Sound of Surviving

31

ENCHANTED FOREST - PAST

Hook and Nevaeh, wearing cloaks to disguise themselves, walked up the stairs leading to a tower in the Evil Queen's castle. Along the way, they encountered a guard on the stairs who said, "Halt."

"Food for the prisoner," Hook told him.

"It's not mealtime. Who are you? Identify yourself, slaves!"

Hook and Nevaeh easily defeated the guard in a fight before saying, "Slaves? I prefer Captain and she doesn't care for that term." He took the keys from the dead guard and they continued their way upwards. At the top, they entered a room, where Belle was being held captive.

"Hi... You must be Belle," Nevaeh said.

"The Queen sent you two, didn't she?" Belle guessed. "She wants you both to kill me."

Hook shook his head. "We're not here to kill you, love."

"We're here to rescue you," Nevaeh told her as Hook began to unlock her shackles.

"Rescue me?" Belle said. "Who are you?"

"A friend," Hook answered. "We haven't much time. Your father's life is in danger. He's being attacked by the very same monster who stole you away from your family in the first place."

"What, Rumpelstiltskin?"

"The Dark One – he must be stopped. You spent more time with him than anyone. There are rumours of a magical weapon that has the power to kill him."

"No, no, no, no. Let... Let me talk to him. He's not a monster."

"Belle, your father's life hangs in the balance. My dear sister and I need to know what that weapon is, and where to find it."

"I don't know what you're talking about, and I have no idea how to... How to kill Rumpelstiltskin."

"You don't?"

"No. And... And nor would I."

"Hm. Then, I'm afraid I'm not here to rescue you." He backhanded Belle, rendering her unconscious. "So pretty... Yet, so useless." Hook raised his arm, preparing to kill her with his hook, earning a frown from Nevaeh, but was stopped by the Evil Queen.

She entered the room and magically removed his hook before saying, "No. Not useless. She's a valuable chess piece."

"Do my sister and I look like we're playing a game of chess? My hook, if you please."

"No."

"The asking was me being a gentleman."

"Is that any way to address a queen? Even pirates should have better manners than that. Yes... I know who you two are... Captain and the infamous White Queen. I know why you came here from Neverland. And I know all about the crocodile you wish to skin."

"Then you also know, that he'll stop at nothing," Nevaeh said.

"So dedicated and resourceful. No one has been able to fight their way past my defenses before. She can't help you kill Rumpelstiltskin, Hook. But I can, if you do something for me. Care to join me for a drink? You're welcome to join us, Nevaeh."

---

The Evil Queen poured out three drinks and handed one to Hook and another to Nevaeh before saying, "Things are about to change in this world. Radically. I have plans to enact a curse that will take everyone to a far-off land."