Chapter 1
Immense rage overcame Hook as the longboat plunged back to the waves. Peter Pan had made a fool of his crew once again, and the Captain was hell-bent on besting the brat, once and for all!
Fuelled by his anger, Hook launched himself out of the water and plunged his namesake into the wood of the ship. It took all his strength to drag himself upward, but he was determined to scale the side of the Jolly Roger in time to capture that cocky devil and his scurvy friends.
Peter darted across the deck when he saw the open trapdoor of the hold. He could hear the thumping of Hook's hook as the man dragged himself up the side of the ship, and Peter knew he didn't have much time to find Wendy and her brothers.
Thankfully, when he looked down into the gloom of the hold he beheld Wendy, John and Michael looking up at him.
The three young prisoners grinned in delight and relief as their leader leapt gracefully through the trap door to land before them. Seeing they were shackled by their ankles, Peter immediately unsheathed his dagger and started using the blade to force the locks.
"Quickly, Peter!" Tinkerbell squealed as she hovered at her boy's shoulder. They could still make out the rhythmic thuds of the captain scaling the ship, and they knew he would soon be on deck.
Peter gritted his teeth as he struggled to force open the irons without causing any harm to his friends. He felt the pressure mount as the moments ticked by, but soon he had freed Wendy and Michael, and only John remained chained.
The Captain finally grasped hold of the ship's railing and heaved himself onto the deck, a fierce growl escaping him as he turned toward the hold and saw the trapdoor, open. Speeding towards it, he felt a knot of anticipation grip his belly, willing himself to reach the hold in time to get hold of that flying brat.
The iron on John's ankle finally gave way and the four children stood.
"To the Underground House!" commanded Peter, "Fly!"
Tinkerbell and the children leapt into the air and flew towards the daylight beyond the trapdoor above them.
Peter gasped as the light was blocked by the silhouette of Captain Hook; the intimidating man glaring down at them.
Without hesitation, Hook grabbed the trapdoor and slammed it shut, the solid wood connecting with Peter's shoulder as he tried to get out in time.
The force of the door threw Peter back down to the floor below, knocking the breath from him as he landed painfully on his back.
"Peter! Are you alright?"
Wendy was kneeling beside him in an instant, her brothers and Tink hovering just above them.
Peter paid her no mind and flew back up to the trapdoor hurriedly, pushing against it with all his might.
"No!" he yelled as the door refused to yield.
"Let me out!"
He desperately began hitting his fists against the wood and pushing against it to no avail. "Help me!" The other children joined him, but even their collective strength was not enough to break through.
On deck, Hook looked down at the locked trap door in a daze of surprise and delight. He had done it! He'd captured Peter Pan!
His crew grumbled and spluttered as they finally made their way back on deck from the sea below.
"That scurvy little bastard pushed me overboard!" Billy Jukes seemed truly insulted, but he shouldn't have been surprised. One of Pan's favourite past times seemed to be pushing unsuspecting crewmen over the railings. Billy had been careless.
"I have him." Hook still could hardly believe it. But as the words left his lips, the realisation struck him… and he began to laugh.
The crew nervously joined their Captain's laughter as it grew into raucous hysteria.
"I have captured Peter Pan!"
Hook suddenly grew quiet and sincere, "And this time, I will not let him escape."
Peter continued to pummel the locked trapdoor with his fists, even though the other children had given up.
"Peter, we can't get out that way."
The boy shot an angry glare at Wendy before turning his attention to their surroundings. The hold was nothing more than one large, square room. And the only entrance was the single trapdoor.
"We can't be trapped. There must be a way out."
Peter was growing increasingly anxious with every passing moment. He couldn't stand being confined. And the Jolly Roger was probably the worst place to be trapped in all of Neverland. If they didn't get away soon, Hook would gut them for sure.
As if in answer to his fears, the trapdoor suddenly opened, and four crewman and the Captain himself dropped into the hold, landing in front of the hovering children.
Peter shot towards the trapdoor only for it to slam shut once again.
"Oh no, boy..." Hook cooed, mockingly, "You're not going anywhere."
Peter swooped down, dagger drawn, and was upon him. There was hardly any room amongst the cargo, but Hook parried the boy's attack with ease.
Wendy, John and Michael were forced to fly out of the way of the fight, and suddenly found themselves in the clutches of the other crewmen, who held onto them roughly.
"Ow! Peter! Help!"
Peter was momentarily distracted at the sound of Michael's cry, and glanced over to see the little boy being restrained by Jukes while John and Wendy grappled against Mullins and Starkey respectively.
The short moment was all Hook needed. Dropping his own sword, he grabbed Peter's wrist and pulled the boy close, bringing his namesake up to Pan's throat and pressing firmly.
Peter felt the deadly-sharp point of the hook pierce the skin of his neck and he hissed at the sting of it. With his good hand, the Captain squeezed and twisted the child's wrist mercilessly and Peter gasped in pain, unable to resist releasing his grip on his knife, letting it clatter to the floor.
The man smiled down at him.
"That's better," he purred.
Peter tried to pull away, using his free hand to push against Hook's chest… but the man only laughed.
Tinkerbell screeched in outrage, but she was plucked from the air by Billy Jukes, and squeezed into silence.
Suddenly, Hook propelled Peter backwards with such force, the boy almost lost his footing. Wendy screamed as Peter's head connected solidly against the wall behind him with a sickening thud.
The boy shut his eyes and gasped again with the pain of it, then looked up through narrowed eyes to see Hook, still grinning down at him.
Peter once again tried to struggle free from the man as he grabbed him, but it was in vain.
"The game is over, Pan." Hook's voice was dark and low, "I have had my fill of it. It is about time that you learnt to fear me."
"Fear you?!" Peter forced himself to smirk at the man, ignoring the rapid thump of his own heart as Hook towered over him. His anxiety was growing, but he knew he mustn't let it show.
"How could anyone fear a brainless codfish?!"
The force of the man's backhand threw Peter to the floor, his cheek stinging as a bright bruise flared up on it almost instantly. The boy covered his face with his arms protectively, horrified at the Captain's violence.
The other children had stilled in shock as they watched the adult beat their brave leader.
Feeling their terrified eyes upon him, Hook drew back his booted foot and kicked the cowering boy with all his might.
Peter immediately buckled from the vicious blow to his gut. He would have screamed had the kick not driven the breath from him. He crumpled into a ball, tightly gripping his inflamed stomach as tears pricked his eyes.
"If I ever hear you speak to me like that again, boy, I will beat you to within an inch of your life."
Hook took a moment to compose himself and take in the glorious image of Peter Pan cowering in pain at his feet. The satisfaction it gave him was delicious.
"And if you don't want to watch your little friends' guts spill across my decks, you will show me respect from now on."
Peter didn't answer, but a sob escaped him as he continued to resist the tears.
Grabbing hold of the boy and throwing him into the waiting arms of Alf Mason, Hook turned his attention to the other three children as he formulated his next move.
"Take these lubbers to the brig, and make sure they're appropriately uncomfortable. Master Pan will enjoy my personal hospitality in my cabin."
"Aye aye, Captain." The crewmen chorused, following Hook as he called up to Cookson to open the trapdoor and throw down a rope ladder.
Wendy, John and Michael all struggled valiantly against their captors, but were no match against the strength of the men.
Peter regained his wits enough to fight as Mason clambered up to the deck with the boy locked under his arm... and even managed to break away when they reached the open air. But Hook was watching the boy like a hawk, and grabbed hold of Pan's arm before Peter had time to think.
Shoving Peter roughly back into the grasp of Mason, Hook once again backhanded the boy… this time so violently that Peter almost lost consciousness and slumped against the burly pirate who held him.
"Please! Captain Hook!" Wendy was choking back sobs, but managed to speak up, "Don't hurt him!"
Hook turned to stare at the girl, "My dear child… the only thing I want is to hurt him. Peter Pan's pain is the only pleasure I have left."
The girl couldn't stop a wail of despair at the man's words, "Please! Then at least let us stay together. Don't take Peter away from me!"
The Captain considered this, eyebrow raised. He wanted to cause his enemy as much pain and torment as possible. Perhaps having his little friends in view would increase the boy's discomfort.
"Very well. Men! Bring the brats to my cabin and chain them securely. They can have a front row seat."
John continued to struggle in Mullins' grip, but Wendy walked sullenly and Michael sobbed into Billy Jukes' shoulder as they all made for Hook's quarters.
Peter's mind started to clear and his eyes began to focus as he heard the sound of a door close behind him. The light here was less harsh than daylight, and he realised he was no longer outside.
Taking long, deep breaths to steady himself and distract from the pain that racked him, Peter looked up to see the Captain smiling down at him once again.
Peter could not help but groan, and he let his eyes drop to his feet.
Hook was delighted by the boy's reaction; he was already giving up. Breaking him was seemingly easier than Hook had expected. He'd barely even begun, but already Peter had been quieted.
The crewmen chained the Darling children and secured them in one corner of the Captain's cabin. Mason held Pan down on a chair as Mr Smee fitted the boy's wrists and ankles with shackles and chained his foot to Hook's heavy mahogany desk. Tinkerbell was thrown into an empty mason jar and placed upon the desk, just out of Peter's reach.
"That should hold 'em, Captain Hook, Sir."
"You would think so, Mr Smee… but I'll not take any chances this time. Check all the windows are shut and bolted. I will lock the door once you and the men leave, and no one is to unlock it without my permission. Is that understood, men?"
"Aye aye, Captain!" they chorused.
"Keep a sharp eye out for those other Lost Brats. They are sure to try some sort of foolish rescue."
"Aye aye, Sir!"
The cabin door thudded closed behind them, and Hook immediately locked it, slipping the large iron key into his breast pocket.
Sauntering back to Peter, Hook knelt before the boy and tried to catch his eye. "Come now, Pan," the pirate jeered, "No witty insult? None of your cocky bravado? You're making it too easy for me."
Peter swallowed determinedly and met the cruel man's gaze. "Let them go, Hook. It's me you want."
"Quite true, my boy… But they may be useful in keeping you in line. And I don't want you to give up too quickly. They give you something besides your own worthless hide to fight for."
"Leave… them… alone." Peter's voice trembled with conviction. He didn't for a moment believe Hook would set the other children free… but he wouldn't give up on them.
Hook smirked at the boy's demand, and glanced over at Wendy and her brothers, cowering in the corner.
"That sounded awfully like a command, Pan. And you are in no position to give me orders."
Hook suddenly grabbed a fistful of the boy's hair, and Peter flinched and gritted his teeth as the man bore down on him menacingly, his iron claw at the child's throat.
The other children audibly gasped, and Peter glared at Hook defiantly.
"You're mine, boy."
Peter didn't know where the foolhardy courage came from at that moment… he didn't think of the consequences… he simply spat.
Hook flinched as the spittle hit his face, and instantly began wiping it away with his sleeve. The look of disgust he directed at the boy made Peter smile… until the disgust melted into blind rage.
The boy's head snapped to the side as he was slapped across the face a third time. His bonds stopped him from falling off the chair, and he froze as pain raged through his head and blood trickled from his lip.
When he at last turned back to face his attacker, Wendy cried out at the sight of the blood. Hook ignored her, only having bloodthirsty eyes for his fallen nemesis.
"Your lessons have begun, Pan. Any future misconduct on your part will see punishment befall on your dear little chums." Hook gestured to Wendy, John and Michael with his namesake for emphasis.
"That's not fair, Hook!"
"You're quite right, my boy… It's not fair. But that's the way it is. If you show me disrespect or flout my orders in any way, Wendy and her brothers will suffer the consequences."
Peter bared his teeth and scowled intently at the pirate captain, but Hook ignored his childish resistance and instead let his gaze fall upon the fairy, still trapped in the jar.
Sauntering over to the other end of his desk, Hook lifted the mason jar to eye-level, staring at Tinkerbell intently. The fairy backed away as far as her glass prison would allow, and tried her best not to tremble.
"As for Miss Bell..." Hook's voice was soft and calculating, "It is true, is it not, that your ability to fly emanates from this little fairy?"
Peter felt his stomach drop and his heart pound harder in concern for his oldest friend.
"Leave her be, Hook. I can fly with or without pixie dust."
A thoughtful hum escaped Hook's lips in reply, not at all convinced by the deceitful boy's words. He looked over at the other children, but none would meet his gaze.
"Well..." the man continued, "Just to be sure..."
Tinkerbell screamed as Hook shook the jar vigorously. Peter also cried out, desperately straining against his bounds as he watched in horror. Wendy stood and rushed to Tink's aid, only to reach the limits of her chains, fixed securely to the cabin wall behind her.
"Stop! Please! Stop it!"
At Peter's pleas and to the boy's surprise, Hook did stop. Peter could just make out Tinkerbell's limp form in the bottom of the jar as the Captain unscrewed the lid and tipped it up.
"No!"
Peter strained to reach out and catch the unconscious fairy as she fell to the floor, but he was powerless.
Hook locked eyes with him meaningfully. "I'll tell you again, Pan… The game is over. You will do as I say or your friends will die. Just like your fairy."
Peter's eyes widened in horror as Hook raised his booted foot and brought it stomping down on the helpless Tinkerbell.
There was a sickening noise in the shocked silence as the tiny body was crushed… then Peter began to scream.
Michael and John both wailed in terror and Wendy wept bitterly… but Peter screamed.
Hook tentatively lifted his foot and peeled off bloody remnants from the sole of his boot, flicking the gore to the ground as he turned and headed for the cabin door. Unlocking it, he shouted for Smee to come clean up the mess, and the bo'sun was soon at work, wiping up the organic matter and scrubbing away the blood.
By this time, Peter's screams had weakened into heartbroken sobs as tears fell freely down his face. The other children had grown quiet, and kept their eyes averted from Mr Smee's work.
Finally, after pouring himself a scotch and savouring the agonised cries of Peter Pan, Hook cleared his throat and smiled, "Well… I think that may have resolved that problem. The only way you whelps will leave the ground from now on is by climbing the rigging."
Peter heaved in deep breaths to steady himself as he glared up at the Captain in disgust. Never had he witnessed such horrific violence and barbarism. He hadn't expected it from Hook. The pirate was more evil than the boy had ever given him credit for. And the man was right… this wasn't a game any more. This was far too real.
Once Smee had finished and Hook had locked the cabin door again, he turned to the children with a delighted smirk.
"Let's make sure, shall we?"
Walking back to Peter, the man calmly began unlocking the boy's restraints. Peter kept control of himself until Hook removed the last of the chains… then he launched at the pirate ferociously, pummelling his fists against Hook's muscular chest.
Hook laughed superiorly at the boy's pathetic attack… but grabbed hold of Pan's wrist when the blows started to become painful. Throwing Peter to the floor, Hook chuckled again as he watched the boy clamber to his feet awkwardly before crouching defensively, ready for a fight.
"What's this, Pan? No flying?"
"I don't need to fly to beat you, you evil, murdering bastard!"
Hook smiled, "My my, Peter… who taught you such language?"
"Fuck you!"
The grin fell from the Captain's face and his eyes flashed malevolently before he lunged forward and grabbed hold of the defenceless boy, pinning him against the closest wall.
Peter gasped as the man pressed his full weight against him and glared daggers, "I warned you to show me respect, boy,"
Peter squirmed as Hook's grip grew more painful, "Try to get this through your thick skull; If you step out of line, your dear little friends will be paying for it..."
"You killed Tink, you bastard!"
Hook pulled the boy forward then rammed him back against the wall… over and over again. Peter cried out and screwed his eyes shut in pain as his back and head repeatedly connected with the solid wood of the ship.
Wendy screamed at Hook to stop, and suddenly he did, releasing his hold on Peter and letting the boy drop to the floor.
Peter landed face-down, and remained where he fell, his whole body throbbing with pain.
Hook casually sauntered back to his desk and his drink, sitting down and putting his feet up on the fine mahogany.
Wendy, John and Michael watched their friend lying still on the cabin floor, his face turned away from them, his heavy breaths and quiet sobs the only indication that he still lived.
"Well, children," Hook smiled at Wendy and she held his gaze as defiantly as she could, "What shall I do with you?"