The Pirate Expedition

Part 6 - 2/2

The day had all but passed by, and it was officially the night shift. Only Emma and Hook were awake now, and it was eerily quiet.

Hook took another swig from his flask as he stared out into the darkness.

"Can I ask you something?" Emma asked.

"Aye," he turned to her.

"What is your business in where we're going?"

"There is no need for you to know that," he avoided her eye contact and took another swig.

"What's the harm in me knowing?" She asked, finding his wandering eyes and capturing them in hers. "At least tell me where we are going, you told me you'd do as much."

"Fine. We're going to the far corner of the realm, the land is called DunBroch."

"What are you planning to find in DunBroch? I've heard DunBroch to be no more than a small kingdom which suffers from corruption. Nothing there can be worth this whole trip can it?" Emma questions.

"It's not DunBroch itself, love. We are planning on meeting someone there and taking them by surprise."

"Who? Who could be that important?"

"The Dark One, that's who," Hook replied coolly.

"What?! Are you insane? I thought you wanted my ransom, a dead man can't collect his reward."

"I know what I'm doing. I'm not going unprepared. I've been waiting for the battle for more years than you've been alive."

"A battle? With the dark one? Why possibly take him on?" There was true concern in Emma's voice. Of all the plans she has come up with for this trip, this was not one.

"That crocodile has taken much from me, and it's time for him to pay," Hook said, his eyes almost iced over as he spoke. His hook shone in the moonlight and Emma noticed he couldn't get himself to look at it as he spoke.

"He's the one who took your hand, wasn't he?" Emma asked quietly, not knowing what his reaction would be.

"Aye, that he did." He answered curtly. Emma could sense more.

"That's not the whole story is it?"

"So far from it." He looked down to his wrist where a tattoo was inked to his skin. It had Milah's name across a heart. That's when she knew.

"He killed Milah. That's what you're not saying. Am I correct?" She took a step closer to him, trying to make him feel comfortable to open up. At least a bit.

"Correct." One word was all she got in return. Killian tried to take his mind off the conversation, off the Dark One and Milah, but he just couldn't. "I'm not scared of him Emma, he might be powerful but I have something that will stiffen him, make him powerless for a short time. That's all I need."

"Are you sure it's worth it?" Emma asked, but immediately regretted it as his eyes shot daggers at her.

"Of course it is! I'll do anything to avenge Milah! This is not your choice Emma, remember your place here before you try stepping out of it," he snarled, and Emma knew she'd hit a nerve.

"I'm sorry," she apologized, and sincerely too as she scolded herself. She knew she shouldn't have asked him that, but she felt comfortable in the moment and took the opportunity.

"...It's fine." He sighed as he looked over to Emma whose head was now hanging low. At his words her head shot back up, and a hopeful smile crossed her lips.