Pandora's Box

Chapter 9

New York

The long road was very daunting to Melody. She didn't like the walk she had to endure. As athletic as she believed she was, this trip was proving her wrong. Her feet ached after only a mile of walking and by the time she reached a small diner stop on the side of the road, she immediately asked for a cab to take her to New York.

Melody had never been to New York. In fact, she had never been anywhere out of Storybrooke. She wasn't sure if it was normal for such a place to be as busy as it was. As the cab came to a slow stop, she paid her huge debit and climbed out with her bag.

The hotel she was dropped off at looked extremely expensive, a place that was definitely not for her. The place lined with gold trimmings, the white and cream color of the hotel contested perfectly against the New York sun.

Melody gave a tight smile to the doorman as he opened the door for her. The inside of the hotel was as gorgeous as the outside. It was very intimidating and Melody considered turning around and finding something more suitable for her. But instead, she managed to gather all her courage and made her way to the front desk. Melody reached into her bag for the envelope again and began to flip through the papers.

As she approached the front desk, she cleared her throat to catch the attention of the girl.

"Welcome to the Golden Afternoon Hotel, what can I help you with?" She recited. Melody glanced down at her papers.

"Yeah, may I speak with the manager, please?" Melody asked. The girl, Piper, looked up the pirate once before turning and disappearing into a door near them. It took only a couple minutes of waiting before two girls came back out.

It surprised Melody that the manager looked no older than 22. She had long, blonde tight curls framing her fragile face. Her blue eyes greeted Melody with a warm welcome.

"Can I help you with anything?" She asked and Melody nodded.

"Yes, uh Regina, the Evil Queen sent me," Melody said softly and uneasy, making sure no one around her heard.

The manager's eyes widened for a split second before Melody saw them glow gold. With a smirk on her face, she gestured for the pirate to follow into her office.

Once inside the safety of the office, the manager stuck out her hand for Melody.

"They call me Abigail in this land. But back where we're from, I'm known as Goldilocks," she introduced herself. Melody took a seat across from the desk. She handed Goldilocks the papers Regina had given her.

"Well, if Regina sent you she obviously wanted you to have a place to stay. You can take her room," Goldilocks said as she typed away on her computer.

After registering Melody into the system, Goldilocks smiled at the pirate and handed her a key.

"Once again, Welcome to the Golden Afternoon Hotel, Miss Jones."

~

To believe only two days had passed since she arrived at the overwhelming hotel was indescribable to Melody.

She spent her days just staring a the wall or watching t.v. The mindless shows that passed regularly could not block her thoughts.

If Melody was being honest with herself, she was going nothing but waiting for the inedible.

There was no doubt in her mind that Peter Pan would find her. It was only a matter of time. The lack of magic in this world would not stop him from accomplishing whatever it was he wanted. It would be naive and stupid of Melody to believe he would let her live her days out in peace. Melody had already sealed her fate the moment she met him.

And with that dark thought in mind, she knew she had to prepare herself for the worst to come.

Because at that moment, her freedom could be snatched away at any given moment.

~

The dark, eerie energy that the island gave off scared Melody, but she wasn't one to cower down from a fight, especially if it meant her friend's life was at stake. Melody stood by her father, Rumple, before letting out a sigh. Her boots tapped against the wooden planks of the Jolly Roger.

"That's it, eh?" She whispered and her father nodded. They both stared cautiously at the faraway island. The ocean surrounding pulled them closer. Melody gripped her sword tighter.

"That it is. One of the most dangerous places you will ever step foot on," he said before turning to his daughter, "I still think it was a foolish idea to bring you along."

Melody scoffed.

"You are the one planning on going rogue. Who's going to watch your back if it ain't me?"

Rumple said nothing before turning to the rest of the Charming's, one-handed pirate, and Regina.

"This is where we part ways," Rumple announced. Everyone turned to look at them

"We're gonna get Henry," the dark one said as he gestured to himself and his daughter. Melody nodded in agreement but Hook was ready to protest.

"We agreed to do this together," Regina snapped but Rumple immediately shut her down.  

"Actually, we made no such agreement," he retorted while giving Regina a scowl.

"Why are you doing this?" Emma questioned. The dark one only rolled his eyes.

"Because I wanna succeed."

"What makes you think I'm gonna fail?"

"Well, how could you not? You don't believe in your parents, or in magic, or even yourself," he said, "you only believe what is shown to you. You don't take real leaps of faith. I've known you some time, Miss Swan, and sadly, despite everything you've been through, you're still just that... bail bonds-person, looking for evidence. That's not gonna work in Neverland."

"And what does taking my daughter with you have to do with any of that?" Hook snapped as he tried to yank Melody away from Rumple but the young girl simply pushed his hand away.

"She is my daughter too. And while I don't exactly agree with her decision to tag along, she is best safe with me."

"I'll do whatever it takes to get Henry back," Emma said. Rumple only chuckled.

"Sorry, dearie, but I don't see it in your eyes. Our foe is too fearsome for hand-holding and prancing about. Neverland is a place where imagination runs wild. And, sadly, yours doesn't."

With a spin of his cane, Rumpelstiltskin and Melody Jones landed on the dark island they came to know as Neverland.

A place where neither hoped they would ever be.

*unedited*

Quick note!!!

Peter Pan is not Rumpelstiltskin's father. That shit too weird man. They are just foes from a long time back and are in no way related because ew.