Chapter 24: Common Ground
Hannah's Perspective:
I took a step toward Lea as she sat in front of the creek. The birds called within the trees and the cool air brushed through her hair.
"Lea?" I spoke quietly, trying not to startle her. But she didn't respond. Not even with a flinch. "Lea, are you okay?" I continued, taking a few steps closer to her. "Lea…I wasn't trying to hurt you…I mean—yes I was," I pressed my palm against my forehead. "What I'm trying to say is I didn't mean for it to be that deep…I guess…" Lea sat silent and still. I stepped forward and now stood beside her, watching her stare at the water below. Setting down her bow, cloak, and quiver I sighed. I took a seat next to her and looked at my hands in my lap.
"You see, I didn't understand…anything…" I spoke. "When I got here, everyone was so against me. They wanted me dead. Yet you were here and everyone loved you. Everyone respected you. And I thought you were a bitch for that…" Lea remained still. "I know we don't see eye to eye on everything…but there's gotta be some common ground…right? There's gotta be something we can agree on…" The birds chirped within the trees, interrupting what would have been silence. But Lea remained in her same state of emptiness. I rested my eyes for a moment. "I guess what I'm trying to say is..." I swallowed the lump in my throat, "I was wrong…"
The creek was silent as the ripples in the water spread outward towards the edge of the surface. I opened my eyes and stared and the seemingly bottomless creek.
"No…" Lea spoke with a stern voice. My eyes widened as I turned my head to her.
"No?" I questioned as she continued looking in front of her. She turned her head and looked me in the eyes. What began as a stern expression softened. Her eyes were less full of hatred and more full of pain.
"You were right," she said, "about me…" Lea picked up a stone and skipped it across the water as she continued. "I was a bitch…But don't think that the Lost Boys loving me means anything…" she said softly. I raised a brow.
"Why do you say that?" I questioned. Lea chuckled to herself.
"Sometimes I wonder if they really respect me in the way you would think…" she began. "See, when you're me, the Lost Boys don't go along with what I say because they love me…They stay out of my way because they're afraid that if they touch me I'll break…" Lea sighed heavily and stared at the ground.
"Are they right?" I asked. Lea closed her eyes.
"I don't know anymore honestly…I'd hope not…"
We sat in silence for a few moments as the peaceful breeze brushed against my cheek.
"Lea?" I spoke meekly, now staring down at the dirt below my feet. "Who was Jake?" I asked, partially holding my breath with the fear that Lea would lash out. But when I turned to look at her a small smile crept upon her face.
"He was my best friend", she spoke, "he was unlike anyone I had ever met…" she continued. "He was kind…thoughtful…easy on the eyes…and he told the worst jokes I have ever heard in my life", she laughed to herself. I chuckled alongside her. "He meant everything to me…I could tell him anything…" her smile began to fade, "almost anything…" Lea grew silent for a moment. "No matter how brave I may seem, there are things in this world that still terrify me…Losing him was one of them."
"Did he know how you felt?" I questioned. Lea shook her head, her dark eyes beginning to tear up.
"I never told my best friend that I was in love with him…and I never will…" she spoke with pain in her voice, a tear rolling down her cheek. "They took him away from me…He took him away from me…"
Lea's Perspective:
The ship fell silent, leaving my sobs and cries as music to Hook's ears. I sat on my knees with my forearms on the deck. Staring at the wood as tears streamed down my face my heart pounded in my chest. Jake was…was…
I raised my head and eyed Hook as he lifted his sword to eye-level. Pulling a bright white handkerchief from his coat pocket he wiped the blood dripping from his sword with a groan.
"Now see, look what you've done," he scowled, "You made me stain my favorite handkerchief…" Raising a thick brow, he stuck the bloody rag into his pocket. My body shook with fury and my breathing became heavy. Shooting up from the deck, I screeched and bellowed with anger. I charged at Hook as his crew stepped in and pulled me back. Yanking me by the hair I kicked and shouted.
"You bastard!" I screamed, "You miserable piece of—"
The pirates threw me to the deck in front of Peter where he remained tied to the mast of the ship.
"I believe Miss Robel here is due for a timeout," Hook mocked. As the foul-smelling crew members held me still Hook kicked me in the side as hard as he could, making my vision split. I wheezed and spat out blood as he kicked once more. I held back my tears as Hook got to his knees. Lifting my head by my scalp he lowered his mouth to my ear. "Things are different now, darling," he whispered, "Your knight in shining armor isn't here to save you anymore." I inhaled sharply as a sudden pain shot through my back. He gripped onto my scalp tighter as he shook my head. "If you know what's good for you you'll be more compliant in the future…Otherwise you'll run out of friends for me to kill…" Hook began to speak in a louder tone. "Aren't you glad I got rid of that boy so that you could learn a valuable lesson?" He asked. I laid still and silent as my eyes had drifted to the side, blankly staring off in the distance. "Go ahead," he started, "thank me." I lifted my head and looked into Hook's sapphire eyes. I struggled to speak. I didn't want to.
"I said, thank me!" Hook demanded as he shouted and spat in my face. My breathing hitched as I winced in pain. Stuttering to get the words out, I spoke.
"T-tha-ank…y-you…" I choked, my eyes welling up with tears. Hook smirked.
"You're most certainly welcome, dear…" He gloated. "Anything for a girl as ravishing as you." I shut my eyes firmly and exhaled. "It will make you stronger in the end…"
It will all be over soon…
Please, God, let this be over soon…
Letting go of my head Hook stood up from his knees and turned on his heel. My head hit the deck as I stared at the floor. Looking up from the deck I watched as Hook's black boots walked towards Peter who sat staring at the floor. Pressing the tip of his sword against Peter's neck he looked up from the floor and scooted his back closer to the mast. He winced in pain as it pressed against his tender skin.
"See what happens when you fail, Peter Pan?" Hook snarled. "People get hurt and it's all…your…fault…" he grinned, pressing the sword deeper into his neck.
"W-what do you want?" Peter choked. Hook grinned maniacally as he chuckled.
"I want to see everything you love and care about crumble…" he laughed. Peter's breathing became deeper as his heartbeat increased.
"And then what?" Peter spat, "When all is done what will you have left to do with your pathetic life?"
Hook smirked as he viciously kicked Peter in the stomach. He curled into a ball on his side and spat crimson blood from his mouth. Turning away from Peter, Hook stood in the center of the ship and looked among the boys tied up on the floor.
"By the end of today, most of you boys will be dead," he began. "Such a shame really. A bunch of young men in their prime, capable warriors, so much wasted potential…" Hook began to stroll along the deck from side to side. "But it doesn't have to be this way…Oh no…Things could be so much simpler…All you have to do…just one of you fine boys needs to tell me…where can I get my hands on some pixie dust?"
The Lost Boys continued to give the silent treatment. Hook hissed to himself.
"All brawn and no brains it seems…" Hook spat on the wood floor. Picking up a glass bottle from the deck Hook chucked it at the group of boys, shards of glass spiraling everywhere. "Well then, whose blood shall I splatter first? Hmm?" He called out. The silent deck began to fizzle from my mind. I stood blankly in front of me, feeling empty and cold. My eyes left the floor and looked over to the Lost Boys sitting relentlessly in silence. My lids began to shut before a glaring light was shone into my eyes. Blinking several times I looked over at the group of boys, my eyes falling upon Sam. Squinting to counteract my blurry vision I examined his hands as he stared me directly in the eyes. In his hand, he held a large shard of glass from the bottle. I watched as he began to saw at his ropes. It was then that I realized what it was that Sam needed. As he finished sawing most of the way through his binding he passed the shard of glass over to the Lost Boy sitting next to him. This continued for as long as Hook cursed and muttered to himself. But I knew that they didn't have much longer before Hook's fuse would run out. They needed a distraction but it had to be timed just right. As I tried to shake the feeling back into my legs I clenched my fingertips and strained my eyes.
You can do this, Lea…
You need to do this…before any more lives are lost…
Don't let anyone else die because of you…
The boys were now half freed when Hook became more impatient.
"If somebody doesn't bloody step forward in the next minute I swear I will shoot you blindly!" He screamed. I looked back over at Sam and widened my eyes. They had to hurry…Hook took a few steps closer to the boys and stared at them coldly. He pulled a pistol from his coat pocket and aimed it at Sam. "I say we go right through the eye…"
"Peter, no!" I screamed at the top of my lungs. Hook snapped out of his focus and turned around to look at Peter who sat unmoving and oblivious to my plan. Peter wasn't playing any tricks nor was he attempting to ambush.
But Hook didn't know that…
By the time Hook came to his senses, Sam leaped from the deck and jumped onto his back. The Lost Boys began to stand from their seated positions and attack the surrounding pirates. Coughing up clots of blood I staggered to a stance. The boys fought against the pirates and assisted Peter in his binds. Knowing that this was a fight we wouldn't win boys began to jump overboard into the restless waters below. At this point, it was our only chance of escape. Pirates shouted and Hook screamed.
"You bloody cowards!" He screeched, "You call yourself Lost Boys?" But the boys didn't let his shouts deter them. One by one they continued to jump overboard. Fending himself from a pirate Sam looked over at me and shouted as I leaned weakly against the ledge of the ship.
"Go! Lea, go! You have to get out of here!" Exhaling heavily I shook my head from side to side.
"I'm gonna leave last—" I coughed. "Get everyone out now…" I continued to cough and hack as Sam nodded his head. Looking out to shore I watched as the Lost Boys began to swim towards land. Groups of Lost Boys that hadn't been previously captured waited along the shoreline and readied themselves to help those who had escaped Hook's grasp. At this point the only Lost Boys left on the ship were Sam and I. Freeing himself from a pirate's grip Sam turned and smashed the pirate's face into a large wooden pole. I made quick eye contact with Sam before he threw himself overboard. Splashing into the water below I watched as Sam resurfaced. "Sam—" I wheezed, "I don't think I'll be able to swim," I spoke dryly. Sam raised a hand up.
"I'll get you back, Lea. I promise. You have to trust me. You can do it," he assured me. Exhaling another breath I tightened my grip on the wall of the ship. I began to lift my leg when I suddenly heard the sound of a pistol being loaded. I froze and turned my head to see Hook standing with a gun aiming overboard at Sam. With all of the fury within me, I darted at Hook and tackled him to the deck, the gun firing into the air.
3rd Person's Perspective:
Lea tackled Hook to the deck where the Lost Boys remained below the ship, unable to watch what was happening. An expression of shock and worry consumed Sam as he could only listen. He looked to the deck where Hook stood up. Holding out his pistol Hook stood in a powerful stance and fired his pistol toward the deck. The ship fell silent as the gunshot echoed throughout the air for miles. Sam's heart stopped and his stomach dropped. He couldn't wrap his head around what had just happened. "No…No! No!" He shouted as his eyes filled with tears. He could barely form his words. "Lea! Lea! No! You bastard! Lea, please, no!" He cried. As the Lost Boys swam back to shore word spread like wildfire. And so that evening a funeral was held by the Lost Boys. They gathered and grieved for the loss of Jake…
And for the loss of their Lost Girl…
Hannah's Perspective:
"But…you're not dead…" I sat puzzled. Lea chuckled.
"Yeah, but…they didn't know that. When the gunshot went off on the deck…they were sure he had killed me. And that was exactly what Hook wanted…" she explained. I raised a brow.
"But why?" I questioned. "Why only pretend to kill you?" Releasing a heavy sigh Lea continued.
"To stop them from looking for me," she said. "Hook wanted me from the moment I arrived in Neverland. He was never actually going to kill me. I was a prize to him. And he knew that if the guys knew I was alive that they would come back for me. So…he made sure that they wouldn't…" My lips parted.
"And they didn't know to look for you…" I said quietly. She nodded her head.
"I waited for a rescue party that was never going to come. I knew they were never going to come…but I still waited…all that time…" she trailed off. "Hook still had hopes that I would spill my guts…but you can probably guess just how much I complied…" Lea spoke quietly as she traced her back with her fingertips. She picked up a stone and tossed it into the creek, watching the ripples disrupt her reflection. Lea chuckled to herself. "They hunted me too, you know," Lea laughed. I tilted my head confused.
"What?" I chuckled. Lea nodded her head and lifted up the corner of her shirt just above her waist. On her side was a massive scar.
"And no, it wasn't a bullet," she laughed, "I wish…" she added. My eyes widened.
"An arrow?" I replied in shock and awe. She nodded her head.
"I gotta give it to him, Chuck had really good aim," she laughed. I snickered.
"That's insane," I commented. For a moment we sat in silence as the birds around us whistled.
"Despite everything you're going through, just remember that you're not as alone as you think you are," Lea assured me. I nodded my head and smiled. "Anyway, it's probably about time you headed back. They're probably worried about you."
"Actually, it's you they're worried about," I said. Lea stared at the water.
"Well, they don't need to be. I'm fine." I stood up from the ground and began to walk away when Lea spoke. "Oh, and Hannah—" Lea began. I stopped and turned to look at her. "Keep working on your bow releases. They're looking a lot better…"
I nodded my head and tugged the corner of my mouth into a small smile. Turning my back from her I headed back into the forest toward the camp. I guess my lesson learned today is that maybe I don't know people as well as I think I do. Maybe I just really need to understand them first…There was still a decent amount of daylight left before the sun was going to set. While I was in the mood to go out and adventure I figured it would probably be best to stay out of trouble, especially if I wanted to get back on Pan's good side. I just couldn't stand how angry I made him. I don't know why but it just hurt. My thoughts were interrupted when the sound of rustling leaves caught me off guard. Walking along the trail I looked up to see a cloaked figure standing in the middle of the path. I froze in place as the brown cloak covered their face. Leave it to me to find myself in a situation like this. But as the figure pulled down their hood I was relieved to see that it was only Julian.
"Oh my god, Julian. You scared me half to death." I approached him and elbowed his side as I continued talking. I thought for a minute you were one of those mindless zombies. You really should think about how you present yourself—"
The wind was knocked out of my lungs when Julian clotheslined me and threw me to the ground. Putting his knee on my stomach I struggled and tried to push away from him. When I stopped coughing and opened my eyes I watched as his normally bright ocean blue eyes were cold and dead. His pupils were dilated and empty.
"Julian," I spoke firmly, "Julian, please. You don't know what you're doing," I pleaded. At that moment I was absolutely perplexed. I had literally seen him just a few hours before my talk with Lea. What happened? How could there have been time for him to be taken? Kicking at his ankles I wiggled out from under him and his grip. I bolted into the forest without looking where I was going in the slightest. Tree branches and thorns smacked into my face as I sprinted. Eventually, I had to slow down as I expelled all of my breath. Still hearing rustling around me I stood behind a tree and hid for my life. I breathed slowly and as quietly as I could. Leaning around the large tree I tried to peek and see what was going on. Not able to see anything I ducked my head back and felt my mouth being covered. Completely started I began to squirm.
"Shh! Shh! Shh!" The familiar voice said. "It's okay! It's okay!" When I looked at who it was I sighed in relief. To my surprise standing before me was Felix. Removing his hand from my mouth he whispered, "We're not safe here. We have to go before they find us."
"Felix, what's going on?" I spoke in a panic.
"C'mon, I'll explain on the way," he insisted. Felix grabbed ahold of my hand and dragged me through large amounts of trees and shrubs as we knelt down and hid.
"All of the Lost Boys have been compromised," he explained. My eyes widened. "Shh", he quickly hushed me.
"What? All of them?" I whispered frantically. We both paused as a group of cloaked Lost Boys ran past us. "What about Pan?" I questioned. Felix shook his head.
"He's been captured…" Felix began. My heart dropped. My mouth gaped and I shook my head. I forcefully stood from my spot before Felix grabbed my wrist and yanked me back.
"Where do you think you're going?" Felix hissed.
"We have to tell Lea! She doesn't know!" I exclaimed.
"Lea can handle herself. We'll find her when it's safe," he demanded. He let go of my wrist.
"I literally saw everyone only an hour ago. What the hell happened?" I interrogated. Felix sighed.
"We were ambushed and caught off guard."
"By Hook's crew?" I questioned. Felix hesitated.
"Sort of…"
Sort of?
What the hell does 'sort of' mean? To be completely honest, though, I was too nervous to poke and prod Felix at this very moment.
"So, now what do we do?" I asked. Felix breathed heavily.
"We wait until the right moment," he instructed. "Until then, it's just you and me." I nodded my head as Felix reached into his cloak to pull something out. But as he did so he accidentally knocked something else out of his pocket as well. It clinked and made a small metallic thud as it hit the ground.
"Here," I said as I reached toward the object lying in the dirt. As I picked it up and examined it I was quite perplexed. The object was a long silver chain that housed a silver, floral-engraved locket. I shook my head and all of a sudden it clicked. "Felix…Why do you have Lea's locket?" I questioned. Felix paused and looked over at me.
"Oh, well, Lea gave it to me to keep safe a few days ago…" he replied. I tilted my head and furrowed my brows as I held the locket in my hand. I became stern.
"No, she didn't," I stated. "She left it in her hut and chewed me out because she thought I stole it." My eyes widened as Felix smirked.
"Why, the cleverness of you…" he spoke. I stood up quickly and clenched the locket in my hand as Felix approached me.
"How come you're not mindless like them?" I demanded. "How long have you been his eyes and ears?" I scathed. He shrugged his shoulders and grinned.
"Long enough. I just do what I am told. I don't ask questions. I simply serve one person and one person only." I shook my head as tears welled up in my eyes. "And soon, so will you…"
"No," I shook my head, "No…"
"Don't worry, it's not so scary. You won't even feel a thing. One way or another you'll be like us…"
Suddenly tens of boys stepped out from behind trees and locked their eyes on me. I could see both Julian and Sam both stiff and drone-like. While many of the boys that were Lost Boys wore cloaks there were many boys that I did not recognize.
"Boys…You know what to do…" Felix smirked maniacally.
I turned on my heel and sprinted as the boys began to chase me. Shoving Lea's locket in my pocket I pushed my body to run as fast as humanly possible. I needed to get to Lea before anyone else does. I don't know what to do. I can't do this myself.
She may be my only hope.
Lea's Perspective:
I sat throwing endless piles of stones into the creek as old memories played through my head. While they still haunted me to this day it was hard to admit that they brought me the slightest joy. Perhaps it was about time that I let go. If I'm gonna live a long life I don't want to spend it being dismissive and miserable. But how does one even begin to forget? What if I don't want to forget?
"For an afternoon like this, it's a shame that a girl like you is spending it alone."
My brows furrowed as I turned my head to see a boy leaning against a tree at the edge of the forest. I didn't recognize the boy in the slightest. His wavy dark hair stopped just after his ears and his eyes like sapphires stared through me with intent. He was dressed in aged clothes that seemed centuries old.
"Maybe that's just how I like it," I responded coldly. Cautiously picking up my bow and throwing my quiver over my shoulder the boy approached me.
"Where you going? That's quite rude as a hostess to abandon your guest…"
I grimaced and scoffed.
"You're no guest of mine. I don't own these woods and neither do you. Who the hell are you?" I interrogated as my heart thumped. The boy shrugged and smirked.
"An old friend, I guess you could say," he replied, "I'm surprised you don't remember. Certainly, you couldn't forget a handsome young fellow such as I." Crouching down I picked up my cloak and wrapped it around myself.
"You're right. In fact, I'm trying desperately right now as we speak to forget," I scathed. The boy laughed.
"You always were the feisty one, weren't ya? Even with the new girl here you never cease to entertain me. I like this version of you. So angsty and so…vengeful…" The boy took a few steps toward me. I stepped back toward the creek as he neared. "C'mon, you're saying you've forgotten about me? I know you haven't…" he smiled. "I know you talk about me…"
Without hesitation, I drew an arrow from my quiver and shot it toward the boy. My stomach dropped instantly as he caught it right before his eyes. My narrowed eyes relaxed as my mouth gaped.
What the hell?
"Ha ha ha…" the boy laughed. "You didn't really think that would work on me, did you? I'm stronger…faster…than I was…It's a fair match," he reveled. I stood at the edge of the rocks as the boy stood only a few feet away and continued to trap me. Taking long steps toward me I spat angrily.
"I won't ask again. Who the hell are you?!" I shouted as the boy stood before me, feeling his breath against my cheeks.
"I'll give you one last hint, how about that?" He suggested. "After all this time I've finally taken away everyone and everything that you love…And in doing so I made you stronger than ever before…You're fueled by anger. And frankly, that's quite useful to me, darling…"
My eyes widened as I looked deep into his sapphire eyes and heard the familiar voice in my head.
"Things are different now, darling…"
I inhaled sharply as fear overtook me. I had prayed that this day would never come.
"Now you see me…" Hook smirked. "Surprise…"
I shook my head vigorously as my eyes watered.
"No…No…" I begged, "This can't be happening…" I whispered. Hook snickered.
"Oh, Lea, it's already happened…" he spoke. My throat closed and I could barely speak.
"What have you done?" I choked. Hook grabbed a hold of my hair and pulled my ear close to his whispering lips.
"At this very moment, the only person left who isn't under command is being hunted by all of her fellow Lost Boys. I can assure you they're giving her a traditional Neverland welcome…" I gasped and pulled away from Hook's grasp.
"Hannah!" I screamed at the top of my lungs as I bolted from Hook. "Hannah! It's a trick! Hannah, run!" I continued to scream until I felt something being thrown between my feet. I tripped and plummeted harshly into the rocky soil beneath me. Hook threw himself on top of me and pinned my arms and legs as I squirmed. "No! No!" I screamed as I pounded my fists against the ground. "I won't do it! No! No!" I strained.
"Shh shh shh…" Hook hushed. "The less you struggle the quicker this will be over," he insisted as he pulled a vial of purple shimmering dust from his pocket. The sight of the vial only made me squirm more. Hook grinned.
"When you're answering to me…you can be sure that Peter Pan will be no more…I'm saving him just for you…" Hook uncapped the vial. My screams continued to echo throughout Neverland.
"No! No!"
—