Nine Lives

Life Five: Part Five

Some time had passed and Emma and Snow were back from the enchanted forest. Charlie knew that Cora was going to be kidnapping Dr. Hopper soon enough so stupidly, Charlie asked to see him late at night to try and maybe stop Cora. Honestly she knew that this plan was stupid and reckless but if she could change something like Jefferson and Grace meeting early, maybe she could change other things for the better.

"Hey Charlie" Dr Hopper smiled at her as Charlie walked through the door of his office. He at first thought it was rather strange that she wanted to meet so late but he didn't really mind it after a while.

"Hey Archie" Charlie smiled as she bend down to pet Pongo. Honestly that always confused her as to why Pongo was brought over with the curse. "Good boy Pongo. You know I've been trying to get Jefferson to adopt a dog for Grace but he hasn't given in yet."

"Are you sure its for Grace?" Archie asked with a smile.

"Alright I admit it would be for me but Grace wants one too" Charlie smiled as she sat down.

"Let me just get your file" Archie said turning around to get to his filing cabinet. The door opened and in walked Regina or because Charlie knew better, Cora. "Regina? I'm sorry but I'm with a client right now we can talk after?" 'Regina turned around and smiled when she saw who was sitting on the couch.

"Alice its been a while" Regina smirked. Charlie stood up and went to grab Archie when purple smoke surrounded her.

"Archie!!" Charlie tried to grab him but when the smoke cleared she stumbled and tripped over a box. She looked around and realized quickly that she was on the Jolly Roger which made her smile for a moment. She loved hooks character ark in the show and the Jolly Roger was an amazing ship. Before she could get to much of a look another cloud of smoke took over the room and she then found herself tied up and gagged next to Archie. 'Lovely I tried to change things and ended up getting kidnapped in the process.'

Charlie somehow managed to fall asleep as she leaned up against the wooden ship and slightly against Archie. However the 'peacefulness' was ruined by light shining in making Charlie wake up and looked towards the light.

"I get why you took the cricket but why the girl?" Hook looked over at Cora.

"Because shes someone from my past" Cora said looking at Charlie. Charlie glared up at her. The door closed and Charlie struggled against her robes for a bit before she was finally able to get out of them. 'Must know that from being Alice' Charlie thought to herself as she took off her gag then took off Archie's

"Charlie get yourself out of here" Archie said quickly and quietly. "You can get to Emma and tell her where we are."

"Don't be silly Archie. We are both getting out of here" Charlie said as she started to untie him. However another cloud of smoke took her from under deck and dropped her roughly onto the deck. "You could be more gentle with a woman" Charlie glared at the pair of feet in front of her. She stood up and looked at Cora and Hook but Hook was standing off to the side slightly. "Why did you kidnap me? Honestly being pushed through a mirror and then taken by the curse wasn't enough to get away from you?" Charlie asked which surprised her. Some small memories of her life as Alice had come to her but most things were just a blur. So this was her mouth moving on her own.

"I treated you like a daughter" Cora said stepping closer.

"Then I feel sorry for your actual daughter" Charlie snapped glaring up at her.

What happened next was very fast. Cora's hand shot forward and into Charlie's chest making her gasp. Cora pulled her hand back and took Charlie's bright red heart with it. Charlie fell to her knees as she struggled to calm herself down. She had seen it be done in the show thousands of times but actually having it be done to her was painful, very very painful.

"Please" Charlie whispered. She didn't want to die. She finally felt like she had a family with Jefferson and Grace and because she stupidly thought she could change things she was now going to die. If she did die she hoped this would be her last life because she didn't think she could get attached to another life.

"Now you have nothing to say?" Cora smiled slightly as she squeezed.

"Hook please" Charlie gasped out holding her chest. "I have a family. A man I love and his daughter plea...Ahh!" Charlie cried out as Cora squeezed harder.

"Wait" Hook stepped forward to stop Cora.

"Your growing soft Captain" Cora said as she stopped squeezing for a moment. Charlie fell to the deck breathing harshly.

"It isn't right" Hook said firmly looking over at Charlie who glanced up to meet his eyes. His mind wondering back to when Milah's heart had been torn from her chest and crushed in front of them. He didn't want to be responsible for another man to loss his love. "The cricket can help get insight on the town just let her go home."

"Hm" Cora said looking at Hook before looking back at Charlie who was already looking up at her. "Tempting but" Cora crushed the heart she held in her hands and the dust fell to the deck. "She has no use for me anymore."