It had been almost two weeks since I had been in Neverland. Despite Hook sending men to kidnap me to get me there, things were going well with the pirates. I would talk to Hook on a regular basis, the crew began to joke around with me, and I was given my own cabin on the ship. It was small but it was something to call my own.
Hook and I had a pretty good relationship going. He would gush over how he had missed me and had searched all of England to find me. He never thought to look in America because Peter hadn't been there since he was very young. Hook would tell me all about my mother and what all I missed out on. He told me what a caring woman she was who only wanted to keep our family safe. He told me about his torment from Peter Pan over the years and how he wished it all would be resolved. He explained how it hurt him to have to fight a teenager who was still so immature, but that he had to defend himself as well as his crew.
In two weeks, I hated Pan more than I had hated anyone. I wanted him killed. Maybe the violent nature of the island was getting to me, but all I knew was he had to go. I would avenge my dead mother and fight alongside my new father. Justice was going to be served to Peter Pan.
Hook and the crew began teaching me to sword fight. I was a natural. I assumed it was in my blood with me having pirates as parents and all.
"You are making me so proud," Hook praised me as we walked into his cabin and sat down. He poured me some water in a wine glass and handed it to me.
"Thank you," I answered politely. "I'm excited to get my hands on Pan. He won't know what hit him," I boasted confidently.
Hook smiled a big toothy grin and took a swig of rum from the bottle. "Yes, it will be quite the surprise."
"He'll probably think I'm just some girl who he can toss to the side," I continued as I began on a tangent. "But, no, not me. I'm not some innocent girl from London. I am not 'little miss proper' and I'm not someone to be pushed to the side. I'm Riley Hook for God's sake! That boy is going to regret ever messing with our family."
Hook just laughed lightly at my enthusiasm. I could tell he liked my passion. In that moment I felt like he looked at me for the first time as his daughter, and was actually sincere about it. As pride glowed from his every poor, he took another drink of rum.
"I mean doesn't he know what it's like to lose love? Didn't he love that Wendy girl?" I asked him.
Hook scoffed. "Love? Pan can't love. Yes, I think Wendy was the closest he has ever been, but, like I said, he can't love. He drove her away. And besides," he went on. "He doesn't care who he hurts."
"That terrible. It's almost sad," I said with kind of a sigh.
"Are you pitying Pan?" He demanded in a raised voice. This made me a little uneasy. He had been so nice before and now he seemed be angry over one little comment. I had only seen him yell at the crew, he had never spoke to me that way.
"No," I defended. "I was simply stating that it's pretty-"
He interrupted me this time clearly upset with me. "You were simply siding with the enemy!" He yelled as he stood up and knocking his chair to the floor.
I could honestly say, I was frightened of my own father. Of course I had been when I first got here because of the circumstances, but ever since I have always felt safe with him. But as his hook slammed down into his desk, I didn't know him anymore. He wasn't my newly found father anymore. This man was a dark stranger who was a mystery.
"I'm sorry," I pleaded with him as I stood and put space between us. "I didn't mean-"
He cut me off once again. "Get out of here!" He demanded in a harsh growl. I felt tears well I'm my eyes. "I don't want to look at your face anymore!"
It was late, as I busted out of the cabin doors. Most of the crew were sloppy drunk or passed out below deck. I didn't know where to go or what to do, but I knew I needed off the ship.
There was one life boat aboard that would have to do. I lowered it down as tears spilled out of my eyes and into the water below. I climbed into the little wooden get-away and paddled my way to shore. It wasn't far but it sure wore me out.
By the time I got to the beach I was too tired to cry anymore. I couldn't sleep on the beach, I thought to myself looking into the forest. Hook had warned me of its dangers. From the Indians, to wild animals, to the evil lost boys, I had heard it all.
I was so tired, though. I decided to climb a tall oak tree that wasn't too deep in the forest, but deep enough not to be out in the open. I climbed up to a fat branch with some rope from the life boat and tied my legs to the branch. I was pretty secure, but far from comfortable.
I was still hurt by the fight with Hook, but I was getting more angry than anything else. He was acting bipolar. One minute I'm his wonderful daughter who he is so proud of and the next he can't stand for me to be around him. It was some high school drama kind of shit. I was over the whole thing and somehow felt too old for this world. I was only eighteen, but I was weathered.
I was so tired, I was asleep within minutes.
