Alice's plan to overthrow the Queen of Hearts is thwarted by a dashing pirate with a hook. Years later, after the curse is broken, they reunite once again.
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slowly editing! You'll see at the end of each chapter if th...
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tw: detailed description of dissociation.
Rumpelstiltskin's cell is carved deep within a cave. The metal bars resemble spiked teeth. It doesn't look strong enough to hold the most powerful man alive. But it is. Enchantments lace the iron, stripping the magic from whoever it holds.
Snow filled us in on how they captured him during the journey. They struck a deal with the Dark One, the one thing he's never been able to resist. The pen they handed him was filled with squid ink, the kind with a magical bite. It can temporarily paralyze whoever uses it. Rumpelstiltskin saved some in his cell for a rainy day. Figures.
With every minute, I'm more convinced that Rumpelstiltskin is a worthless liar whose head I'll serve on a platter. I take a deep breath and stick my hand into another crevice. Something brushes my fingers. I squeal, yanking back.
"It's not here," I snap.
Emma and Snow hurry over. Snow's breathing turns shallow and quick.
"Gold said we would find it."
Her head swivels, scanning the walls.
"He hasn't exactly proven to be the most forthcoming person alive," I sigh before muttering under my breath. "I'm gonna wring his neck."
"Well, was there anyone else in here with him? Could they have taken the ink?" Mulan asks, holding her torch up to the stone walls.
Snow shakes her head hard.
"No. He was kept alone. Visitors were forbidden. He was too dangerous to allow any human contact." She replies.
"How'd he keep from going crazy?" Emma mutters to herself.
"I did," I answer without thinking. "Sort of." I look down at the twenty eight scars on my forearm. "Well..."
"He didn't." Aurora chimes in.
She's holding an old scroll of parchment. I stand up straight. If he had parchment, then he had ink. The yellowed paper is well preserved.
"Is it a message?" Emma asks.
She strides over to the princess and holds out her hand. Aurora presses her lips together as she looks up from the scroll.
"Yes."
She places the scroll in Emma's hand. Her next words are hesitant.
"And I think it's for you."
"Why would you think-"
Emma stops short after one glance. There's a slight tremor in her voice that sets my teeth on edge. One glance over her shoulder tells me why. Emma's name covers the scroll. Over and over. It reminds me of when my mother made me write lines as punishment.
"Huh,"
I don't blink until Emma lowers the scroll out of my line of sight. She sinks onto a nearby rock. I wince at her stunned expression. The rest of us turn back to the walls and resume the search. Why would Gold use up so much ink to write one name? I shake my head. There's no use trying to decipher the mind of a madman.
