10
Another Neverland Part 3
By Kayla Johnson
I became aware that Wendy was asleep when she didn't raise her head from where it rested on my chest and I started to hear her breathing begin to take on a shallow hitch that could only be accomplished in sleep. Poor thing, probably hasn't gotten a wink of shut eye since she returned to the Lost Boy's hideout with Peter Pan. Not wanting to wake her, I shifted my arms from where they were wrapped around her and gently hoisted her up so I supported both her dangling legs and head. "Best get you to bed luv"; I whispered and began walking towards my cabin, cradling Wendy in my arms as if she were a fragile newborn. The moonlight shone on her flawless face, and her golden curtain of hair swung back and forth as if beckoned by the pull of the moon. She was far more beautiful than any jewel I had ever stolen.
"Captain! Captain, several of our crew are wounded; what should we do?" Yelled Smee as he ran and stopped in front of me, his red knit cap lopsided on his balding head.
"Shush Smee, Miss Darling here is asleep and she needs it after the day she has had!" I hissed quietly adjusting her in my arms careful not to prick her on my hook.
"My apologies captain, but what of the crew?" He stammered nervously sweat beading and falling down his chubby, red face.
"How many are injured Smee?" I asked.
"About half the crew Captain; the Lost Boys were especially viscous tonight;" he replied.
I swore under my breath and glared up into the starless sky. "Very well, we will sail for the nearest port and they can be attended to there. Now let me go put Miss Darling down and don't disturb me further," I ordered making my way to my cabin and pushing the door open with a booted foot. Once I was inside I kicked the door shut behind me and crept over to the bed, sliding Wendy on to the red silk sheets. I stared down at her and a small smile tugged at the corners of my mouth.
"Sleep well luv." Leaning down I pressed a kiss upon her forehead and straightened myself to leave; when her soft voice halted me in my tracks.
"Hook… thank you," Wendy murmured her eyes still closed.
I nodded my head and then remembered she couldn't see me. "Aye, anything you need luv. Goodnight Darling."
"Wait." The single command slipped through her pouty lips and again I stopped my advance to the door.
"What is it luv?" I asked turning around so my blue eyes were on her.
"Please don't go, I don't want to be alone;" she begged and patted the empty space on the bed beside her.
I hesitated, not sure if she was fully awake but made my way back over to her when she opened her eyes so she could gaze at me. I climbed onto the bed and laid beside her, and raised my eyebrows in surprise when she reached out to hold on to my hook staring at it with a fascinated intensity.
"Can you tell me the story of how you came to be like this? Peter told once but I suspect his version is much different than yours. He told me you lost it to a crocodile, with a ticking clock in his belly; she laughed and it reminded me of chimes.
"Now that is a load of rubbish;" I chuckled, amused.
"Then tell me the real tale!" She said snuggling closer.
"Very well luv, this pirate captain will test out his storytelling skills, but I hope my weakness at it doesn't change the way you feel about me;" I teased.
"Unless it's a really boring story I think you are safe."
"Very well, where shall I begin?" I began my tale, my slight lilt relaying the story as best as I could recall it. At some point during my storytelling my arm ended up around Wendy's shoulders and she leaned into it, her eyes closing as she listened to my tale. I finished my story and glanced over at Wendy to see that she slumbered once more.
"Well it seems I will have to tell my story again another day when you are fully awake."
I grabbed a canister of rum that was placed on my bed table and drank until sleep began to tug at my eyelids and before I succumbed to it I licked my fingers and reached over to pinch the flame in the lantern, plunging us into darkness.
I awoke in the middle of the night to a large hand covering my mouth, I wanted to scream but the words I heard made me reconsider.
"If you utter a word, your captain companion dies in his sleep wench!" The harsh, gruff voice whispered, his hot breath that reeked of alcohol hitting my face.
"Do you understand? One peep and he's dead!"
I nodded frantically, and the man pulled me off the bed and started dragging me towards the door that led to the deck. Darn Hook he was probably in a drunken stupor how else could he possibly sleep through this? He carefully creaked open the door and slid through, holding me tightly, his hand still over my mouth. Once on the deck, my eyes darted instantly to the large black ship next to ours and I became panicked. Pirates! There are other pirates besides Hook's in Neverland? What could they possibly want with me? I had nothing of value with me so why were they here?!
"Hurry you scoundrel, his crew could be back any minute;" a deep voice bellowed from the other ship. The man holding me grunted in irritation and he hurried his pace towards the dark ship.
"Here take her;" he lifted me as if I were merely a sack of potatoes and passed me to another pirate on the other ship. Once I was over he jumped in after me and called towards the head of the ship.
"We have the girl, hurry and set sail;" he ordered. He turned to me and the new man that held me hostage and addressed him. "I'm going to go get the captain, tie her up quickly." He turned on his heel and stomped off to the other end of the ship.
"Why do I always get stuck with the hostages?" The pirate holding my arms behind my back complained.
"Sorry to be a burden;" I snorted and started wiggling against his grip to no avail. He just laughed and hauled me to a wooden pole and pushed me down.
"Sit," He commanded turning to grab some rope that hung from a nearby rung.
When I tried to get to my feet he shoved me back on my bottom.
"Stay," he snapped.
"What am I, a dog?" I retorted, my eyes narrowing in anger.
He ignored me and tied my wrists together behind the pole, and wrapped a piece of cloth around my mouth to muffle my screams of irritation.
Once he was done he stepped back as if admiring his handiwork. "There that should hold you until this whole thing is over and done with."
I tried to ask what that "thing" was but all that came out through the gag was mumbled garble.
"Where's the famous Miss Wendy Darling I've heard so much about? Barked a booming voice.
"Over here Captain," responded the pirate standing in front of me.
My face blanched, and my lips started to quiver as the thundering footsteps of the captain came closer until he was looming over me, grinning down. He was quite imposing with his tall figure and the gnarled black beard that hid half his face. I wish it had covered his eyes, for they frightened me as they were so dark they seemed to be endless pits. The malicious sheen they had to them didn't make them any less terrifying. He reached down and lowered the gag from my mouth so that it hung loosely around my neck.
"Who… who are you? My voice wavered as I spoke.
"My crew knows me as Captain, but you my dear may call me Blackbeard."
My eyed creaked open from a deep sleep and I stretched out my arms on either side of me, the morning sun reflecting off my hook.
"Are you awake luv?" I yawned to Wendy.
When no response came I looked over to see that Wendy's spot on the bed was vacant, the blankets still creased from where her small frame had rested. My tired eyes squinted in confusion; Wendy had fallen asleep in the crook of my arm, surely she would have awoken me when she left. Perhaps I had had a little too much rum last night; when that happened I could sleep through far more. Or… Peter Pan had stolen her away while I slept. Panic consumed me and I stumbled to my feet, straightening my disarrayed clothes. Worry made my movements jerky and forceful, and it caused my hook to puncture a hole in my red vest. Annoyed I ripped it out and threw open the door that led to the deck, causing it so slam against the wall creating a cracking sound like that of a lightning strike. My crew looked up from their morning tasks startled, fear clouding their eyes.
"Where is she?! Tell me now before you all walk the plank and become acquainted with the crococile!" I snarled.
"Where is who Captain?" Smee asked timidly.
"Wendy, the only bloody "SHE" on the ship!"
"No one has seen her Captain we all assumed she was with you;" Smee said.
My heart started pounding against my chest, more painful with each thump. "Did anyone see anything suspicious?"
All the heads shook, eyes looking anywhere but at their distraught captain.
"Perhaps it was Peter Pan Captain;" suggested one of the crew.
I turned away and held my chin in thought, "yes that's what I was thinking," I muttered to myself. I lifted my head and addressed my crew; "listen up mates set sail for Pan's camp but this time only I will be entering, I don't want a fight, I just want Wendy."
"Captain are you sure? Maybe bring one of us with you." Smee suggested concern in his beady eyes.
"No I go alone, something tells me Pan will not be expecting that."
"Peter please stop slouching I cannot bear to see you like this, and especially over that bore Wendy Darling!" Tinkerbell's voice washed over me but did nothing to ease the pain inside me. She hovered next to me, hands on her petite hips waiting for me to say something. I had not uttered a word since my return to the hideout; I had simply brushed the fur covering that was my door aside and slumped on my cot for a sleepless night. What was wrong with Wendy? We were friends, perhaps more and she shot me down for a handsome pirate. I wasn't going to rescue her this time she was where she wanted to be; she would come back to me once she realized her mistake. IF she realized her mistake.
I continued to stare at the chalk drawings that decorated the walls, remembering when Wendy had helped me put them there.
"Peter! Enough is enough you don't need Wendy! You have the Lost Boys, you have Tigerlily, you have me…" Her voice trailed off embarrassed. It was no secret that Tinkerbell had developed feelings for me, but I had never looked at our relationship as anything more than friendship. Also it would never work, she was a tiny pixie after all. I was pulled out of my thoughts when she began to tug at my green sleeve.
"Come on Peter we have a surprise for you so stop moping;" Tinkerbell snapped.
My face brightened instantly. "Is it Wendy? Did Wendy come back?"
Her face flushed beet red and I knew her jealousy was flaming over so I quickly doused it; "never mind Tink go ahead and show me this surprise."
I followed Tinkerbell's golden trail as she led me to our eating area; she got there first and she held open the cloth for me as I entered. I nearly spit when I saw Hook seated at the tree stump that served as our table.
"This is the surprise you had for me Tinkerbell?! I roared hand going for my dagger when I realized I didn't have it on me.
"What are you upset about Peter I thought you like Tigerlily's fish recipe?" Tinkerbell exclaimed once she entered but quickly went still when she saw for herself what I had been upset about. Scared she darted behind me and gripped my shirt tightly.
Hook raised his arms in the air as a sign of no harm intended, and I glared at him my arms crossed.
"Before, you proceed to mar my flawless face, just know that I have come unarmed simply so that I may ask for the return of Wendy." His voice was silky and smooth, but I didn't buy his innocent act for a second.
"You sadistic pirate you know full well that I don't have Wendy, you tricked her away from me and now you're here to flaunt it;" I sneered.
Hook's mouth gaped in surprise but he quickly recovered. "You mean to say Wendy is not here?"
"Of course she isn't, you know that;" I replied coldly.
Hook let out an exasperated breath and ran a hand through his short brown hair. "This isn't good, where could she be?"
I was on Hook in a second my face inches from his, so he was forced to stare into my green eyes.
"Wendy is missing?" I shouted my hands clenching and unclenching.
Hook shoved me away and stood, a look of determination on his face. He pushed past me and continued to walk briskly away.
"Where are you going? I yelled after him.
He glanced over his shoulder, "to another one of my enemies lodgings." With those parting words the pirate captain was gone and I was left pondering.
"You're truly mad if you think keeping me here will lure Hook to you. He doesn't even know where I am!" I argued to Blackbeard who had just revealed his intentions.
"Oh he will come, if there's one thing that angers Hook, it's another stealing his treasure."
"And if he does? What then?" I pounded.
Blackbeard stroked his beard; "I kill him and take over his ship and crew."
"And what of me? Will you dispose of me as well?" I croaked.
"Originally that was the plan but I think I might keep you for myself, you're very pretty." He responded nonchalant.
I shook my head in disgust, "please if that is the case, I beg that you kill me as well."
There was a question that was nagging at me and I summoned the courage to voice it to the looming pirate captain.
"Why now? Why now provoke Hook? This seems to me like a long standing feud."
"Because now is the perfect time dearie! Now Hook has a love of his own that I can take just like he did mine! Plus talk around Neverland is that he is the main pirate to be reckoned with, and we can't have that now can we? It's time for Neverland to remember who they should really fear!" He boomed raising a fist in the air.
"What do you mean he destroyed took your love?" I asked.
Blackbeard's dark eyes took on a look of pain before he shook his head and responded.
"Hook never told you then? Of course he wouldn't, I imagine a killer isn't attractive to a young woman like yourself. Your precious captain is a cold blooded killer my dear;: he taunted.
I waved my head back in forth in denial. "You're lying Hook is a genuine man, something you could never hope to be!" I snarled.
His black eyes flashed and he raised a hand and I turned my head to the side preparing myself for a blow that never came.
"Lay one hand on her and the slower you die Blackbeard;" called a voice all too familiar. I lifted my head to see Hook at the helm of the ship, his sword drawn and at the ready.
"Hook," I cried relief flooding into my voice.
"One moment luv, let me dispatch of this pathetic excuse for a pirate and we will be on our way", he replied his eyes warming when they landed on me.
"Hook I was starting to think you would never come! Initially I thought taking the hand that killed my love would be vengeance enough, but I've come to realize that I should just take yours as well!" Blackbeard seethed withdrawing his own sword from his sheath.
So that's how Hook lost his hand, he probably told me in his story last night but I had already drifted into sleep by then.
Hook winced at Blackbeard's words. "I was a different man then Blackbeard, but Wendy has changed me and I won't allow you to take her away from me!"
Both pirates lunged forward swords clashing, and I could barely make out grunts of pain. Hook appeared to be the better swordsman, but Blackbeard was the larger man and he was using it to his advantage by pressing his weight against Hook. The fight seemed to be going on forever before Hook finally dislodged the Blackbeard's sword from his hand, where it plopped into the ocean with a "thunk." Hook leveled the tip of his sword at the other pirate's adam's apple and instructed him to step on the plank. Blackbeard did as he was instructed and stared at Hook, his eyes widened in terror.
"Are you going to slit my throat Hook and right in front of your new love?" Blackbeard taunted trying to feign bravery.
"I would never perform such brutality, but I would like to introduce you to someone that will. Captain may I present the terror of the ocean, the mighty crocodile!" With those words Hook hit the lever that controlled the plank with the hilt of his sword, and Blackbeard plunked into the ocean like a heavy stone. Hook raised an arm and wiped the sweat that had formed on his forehead off with the sleeve of his leather jacket.
"Okay mates take care of the rest of Blackbeard's crew!" Hook shouted, and his crew filed over from Hook's ship to restrain Blackbeard's pirates. While they were doing that Hook rushed over to me and severed the rope that bound me with his sword. He helped me up and cupped the back of my head with his good hand while he rained kisses down on top.
"Are you okay luv? Did he hurt you in anyway? He whispered into my hair.
"Besides rope burns on my wrists I'm fine;" I reassured wrapping my arms around him not wanting to let go.
"I won't let anything take you from me Wendy, I care for you too much," he promised
"And I you," standing on my tip toes I planted a kiss on his bristled lips. I drew away when I heard my name being called away and turned my head to find the source of the sound.
Peter floated down from the sky until his feet touched the floor and he had something clenched in his hands. I ran over to him shooting Hook an apologetic look over my shoulder. I grasped one of Peter's hands.
"What is it Peter? What's that in your hand?" I asked gently.
He wouldn't meet my eyes but, he held out the crumpled newspaper that was in his hand.
"I'm sorry Wendy I should have given it to you as soon as I found it on my trip to London, but I knew you would leave me if I did. Hook suggested you were in danger so I knew I had to give it to you should anything happen. I didn't want to have any regrets when it came to you…" He trailed off and began to walk backwards, I have to go Wendy come see me when and if you forgive me." Peter gave me one last grimace of regret before he jumped into the air and soared off into the night.
Curious as to why this paper provoked such a reaction in Peter, I unfolded it quickly, the paper crinkling under my fingers. It was an article from a newspaper, and it had a picture of my parents beaming side by side. It wasn't until I read the headline that my wail pierced the silent night, causing Hook to run to my side just in time to catch me as my legs gave out.
"What's the matter luv?" He asked as he brushed my tears away with his thumb.
"My parents… they're dead!" I sobbed, voice choking with emotion.
Hook's eyes softened in sympathy and he pulled me into his arms as I screamed into his chest. Neverland had given me a world where I could stay young forever, but now I wanted nothing more than to return home, to finally grow up.
The end for now…