Another Neverland part 4
I barely felt Hook's soft, nimble fingers drawing what were meant to be soothing circles on my back. All I could feel was the dampness of my wet cheek crushed against his chest, and the pain that came with a shattered heart. My parents had succumbed to a deadly fire, never knowing what had become of their children who had been lured to Neverland once more. Beneath my grief I found a new emotion arising…Loathing. I loathed the handsome boy adorned in leaves that matched his glittering green eyes. I loathed myself even more for having allowed myself to have been seduced by his promises of adventures and treasures. If I had known that night when Peter had taken my hand and guided me to the beckoning window that I would never see my parents alive again, I would have accepted my fate of tight corsets and pesky suitors and sent Peter Pan on his way. Hook's angry bellow whisked me from my inner turmoil.
"I will kill Peter Pan for this!" Hook seethed, his blue eyes flashing dangerously. I lifted my face from where it rested on Hook's chest and stared up at him through wet lashes.
"You mustn't, it would make you no better than him," I croaked, my throat raw.
I could tell from the twitch in Hook's jaw that he was not pleased. I reached up and caressed his face knowing that what I was about to say would break the great pirate captain.
"I have to return to London," I whispered, stroking his cheek affectionately with my wavering thumb. Hook snatched my hand and clutched it over his heart, pressing a kiss against my knuckles.
"Please luv don't leave me, I only just got you in my arms again!" He pleaded, his voice hitching in desperation.
I lowered my gaze not able to bear the pained expression of the man I loved.
"I need to do this…I need to see my parents one last time." Even if I'm only visiting their graves, I thought sadly.
"As you wish luv, but you will allow me to accompany you," Hook declared in a voice that was not to be questioned.
"I couldn't ask you to leave your ship and crew behind." I replied shaking my head, my blonde tresses whipping about me.
"Who said anything about leaving my ship behind? The Jolly Roger is going to sail us right through the barrier of Neverland!" Hook exclaimed proudly.
My nose pinched in confusion. "I don't understand, I thought Peter was the only one who could come and go from Neverland as he pleased?"
"I wager he told you that rubbish on the chance that you would leave him; but the truth is luv that anyone that can fly can soar right out of Neverland's gates!" Hook proclaimed, his hook surging forward to mimic the motion of flying right on through.
"And here I thought I always needed to be attached to Peter's arm to leave Neverland," I whispered, my breath billowing like fog around me from the cold night air.
"I apologize for the lies Pan must have told you, but know this for truth luv you will be leaving on no one's arm but my own." Hook crooned possessively, catching my ever rustling hair with his hook and tucking it behind my ear.
"Thank you Hook," I murmured leaning forward to embrace him both in gratitude and for the warmth his leather clad body provided.
I felt him press a firm kiss to the top of my head, his stubble tickling my scalp. "Think nothing of it luv," he whispered before gently releasing me and taking a step back.
"Listen up men," he boomed turning to face his crew. "Set a course for London, we sail now!"
There were murmurs of confusion, and groans that served as complaints.
Hook's coal rimmed eyes narrowed, "We sail immediately," he repeated. "Anyone who refuses this will join Blackbeard and the crocodile for dinner!" He threatened referring to the other pirate captain he had forced off the plank earlier that evening.
The ship became deathly quiet before the crew burst into motion, bustling about the ship preparing it for flight. While the crew went about loosening the sails, I made my way to the helm of the ship, clutching the rough, wooden railing tightly. If I plunged off this ship once it took flight there would be no pixie dust to save me this time.
"Rea-ready to sai-sail Captain!" Smee stuttered, sweat beads rolling down his red, pudgy face.
"Very good Smee," Hook praised. He then raise his hook, so it shone like a beacon in the moonlight, "lift her up men!" He commanded.
With the order from the captain the Jolly Roger ascended from the water, its wooden structure creaking as the large ship took flight. I tried not to glance at the rolling waves beneath us as we got higher in higher. My hands felt clammy and sweaty from fear but I dared not remove my hands from the railing which served as my tether. The only fortunate thing about my fear was that it was momentarily replacing the grief that gripped my heart.
"I didn't take you one to be fearful of heights luv," Hook drawled as he came up behind me, draping an arm around my shoulder.
"With pixie dust you are in control, but here nothing can save you from plummeting to your death." I said waving my hand to gesture to the ship and then when I realized what I had done I quickly latched it back onto the railing.
"You're wrong luv, I will keep you from falling to your death," Hook chuckled, his grip around me becoming tighter as if to prove his point.
I continued on, oblivious to what he had said, my eyes staring into the distance. "Perhaps I should allow myself to fall, for my parents are gone…" I trailed off my voice cracking as a new sob formed in my throat, my anguish bleeding through once more.
I felt myself being whipped around, my face clenched between Hook's hand and hook as he forced me to stare at him through my waterfall eyes. "Do not speak that way ever again Darling, do you hear me?"
The intense glint in his eyes had me giving him the best nod I could manage within his grasp, even as my lips quivered.
He released me with a soft sigh. He walked past me and pointed far into the distance. "Do you see the flickering star luv?"
I brushed away the tears that were obstructing my vision and squinted until I could make out one, bright, star flashing so it stood out among the rest.
"I do," I answered remembering that this star had always been present when I entered and left Neverland in the past.
"That is our map to London, that is how we will leave Neverland," Hook explained.
Peter's words once spoken to me now poured from my lips in a whisper, "Second star to the right and straight on till morning..."
I paced back and forth angrily in front of my group, my deer-skinned flats leaving harsh imprints on the sand floor of our hideout.
"Gang I'm sorry to tell you that Wendy has abandoned us, betrayed us for our mortal enemy Captain Hook!"
There was a collective gasp, and murmurs of both hurt and denial. Tubby Ted seemed to be taking the news the worst, as he wiped at the tears running down his chubby cheeks, with a grimy fist.
"Mother can't leave us, who will tell us stories every night?" He asked using the nickname the Lost Boys had chosen for Wendy, who had served as a mother figure for the orphan boys.
"Yeah, who will tell us stories?" The group mimicked, their protests echoing throughout the cave walls.
"Silence!" I boomed, quieting the discontent that was brewing among the Lost Boys.
"This just proves that we don't need mothers; that we are better off without them. Why do we need stories of adventures, when here in Neverland we are living them?" I asked, putting my hands on my hips.
I glanced among the small gathering and noticed some nods of agreement. Good, I was closer to having all of them on my side. Determined to sway the rest I continued.
"Why would we want a mother when all they do is impose rules?
Do you like being told when to sleep, and what to wear? Do you like being told you can't do something?"
When the boys remained silent I asked again. "Well do you?!"
"No!" The boys shouted in union raising their fists, anger replacing what just moments ago had been sadness.
"Then I expect no moping around, do you hear me? From now on it's just us and unlimited adventures!"
The cave erupted in cheers, as the Lost Boys swung their makeshift weapons above their heads.
"Now get out of here; fly back to the tree house, I will be there soon," I commanded.
Once the boys were nothing more than specks in the sky, the carefree facade I had been wearing slipped away.
Grabbing a stone from the beach floor, I hurled it at the ocean with all my rage behind it, a snarl contorting my face. Gone was the fun-loving, adventurous boy; in his place stood a bitter man with a heart in shambles. I could not stand rejection any longer, the very thought of Wendy in Hook's arms instead of mine caused me to scream into the night. I had saved her from her boring, mundane life and this is how she repaid me?
No, I would not allow her to continue to crush my heart, that had never before felt love. If I was going to live forever, I would do it with Wendy by my side.
The first thing, I glimpsed as we burst through the clouds into London was the the clock tower, its face dull, under the early morning light.
"It's beautiful," Hook whispered, mesmerized at the sight of what I considered to be plain, ordinary London. I studied the place that I had once considered to be home, with its cobbled streets, and smoke that billowed from the chimneys. I failed to see what Hook was beholding.
"It's nothing compared to the beauty of Neverland," I replied.
"Aye luv, while it may not be as visually stunning as Neverland, I find its structures amazing."
I shrugged, they had never interested me, but then I had grown up with them, and Hook was seeing all of this for the first time.
"My house is on that street over there," I directed leaning over the side of the ship to point."
"I see it luv, but how do you propose we reach it? I hardly think we can land the Jolly Roger here in town without causing an uproar."
I hadn't even considered that rather large problem; I had been too distracted by my urgency to reach home. I cupped my chin, eyes downcast, as I began to formulate a plan. After a few moments I had one.
"The river! We can land near the shore there; it should be deserted at this time of year." I then turned and shouted the directions to the river to the crew. They stood rooted, as if unsure whether to follow my orders.
"You heard her men! Now get to it!" Hook growled.
"Yes Captain!" The crew replied, then turned the great vessel in the direction of the river.
"Sorry about that luv, they will know to obey you from now on," Hook apologized.
"It's quite alright, I could never get the Lost Boys to listen to me either," I admitted.
"Well luv, you just have to learn to be more assertive like me," Hook chuckled, giving me a quick peck on the cheek before striding off to bark more orders as if to prove his point.
Soon after we reached the river, the Jolly Roger landed non- too -gently unto its surface, causing a great splash to rise up and then fall on us like an overturned pail of water. I sputtered, as water went down my throat, and blindly tried to part my dripping ringlets of hair from where they covered my eyes.
When I could finally see again I observed that Hook was even less pleased than I was. His black coal liner was smeared and running down his face like dribbled ink. He shook his head like a wet dog, droplets of water flying off.
"Even though I sail out on the water, I still can't stand being wet." Hook admitted.
As I wrung out my hair like one would a towel, I couldn't say I blamed him.
Once I was as dry as I believed I would get, I turned towards the dock.
"Okay I'm ready, I'll be back shortly." I started making my way to get off the ship, when Hook's voice halted me in my tracks.
"You weren't thinking of leaving without me were you?"
I glanced at him from over my shoulder. "This is a visit I need to do alone; please don't try and stop me. I'll be back soon, I swear it." I promised fervently.
Not giving Hook the opportunity to argue, I slipped off the ship and padded across the dock. It would be a short walk to my house, made longer by the ankle-deep snow on the ground.
Quivering hands clutched my cloak tightly around me as trudged through the snow until I reached my house; or what remained of it.
I cupped a hand around my mouth to silence the sob that had made its trek up my throat. Where once a three-story mansion had stood; there was now a pile of charred wood covered in a blanket of ash.
"It's sad isn't it? The Darlings were good people." A voice remarked beside me. Startled I tore my eyes off my former home and turned to see an elderly woman, covered in a black shawl.
"Yes, yes they were," my voice wavered. I couldn't resist the urge to voice what had been tearing away at me.
"Do you...Do you know what caused the fire?"
The woman nodded sadly. "I don't know whether you know this or not, but the Darling's children went missing for a second time a few months prior to the fire. It tore their parents apart, who had experienced this heartbreak once before when they disappeared the first time. I was told that Mrs. Darling would light a candle in the children's room every night hoping that it would guide her wayward children home. Then one night in her grief, she forgot to put the candle out..." The old woman trailed off, but I didn't need to be told what had happened after that.
It was in that moment that I wanted to curl in on myself and scream until my throat bled raw. The woman's words had cast me into shackles constructed of my own guilt.
The woman tilted her crinkled face in my direction, taking in my silence. "Don't be sad child, I'm sure that one day the Darling's children will return and fulfill their late parent's wishes."
I just gave a soft nod in response and continued to stare straight ahead.
"Well good day child," the lady said, before she hobbled away.
I stayed as frozen as the ice that drooped off the surrounding houses, seemingly oblivious to the winter's cold touch. When my feet finally became numb, I decided I would warm them by continuing on to the nearest cemetery, where I assumed my parent's were buried.
When I arrived at the cemetery, I pushed open the rusted gates and slid through, the hem of my gown wiping against the snow in a gentle brush. I moved through the graveyard, as quiet as the spirits that inhabited it. My eyes roamed over countless gravestones, until they finally landed on the pair I had come for.
My parent's tombstones were untouched by mourners, with no flowers to decorate the pale marble. I knelt in front of them, not caring that the snow bled through my gown and soaked my legs. I reached out and ran my frigid fingers, along the cold, contours of each of their graves. Wanting to remember every crack, every chip.
"I love you, I love you so much," I whispered to the graves.
"Do you know how long I've waited for you to say those exact words to me Wendy?"
Startled, my small frame jumped at the unexpected voice. I whirled around to see Peter, wearing his usual attire and untouched by the cold. I quickly stood and held out a hand to ward him off.
"Stay away from me! I hate you!" I screeched.
Peter just shook his head at me like I was a small child and continued forward. "You don't hate me Wendy, you love me I'm sure of it." His smile was full of delusion.
I backed away behind my parent's tombstones, sickened. "I do not; I might have at one point but then I saw through the mask, to the selfish boy underneath!" I bit out, through gritted teeth.
Peter closed the distance between us in a blur of movement, his lithe form slamming me against a tall tombstone nearby.
"I'm the selfish one?! I took you, no I saved you, from the bore of a life you had here!" Peter boomed, his hot breath caressing my face.
"Peter!" I sobbed. "What has happened? This isn't you!"
Peter gripped my face with one of his strong hands and brought my eyes up to meet his. "You want to know what happened Wendy? You broke my heart! I decorated you with treasures, took you on endless adventures, and all I wanted in return was you!"
Tears trailed down my flushed red cheeks, as I beheld the madness that had overtaken my former friend. Suddenly the anger seemed to drain out of Peter as he studied my tears, and his grip on my face loosened.
"Don't cry Wendy, it's okay I'm here and I will not leave you again, we will be together forever like we were meant to be." He soothed bringing his lips down on mine. Angry, I bit down and prepared to shove him off me, but never got the chance. The nape of Peter's shirt hitched up, as if pulled by an unseen force and he went sprawling into the snow.
Standing where Peter had previously been was a very enraged Hook. "Are you alright luv?"
"I thought I told you not to come!"
"Did you really think I was going to listen?" He grinned.
Before I could reply, Hook spun last second, withdrawing his sword from its sheath on his waist just in time to meet Peter's dagger.
"Get back to the ship Wendy, I will join you shortly!" Hook ordered, raising a booted foot, to push Peter back. It reminded me of the trick I myself had used on him, back when we practiced sword fighting on his ship.
"You're not going anywhere with her!" Peter snarled. He lunged forward his dagger aimed for Hook's throat. Hook blocked, and used his sword to shove Peter off him.
"Wendy leave now!" Hook shouted, never taking his eyes off Peter as they circled each other in a deadly waltz.
"I'm not leaving you!"
Peter began chuckling. "Well isn't that sweet, I can't wait until you speak of me in concern; but first I have to remove the one who has turned you against me!"
With a renewed look of determination Peter came at Hook with everything he had, stabbing and slicing in flurry of movement.
Attack after attack Hook blocked, sweat beading down his head from exertion. I could tell that Hook wasn't putting forth everything he had; he didn't want to have to kill. It was Hook's intent of mercy that cost him. Peter shot forward and swung his dagger in a powerful arc, disarming Hook. Hooks sword landed with a soft "clunk" next to my feet.
Hook raised his arms in the air, a look of helplessness on his face, as Peter leaned forward, his dagger dangerously close to Hook's heart.
"Well this is it, I finally get to kill the the famous Captain Hook, my mortal enemy for so long. But don't worry I'll take care of Wendy."
"Noooooo!" I screamed, scooping the sword from the ground and rushing forward, just in time to pierce Peter's chest with its tip.
Peter lost his grip on the dagger as he stumbled back, collapsing to the ground, his blood painting the snow crimson, red. I dropped the sword like it was scalding hot and clutched my hands to my chest.
I stood there shaking, as Hook picked up his fallen sword and walked over to Peter, pushing its tip to Peter's chest.
"She missed your heart, but if you follow us I can assure you I won't. You are to remain here, travel the world if you'd like but if I see you in Neverland ever again I will finish you." Hook promised.
Peter didn't respond, as he glared up at Hook. Hook shot Peter one more threatening look before he held out an arm for me.
"Come luv, we are leaving this place."
I took Hook's arm sparing one last goodbye glance at both my parents and Peter Pan. As we left the graveyard I swear I could hear Peter screaming my name.
Epilogue...
Years had passed since that day Hook and I returned from London. Upon our return I had had the painstaking task of visiting the Lost Boys and telling them that Peter Pan would never be coming back to Neverland; something that Tinkerbell did not take too well. I held my brothers as they cried over our parent's deaths; something that Peter had kept from them as well. In the end they decided to stay with the Lost Boys rather than join me on Hook's ship. Months later, Hook called me into his cabin, got down on his knee and asked me if I would marry him. I had nodded over and over, tears of joy running down my face, as he slipped the most beautiful diamond ring onto my finger. Weeks later we married here on the ship. The Lost Boy's and the crew were both in attendance as Hook and I sealed our love with a kiss.
Now two years later I stood at the helm of the Jolly Roger, as I often did watching the scenery as we sailed by it.
Hook came up behind and wrapped his arms around my waist pulling me against him. I smiled, and leaned back closing my eyes as I listened to the ocean's crashing waves. I rested my hands against my stomach and gave a surprised gasp when I felt the smallest of swells.
The End...
Stayed tuned for my next series Another Wonderland!
I lay in the snow, unable to move; not from the wound to chest, but rather due to the agony in my heart.
"Wendy please come back! I screamed, angry tears, trailing off my reddened cheeks, and plopping into the snow to melt it with its hot touch.
I turned my head to see that my plea had not halted her retreating steps. The last thing I glimpsed before she disappeared through the cemetery gates, was her curtain of gold hair, draping down the back of her dark cloak, and Hook wrapping his arm around her dainty frame.
This caused me to become further enraged, and I repeated her name over and over in a desperate cry. Eventually the crunch of her footsteps on the snow faded and I knew I was alone, except for the dead that lie buried around me. I wanted nothing more than to pursue them, but my injury rendered me useless. Hook's threat would not keep me from returning to Neverland. I had every intention to, but for now I would tend to my wounds. Once I was ready I would make my grand return to Neverland and reclaim my title and leadership amongst the Lost Boys, as well as the woman who belonged to me...
After I had stumbled to a hospital to receive care for my injuries; I found that leaving London was going to be harder than I initially thought. I soon became something of a local celebrity as everyone soon heard talk of the strangely dressed boy, who was spouting imaginative tales of another world called Neverland. My new fame led to wealth and my wealth led to a beautiful estate in London. Before I knew it, three years had flown by, and for all my new found riches I was without what I desired most.
I was hardly a child anymore; with my tall, thick build and chiseled face. Where I had once dressed in leaves and deer skins, I now wore the tailored suit that was expected of all noble men in London society. I now sat before a roasting fire, staring into it with a hardened gaze, my green eyes shimmering like emeralds.
"Excuse me sir, but there's someone at the door for you. She said she's an old friend," a small voice piped up.
The blood in my veins quickened and I felt instant warmth. Could it be Wendy? Had she finally come to me after all this time?
"Let her in now!" I ordered impatiently, fixing the bow at my neck and straightening my jacket.
"Ye-Yes sir!" The maid quivered out, then quickly turned on her heel.
I felt a smug smile pull at the corners of my lips as I stood and imagined my long, lost love arriving in the doorway. Moments later my visitor stood before me; my smile faltered, but did not drop completely.
"Tink!" I greeted, holding out my arms to my most faithful companion.
Her narrow face scrunched in confusion, as she studied me. "Peter is that really you?" She asked, the hope in her voice evident.
"Really Tink? I've grown a bit taller and you don't recognize me?" I teased.
"Oh Peter, how I've missed you!" She cried, blinking away tears of joy as she threw herself into my arms. She hugged me fiercely, before she took a step back and stared into my eyes.
"Peter what happened to you? All we were told was that you would not be returning to Neverland, by Hook and that witch, Wendy Darling.
My expression hardened at her referral to Wendy, but I decided to excuse it for now.
I took a deep breath and filled her in on that unfortunate day in the cemetery and Hook's threat, as well as my adaption into London society.
"Tell me Tink, how did you find me and how do you appear human?"
"It wasn't hard to find you once I found out you were here in London; everyone seems to know you," she explained.
"And as for my appearance, there's nothing a little pixie dust can't do.
I shook my head and gave a slight chuckle. "Oh Tink, you never fail to amuse me. Now tell me what has become of the Lost Boys?"
"They haven't been on many adventures; they have a had somewhat of a truce with the pirates, ever since Hook and Wendy married."
"Hook and Wendy married?!" I exclaimed, losing the calm I had but moments ago.
She flinched at my tone and nodded hesitantly; " yes, they married almost two years ago. Wendy has also had a child." She added gently, hoping to prevent another outburst.
I stumbled back a step as if I had been struck, and perhaps I had. Everything I had envisioned for Wendy and I, she had already done, but with another man. In that moment, I hated Hook more than I ever had before. How dare he marry the woman that was mine! How dare he have a child with her!
I clenched my fists, deterred, but by no means undetermined. It would be harder to win Wendy back now, but I has always loved a challenge.
"Peter...?" Tink asked nervously, interrupting me from my thoughts.
"I apologize for scaring you, that was just news I wasn't prepared to hear," I admitted.
"So I take it you are still in love with her?" Tink sniffed.
I didn't deny it and, that was answer enough.
Tink sighed loudly and slapped both hands against her sides in frustration. "Let her go Peter! She is nothing!"
Angered I rushed forward until I was almost nose to nose with her. "I love her, thus I will never let her go. Although I know exactly why you wish I would," I sneered, referring to her own feelings for me.
Tink lowered her gaze, and a tear trickled out of the corner of her eye.
"Please Peter," she begged. "Just return to Neverland, to the Lost Boys and let us be a family again."
"Oh I have every intention of returning Tink, don't ever doubt that."
I turned from her and stared back into the fire, whispering gently;"I'm coming back Wendy, be ready for me..."