Behind Closed Doors

Chapter Eleven

"Oh come on, Emma. This...this is the dream! And now I have to wake you up. I know you won't believe it, Emma, but really, I'm sorry about this," Regina sincerely stated before she straightened her dress to appear more regal and prepare herself for what was to come.

She sashayed over to the very old, Snow and Charming that she still couldn't get over. She inhaled one last deep breath and then plunged both hands deep inside their chests, ripping out their vibrant, beating hearts. In that split second, she knew she was no longer the person she once was because that should have felt damn good, but instead, her body sagged with empathy and guilt for forcing Emma to witness this tragedy.

"I already gave you the Kingdom. I gave you everything, what more can I do?" Emma cried out as her knees buckled and she collapsed onto the cold ground below.

"Be the Savior and stop me. If not, your parents die," she threatened in her darkest tone while squeezing a little bit harder on the thumping hearts cradled in her hands. She needed the Charmings to cry out in agony and rattle the helpless princess, however, Emma just shook her heard.

"I'm not a hero. I'm not this Savior," the princess fully admitted, sniffling and bowing even lower to the floor, like maybe her submission would please the Queen.

"Yes, you are! I know you, Emma. You fight when it matters. You always do. Right now, you need to FIGHT!" She declared, squeezing down even harder on those erratic hearts, pleading with Emma to just fight her.

Because in all honesty, she didn't want to crush their hearts, and she most certainly didn't want to hurt Emma in such a way.

"No...please..." the shell of a woman hysterically cried out while thick tears streamed down her face.

"Oh come on, Miss Swan!" Regina snapped, losing her temper and all patience for the entire situation.

"I don't know how."

"You don't want their blood on your hands, do you?" What more could she say or do to snap Emma back to reality, she was actually killing her parents in front of her and Emma was still just sobbing on the castle floor at the mercy of her feet.

"No! No!"

"Do you?!" Regina shouted as the last bit of her patience and control vanished.

"No, no, no," Emma sobbed hysterically while she watched in horror as her parents collapsed.

Truthfully, she didn't even realize she was crushing their hearts until she felt the ash seeping through her fingertips. She lost her temper and Snow and Charming were now gone because of it, but that didn't matter, she knew they weren't real to begin with. None of it was real. Except the ache in Regina's heart, as she watched Emma weep like a child on the ground.

"You really don't remember, do you? You really couldn't fight me?" She mindlessly spoke to herself as she began to pace nervously, terrified that she might not be able to wake the Savior.

"She may not have fought, but I will." Henry's strong voice boomed through the castle, startling Regina from her wandering thoughts.

"Oh, no, Henry, I," Regina stammered, desperately searching for the right words.

"Henry!" Emma cried even harder, scrambling to her feet.

"You murdered my grandparents and for that you will pay," their son declared, provoking Regina's gaze to drop down to the sword clenched in his tight fist.