Author's Note: If many of you recognize this story, it's because it has already been posted once before on this site by a dear friend of mine. Due to some conflict, the previous author is unable to complete this story, and has handed it off to me. The author disclosed certain plot points to me, and has given me the material of the original piece. This being said, the author has given me creative rights to play around with the plot, and to add my own spin on it. I was a fan of the original "Rescue Me" story, and only wish to do it justice and write to the satisfaction of the author and the original story's followers. Whether you are familiar or new to the story, if you wish to embark on this journey with me, please comment, follow and favorite. Let me know what you wish to see and what you don't care for. I have so many neat ideas that I can't wait to get around to! I appreciate any feedback, and I hope you enjoy my take on "Rescue Me," originally written by Jezek10.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. All characters belong to the Once Upon A Time writers Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz. The OC's are brought to you by Jezek10.

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Prologue:

Darkness engulfed her. The rough fabric that covered her eyes was tied so taught that she could feel the blood rushing through her head. She found it odd that her captors had chosen to not bind her mouth as well. Apparently it didn't matter if she screamed or called for help. Either no one would hear her or she was so far away from civilization that no one of importance would follow her voice and free her. This thought scared her, even shook her to the core. But it also brought a vague sense of relief. At least she couldn't drag anyone else into this hellish nightmare.

A cough escaped her mouth, and she found herself involuntarily tugging at the chains that held her upright off the ground and against the grimy wall at her backside. Her underarms were immensely sore from the strain of her body's weight holding her down. Her chest ached so badly that the slightest movement made her seethe and hiss in pain. Her limbs protested in a series of cracks, pops and groans as she shifted her weight to better accommodate the confines she found herself in. It felt good to stand. She stretched her neck, and sighed in satisfaction when it popped. She licked her dry lips out of habit, and wasn't surprised when she tasted blood. In fact, she could feel a warm stickiness matted close to her temple. An injury, no doubt. Her skin, grimy and dirty, crawled with the eerie drip dropping sounds that echoed throughout the empty room.

The room smelled dank, almost reminiscent of sewage. Although the stench wasn't unbearable, it was enough to encourage her to test the length of the chains binding her to the wall by taking a few steps forward. She only had a foot or so of slack on the shackles. The iron felt heavy around her wrists as she continued to hold herself upright. In fact, the slightest burning sensation seared her wrists as the metal pressed against the thin layers of skin protecting the pulsing blood beneath. Where was she? How long was she meant to be kept here? How long had she been out for? What had happened before she blacked out...?

And then the memories came rushing back. Anger, guilt and sorrow raged within her chest, and with the rise in adrenaline that coursed through her veins, she growled and tugged as aggressively as she could against the shackles. Her tendons and muscles contorted and cramped with all the effort she put forth in attempting to budge the chains from the wall. Even jarring them in the slightest would give her hope. Perhaps she could escape. Perhaps she could be strong, fearless and never surrender. What would Regina do...?

That thought alone was enough to stop her. Who was she kidding? Regina Mills wouldn't be in this position in the first place. So much for being the surrogate daughter of the evil queen...

"Dammit!" she barked out of frustration, and thus beginning a long slur of curses that uncontrollably escaped her lips. When she ran out of steam and motivation, she huffed and groaned, banging the back of her head against the wall. She didn't mind the stars that swam across her vision. It only clarified that she was, indeed, alive.

As she stood there, with nothing but the continuous drip dropping of presumable sewage ringing in her ears, she became increasingly aware of a sensation that prickled across her flesh, causing goosebumps to ignite across her skin. She shivered involuntarily and pressed her lips together as she listened to the silence.

Someone was watching her.

"Who's there?" she called hoarsely, even though she already had a good idea of who was lurking in the shadows. By her tone it was obvious that she was exhausted and deflated. "I know you're here," she added warily. "There's no need to keep your presence a secret."

A silence ensued. She listened for any sign of detectable movement. Just when she thought that she had been wrong and was only imagining things, a sultry voice penetrated the tension in the air, calming her yet striking fear into her very core all at once.

"It seems as though I was right," the sickening voice spoke, making her cringe.

She allowed a sigh to escape her lips, blood boiling. "Right about what, witch?" she spat venomously.

"Do not test me, child," the voice growled, growing closer to where she stood. "If you did not have something that I so desperately need, I would not tolerate such behavior."

"What's that supposed to mean?" she responded cagily.

"You are quite the hidden gem," the voice ignored the girl's question as if she had not spoken, lingering on the border of awe and frustration. "I know why you're so special to her. To the Queen. Regina."

The girl paused before answering, momentarily stumped by the comment. "Care to enlighten me then?" she quipped sarcastically, still slightly ruffled.

A chuckle echoed off the walls of the room, taunting and teasing. "You really don't know, do you dear?"

"Know what...?"

"You truly don't," the voice reiterated, this time in amusement and confirmation. "You don't know the power you hold. You don't realize the purpose of your existence. You play a very important role in the lives of those you hold dear. This is no accident..." The next time she spoke, the voice snarled right into her ear, the warmth of breath uncomfortably tickling her skin. "It must be quaint and simple remaining oblivious to your abilities. However, it dreads me to say that you shan't retain them for long..."

And then... Pain. Searing pain that tore through the senses.

As she listened to her own cries ring in her ears, she thought of Regina and Henry. Praying that they were safe, and would never have to encounter the likes of this dark sorceress ever again.