697 Words, this chapter. It's very short for dramatic effect...I'm posting the next chapter now too.

Chapter Sixteen, Dark Heart

Hook merely stared at Emma, hurt and concern all over his face. "Are you really going to shoot me, Swan?"

She smirked evilly. "I will. If you make me."

"Emma, you need to listen..."

"No!"

"Why not?" he asked. "I'm not trying to hurt you. None of us are," he said. "No one has a weapon aimed at you. The only one threatening anyone is you."

She frowned.

"We just want to talk."

"No, they don't," said Meg. "They want to change you, to separate us."

"Yeah," agreed Emma. "You want to hurt her."

"Do we have swords aimed at her neck?" asked Killian. "Does Gold have his rather large magical arsenal attacking her?"

Emma glanced over at Meg.

"Emma don't listen to them!"

"Why?" asked Blue. "The Captain is right. No one is in any danger here. We are simply trying to help you Emma."

"Help?" asked Meg with contempt. "She doesn't need help!"

"Why? Because she has you?" asked the mother superior.

"Emma, if you truly believe she means you no harm," said Killian, "and you can prove to us that she doesn't intend to hurt you, then we will honor your wishes. I will honor them. I will leave you alone."

"He's lying!" cried Meg.

"I care for you Emma," said Killian. "I want you safe."

Emma shook her head. "No...you're bad."

"Yes, yes he is," snapped the nun.

Killian looked at Emma with utter anguish. "I just want you safe...and happy."

It was that word which made Emma slightly lower her gun.

"Emma no!" cried Meg. She ran to her, touched her. "Remember how you feel. How stifling he makes your every move."

Emma nodded.

"Emma, don't listen to her," pleaded Killian.

"See how controlling he is!"

Emma nodded. "Yes, you're right."

"She isn't," said Mary-Margaret.

"Hear us out," said David. "Please, Emma."

"They're all against you!" cried Meg. "They're ganging up on you. They've even begun to attack me."

"That isn't true!" cried MM.

Meg's eyes flashed. "Yes, they came here, didn't they? They went behind your back." All the while, Meg caressed Emma's hand.

Killian glared at the movements. "She's infecting you more, it's her touch, Emma."

Meg sneered. "Jealous, pirate?"

Emma looked at the nun and then Emma smiled, her anger and dark heart renewed. "He is! He can't have me so he's poisoning them all!"

Killian's face fell even further. "No, Emma. No, please."

"Shut up!" she screamed.

"It's him," said Meg. "He's the cause! Remove him Emma!"

"Emma, she's the one," said David.

"You need to think of Henry, Emma," Meg continued. "He'll come between the two of you! You need to stop the pirate for Henry."

"She's the one who hurt Henry!" cried Killian. "She made you do it!"

"See? See how he tries to twist everything? Would you ever hurt Henry?"

Emma blinked. "I did hurt him..."

"No," said Meg. "The pirate is making you think that."

"Jeez, she's twisting her mind," mumbled Belle.

"Emma..." began Killian.

"It's all his fault, Emma. He's always around, isn't he? He's fooled your parents, endeared himself to your son. He's even weaseled his way into your spare room, hasn't he?"

"What the blazes are you going on about, you evil bitch?" cried Killian.

"Control yourself, Captain," cautioned Gold.

It was too late. "Don't you dare call her that!" cried Emma. "You are the one who's behind everything!"

"Emma, no," said David carefully.

"You're right, Meg" said Emma. "He needs to go."

Before anyone could say anything there was a flash, a loud bang, a horrified scream and Killian fell to the floor.

"Oh my God!" screamed MM.

"You shot him!" cried Belle.

David knelt beside him, followed by the women. He stared at his daughter. "Emma...how could you?"

She stared at him, victory in her eyes.

Killian looked up at her, even as the pain flooded through him and the blood flowed. "Emma..."

End of Chapter Sixteen