Chapter 21
The sky was a sickly shade of green as Peter flew to Skull Rock. Beneath him, twenty Indian braves in canoes followed closely behind. Peter thought it was overkill, he even told the Chief that much. But since Tiger Lilly was their princess, it was only fair to let them come.
It was a simple enough plan. Peter would fly in, attack Hook, and beat Hook, then save Tiger Lilly. The braves were to just wait outside the opening of Skull Rock, and should any pirates come out before their princess, shoot them.
Peter flew silently into Skull Rock, landing behind a small outcropping. Adrenalin was racing through his veins, as it always did when he was about to face Hook. It was the thrill of the fight that got his blood pumping. It was something that made him feel so alive and invincible.
Hooks voice cut through the silence. "Comfortable Miss Darling?"
Wendy?! Peter's head whipped around and he anxiously peered through a crevice in the rocks. He spotted Hook, three other pirates, Tiger Lilly, Mr. Smee, and …Wendy. Peter's heart stopped cold. No, no, no! She wasn't supposed to be here! But there she was. Hands tied above her head, up to her neck in water, and a defiant look on her face.
Peter scrubbed a hand down his face. This changed everything. His "get in and get out" plan wasn't going to work with two people to save. Frustration rose to the surface as he thought about how Wendy got into the situation in the first place. But he'd have to deal with that later. Right now he needed to change gears and reprioritize.
Priority number one was getting Hook away from Wendy. Peter couldn't save either of the girls with Hook right there ready to lash out. Peter needed to create a distraction. But then how to save the girls? Time was running out, the tide was coming in, he needed to move quickly.
Peter hurried and flew out of Skull Rock and down to the waiting Indian braves. Peter asked for two braves who would be willing to swim in undetected, cut the girls loose and swim back out while he created a diversion. Satisfied with his choice of braves, Peter flew back into Skull Rock and steeled himself for what was to come.
…
"Comfortable Miss Darling?" Hook feigned politeness.
Wendy glared back at Hook.
"And what about you, your highness?" Hook asked the other girl.
Again he was given a glare as an answer.
"Although your bravery is commendable, it will not save you. The tide is coming in and is no respecter of persons." Hook looked pointedly at Wendy. "If you speak, you will be released and no harm will come to you, if you keep silent, the water will make sure you stay that way…forever."
The water rose to the girls' chins as if to make Hook's point.
Hook was about to make one last offer, when the voice of his nightmares came echoing down the cavern.
"James Hook is a nothing but a big codfish!"
"Pan…" Hook whispered vehemently. "Well don't just stand there you blithering idiots!" Hook waved at his men. "Go find that rat!"
Quickly his men dispersed throughout the cave searching for Pan. Wendy tried to school her face into a mask of indifference, but Hook didn't miss the hope and triumph in her eyes.
"Careful now Miss Darling, we wouldn't want to think that you were rooting for anyone."
Peter made quick work of the three pirates, knocking them out and stuffing them in his hiding place.
Hook waited impatiently but his men didn't come back. He made a low guttural sound. "Ladies, as the last life lesson you will ever learn- when you want something done, do it yourself!"
Hook started to climb up the rocks, "Imbecilic vermin! SMEE!" he shouted.
"Y..y..yes Cap'n!"
"If you see that flying menace SHOOT HIM!"
"Aye aye Cap'n!"
Hook climbed, "Where are you boy?" He spat. "Come to rescue your little friends? Or come to taunt me? You can't do both..."
Peter poked his head out; Hook was nowhere to be seen.
"PETER BEHIND YOU!" Wendy shouted!
Peter whirled around and met Hook's oncoming blow. Swords clashed and sparks flew. Hook was on the attack, slicing and slashing at every turn. But Peter parried every move easily.
"Come on you old codfish! Is that all you got?" Peter laughed!
They carried across the rocky terrain, Peter spinning and flying backwards, carefully edging Hook away from Wendy.
Incised Hook pressed harder, but something was off. Peter wasn't pressing back. He was merely on the defensive. He had missed ample opportunities to slash back at Hook, but hadn't taken them. Hook observed more closely. Pan seemed….distracted? Distracted by what? Hook quickly scanned the premises for any unknown attackers but saw none.
Swords crossed and locked Hook maneuvered Peter into a corner, the ceiling was low so there was no flying out of it.
"Give it up boy!"
Peter's eyes darted to the side and his bravado slipped only for a moment. But it was enough for Hook to see true concern on the boy's face. Hook followed Peter's gaze to where the girls were tied up. Pan? Concerned for someone else? Impossible!
In his musing Hook failed to realize that the girls were no longer there until it was too late.
"SMEE, THE GIRLS, WHERE ARE THEY?" Hook bellowed.
Smee looked down at the rock, and saw only the rope dangling. Blubbering Smee took off his hat and wrung it in his hands.
"I dunno Cap'n! They were here one minute and the next they were gone!"
Relieved that his plan had worked, Peter returned full force into the fight.
"I'll never give up Hook!" Pu until it was Hook who was in the corner! In a short series of moves Peter slashed Hook's cheek with his sword and disarmed him.
"It's over Hook,"
Hook was livid. Blood dripped down his cheek, but he didn't notice. He was too furious with this demon in front of him.
"No, Pan. It's not over. And it never will be until you are dead by my hand."
Peter just stared back at his enemy. He could kill him. Right here, right now. There were times Peter would reflect back on this moment and desperately wish that he would have killed Hook. But he didn't. At the present Peter had more important things on his mind. Mainly making sure he kept his promise and got Tiger Lilly back before sundown, and talking to Wendy.
With a loud and victorious crow Peter flew backwards, and left Hook seething and bloodied.
"Dead by my hand." Hook repeated as he watched Peter fly away.
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