Too soon, Hook's ship appeared before them. Erin swallowed a lump in her throat and tried to forget that these were dirty cutthroats they were trying to hoodwink. She marched towards the shore, where several small rowboats were waiting. "Climb aboard, men. Don't let the captives escape," Erin hollered with false bravado. She climbed into the bow of the tiny boat and ordered Colin and Jack to take the oars. They began to row haphazardly towards the looming water vessel. "Hurry up, you dung beetles!" Someone lowered a ladder over the side of the ship. Erin tested her weight against it. She began to clamber up, pausing to whisper to herself, "This is it." She landed on the deck and faced a sea of pirates. Fear rose in her throat and she made a small, frightened sound that was halfway between a squeak and a murmur. Luckily, no one heard and she stood up as straight as she could. "Captives!" She roared. "Just look who we found lurking near Mermaid Lagoon while we were on patrol!" "Some of that no-good Peter Pan's filthy brats," Colin sneered. "Take 'em to Hook," a squat, rotund pirate snarled. "Then they'll get what they deserve." Suddenly, the crowd of pirates parted and Erin had to defeat every urge to cower. "What was this about.captives?" An extremely tall man emerged from the crowd. He had a long, thin face that made Erin want to shudder, with snaky, oily black hair paired with a rat-like, thin moustache. He had a long white feather plume in his wine-red hat, and moved with the grace of a feline even though one of his legs was pegged. He twirled his moustache around the hook on his left hand, and Erin felt a spasm of terror crash inside of her and start boiling. She angrily tried to push it down, but the sight of that silver, delicately curved, murderously sharp claw wouldn't leave her mind even when she looked away. Hook rubbed the blunt edge of the hook down his cheek and looked down his long, knobby nose at Erin and her small party of lost boys. "Captain." "Your. your honor." the pirates murmured in respect. Erin flourished a long, elegant bow. "Captain Hook, with your permission, I'd like to take these captives down to the hold," Erin ventured, her voice stronger than her spirit. Captain Hook eyed her suspiciously. "Where did you find these captives?" he asked nasally. "Near.near Mermaid Lagoon, your captainship," revealed Charlie-or-Daniel. "And what do you plan to do with them?" Hook asked. "Why, we'll. interrogate them, then put them in the hold. We could hold them for ransom," Todd suggested. Captain Hook smiled grimly, a mocking grin that made Erin feel sick, then laughed out loud, a sticky, malicious laugh that made Erin want to go running back to the hideout beneath the tree. He pointed to Erin with one long, accusing, manicured finger on his good hand. "Loyal friends and pirates," he sneered, including Erin's companions as part of his cutthroat band, "see your treacherous companion for the traitor she is!"

****A/N***** Sorry that this chapter is so short. Please, please, please review my story. I changed it so everyone can review. PLEASE REVIEW!!! Thanks!