Emma was woken by a voice from above. Moonlight spilled into her cell from a fist-sized hole in the ceiling. They hadn't cared enough to fill it up. No one could take her away through just a tiny hole. Besides, nothing could break the chains binding her to the cave wall.
"Are you in there, Swan?" The voice called out. It was a man's voice with a thick Irish accent. The man was trying to open up the hole with his hands―wait, one hand and…a hook? Who was this man? His voice tickled her mind and she tried her best to remember if she had ever seen this man before. Her mind was blank.
"Who are you?" Her voice cracked. She hadn't spoken in so long. Only ever snarled or hissed since she was put here.
The man's face came into view. He had thick eyebrows and a mustache just as dark. A light layer of stubble covered his jaw. Emma's first impression was that he was handsome. Freakishly handsome.
Her cheeks burned for no apparent reason at all. This was the first she'd had of this sensation. "Oi. You're blushing." He called down quietly, but his voice resonated through the almost empty dungeon. "Swan. I just wanted to tell you that I am going to save you. You might not even recognize me, but I know that Emma Swan is in there somewhere. She is still alive. And I will save her. And that means you as well, love. My name is Killian by the way. Remember that." He winked. The strange urge to smile rose up. But she continued to grimace.
Suddenly, she felt a darkness swirl up in her chest. It took hold of her, and didn't let go. Emma's eyes suddenly changed colors from green to black. Black as obsidian.
The man with the hook suddenly inhaled a small breath―more of surprise than of fear―just as Swan lunged toward him. Obviously, she couldn't reach him when he was so high up, but she expected him to at least flinch or look horrified. He did none of these. Only looked at her with his eyes filled with sorrow. He whispered some words that were only just audible, "I will save you from this," and then left with a swish of his long cloak.