More Than Rubies

Chapter 23

(Emma's P.O.V.)

Zero.

When the time runs out, I am lifted into the air. Is that it? Is this what it feels like to die? I continue floating in the air for a few minutes until I am dropped hard onto a solid ground. It takes me a moment to focus after hitting the ground so hard.

When my vision does focus, I realize that I am in a place that is very familiar. Storybrooke.

"Wh-what happened?" I hear a voice behind me say.

"Henry!" I shout.

I run to him and grab him in my arms.

"How is this possible?" Snow asks.

I look around me and see Hook, David, Mary Margaret, Neal, Regina, and of course Henry. How is Regina even here? She was all the way in the Enchanted Forest. Everyone shifts their focus to Hook.

"Don't look at me," he says," Regina was the one who gave me the portal we to get to Oz."

"Was there a portal back?" Regina asks.

"Not a portal," Henry says," these."

He points to the ruby slippers.

"He was to think of home when the time reached zero, and was to return to Storybrooke- alone," Hook explains," but clearly that's not what happened."

They all debate over possible ways that we could've survived, but I think I know the real reason. Home. Henry wished for home. The best home he could possible have is for all of to be here in Storybrooke with him.

"Wait," I interrupt the commotion," Henry wished for home. I guess the word home has a double meaning."

"Your point?" Hook questions.

I roll my eyes.

"We are his home. All of us."

They all nod in understanding.

Then, without warning, I hear a high pitched scream coming from behind me.

"Did you hear that?" I ask, my eyes wide.

"Hear what?" Hook questions.

Then I hear the scream again.

"The screaming," I say.

"Uh.. No," Hook responds.

"Listen!" I demand.

"Swan," he says," I'm listening. There isn't any screaming."

I hear the scream yet again.

"Seriously guys," I say with horror," do any of you hear that?!"

Everyone shakes their head. Then the screams start getting louder and more desperate. I turn around and run towards the noise.

"Emma!" Neal calls.

I don't respond. I have to find the source of that yell. Something about it sounds so desperate. So vulnerable. So familiar...

Another cliffhanger! Just so you guys know, I wrote all of this fanfiction before the season finale, so if any of these chapters mirrors the real show, it's just a coincidence;) THANK SO MUCH FOR READING ILYSM!! I will post the next chapter when I get to 2K reads❤✌