keeping order except these creatures have dreary bat-like wings. Unlike the beach creatures they are frail-looking, lanky and tall. The have claw-like hooks for feet and long black nails with protruding fangs for teeth. They look like...

"Demons." Rumple whispers to Emma as he catches up to her.

The Raven perches itself on stake of wood like a statue by one of the entrances. She is unmoving and very still. Clearly trying to blend in somehow. Emma draws near to it nonchalantly, "Where is he?"

The bird doesn't speak instead she makes a low squawking sound and sets it's sodom eyes on the far distance across the great room.

Emma follows it's gaze and that's when she sees him across the great arena. Wiping his sweaty forehead and pulling a barrel behind him.

"Hook." She whispers, confirming his existence.

"Hook." She voices louder.

"No!" Urges the Raven but Emma ignores her as she's already fast approaching on foot. Rumple reaches for Emma and calls to her but he's too late. Regina who has been wondering in a daze of her own thoughts snaps out of it and runs after Emma.

Rumple manages to grab her, "Regina wait," as he forces her down into a crouched position pointing to the nearest demon. He doesn't know how three of them would get past these patrolling monsters. He wished Emma would have only waited a few moments to formulate a plan. Regina understands the concept of camouflage but she still wants to run after Emma knowing that they are stronger together.

Emma quickly makes her way through the crowds of souls, dashing behind the perches of demons, not caring for her reckless behavior. She stays low believing she will go unnoticed until finally she's upon him. Emma's eyes are glistening with unshed tears as she calls for him, "Hook!"

He stops when he hears his old name and that familiar voice. Stunned... he looks up and sees her.

When he makes eye contact the world stills for Emma. She's found him and all she can think about is that they can get back to Storybrooke, to their lives, to Henry! She can get Regina literally out of hell and back to their son and all will be right again. With hope in her heart she throws herself in his arms.

Hook stands there frozen, not believing his own eyes, "Emma?" He pulls back in shock to look at her again, needing proof that she is really there. He looks her up and down with an unsteady gait.

"I'm here." She whispers.

He embraces her tightly with the sadness and longing of a tired soul.

"Why?" He pulls back and searches her eyes completely baffled and with so much hurt.

Emma smiles through her tears with relief and joy, "To get you out of here." She pulls him by the arm as she turns to look ahead; forming a plan for her way back across the room. She's desperately trying to locate Regina and Rumple on the other side through the masses of workers.

Hook tugs at her arm pulling her back into the shadows, "Wait!"

Emma looks at him expectantly. 'Perhaps he already has a plan.' She thinks.

"Swan, I thought about you." He sighs with melancholy in his words. "It's been so very long. Where do you plan on taking me?"

"What are you talking about? We are going home. The other's are waiting for us. We have to hurry." She begins to pull at him again but he's barely moving.

Hook registers Emma's ignorance and softly brushes his hand into her hair.

"No love. I can't go anywhere. Emma I've been in...look out!" Hook pushes her down and throws her behind him as a demon descends, claws forward upon him. It happens in a split second, the hellbeast reaches into his abdomen with it's razor sharp claws. All Emma can see is a fountain of blood spraying in all directions as the demon removes pieces of Killian's intestines and shoves them into it's mouth.

"No!" Emma wails!

"Ah...ah! God! Emma... go!" Hook is suspended by his insides with panic and worry for Emma in his eyes.

Emma stands there covered in his blood unmoving and in complete shock at seeing her boyfriend being torn apart by a demon.

Across the entire area the crowd of souls stop everything they do, looking petrified at the scene unfolding before them. With most of their heads bowed down in fear they create a direct line of vision for Regina and Rumple who now see what is taking place in horror.

"Oh my God!" Regina feels her heart jump out of her chest! She runs forward but the Raven flys into her.

"Stop. Regina please. This isn't your fight! He must not find you!"

The bird continues to beat against her but Regina ignores her completely, knowing Rumple is running right alongside her. As they reach the center of the arena she feels a set of claws grip at her shoulders stopping her in her tracks. She looks to the left and sees Rumple is in the same compromising position with the Raven being held captive in the claws of a demon. She looks for Emma who she can see more clearly now, also being restrained by a demon. She locks sympathetic and concerned eyes with her. Regina quickly studies Emma; she observes her chest rise and fall deeply and rapidly; watches her stand tall and unfaltering. Regina lets out a sigh of relief at concluding Emma is unharmed. She closes her eyes to stop her raging thoughts for when she saw all that blood and Emma standing behind it, for a minute she thought... Regina stops herself. Not allowing her mind to go there as 'clearly my... Emma is fine.' She can't say the same for the pirate though. As much gore and vile deaths as she has witnessed and sadly been the cause of, she finds herself cringing on the inside at the sight in front of her. If not so much for Hook's torn up insides but more for Emma who stands there trembling, unaccustomed to such things.

"Regina." Emma whispers...as she makes eye contact with her; instantly regretting these last few moments at seeing her friends caught in a dangerous situation because of her own impulsivity.

The demons roughly shove them towards each other; leading them in the same direction. Emma looks down at Hook who lays there sprawled on the ground in agonizing pain still awake, which Emma doesn't know how. She feels her anger boiling. She has to fight these demons somehow, "Let go!" She struggles against the iron-clad claws but that only causes them to dig deeper into her. She bites back a moan as she won't give these things the satisfaction of her pain. She focuses on bringing her magic forth but as she begins to do so another demon appears in front of her. It looks different than the others with its eerie yellow eyes as it hovers, flying in front of her face, "Continue and the same fate of the Captain will befall onto your beloved friend." It says this as it looks pointing to Regina.

Emma casts her eyes down after shooting daggers at this creature with her gaze. She feels so helpless as the tears fall down her face. She knows defeat, for she cannot save him, as she would never willingly put Regina's life at risk. She painstakingly understands that she never had a choice as she inaudibly mouths the words 'I'm sorry' to Killian, as they are lead into the deep recesses of hell.