I Will Find You

Chapter 1: The Dark One

Emma's POV

The moment I thrust my hand into the darkness- dagger and all- I couldn't help but wonder if I had made the right decision. Was this really what a hero was supposed to do? Give up their life in order to save the life of another? Regina was a hero, too, wasn't she? So why didn't I let her take on the role of the dark one? Maybe I could've just chucked the dagger into the darkness and Regina's name would've been the one written on it-no. The darkness was doing this to me.

My thoughts stopped when a sudden pain engulfed me. The darkness was slowly creeping its way down my arm. I could feel it seeping into my skin, making its way into my bloodstream- crawling towards my heart. It felt like a million small swords were inside of me, and one by one, they were destroying me from the inside out. A sound of alarm escaped my throat.

Despite the unbearable pain, I lifted my head. Regina was standing in Robin's arms- a look of complete shock and horror shown on her face. My parents were in one another's grasp as well- tears streaming down their cheeks. It hurt to look at them. I knew how much they loved me and how hard they had tried to prevent me from becoming dark. They were heroes, and that's what heroes do. Why had I ever thought anything different?

I couldn't help but feel guilty for willingly thrusting darkness upon myself and destroying all they had worked for- not only to save me from darkness, but to become close with me. When I finally embraced the fact that I was from the enchanted forest, they were my parents, and Storybrooke was my home, I knew they had never been happier. Despite all those years without them, I knew they were my parents, and I was their daughter, and nothing would ever change that. This would hurt them more than anything they had experienced before, but it wouldn't hurt them as much as it would hurt me- and Killian.

I wanted to go back to my parent's apartment and tell him how much I loved him. I had been too afraid- again. Even after watching the life get sucked out of him. Watching his lifeless body fall to the ground. Even after telling then-bandit Regina how much it hurt; how much I had wished I had told him my feelings. After all that, I still couldn't do it. I still couldn't tell him I loved him. When I finally had the courage to tell him, to let down my walls, it was only because I was about to leave him- again. This was what finally brought tears to my eyes, and I let them pour out. I was done holding it all in. I let my walls break down once and for all.

The look of despair in his eyes only made the predicament worse. He was standing there, crying, wishing there was something he could do. But there wasn't. We both knew there was nothing we could do now. I had made my decision, and this might be the end.

I had faith that they would save me, but I couldn't stop thinking: What if they don't? What if they can't?

The dark one had taken away his Milah all those years ago- and now, in a way, it was taking me away from him, too.

Suddenly I couldn't see anything. The darkness was surrounding me. I was in a tornado of blackness, gasping for light. Everything hurt. My body felt like it was slowly melting and stiffening at the same time. It felt as if my limbs were gone. I could no longer feel the dagger in my hand.

I let out a final scream as I felt the darkness penetrate my heart.