The Nightmare of Neverland
Ava found herself leaning against the window watching the sunset. She played with the scar on her ear that Hook had so graciously gave her. She wanted to ignore the fact that she could be injured severely but this cut throat pirate, but he merely gave her warning instead.
Hook was toying with her.
Ava could have been killed by now. She was just a distraction to Hook's master plan.
Why is he keeping around this long anyway? Does he think I'll go over to the dark side? What's his motive? What's his superior plan for me anyway she thought.
She sighed while not taking her eyes off the sun.
She smiled and traced the sun with her finger.
"Oh I miss home," said Ava.
"Don't you like your new living quarters?" asked Hook.
Ava didn't even look at Hook. She concentrated on the horizon instead.
"This isn't a home and it never will be," said Ava.
"It could be if you give it a chance," said Hook.
Ava smelled the cigar that Hook was smoking.
"You know those will kill you in the end," said Ava.
She smiled.
"Don't let me make you quit," said Ava.
She smirked at herself.
"That's one thing I like about you Ava. You got spunk and you're not afraid to speak your mind," said Hook.
"Actions speak louder than words," said Ava.
She moved away from Hook and towards the door.
Hook didn't try to stop her.
She was about to reach the handle but pulled herself back.
She looked at Hook who stood where she had been previously.
"You can go out if you like but you won't leave the ship. My men are standing guard," said Hook
Ava didn't need to be told twice. She left the cabin and took in the fresh sea air.
It was nice to be outside. She had been in that cabin long enough that was she was starting to wonder if she would die in there.
She looked around and saw most of the crew staring up at her.
Then again maybe she would die out here.
She saw a tiny figure below the stair and realized it was Jack wearing a pirate's hat with a baseball in his hand. She wanted to run to him, but a big bulky pirate blocked her view. He was taller than her, had bulging muscles, piercings in places she never imagined on the human body, and numerous amounts of tattoos over his flesh.
"Excuse me," she said to him wanting to side step him.
"Sorry Miss. Captain's orders to keep you here," said the pirate. He crossed his arms in front of his chest blocking her from the stairs
"I go where I please," said Ava. She made another move to step around the pirate, but he stood his ground firmly.
"Move," she growled looking up into the dead eyes of the pirate.
The pirate put his right hand on the hilt of his sword, threatening to unsheathe it.
Ava was no match against a blade.
She bowed her head in defeat.
"Fine have it your way," said Ava.
She looked over the railing instead and saw Jack talking to Mr. Smee.
She wanted to call out to him, but she knew that was a bad idea. She might have been gagged or thrown back inside the cabin which was the once place she didn't want to be right now.
She stepped backwards away from the railing. She flipped her hair behind her ears and turned to go, but a voice stopped her. She listened again and she heard Maggie's voice.
" My mom sang that song," said Jack taking the hat off. Ava smiled. Jack was remembering home.
"My young Jack, tell me about the game of baseball. I can't remember. Are the mates standing or are they on horseback?" Asked Smee.
Ava listened to Maggie sing. Moira had taught Ava that song to sing to the children as a lullaby. She sang along with Maggie.
"The stars are all my friends
Till the nighttime ends
So I know I'm not alone
When I'm here on my own
Isn't that a wonder
When you're alone
You're not alone
Not really alone"
Ava saw Captain Hook leave the cabin and descend the stairs. He stopped in the middle of the deck and cocked his head in wonder.
Ava was wondering what captain Hook was thinking.
Her and Maggie stopped singing and Ava sighed. At least Maggie was as willing as Ava was to get home safe and sound.
Ava left the outside and went back inside to bed.
Ava awakened the next day to hustle and bustle inside the cabin.
"What's going on?" asked Ava grogilly.
"Time to wake up. We all got a big day today. It's game day," said Hook.
"Game day? What are you talking about?" asked Ava. She sat up from her makeshift bed.
"Come and see. Today you are my special guest," said Hook.
Ava was led out of the cabin by two of Hook's men. She didn't struggle. All she wanted was to get off the God forsaken vessel and onto solid ground for once.
She was led off the gangplank and into a makeshift stadium on the dock.
She looked around at the bright blue sky.
The pirates made her sit down at the top of the stands, with Hook right behind her.
"This is a baseball game?" asked Ava. No one answered her.
Soon she wasn't sitting alone. Pirates and some overdressed ladies joined her. The ladies sat beside her.
"Excuse me," said one of the ladies. Ava looked at her and she had way too much make up on.
"Who is playing who?" asked Ava.
"Pirates vs Pirates," answered Hook.
He was sitting down, well pleased and eager to watch the game.
"What's the point of this?" asked Ava.
"You ask too many questions," said and aggravated Hook.
"How else am I supposed to know?" asked Ava. She was irritating Hook and she was enjoying it. She impishly grinned.
"Ladies, please shut our guest up," said Hook.
"What?" asked Ava. She was about to turn around to glare at Hook but the ladies sitting on either side of Ava broke out their handkerchiefs from their corsets and forced Ava's mouth open.
"Hey let go of me you slut!" yelled Ava. She started punching and kicking, almost landing the blows on the ladies.
She almost kicked one of them in the face, but the ladies' pinned her arms and legs down.
"You little bitch!" yelled the lady.
"You almost kicked me! You could have ruined my makeup!" she yelled in anger. She pulled Ava's hair back and threatened Ava.
"You will do well to listen to the Captain dearie. You don't want to see him when he gets mad," she said.
Ava was going to yell at her, but was gagged rather quickly and tightly. She gagged and choked but had to get her breathing in control since now she only had her nose to breathe in and out.
Ava glared and breathed deeply while she sat in the stands along with the pirates. They were cheering the team on loudly.
They waved their flags back and forth with joy.
Jack and Hook had gotten some time to themselves this past day and Ava couldn't intervene with Smee by her side left and right. She now turned from babysitter to the baby. She was a fighter and Hook knew this. He wouldn't have assigned Smee or his fellow pirates to watch her if this wasn't the case.
Ava jolted in her seat as she saw Jack was up at bat.
Jack! This is Hook's doing! He's trying to make Jack feel at home here. That sneaky son of a bitch!
Ava tried to turn her head around, but was forced to look forward.
Hook didn't trust Ava to take any chance she could get to be with Jack.
She didn't know where Maggie was, but right now Jack was in more trouble than Maggie was.
Jack was within arms' reach of Hook and Ava made sure she was going to be there to pull him back from that sharp hook that was digging itself into Jack.
Ava looked on as Jack was up to bat.
She was nervous for him that she was literally shaking in her seat. Even her breath was coming in short raspy gasps.
Hook nudged Ava in the back. She didn't like this. She balled her hand into a fist.
Hook saw her reaction and chuckled.
"Calm yourself kitten. It's just a game," said Hook from above Ava.
Ava just sat still watching the game continue. She even looked at the ladies dressed like hookers
One of them fanned herself with her feather fan while giggling.
Ava rolled her eyes at the woman.
Ava turned her gaze back at the game and huffed loudly. She saw Jack coming up and her spirits lifted slightly.
If only he knew. This was all really a game to Hook. He wants Jack to side with him, against his father.
Ava then heard Hook yelling at Jack.
"Jackie, boy! Jack! This is for all the games your daddy missed. Hook would never miss your game, son," said Hook.
The first ball came to Jack. Jack swung and missed.
"Strike one!" yelled the umpire.
"Wait for the good pitches. Wait for the good pitches!" yelled someone in a gruff voice from behind Ava.
Stupid pirates.
There was a chanting cheerleading section coming from the lower crowd.
"Jack! Jack! He's our man. If he can't do it, no one can!"
Then a pirate from first base decided to steal a base.
"He's stealing second!" yelled a pirate from the crowd.
Then suddenly a gun went off and the pirate fell down dead right there.
"No, now stop it!" yelled Hook.
"We're playing this game according to Master Jack's rules! Bad form! Sit down now! Let's resume the game!" said Hook.
He turned to Druscilla who was sitting beside him.
"Very violent sport, isn't it, baseball?" he asked her.
Come on Jack.
Jack was aiming to hit the second ball. He listened intently.
"Run home, Jack! Run home, Jack!" chanted the pirates holding up letters. Jack lowered the bat.
He read the letters.
"Run home, Jack," he said. He was starting to remember.
Ava smiled.
That's right Jack. Don't give into Hook.
"Smee, no, no, no! They've got it backwards! Tell them to turn it around!" he yelled at Smee in a hurry. He was losing his grip on the boy.
"Maggie?" asked Jack. He looked around for any sight of his sister.
"Switch!" bellowed Smee.
The pirates switched their positions around. Now the letters were in the right position.
"Home run, Jack! Home run, Jack! Home run, Jack! Home run, Jack. Home run, Jack," chanted the pirates.
Jack went back up to base.
Ava frowned.
No! He was so close!
Jack looked more determined than ever to hit the ball. Smee tossed the ball and Jack swung and hit it. It went soaring into the clouds. It was a homer and that was the end of the game.
The entire make shift stadium erupted in cheers and confetti. There wasn't a single pirate that wasn't smiling and clapping. Popcorn was being thrown up in the air for the celebrations.
"My Jack!" yelled Hook. He was very happy and proud of the boy.
Hook ran into the crowd and right up to Jack, raising his own baseball glove in the air.
"You did it! Hoist him up!" said Hook.
Jack was raised on the pirates' shoulders and led around the bases in joy.
"That's my boy! You did it, son!" said Hook.
Ava was left alone in the stands. She struggled to get the gag out of her mouth. When the cheers started, the ladies had let go of Ava to join in the celebrations and just left her there.
Ava was ungagged in a second.
"Ah," she whimpered. She rubber her chin.
She was free. She saw Jack being led around. She just stood there smiling. He finally hit the curve ball which he could never do.
"Way to go Jack," she said.
Now was not the time to be celebrating.
Ava descend the stairs and waited for Hook and Jack to come back around.
The cheers died down.
Hook and Jack walked hand in glove over towards Ava.
"You're still here?" asked Hook.
"Yes," said Ava crossing her arms.
"Don't say 'yes' in that tone of voice to me young lady," said Hook.
Ava rolled her eyes and then looked at Jack.
"You did it!" she exclaimed.
"Yeah I did," said Jack.
Ava kneeled down and hugged Jack tight.
"You never hit it that hard back home," said Ava.
"Where?" asked Jack.
Ava frowned and released Jack from the hug.
"What did you say?" asked Ava.
"Where? This is my home isn't it?" asked Jack.
Ava had a worried look on her face. She raked her hand through her hand.
"Oh no," whimpered Ava.
"Oh yes," said Hook.
Ava stood tall.
"What did you do?" asked Ava.
"I merely showed him the lie hiding just below the surface," said Hook.
"Stop talking in riddles. Give me a straight answer," demanded Ava.
"Let's just say we are playing another game," said Hook.
Ava backed away as Hook got closer to her face. She smelled his foul breath.
"And you are not invited to play," said Hook.
He took Jack's hand and walked past her.
Ava just stood rigid. She was now almost one hundred percent sure she was losing Jack right then and there. He wasn't the same boy that had landed in Neverland.
Ava turned around and watched their backs walking away from her.
Now is a good a time as any.
She was going to turn and run anywhere, but two pirates grabbed her arms.
"Hey guys what kept you?" asked Ava. She was expecting this.
I'm not invited to play this little game of yours? We'll just see about that shall we? Okay Hook, let the games begin.