Darkness surrounded the small rowing boats as the men inside silently waited for their leader to signal a stop, the golden light cast from the small lanterns tied to bamboo sticks on the front their only way to have a sense of which direction they were headed by the shore's increasingly visible distance. Most watched the glistening stars of all different shapes and sizes as they rowed in unison, the regular stars surrounding the two most important orbs of light to have ever colored the darkened blue background of the night sky as a silver crescent moon accompanied what would've made the most beautiful painting of all time. Yet the young man seated at the point of the ship glared at his men in annoyance, did they not know they had a deadline to meet?
"Focus boys," he shouted, "we don't have time to lag about! There is important business to be done!"
All their gazes dropped, focusing on the task at hand in which their pace soon became much faster; each of the three small boats filled with young men aligned perfectly as the larger figure came into view ahead with the hazy sea mist parting to reveal its whole form. The vessel practically sat on the still waters, looking undisturbed by their approach with no light visible in any of the many windows or portholes placed at the sides; its cannons concealed within as well which caused all the men to raise an eyebrow at what was going on. Made of the finest woods and equipped with the strongest of ropes and hand-sewn white sails pulled up for the night, he studied the coloring visible even in the darkness of night where the familiar red and golden detailing of the deck and railings caused a smirk to curve his lips in a way that signaled to the men they were to continue forward. The Jolly Roger was painted in perfect lettering at the bow, catching most of the men's attentions as their boats were placed near the front deck; long ropes thrown over the side to catch onto the railings where they all climbed aboard. As soon as the last man stepped aboard, lanterns lit all around them, allowing them all to catch sight of the dangerous Captain seated alone at a table; his puffy ruffled undershirt erupted out of his crimson jacket's collar decorated in expensively-appealing golden trim to match his ship while his large hat curved a bit to the side by the weight of the feather arching outwards.
"Well, well, well…this is quite a surprise. Peter Pan, coming to me with only half his men…" The irritably high tone of the Captain's voice caused him to remove his patched vest's hood, standing in front of all his Lost Boys with a subtle appeal to his surprisingly older-looking face as he stepped forward. "I didn't come here to fight you Hook." "Oh, but a rematch is just what I need! After all, this time we could possibly…finish the fighting completely…" Many of the Lost Boys tightened their grips on their nature-made weaponry, ready to defend their leader if necessary though Peter outstretched his arms in a halting motion as if to abolish the idea of fighting.
"I came here to strike up a deal with you," the boy sighed, obviously upset with having to ask, "I need your help…"
Captain Hook slowly rose from his chair, a sleek black eyebrow quirking in a way of slight confusion while his silver hook hand rose to shine in the candlelight. "Is this some sort of game little boy, because I warn you now, I am not about to play…" "It is not a game Hook," Peter replied firmly, confirming with his irritated dark eyes that this was not some trick. "Hook, I need your help, a single job, it is very important."
"And why would I help you?" he retorted with clear detest practically hissing in his words while his remaining hand pulled a kerchief from an inside pocket, shining the metal hook as the Captain awaited an answer. "I'll give you back your treasure," the boy released his clenched fists as though the worst was over with, causing Hook to turn back to him with intrigue gleaming brightly light-colored eyes. "You must be rather desperate to come to me for help Peter…" He sighed, "I am." "Then how can I help you?"
"I'd rather not discuss important business out here, is there some place private we could talk?" The request surprised the Captain who seemed to just gaze untrustingly to the young man, his eyes slowly examining his sewn dark green clothing with long trousers patched here and there while his brown boots were covered in dirt and scuffs from his everyday life. What could he possibly need help with? The interest towards the young lad's ask for help had grown too large for Hook to refuse, so he simply nodded, ushering with his hook hand towards a small door at the back of the ship's deck.
Peter nodded curtly, turning back to his Lost Boys with a firm scowl. "If any of you leave this spot, I will have you fed to the alligators is that clear?" All nodded, not daring to argue with their leader as the tall young man followed the Captain into a small room; an intricately carved desk covered in maps and notes while the floor was a mess of crumpled papers. Peter paid practically no attention to any of his surroundings; instead his dark eyes fell to the floor with a release of a deepened breath as Hook closed the door in a fit of silent curiosity.
"Hook," Peter called, lifting his head to stare out the sectioned windows revealing the dark ocean that surrounded them at the current moment. "I need you to find someone for me." "Who?" "Someone within the human world, outside of Neverland…a girl…" "A girl?" Peter could hear his surprise in his tone, nodding with a small smile as he looked back to his former arch enemy. "Why would you need to find a girl?" "I would appreciate it if you wouldn't question me…I have my reasons, and I need her back here soon." "Well do you have a description? The term girl is quite relevant in many cases outside of Neverland. I'd end up coming back with a boatload of them if you aren't more specific." The teen chuckled, his hands slipping into one of the pockets of his brown trousers to pull out a small rolled parchment, holding it in his goldenly tanned fingers for several moments as if unsure he should give it to the Captain before actually doing so.
"I need her here in two days' time, unharmed. I don't care how you get her here…I just need you to do it." Hook's eyebrow again rose as he unrolled the small parchment, where a roughly-drawn yet specific drawing of a girl lay on the tattered yellowing paper; her face seemed somewhat familiar to the Captain himself yet he couldn't quite recall where he could've seen such a girl. "And I will get a return of my treasure simply by bringing her to you?" Peter nodded in silence, his hands shoved down in his pockets while his wildly curled brown hair captured the glint of every lit candle in the cabin. "Very well, do you happen to know where I might find her?" "London…England, the same home I believe you've visited before to retrieve Jane. Do you remember that time?" "Yes, but what is this girl in relation to the other?" "Remember I asked you not to question me?"
The young man started towards the door, his hand resting on the golden doorknob as he stopped and glanced back. "Oh, and Hook," he tossed over a small golden scroll vial which caused the Captain to scramble in an unexpected fluster to catch. "When you retrieve the girl, leave that in her place."
