WARNING: THIS CHAPTER FEATURES SUICIDAL THEMES! Please proceed with caution.

"Alice?"

The woman stepped forward and wrapped the teenage girl in her arms, relieved to see her but Teresa didn't hug back, too shocked that Alice had survived her fall into the River of Souls to do anything but stare with wide eyes.

When Alice drew back, her smiled vanished. "I take it from the look on your face that Killian told you what happened to me?"

"He said that you fell into the River of Souls."

"He's not wrong."

The platinum-blonde shook her head. "If he's right, then how are you even alive? Is Milah okay?"

Alice smirked. "Technically I am dead, but I take your meaning. And no, unfortunately Milah did not survive her fall."

"How did you?" Teresa interrogated.

"It's a long story." Alice motioned toward the door. "Why don't we go for a walk, Teresa? I'll tell it to you. Besides, you look as though you could use some fresh air."

Teresa hesitated. She glanced toward the booth she once sat at with Henry, a sense of longing burrowing in her heart before she turned to look at Alice. With a nod, she followed her outside.

As they walked down the sidewalk, Alice explained how she survived with a clear of her throat. "When I fell into the River of Souls, it was painful. It was like drowning in acid, and your entire body is paralyzed. You can't move. You can't scream. You can't think of anything else but the pain."

Teresa noticed the pained look in her eyes and frowned. No one can lie of such pain, and as far as she was aware, Alice was kind. One of the kindest people in the world, according to Henry Mills, so she at least knew that Alice wasn't lying to her.

"I'm sorry," she murmured, not knowing what else to say.

"It's alright," Alice shrugged. "The pain felt as though it lasted forever, but suddenly there was this bright light. Like the sun breaking through the clouds after a long storm. It was so bright that I had to close my eyes, and when I opened them, I wasn't drowning anymore. There was no pain, no water. I was free. I didn't know how until he said my name."

Teresa furrowed her brows. "He?"

"Merlin."

She stopped walking, cerulean-blue eyes growing in size. Teresa seized her wrist, stopping her from walking. "Merlin? The Merlin?"

Alice nodded. "The one and only. He told me I had to save Killian by falling into the River of Souls that day, but that drowning for eternity wasn't my destiny. Merlin said I had a different path and a bright future ahead of me, but that I had to wait until you died."

"Hold on." Teresa's nostrils flared, her anger spiking. "You mean to tell me that Merlin knew I was going to die all this time? That he knew Hyde would take over Storybrooke and bring my murderer to town?"

"Yes."

Teresa was angry. She had never felt so betrayed in her life. When she asked Merlin about her prophecy with Henry, he never once mentioned that she would die within the same year. How could he not tell her? It seemed like a pretty important fact to know, for they could have prevented everything, but Merlin allowed it all to happen. And here she had thought he was good man that she had trusted.

"I know you're angry, Teresa, but we have to focus on the task at hand."

"Yeah and what's that?" Teresa snapped. Her fists were covered with frost and flakes of snowed danced around her head.

Alice kept calm, not wanting to anger the platinum-blonde any further. She didn't know if Teresa had full control over her magic yet or not, though judging by the sight of snow and frost she was seeing, it was safe to assume that the girl was still learning how to separate her emotions from her magic. She did not judge her, for she knew what it was like to be a beginner at magic. It was difficult and near impossible to control her emotions, but she learned how over time with Cora Mills as her mentor.

"As I mentioned, the Underworld is not our path, Teresa."

"It damn well feels like it!"

"Teresa, you need to calm down. Hell is bad enough without you changing the temperature to lower degrees."

It was then that Teresa Holmes noticed the flakes of snow that hovered around her head like winter halo. She glanced down at her fists and her eyes widened when she noticed the thick layer of frost covering them. The platinum-blonde breathed through her nostrils and closed her eyes, thinking of peaceful thoughts.

Just breathe, Teresa. I'm right here with you. She could hear Henry tell her.

After a moment, she opened her eyes, feeling more calm than before. "I'm sorry."

"There's nothing to apologize for," Alice assured. "I was in your shoes once. I know all too well of the struggles of magic. Now, as I was saying... the Underworld is not our destiny, Teresa."

"Then what is?" she asked, sounding far more calm than the last time she asked.

"Merlin himself pulled me from the River of Souls. He told me he had plans for me. I wasn't sure why I was chosen among all those that suffered like I had, but he claimed that I was the only person in the Underworld who could help you. I wasn't assure why, but I came to assume that it was because we knew each other. Our first meeting had been brief the last time you were all here, but I would still be a familiar face and one you would trust once you died."

Well, Merlin's not wrong, Teresa thought. If it was someone else I'd probably be questioning their truth right about now and think they're playing some game to fill me with hope. But I know Alice would never lie to me. After surviving the River of Souls, why would she risk lying and going back there?

"I take it Merlin has a task for me then?" she wondered after a moment. "Otherwise, he would have told me I was going to die the last time we spoke. He wanted me here... but why?"

Alice frowned. "That, I'm afraid, I do not know. Merlin wasn't very specific with details. He kept it short and sweet. I barely spoke five words to him before I found myself walking in the Underworld again."

Teresa ran a hand through her hair. "If you don't know what our task is, how are we supposed to complete it?"

"I never said I didn't know my task," Alice said, causing the teenager to perk up. "Merlin told me he wanted me to help you get back to Storybrooke. The Soulmates, he said, have much to accomplish."

"How exactly are you going to manage that?"

She sighed. "I'm not sure. I was thinking ─ "

A familiar pain erupted in Teresa's body and the cry that fell from her lips cut Alice off. She clutched at her chest and heaved out sharp breaths, eyes stinging with tears. It felt as though she had been electrocuted. She's only felt this pain once before, when someone in the Enchanted Forest had used magic on her to summon a ball of energy like a bolt of lightning. It hurt, but at least she learned her lesson for stealing from that woman's kingdom, even if it had only been some food for her growling belly.

"Teresa, what's happening?" Alice worriedly asked.

Before Teresa could respond, there was another sharp pain like a bolt of lightning and a blinding light. Everything was white. And then her eyes opened, but she wasn't in the Underworld anymore. Her vision was blurry, and it felt like she was laying down. After a moment, she could make out the faces of Dr. Whale and Buttercup hovering over her. There were defibrillators in his hands, and Buttercup appeared exhausted. Despite the exhaustion weighing down on her body, Teresa Holmes was confused.

How did I get to the hospital? Where's Alice? Am I no longer dead? Had that all been a dream?

Dr. Whale and Buttercup were talking to her, but their words fell dear on her ears. Teresa turned her head to the side, and her eyes fell on Killian Jones. The man had tears in his eyes and what appeared to be a relieved smile on his face. Next to him stood Regina and David, who was embracing a crying Snow White. Her eyes bore into Snow's for a moment and she opened her mouth, wishing to speak to her best friend, but her throat felt like it was on fire. It was then she realized there was some sort of tube in her throat that was most likely helping her breath. Or at least she assumed that's what it was for.

Her head was tilted away from Snow and her eyes met Dr. Whale's. The man was speaking to her, but again, his words fell deaf on her ears. She wondered if she was in shock or if she had lost her hearing after being stabbed. Hopefully, the former. If she was deaf, how was she supposed to hunt? How was she supposed to talk to her friends? How was she supposed to watch movies with Henry?

Dr. Whale cupped her cheek and pulled the tube from her throat. Teresa's eyes widened and then she squeezed them tight as she felt it being up her throat and out her mouth. It burned the entire time and left a scratchy sensation behind. She coughed and coughed, and each time she did, a fresh wave of pain washed over her body and her abdomen gushed with each move her muscles made.

When the pain passed for a moment, the numb feeling return and her head fell to the side once more. She noticed that Emma Swan was on the ground and at first she was confused and wondered why, but then she noticed who the blonde was cradling. Henry Mills' warm brown eyes were rimmed red and a waterfall of tears flowed down his pale cheeks. The pained look on his face was enough to break her heart.

Teresa reached her hand out toward him, and his name fell from her lips like a whisper. She could feel her fingers barely brush over his own and Snow White's as she moved from their sight and down the hallway. Once again, Dr. Whale and Buttercup were talking to her, but she couldn't hear a word they were saying. She closed her eyes, a tear falling from her eye. All she wanted was to see Henry, to reach out and hold him, but now she was gone; trapped in what appeared to be an elevator and she did not know where she was going.

When the elevator doors opened, they moved her down the hallway and into a large room. It was white and blue and tiled. There large lights hanging over her, and tables of sharp tools all around her. Monitors were near, and several people moved around her in haste. Buttercup was stripping away her clothing and placing her in a gown. It seemed they were prepping her for something, but Teresa Holmes wasn't sure what for.

A sharp pain burst through her body. In that moment, it seemed she regained her hearing. Something was blaring in her ear like a loud alarm. With one look to her left, she realized it was her heart monitor, and she panicked. Her fists curled around the sheet she was lying on and her jaw tightened. She was sure she had bitten down on her lip so hard that a trail of blood was flowing down her chin... or maybe she was crying. Teresa wasn't sure. All she knew for sure was that this pain was going to kill her.

And maybe she was right.

Her vision darkened again just like it did at the docks, and then, everything was black. But after a moment everything was light again. She was awake and laying on the sidewalk. Her brows furrowed and there was no pain in her body anymore. Looking to her right, she found Alice crouching at her side.

"What happened?" Teresa asked as Alice helped her stand up.

"You're dying Teresa."

"But I thought I was already dead? You told me I was."

"That's because you were, Teresa. But as long as your friends continue to help you survive, you'll be trapped between both veils. As your heart remains beating, you'll be in Storybrooke. But each time your heart fails, you'll return here."

Teresa turned away.

Alice followed her down the sidewalk. "I know it must be hard to be balanced on the line between life and death, but Teresa... we already know what your fate is."

"I know." Teresa stopped walking and turned around to face her. "And I'm okay with it. I made my peace with it the moment I was stabbed with my own arrow. I don't deserve to live, Alice. Not after everything I've done."

"Teresa, you won't stay dead. Merlin tasked me with bringing you back to Storybrooke once your heart stops beating, and I always keep my promises."

The platinum-blonde scoffed. "Really? Because Regina sure doesn't feel like you've kept the promises, you made to her."

Alice looked away, her heart stinging at the reminder of the one she loved and left behind. But she had no choice. It was her life or Regina's, and out of the two of them, she didn't have a child that would need his mother.

"My mother promised to love me forever, but then she turned and abandoned when I was a child. A child, Alice. I wasn't even old enough to tie the laces on my boots. Robin promised to always be the father I never had, but just when I got him back, he died."

Alice's eyes widened, and then they filled with tears. Yet another love of Regina Mills had died. Alice hoped with all her heart that this time Regina hadn't held the one she loved in her arms as he took his last breath as she had with her.

"And the Merry Men took the only little brother I would ever have back to the Enchanted Forest where I could never see him again after they promised to always think of me as family. I could go and on and on, but I think you've gotten the point. So you see, Alice, we make promises that meant be broken. I'm not going to stand here and keep holding on to hope that I will go back when I don't deserve it. Just look around you, Alice. There are so many people here that could go back, and they probably deserve it a lot more than I do." With a wave of her hand, Teresa Holmes vanished in a storm of white flurries.

"Teresa!" Alice shouted, but the girl was already gone. She had teleported herself elsewhere in the Underworld and now she'd have to find her before she'd do something drastic. Alice would not fail Merlin, but where could she had gone? She didn't know Teresa well, so she'd have to think.

Her first thought was Snow White's apartment. With a wave of her hand and a search of the loft, she didn't find her there. So she checked Regina's house and yet, the platinum-blonde wasn't there either. Not even in Henry Mills room. Alice checked Granny's once more, but still her search for Teresa was dry.

"Damn it," Alice muttered as she slammed the door to Granny's behind her. She didn't know Teresa enough to know where else to look.

She was sitting on the stairs for a while before it hit her.

It was clear that Teresa didn't want to live anymore. She felt as though she didn't deserve a second chance at life with her haunting past and Alice understood that, but Teresa Holmes was still a child. She was only seventeen and deserved to find some redemption.

Alice knew where she was.

She teleported herself to the cave where Regina, Henry, Teresa and herself had escorted Regina's father to find peace the last time they were here to save Killian from Hades. As her boots landed on the hard terrain, she glanced around and it didn't take her long to spot Teresa. The platinum-blonde stood near the cliff, ready to jump into the pit of lava that would destroy her soul.

"Teresa, don't!" Alice shouted, racing toward her.

Without turning around, Teresa said, "I'm sorry, Alice."

Alice could see was reading herself to jump, so she jumped into action. She hoped that maybe she could talk the teenager from her suicidal mission. "I understand that you've done things you aren't proud of, Teresa. If anyone can understand what you are feeling, it's me."

Tears streamed down Teresa's face, but she didn't turn around. If she did, she feared that Alice would talk her out of jumping. And she couldn't go back. If she did, she would have to tell Henry Mills and Snow White about what she used to do to keep herself alive. She couldn't face them now. And maybe it was cowardly of her, but Teresa Holmes didn't care. Henry and Snow had lived without her before for so long; she knew they could do it again.

"I used to tell myself that I did all of it for the people I cared about... the people I loved. But I was just saying that to make myself feel better. At first, I thought it was just Cora's corruption, but over time I realized that the dark magic she taught me felt good. But then I found Regina again, and everything was right in the world. I found my redemption in her arms, just like you will in Henry's."

"Henry will never love me when he learns of what I've done."

"I know Henry, Teresa. For a while, he was like my son. I know that he would never judge you for your past. He never had with me or Regina or Emma... not even with Snow whose purest heart was tainted."

Teresa's brows furrowed. Snow's heart was tainted? It seemed impossible for that to be true, but then again, anything was possible.

"When you came here to save Killian, I could see it in his eyes long before Regina told me about your prophecy. He looked at you as though you were the only person who exists, and I knew when he watched you as you slept one night that he had forgiven you for everything you had ever done and would do since the moment he met you. You want to know how I know that?"

Teresa remained silent. She didn't want Alice to know that she was biting back a sob, so she balled her hands into fists to stop them from trembling.

"Because that's how I felt with Regina. When I first met her, I knew that she could paint the world red and I would always love her for her, and not for what she's done."

The following minutes were dead silent. Alice thought maybe she had gotten through to her, but when she heard Teresa Holmes sniffle and the girl cast her an apologetic look over her shoulder, she knew what the platinum-blonde had decided.

"I'm sorry, Alice. I hope that Merlin helps you find the bright future you were promised... you deserve it."

Teresa turned around and Alice's heart dropped into her stomach. Her eyes widened as Teresa lifted her foot, the seventeen-year-old moments away from being lost forever.

"If you do this, you hurt him!" There was desperation in her voice and Teresa could hear it, but at least it stopped her from plummeting toward eternal damnation. "You're the Soulmates and by nature you are connected. If you destroy your own soul, you destroy his. Are you willing to put Henry at risk because you are afraid to find redemption?" Alice knew that her words were harsh, but she needed to hear them.

Teresa was conflicted. She wanted to jump, and yet; she wanted to stay at the same time. The thought of their prophecy had never once crossed her mind in all this time until now. The more she thought about the consequences of jumping, the more it sickened her. She couldn't imagine ever bringing such pain to Henry; she cared too much to hurt him like that. The platinum-blonde collapsed to her knees, loud sobs racking her body that bounced off the cavern walls.

Alice relaxed, a relieved tear falling down her cheek as she closed her eyes. She wasn't sure that she could ever forgive herself if Teresa had jumped. After promising Regina to always care for Henry like he was her own son and then allowing his soul to be destroyed? She would have jumped after Teresa just to save herself from the pain of knowing that she had allowed Regina to lose her son.

She crept forward and crouched beside the sobbing teenager, bringing the girl into her arms and laying her cheek against her platinum locks. They spoke no words as Alice simply held her, for that is all that needed to be done to show Teresa Holmes that she would never be alone and that she was loved.

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

a/n: MY POOR BABY GIRL 🤧 I hate myself for all the pain she's going to face in this second act, but thanks to Alice she is now one step closer to redemption. Speaking of Alice..... can we please talk about her how much I love her?? She's known Teresa for less than a week and made a vow to Merlin to help her.... and she just saved her from eternal damnation when she didn't necessarily have to. She could have told Merlin no but she didn't. I really like the bond that Teresa and Alice had now formed in death, it's super sweet and it's like Teresa has a new mom friend that actually understands what it's like to have a haunting past. I also just realized that it's like she has two parent friends ( Killian and Alice. ) But hmmmm... who do I like better? 🤔 #WonderArcher or #CaptainArcher??

Now that the author note is out of the way, care to leave any predications about what will come next?