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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I open the door to Emma's apartment and drag my feet through the door. Turns out, losing that much blood is really exhausting. Regina is resting on the bed with Snow, David, and the blue fairy hovering over her. Their attention turns to us as soon as they hear the door close.
Emma looks empty inside, like someone sucked her soul out of her. I look like I just walked off the set of a slasher film. Snow and David run over to me at the sight of blood.
"What happened to you?" David asks, putting a hand on my shoulder.
"I'm fine, I'm fine," I say with a sigh.
Which, for the most part, is true. I'm not feeling great, but I'm not at risk of bleeding out, so that's good. However, mentally, I'm drained. I haven't even had time to process my literal death before being flung into another mess. I mean, what even is there to process? It was like a long nap. I went to sleep and woke up. Sure, it was in a grave, but stuff happens.
I'm just grateful I don't ever have to deal with Cora again.
"You're covered in blood." David chastises.
"I healed it, I'm okay," I tell them.
Emma, on the other hand...I glance over my shoulder. She's looking right through me.
"Where's Neal?" Snow whispers.
Emma raises her head and finally looks like she's present in the room with us.
"He's gone. She killed him." She whispers tearfully.
Her parents rush to embrace her. I turn away, giving them some privacy. I leave to give them privacy, coming to stand by Regina. It's the first time I've seen her since she betrayed me. With Cora dead, any anger towards her eludes me.
Especially after finding out what Greg did to her.
Her eyes are closed, but I can tell she's not asleep.
"Regina," I whisper.
Her eyes shoot open at the sound of my voice.
"Alice." She breathes out in disbelief. "You're alive- how? I saw your-you were."
"I'm okay now," I tell her vaguely.
"I'm so sorry, Alice. For everything."
My own eyes widen in shock when she starts to cry. I want to be angry at her, but Cora was her mother. As bad as she was to me, she did worse to Regina.
It hits me then, at the worst moment. I want to live.
It's not that I wanted to die before Cora killed me. But I had accepted my fate so quickly because I didn't value my life. But ever since I came back, something has changed within me. I'm tired of being angry. I'm tired of the killing and the fighting. Sure, there will always be bad people to defeat, but I don't want to carry around old burdens. Old anger that was born from Cora.
