6
Another Neverland Part 2
By Kayla Johnson
I lay on the beach of the Native's small island, scooping sand lazily with one hand and releasing it; watching the glistening grains creep through my clenched fingers and shower back to the ground. I still couldn't grasp just how quickly my life had been overturned, like a spilt cup of tea. Just mere hours ago I had been sailing the seas with Hook, before Peter had come and whisked me off my feet quite literally, to the Native's island to celebrate "our" victory over the pirates. I was yanked out of my thoughts when I saw a speck in the sky, growing larger as it approached.
I squinted up at the night sky, tears stinging my eyes from the biting cold wind that sliced across my face. I let out a startled gasp when a ship burst through the dark clouds; the skull on the sail almost taunting at our impending demise.
"Hook…" I whispered to myself shaking my head in denial. I should have known he'd never give up, he was a pirate captain after all. I'd seen the pain of betrayal in his eyes when I had allowed Peter to take my hand; and to anger a pirate was to dig your own grave. I didn't know what I wanted but I felt with all my being that after the hurt I had inflicted on Hook he would want far more than just my heart this time… He would want my blood. I was torn, one part of me wanted nothing more than to sail the seas of Neverland on the arm of the dashing captain, while the other half only desired self-preservation. As of now, with the dark ship looming on the horizon the self-preservation won out. Spinning on my heel I began to warn the others.
"Peter, that dark mass we saw, it's not a storm approaching it's the Jolly Roger! It's Hook!"
Peter's eyes flashed in anger and he threw the Indian cap he had been wearing to the forest floor in a swirl of feathers and bones.
"Pirates just don't know when to call it quits." He grumbled.
Peter began pulling on his brown, deerskin, flats in quick strokes and adjusting his dagger at his belt. I quickly ran to his side and grabbed his arm with both of my hands and pleaded with my eyes.
"Peter please don't do anything rash! Just return whatever treasures you stole and let them be on their way, no blood needs to be shed!"
Peter shook out of my grip with a look of annoyance contorting his face.
"I don't know what Hook did to you while you were aboard his ship, but make no mistake he is the enemy and always will be!"
I flinched and turned my head away, not used to seeing Peter Pan's rage directed at me.
Peter's voice instantly softened when he saw the affect his tone had on me.
"Wendy, don't worry about me I'll be fine."
I raised my head and stared him straight in the eyes, and said in a voice full of conviction.
"It's not you I'm worried about."
Peter just stared at me dumbfounded, and I knew I had struck something he had meant to keep hidden. His heart. He finally opened his mouth to respond.
"I don't know what Hook did to you while you were aboard his ship, but make no mistake he is the enemy and always will be!" Don't worry I'll keep John and Michael safe too. Come on Tink let's go."
Striding past me Peter took a running start before jumping into the air and soaring towards the Jolly Roger. A high pitched whistle echoed in the sky and I knew he was calling the Lost Boys to his side. A bright light appeared in my line of vision and I glanced up to see Tinkerbell hovering above me, her hands on her petite hips. I tried for peace one last time.
"Please Tinkerbell don't let anyone get hurt, even Hook."
She just huffed in reply and ascended after Peter.
I sank to my knees in defeat and stared after them speechless. This was all happening so fast, less than a few hours ago I had been aboard Hook's ship getting close to the captain himself before Peter had quite literally swooped in and whisked me away, and now Hook was here to take back what he believed to be his.
"The pirates are coming aren't they" Asked a voice that sounded like water trickling over rock.
Tigerlily knelt down beside me looking stunning as usual with shining black hair falling past her shoulders in two neat braids, and red painted over her full lips.
"Yes I was a fool to think things would end as soon as the boys retrieved me; part of me wishes they never had."
"Then you wish to go back?" she asked looking at me with curiosity lacing her brown eyes.
"I don't know what I want." I lied. The lie tasted sour in my mouth but I couldn't bring myself to say I wanted the pirate captain knowing he might not want me after the stunt I pulled.
"Take this, maybe what you want is right in front of you." She smiled and held out a clenched hand and I cupped my hands to receive what she was offering. Pixie dust spiraled into my hands and I couldn't help but smile myself.
"How did you get this?" I asked.
"Tinkerbell may not like you but we are on considerably good terms; now go before the battle ends!"
Pulling me to my feet she helped douse me with the glittering dust, sprinkling it as if it were the herbs she worked with every day. Once I had enough on me, my feet left the ground and I started floating higher until I could barely make out Tigerlily's hand waving farewell. Once in the air I began my trek towards the Jolly Roger, my pale green dress fluttering in the wind. I heard the ship before I saw it, with the shouts and clangs of swords meeting clubs. My feet barely brushed the deck before I was swept into the chaos of battle once again for the second time in one day. It was clear right away that the pirates had been ordered not to harm me by the way they took one look at me before brushing past me to fend off one of the Lost Boys.
I was also taken off guard by the fact that the pirates were scrambling around for weapons; it's like they hadn't expected a fight. I scanned the deck looking for Hook and Peter and saw no sign of either of them but did see Michael and John sitting on the rails of the ship shooting rocks from slingshots down on the pirates. Elbowing past Lost Boys and pirates alike I made my way over to my brothers.
"Wendy we didn't think you were coming! Here we have an extra slingshot for you." Leaning forward John held out a worn slingshot, his young flawless face beaming with excitement.
Snatching the slingshot out of his hands I tossed it aside and gripped either side of his face with my hands.
"No Michael, no more of this I don't want you getting hurt." Turning to John I began to address him.
"And you take Michael back to the hideout. What would mother say if she knew you were putting our little brother in danger?"
Not meeting my eyes John reached out and clasped Michaels's small hand in his.
"Come on Michael, Wendy ruined the fun, besides this was getting boring anyways."
My two brothers began climbing over the side of the ship before letting go and plunging towards the water below.
"And don't forget to wash that ceremonial paint off your faces it's beginning to smear!" I shouted after them.
I went still when I heard Peter's voice from above.
"Geez Hook maybe you should consider polishing your hook for a few days before facing me again."
I whipped my head upwards and saw Hook standing on the lookout post, Peter hovering right by it. Hook too, had no weapon on him and I was utterly convinced that he and the pirates hadn't come with ill intent.k
"Bugger off Pan I have no business with you. Now where is Miss Darling?" He asked in his smooth, velvety voice.
"I won't let you have her!" Lunging forward Peter drew the dagger from its sheath, and instantly had it poised at Hook's throat ready to draw it in a perfect slash.
"No!" My desperate scream pierced the silence that had drawn and all eyes turned towards me, including Peter's whose hand was frozen at Hook's neck.
Hook turned his head as far as the dagger would allow him and gave a satisfied grin when his eyes met mine.
"Miss Darling your timing is remarkable, I will die a fortunate pirate having seen your beauty one last time." He purred.
I cursed my cheeks for flushing and continued as if he hadn't spoken.
"Peter please just let him go he didn't come here to hurt anyone." I begged.
"You're right he just came to take you back, but I won't let him have you Wendy."
"He already does." I whispered, looking anywhere but his eyes, not wanting to see the light that would leave them.
The arm that held the dagger to Hook's neck wavered and Peter turned his head away as if he had been slapped and started shaking it back and forth as if in denial.
"He's manipulated you Wendy, you can't care for him. Remember all that he's done! He constantly pursues us, fires at us with cannons, and forces us to walk the plank! He tricked you once before Wendy I won't allow him to do it again." He uttered the words like a promise.
Knowing words wouldn't stop him, I pushed off the deck floor and shot upwards coming between Peter and Hook before the blade could make its blood trek across the pirate captain's neck. Caught off guard the dagger slipped from Peter's grasp and clattered harmlessly to the floor below. Time seemed to stop as I floated in front of Hook, my arms out on either side protectively, like a human barrier. Peter raised his arms as if he were going to push me out of the way, and I was surprised that after a flicker of hesitation he let his arms drop to his sides uselessly. There was a long pause before Peter finally spoke.
"I don't understand Wendy, why?" He asked, confusion masking his face.
"Because I…because I care for him."
I could feel Hook's blue gaze at my neck but I couldn't look at him, not now. Peter just stared at me at a loss for words, his green eyes searching my face
"Then stay here, I'm leaving. Come on boys back to the hideout!"
My mouth gaped in surprise at his harsh reply and I reached for his hand, but he pulled out of it as he started to fly away. Once he was off the ship Peter turned his head to look at me.
"I won't give up on you Wendy, you know you don't belong with him."
"Peter…" I trailed off unsure what to say.
With one last look that almost looked longing Peter flew away, the Lost Boys following right behind their leader.
My heart ached and I began to float down until I collapsed on the deck floor. I don't know how long I stared after them, but I was pulled out of my trance when cool metal lightly rested on my shoulder. I glanced over to see the tip of Hook's hook there, and raised my head to see him standing over me.
"Come on luv up you go," he uttered softly and lowered his hand to help me up.
Once I was on my own two feet, Hook stepped so close there was nowhere to look but him.
"What did I just do?" I moaned.
"I'm not entirely sure luv, but I must thank you for saving my lovely throat; a scar could have ruined my rugged good looks." He chuckled.
I smiled at that. "I don't regret that." I admitted.
"Do you regret what you said luv?" He asked tilting his head so his brown stubble shone in the moonlight.
"No, I meant what I said, I do… care for you." I replied fiddling with a strand of my dark blonde hair nervously.
"Care or love?" He pressed.
"I'm not sure what to call it yet."
"Well we have forever to find out, if you so desire Darling." He said it like a statement, but the question reached his eyes.
I hesitated; was this what I wanted? I knew Peter and the others both wanted and expected me to return, but when I was with Hook I felt something I had never felt before and I didn't want that feeling to be extinguished just because I was too afraid to act on it. No, now was my chance I wouldn't let the man I had grown to love slip by again, especially now that he had come back for me.
"I don't know Hook, you might have to convince me you want this." I teased.
Hook's grin stretched far, his pearly whites exposed.
"Let's resume where we left off shall we?"
Pulling my face up to his with his one hand, Hook softly claimed my mouth with his, and continued when I didn't move to stop him and pressed back. Once we finally broke off I laid my head against Hook's leather clad chest listening to the steady beat of his heart. Hook wrapped his arms around me, his hook twirling my hair, and his chin rested on my head.
Things were going to change but I was ready to face whatever Peter Pan was surely to bring. Content for the moment I closed my eyes barely hearing Hook's last words before sleep claimed me.
"You're my treasure Darling."
The end for now…