Tori's POV
I've only been in one fight in my entire life. It had to have been my first week at
Brickford when the big bully (let's call her Bertha) decided to make her unwanted presence apparent everywhere I went. It started as harmless teasing I always managed to ignore. Little did Bertha know, but we had caddy girls like her in America too. It wasn't until one particular day she saw me walking alone like always and tripped me flat on my face. My anger built up so quickly, Bertha had no clue what hit her when my palm met her face with a crack so loud, the students thought it was whip.
I ended up with a black eye and bloody lip. Considering Bertha's muscle mass and five-inches-taller advantage, I knew I didn't stand much a chance. Still, I gained respect from the student body just for standing up to her. A certain soul happened to come across me after the fight cleared, beaten and bloody on the floor. He picked me up, invaded the women's bathroom and helped me clean up.
"So you like to fight?" he asked. I couldn't help but stare. He was exceptionally good-looking in a quirky kind of way. His hair was the craziest part, pointing every direction possible. I wondered if he did that purpose.
"No," I chuckled, "I actually kind of suck at it."
"Yeah, I can tell," he smiled crookedly, "You're going to have black eye, babe."
"Babe?" I said, "I have name."
"Tori Darling, right?" My eyes snapped to his in an instant. "The whole school's been talking about you upon arrival. It's not hard to overhear."
"So what's your name?" I inquired after a pause.
"Oliver," he said, straightening his thin gray tie after finishing up with my face, "You're all set."
"Hey, thanks," I called as he began to leave the restroom. He sighed and turned around, giving me a suspicious up-down glance before taking a leap of faith on me.
"You like coffee, Tori Darling?" he asked.
"Yeah," I smiled, "Sure."
Believe me, it wasn't a date; but after that moment, Oliver and I were best friends and we always will be. I needed him in my life to function properly. There was no life without him.
I thought back to that conversation as I was approached with a choice: a choice to fight by a friend's side (sort of a friend, right?) or stand by and hope I don't get killed… which I probably would. At that moment, I wanted Oliver there with me or hell, even Bertha the bully. This fight was so advanced from my one experience I didn't know what to do. I was free but without a weapon and there was no way I was going to be able to use my fists against these grown men.
The brawl between Peter and Cris began instantly. Peter obtained a sword from the closest clueless pirate just as Cris drew his. As Peter advanced, Cris gave an evil grin to me, "Don't let Miss Darling get too far."
Okay, so now was the time to decide. Multiple pirates surrounded me now, including the one that I threw the knife at earlier. He waved, "Remember me, girly?" he asked, taking a large step forward, "That really hurt. Now you're gonna pay."
I reacted quickly, not allowing him to knock the wind out of me as his fist swung above my head. I ducked down and crawled under his knees. Because of his size, I was lot quicker than him. Taking one big step of a wooden crate to catch momentum, I flung myself on the pirates back, hitting him in the back with my elbow and shielding his with my finger nails. My foot hooked underneath the handle of his sword on his hip, trying to pull it up so I could grab it. Unfortunately, the pirate had terrible balance on the ice. He spun around, stumbling back and forth on the deck making most of the pirates laugh. It was all a joke until he slammed against the railing of the ship, until I lost my grip on him, until I began spiraling overboard.
The water was frigid from the vast weather change, probably because of Peter's return. It felt as if a million tiny icicle needles were piercing my skin. I've never felt this kind of cold before, the kind that hurt then made you numb. The waves swallowed me up a while before I actually broke to the surface. I was able to keep my head above water most of the time, an occasional wave making me lose air. Everything was quiet up on deck from down here. I couldn't tell if Peter even realized I was down here.
"NO!" two voice yelled simultaneously. I turned around in the water to see my worst nightmare a couple hundred feet away and vastly approaching. Dangerous aquatic animals made me panic, especially sharks. Even being a little girl, the ocean gave me extreme anxiety. The dorsal fin was treading its own little waves, challenging me.
I didn't get a scream out until another body suddenly broke the surface, emerging quickly from the water and taking me into midair. Higher and higher we flew, but I couldn't sense the air on my skin. I was so cold, too cold to function… too cold to stay conscious.
Damn, my head hurt.
Peter's POV
Captain Cris could fight well. He worked expertly with a sword and he knew just what to do to push my buttons. Hurting Tori sent me over the edge and he knew that would happen. Any playful banter between Captain Hook and I was no match for this guy. He knew me inside and out, like he's been waiting for me.
It all made sense really. He orchestrated this entire operation to kidnap Tori and bring her to Neverland in hopes of me giving up myself. Once they had me, they would kill me and go on with their lives. Hell, they'd probably kill Tori too; but they didn't know her. I didn't even know her. She had a fire, a spark that turned a switch in a brain, a switch that made her fight for her life. There was even a point where she was fighting for mine.
I heard her scream as she fell overboard. Not only was the water dangerously cold, but there were sharks infesting the waters. They never hesitated to pick up what the Captain decided to throw overboard, whether it be rotten fish or a human being.
"NO!" I yelled the same time another voice did. I turned back to see Captain Cris's terrified expression stare after Tori as she hit the water in pure confusion. He wanted her dead, both of us dead. Now he was yelling after Tori and letting me run past his men to save her?
What the hell was going on?
She was unconscious when I picked her up. Her entire body felt like ice and I knew there was only one way to save her in time. "Tink!" I called as I flew farther and farther away from the pirate ship. I was nearly hovering above the trees, trying to get home as soon as I could. Tink eventually came to my side, but could barely keep up.
Did you see that?! He didn't want her to get gobbled up by the sharks!
"You could've caught her, Tink!" I scowled at her as I picked up speed, "She was falling and you could've made her fly!"
Peter, I was focusing on you! She sounded offended, her light glowing in a rich red. I'm sorry I wasn't looking at pretty girl over here getting herself thrown overboard.
"She's not like Wendy," I snapped, "She will fight a lot harder, even if it means losing."
Sorry I can't read her like an open book.
"Yeah, well I know how you're going to make it up to me," I said, giving her a sinister grin.
What? Her light returned back to normal.
Cris's POV
How could I have let him pass? My actions, my impulsive behavior was out of body, out of mind. How did I become so reckless with my thoughts and decisions so rapidly? The plan was well thought out by me. Though carried on by a herd of idiots, it did go much smoother than I had anticipated. Yet, I still wasn't happy. I didn't have Pan's head on a platter and I didn't have Tori Darling in my care.
Tori Darling… that was it.
I threw a dagger at the wooden wall of my cabin, causing a small mirror hanging to fall to the floor with a sheer crack. This young girl was using her evil warmth to impair me, to distract me from killing Pan. Next time, I would hesitate to kill them both.
"Cap'n!" Smee exclaimed, barging into the cabin clumsily.
"I thought I asked you to knock rather than intrude unannounced," I sneered at him.
"C-cap'n, you wanted to s-see some men of yours," Smee insisted.
"Ah, yes," I realized, as the five pirates entered the cabin, cramped and frightened, "Thank you." Smee stood by the door, shutting it behind the last man timidly. They all waited for me to being speaking once again, "I am disappointed. Not only have we failed to kill Peter Pan but you have failed to keep Tori Darling in captivity."
"Sir," one interjected. He towered high above my own height but that did not make me hesitate as I drew my pistol from my belt and pull the trigger instantly. If I wasn't mistaken, he was the man who allowed Miss Darling to fall from the ship and into the cold waters. There was no need to keep him on staff.
The rest of the men shook violently in fear. It was just the way any captain would want to see their crewmen. Why is that I was still unsatisfied with the man who brought Tori harm… the man who couldn't get her back is what I meant to say. I never took the time to learn the names of most of the pirates on the ship, except for Mr. Smee. They did not take the time to learn mine since they spent most stays calling me Captain Hook. It simply made me cringe.
"Is there anything else the rest of you would like to say?" I asked openly, each man knowing very well if they spoke out of line I would shoot them in an instant.
"Cap'n Cris," one shrilled nervously. I directed my pistol to them but waited to pull the trigger. He continued on before I could make another move, "We have a way to g-get the girl back, I mean. With or without Pan she is bound to come without a-advantage."
"And what is the advantage?" I questioned, making a gesture with the gun to continue with his words.
"W-well, you see, what have a Plan B, s-sir," he choked. The other pirates nodded, including Mr. Smee. I slowly lowered my pistol, thinking through the positive aspects of obtaining Tori Darling's free will once again. If this was something that could actually work, two minutes would all I need for them to explain their "Plan B".
"Tell me of this Plan B, gentlemen," I beckoned.
It's a little short, but I'm really tired so I will just get the next chapter up faster. I'm loving the reviews. They're great. Plus, I will probably not being using Cris's POV anymore unless it's really necessary or you guys really like it. It's hard to keep that balanced and I kind of like it just Tori and Peter, but let me know what you think about that too. Thanks!
