Chapter three: Blood on Pearl sands.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything except Sarah and other minor characters.
(Chapter gets nasty, you've been warned. Enjoy)
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Sarah looked blankly into Peter's eyes; she knew what he meant and in some way was glad that his attention had turned to her, rather than Katie or 'Spring' as she was now called.
"I would never scream for you Peter." Sarah snarled, her lips close to Peter's face, her strength regaining.
Peter smiled at her, loving his taunting.
"That's my girl."
Sarah closed her eyes as he pushed his body into hers. The sensations of his body would have been pleasant if the circumstances had been different. No heat arose from her belly and sweat dripped over her skin, not from her excitement but the cruelty that her body would be subjected to.
Peter took hold of her and span her into the stem of a large tropical tree near by. His lips moved hungrily over her face, neck and chest in a disgustingly, ravishing way. His tongue left his bitter saliva, contaminating her, his breath becoming moist and filled with the scent of alcohol. Peter's hand fumbled with her quarter length skirt as he pushed his hand up along one of her thighs and parted her legs. He moved his own body to the side of hers, straddling a thigh, pressing his erection against her and moving his hand over her intimate vicinity.
Sarah knotted her eye brows and closed her eyes as she felt him place his fingers over her and roughly inside her. A small wince escaped her throat putting a little smile on Peter's lips while he bruised her own with his forceful mouth.
Peter's other hand roughly opened her shirt and rubbed her breasts with his desiccated hand. The roughness was unpleasant and Sarah let out a moan of pain, unable to stop her cries. Peter took away his fingers and quickly slipped his solid member into her, not giving her any warning or consolation. A small side thought entered Sarah's mind, the only relief she could give herself. She could try and let a little comment slip out and tease Peter for his 'size' but she could see a foreboding black eye in store for her if she did. Peter loved to brag about himself, it was obvious he had nothing to compare to. Sarah just couldn't understand why any of the other girls didn't pipe up in front of each other about the subject, when it was clearly known among them, Peter made up in other ways. It was such a great laugh to her and at the moment was the only light hearted thought she could muster. In all fact though, Peter's size didn't really matter. His technique for a start was appalling to any girl who had actually been loved before and would throb for an eternity ever after.
Seconds turned to minutes and minutes turned to more minutes.
Sarah finally opened her eyes, wet from tearful eyes. Peter gave his final thrust and spent himself deep into her. The feeling, although numb to Sarah, gave her a sickly feeling that could have made her gag. She felt dirty and diseased.
Peter breathed deeply, sorting his own body and clothes.
"You give the most pathetic sex I've ever known." Peter stated wiping his nose with his hand and sniffing the heat of Neverland through his nostrils.
Sarah wrapped herself in her shirt trying to burrow deep into it if she could. She didn't want to make a comment but her voice wanted to be heard.
"What do you expect?" She mumbled.
Peter hit her hard with his fist, a different side from her healing bruise. Sarah winced at the pain and started to cry at the ache that spread her face.
"I expect the best Sarah for God's sake and if you don't give it to me, then I'll just try to ply it from you." Peter spat at her.
Sarah said nothing, just shielding her cheek.
"Get up." Peter ordered running a hand through his hair. "The celebration is waiting for me."
Sarah stayed still, her tears deafening his voice.
"I said fucking get up!" Peter yelled grabbing her arm roughly and pulling her up.
Sarah cried once more as she stood but didn't move. The pain in her cheek starting to burn even more. Further tears kept spilling.
Peter looked over in the direction of the camp; a twinge of panic entered his mind at the noise Sarah was making. He instantly grew tired of her sobs and so hit her again, again and again and the screams grew quieter and quieter.
Sarah coughed onto the floor, her face lying in the fallen leaves of Neverland. Salty tears left a trail that seeped into her mouth. Ragged breathe entered her lungs and very slowly Sarah got up. Her body felt pain in very cell and her focus was uneven. Sarah looked around for the abuser who inflicted this upon her but found no sign of him. She felt lucky he didn't stick around.
Sarah steadied herself on a tree, bile retching up from her stomach, mixing with blood. If she'd had enough strength Sarah would have gone back to her beach, but her legs told her other wise. She looked up to the ladder and pulled herself up carefully putting a foot on a step but her strength failed her and she slipped, a cry of fury and pain screaming from her lungs. She hit the ladder in anger, calming her sobs and hanging her head low. All she wanted to do was to curl up and die.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sarah gasped as she woke up.
"Shh." An intense voice spoke to her.
Sarah recognized the voice belonged to Curly.
Curly looked at her sadly but happy she was awake.
Sarah opened her mouth to say something but Curly hushed her.
"Thought, erm thought you weren't going to wake up." He whispered rubbing his neck awkwardly.
"I wish I didn't." Sarah replied sadly.
Curly looked at the young woman he sat by. Her face was tear stained and had the mark of Peter all over.
"Where?" Sarah started to say panicking, but Curly cut her off.
"Shh, it's ok. Last time I looked he was asleep, with Spring." Curly paused before he said her name.
Sarah sighed heavily. All that she endued - for nothing.
Curly watched her features wearily, not knowing what to say.
"Erm, do you want some water?"
"Er, yes please." Sarah replied noticing her mouth dry with blood.
"I know he did that to you." Curly said apprehensively.
"No, he." Sarah sighed and nodded lightly.
Curly brought water to her lips and held her up.
"Why?" He asked quietly.
"I can't say, maybe he has a grudge against me. " Sarah spoke trying to make humour of her comment but stopped seeing Curly's gaze, filled with questions and confusion.
Curly carried on tending to the cuts on her visible skin.
"What hour is it?" Sarah asked.
"The two hours after the midnight star."
"Why aren't you asleep, don't tell me you've been up all this time with me."
"Hmm, yeah for a bit, but I've only just come back up here. Couldn't sleep you see, too many thoughts in my mind. Went for a walk but saw something that, well kinda spooked me."
"What?"
"A pirate ship."
Sarah frowned as best she could.
"And not the Jolly Roger neither, a different ship. Docked a fair way off, round the corner from Pearl sands. You know the little beach, with the big rocks shielding it."
"My beach." Sarah gasped lightly. "Who could they be?"
Curly shrugged. "They obviously want to be a fair bit from Hook, if they dock on the other side of the island. Maybe he's made more enemies on his travels; he has been away for a bit you know."
"Hmm, I wouldn't know Curly, with Peter forbidding me to wander too far. He won't even let me see the Indians by myself." Sarah replied wide eyed.
"You know you're not missing much in Neverland don't you, it's all the same, everyday, boring, really, Sarah." Curly smiled lightly trying to persuade her that Neverland wasn't so great.
"I know, but. I just miss my freedom." She replied sadly.
"Things will change eventually, hopefully." Curly nervously smiled at his words.
"Thank you for being you Curly. Thank you." Sarah smiled sincerely, placing her hand on his cheek.
A brief silence occurred between the two and Curly stood up to fetch more water from a small bamboo type table, hiding his blushing cheeks in the process.
"Does Peter know that there's a ship near by?"
"I was gonna tell him, but, he was busy."
"Were there any rowing boats near?" Sarah asked as if she'd remembered something.
"No, that was the odd thing. I guess Peter should really know soon, but, well, because there were no boats, it looked like, there was no harm, for the moment. Surely they'd explore the area by now?"
Silence.
"Maybe you should tell Peter to go down there, maybe these new pirates will have a good aim and Peter will be dead by the morning." Sarah jokingly spoke with bitterness, turning to see Curly looking at her taken aback. Sarah coughed to herself.
"I didn't mean." Sarah started but was cut off by Curly who put a finger to his lips, urging her to be quiet.
A faint rumbling sound echoed in the distance quickly followed by a single gun shot, ever so faint.
Sarah and Curly exchanged glances swiftly, turning their heads to the whistle that came shortly after.
Curly went to the open window and pulled back the netting. Little lanterns crept on in the individual tree huts. Curly saw Slightly, bare chested by his window whistling with one hand. A pair of moonlit breasts joined him belonging to Summer, her face dazed and worried at the same time. Curly quickly moved his gaze and waited for the light in Pan's hut to burn.
"Pan's awake." He said after a few moments, helping Sarah to her feet. Sarah winced in the movement holding her ribs as she did so.
"Are you all right?"
"Surprisingly, yes. I feel better than I did anyway."
"It doesn't seem as bad, like before." Curly mumbled.
"Maybe Peter's getting soft." Sarah laughed to herself, knowing the comment was false.
"Or maybe he had better things to do." Curly corrected dejectedly.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
By now most of the tribe all congregated in the middle of the camp, near the eating table.
Spring and the younger lost boys and girls looked tired and scared, Spring more so, but that was something else.
Peter came into the clearing, his hair messy and his eyes heavy. His shirt was open and his toned bronze body stretched tall as he came to view.
"What's the whistle for Slightly?" Peter asked a little pissed off but willing to listen.
"Didn't you hear it? Man Peter, it made the tree shake!"
Peter narrowed his eyes at Slightly, un sure if his comment was cynical.
"I didn't hear anything." He stated.
Sarah nudged Curly in his back lightly before standing behind him, shielding her battered face from the others. She urged him to gain confidence and speak up.
"P-Peter, there's a pirate ship, not docked too far from Pearl sands."
At his sentence many of the girls gasped in horror grabbing a lost boy to hold and the lost boys turned to Curly.
"How do you know?" Peter asked with slight suspicion.
"I was walking before, I saw the shadow on the water and then I saw." Curly obediently replied taking a quick glance at Sarah after he spoke who gave him a reassuring smile.
"Tink?" Peter called loudly waiting a couple of seconds before a bright light whizzed by.
"Tink." Go to Pearl sands and check it out, be careful." Peter spoke finishing his sentence off earnestly.
"Is it Hook?" The twins asked in unison to Curly.
"I don't know? It wasn't the Jolly Roger."
"So what are we going to do?" Winter asked trying to sound calm, looking over at Autumn who still looked anxious.
Summer buried her face into Slightly who held her close.
The whole tribe suddenly began an up roar as they all talked in frightened confusion.
Sarah watched Peter amongst the noise, noticing him in thought. She could see his mind ticking over what was happening and thinking what to do next. His eyes moved from the ground straight to hers in a quick motion. Sarah's eyes widen in disclosure.
"Everyone shut the fuck up." Peter yelled, shutting everyone up instantly. "Twins, Nibs, Curly. Take everyone up through the trail, past season plains to the fork river, stay there until I come. Don't take torches but be on guard and take your weapons. Tink will join you."
Everyone ran off quickly back to their huts to gather items. As much as this could be all for nothing, everyone wanted to take precaution.
"Slightly, Sarah, come with me."
Sarah froze at the sound of her name.
Slightly moved his gaze from Pan to Sarah and back to Pan.
"Slightly get my sword and your own."
Slightly nodded and ran off quickly.
Curly looked at Sarah anxiously before he dutifully ran off, his watchful gaze on the younger members.
Sarah looked to Peter.
"It's funny, the place you always seem to go suddenly has unknown pirates about, isn't it?" Peter spoke.
"You don't think this has anything to do with me do you?" Sarah asked shocked.
"Maybe."
"How can you say that Peter!?"
"You loyalties have seemed to be indecisive recently Sarah."
"Are you saying I put the pirates there!!?" Sarah blurted out angrily.
"It wouldn't be surprising!" Peter spat between gritted teeth.
"Peter, I don't believe you're saying this! I would never put the tribe in danger."
"No you wouldn't, but me, maybe."
Peter took Sarah's wrist hard and pulled her in the direction of Pearl sands.
"Tink's seen you at the beach, you're always there. Don't you think its odd how Pirates are suddenly on our doorstep?"
Louder gun shots suddenly exploded and a rain of flashing light fell into the dark trees.
Sarah didn't know what to say. There was no way Peter would let her get out of this one and even if he was wrong he'd make all the others believe what ever thing it was, was her fault.
Slightly ran as light footed as he could to catch up with Peter.
"Pan." He whispered as he caught up with him.
Peter turned and let go of Sarah only to take his sword. He gave a nod of thanks to Slightly and turned to both him and Sarah before walking swiftly into the trees.
Slightly looked at Sarah's face.
Peter turned and noticed him looking and pulled Sarah in front of him.
"Where's Tink?" Slightly asked.
Peter opened his mouth but frowned to himself at the whereabouts of his Tink.
"That's odd?" He mumbled to himself.
The gun shots had grown quieter in the minutes Slightly had returned and Peter stood silent, thinking.
Sarah's heart beat rapidly and she found herself taking deeper breathes as the noise grew louder as they approached close to Pearl sands.
Slightly glanced at her and gave her a weak smile, his features a warm welcome to see against Peter's harsh air.
Voices of men now sounded up and more noise erupted.
Slightly looked into the trees and the darkness, a metre from the gun powder illuminating the beach.
"It doesn't sound good; I thought Curly was just joking." Slightly said feeling his adrenaline pumping through his veins, the prospect of danger so close.
Peter tried to focus on the shadows of men running by, unaware of his presence.
"They're not Hook's, what the fuck are they after?" Slightly whispered mainly talking to himself, trying to distinguish the men.
Sick of Peter's silence, Sarah spoke up.
"Where's Tink, well what do you see? What are you waiting for?" She said, her voice loud and quivering. Her fear igniting inside her.
Peter turned his head to her.
"Fine. I've got an idea; YOU tell me what you see." Peter maliciously spoke as he ran and pushed her onto the beach, using his quick reflexes to stop and stay covered himself.
"What the fuck Peter?" Slightly whispered loudly, his eyes wide.
It felt like slow motion.
Pan and Slightly's eyes were on her until she disappeared. They turned their heads to the gunshot to the right, and then to the left for the second one.
Sarah heard the gun shot from the right and instinctively turned and tried to run to the left only to knock into something. She fell.
Slightly heard her cry and made a move to run out but Peter pulled him back as the sound of bushes moving came from the right.
"Move." Peter whispered urgently.
"But?" Slightly argued.
"Fucking move!" Peter whispered harshly pushing Slightly past the moving bushes. Two men appeared and noticed the two young men dashing past them and followed hot on their trails.
Smee noticed his Captain crouching on the sand.
James Hook lay on the sand and felt the warm liquid on his left hand. A person shielded his vision from his fingers and so he panicked, thinking it was his own blood.
He untangled his mass from the tangled position he was in, pushing the young person off him. His eyes widened as he saw a girl lying on the sand. A confused look took form on his features and his bright blues eyes looked baffled. Sound soon came to his mind as gun shots still fired and a voice called his name. Another two bodies lay beside him, both pirates.
Smee coughed as he scrambled up the sand and saw the first body, a grotesque slash on his stomach spilling red and organs. His eyes averted to the second who was on his last life line, his death close. A gleaming hook still lay imbedded in the pirate's neck, and awful look frozen on the man's paling face.
James pulled the hook from the man and shook it, a cascade of blood dripping onto the sand from his neck.
Smee gagged and turned holding his breath and holding his mouth.
James stood and kicked the body out of his way and brushed his hair from his cheeks, sneering and breathing deeply, sweat running into his hairline. Sand covered his fine clothes and the only blood that marked him was the thin, bright blood on his left hand that he'd wiped onto his right sleeve. His hook dripped in a thicker blood. James looked at this and rolled his eyes, un-amusingly.
His gaze scanned the fight. His men were still fighting surprisingly, but many bodies lay strewn on the floor.
The fight was ending imminently.
Smee turned to his Captain.
"Cap'n, should we go?"
James scanned the area for a second time. All looked good in his eyes. The opposing ship's crew were wounded and defeated. His business with them was over for the moment.
"Yes." James uttered, the word clipped precisely in his velvet tone.
Smee anxious of the bodies walked to the few rowing boats that docked near the left hand side of the beach behind many rocks.
James saw his men start to walk towards the boats; their skin covered with blood of many shades and took a step.
A small gasp caught his hearing and he turned to the three bodies that bled into the sand.
He frowned as he saw the rise and fall of the girl's chest fighting for air. James pulled out his sword cautiously and eyed the girl with apprehension, unknown to why he was feeling like this.
The shot replayed in his mind.
Two men came up to him and he fought both, using his sword and his hook. Their death coming in an instant. He heard running and turned to the man who stood now in front of him a fair distance. James saw the pistol in the man's hand and moved only to feel the weight of the man who hung heavily on his hook. Another body fell into the side of him facing the man with the pistol, turning, her eyes widening.
James blinked and huffed crouching on one knee to look at the girl. He put his arms under her arm pits and pulled her upper body up. The girls head bobbed, weightless and her eyes fluttered. She moaned as he pulled her up.
James looked at her face for what seemed a while, even though it was seconds. Her cheek was bruised badly and her eyes were red and swollen. A cut lip was starting to heal as well as little bruises around her chin and jaw line.
"Hmm." He said inquisitively to himself.
He harshly dropped her on the floor and stood up brushing his hand over his calves, trying to get the sand off to smarten up. He made another move to go to one of the boats but stopped half way. An annoying thought pained in his mind and soul. James retraced his steps and crouched by the girl. He picked her upper body up again and this time bent her over her chest so he could look at the wound on her back. His eyes settled on it then onto the sand. He heard the calls from the boat and looked back at the girl, her chest still rising. James put his left arm round her back and his hooked hand under her knees. He picked her up in a swift movement, her head falling onto his chest. James sighed and walked towards his boat.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything except Sarah and other minor characters.
(Chapter gets nasty, you've been warned. Enjoy)
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Sarah looked blankly into Peter's eyes; she knew what he meant and in some way was glad that his attention had turned to her, rather than Katie or 'Spring' as she was now called.
"I would never scream for you Peter." Sarah snarled, her lips close to Peter's face, her strength regaining.
Peter smiled at her, loving his taunting.
"That's my girl."
Sarah closed her eyes as he pushed his body into hers. The sensations of his body would have been pleasant if the circumstances had been different. No heat arose from her belly and sweat dripped over her skin, not from her excitement but the cruelty that her body would be subjected to.
Peter took hold of her and span her into the stem of a large tropical tree near by. His lips moved hungrily over her face, neck and chest in a disgustingly, ravishing way. His tongue left his bitter saliva, contaminating her, his breath becoming moist and filled with the scent of alcohol. Peter's hand fumbled with her quarter length skirt as he pushed his hand up along one of her thighs and parted her legs. He moved his own body to the side of hers, straddling a thigh, pressing his erection against her and moving his hand over her intimate vicinity.
Sarah knotted her eye brows and closed her eyes as she felt him place his fingers over her and roughly inside her. A small wince escaped her throat putting a little smile on Peter's lips while he bruised her own with his forceful mouth.
Peter's other hand roughly opened her shirt and rubbed her breasts with his desiccated hand. The roughness was unpleasant and Sarah let out a moan of pain, unable to stop her cries. Peter took away his fingers and quickly slipped his solid member into her, not giving her any warning or consolation. A small side thought entered Sarah's mind, the only relief she could give herself. She could try and let a little comment slip out and tease Peter for his 'size' but she could see a foreboding black eye in store for her if she did. Peter loved to brag about himself, it was obvious he had nothing to compare to. Sarah just couldn't understand why any of the other girls didn't pipe up in front of each other about the subject, when it was clearly known among them, Peter made up in other ways. It was such a great laugh to her and at the moment was the only light hearted thought she could muster. In all fact though, Peter's size didn't really matter. His technique for a start was appalling to any girl who had actually been loved before and would throb for an eternity ever after.
Seconds turned to minutes and minutes turned to more minutes.
Sarah finally opened her eyes, wet from tearful eyes. Peter gave his final thrust and spent himself deep into her. The feeling, although numb to Sarah, gave her a sickly feeling that could have made her gag. She felt dirty and diseased.
Peter breathed deeply, sorting his own body and clothes.
"You give the most pathetic sex I've ever known." Peter stated wiping his nose with his hand and sniffing the heat of Neverland through his nostrils.
Sarah wrapped herself in her shirt trying to burrow deep into it if she could. She didn't want to make a comment but her voice wanted to be heard.
"What do you expect?" She mumbled.
Peter hit her hard with his fist, a different side from her healing bruise. Sarah winced at the pain and started to cry at the ache that spread her face.
"I expect the best Sarah for God's sake and if you don't give it to me, then I'll just try to ply it from you." Peter spat at her.
Sarah said nothing, just shielding her cheek.
"Get up." Peter ordered running a hand through his hair. "The celebration is waiting for me."
Sarah stayed still, her tears deafening his voice.
"I said fucking get up!" Peter yelled grabbing her arm roughly and pulling her up.
Sarah cried once more as she stood but didn't move. The pain in her cheek starting to burn even more. Further tears kept spilling.
Peter looked over in the direction of the camp; a twinge of panic entered his mind at the noise Sarah was making. He instantly grew tired of her sobs and so hit her again, again and again and the screams grew quieter and quieter.
Sarah coughed onto the floor, her face lying in the fallen leaves of Neverland. Salty tears left a trail that seeped into her mouth. Ragged breathe entered her lungs and very slowly Sarah got up. Her body felt pain in very cell and her focus was uneven. Sarah looked around for the abuser who inflicted this upon her but found no sign of him. She felt lucky he didn't stick around.
Sarah steadied herself on a tree, bile retching up from her stomach, mixing with blood. If she'd had enough strength Sarah would have gone back to her beach, but her legs told her other wise. She looked up to the ladder and pulled herself up carefully putting a foot on a step but her strength failed her and she slipped, a cry of fury and pain screaming from her lungs. She hit the ladder in anger, calming her sobs and hanging her head low. All she wanted to do was to curl up and die.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sarah gasped as she woke up.
"Shh." An intense voice spoke to her.
Sarah recognized the voice belonged to Curly.
Curly looked at her sadly but happy she was awake.
Sarah opened her mouth to say something but Curly hushed her.
"Thought, erm thought you weren't going to wake up." He whispered rubbing his neck awkwardly.
"I wish I didn't." Sarah replied sadly.
Curly looked at the young woman he sat by. Her face was tear stained and had the mark of Peter all over.
"Where?" Sarah started to say panicking, but Curly cut her off.
"Shh, it's ok. Last time I looked he was asleep, with Spring." Curly paused before he said her name.
Sarah sighed heavily. All that she endued - for nothing.
Curly watched her features wearily, not knowing what to say.
"Erm, do you want some water?"
"Er, yes please." Sarah replied noticing her mouth dry with blood.
"I know he did that to you." Curly said apprehensively.
"No, he." Sarah sighed and nodded lightly.
Curly brought water to her lips and held her up.
"Why?" He asked quietly.
"I can't say, maybe he has a grudge against me. " Sarah spoke trying to make humour of her comment but stopped seeing Curly's gaze, filled with questions and confusion.
Curly carried on tending to the cuts on her visible skin.
"What hour is it?" Sarah asked.
"The two hours after the midnight star."
"Why aren't you asleep, don't tell me you've been up all this time with me."
"Hmm, yeah for a bit, but I've only just come back up here. Couldn't sleep you see, too many thoughts in my mind. Went for a walk but saw something that, well kinda spooked me."
"What?"
"A pirate ship."
Sarah frowned as best she could.
"And not the Jolly Roger neither, a different ship. Docked a fair way off, round the corner from Pearl sands. You know the little beach, with the big rocks shielding it."
"My beach." Sarah gasped lightly. "Who could they be?"
Curly shrugged. "They obviously want to be a fair bit from Hook, if they dock on the other side of the island. Maybe he's made more enemies on his travels; he has been away for a bit you know."
"Hmm, I wouldn't know Curly, with Peter forbidding me to wander too far. He won't even let me see the Indians by myself." Sarah replied wide eyed.
"You know you're not missing much in Neverland don't you, it's all the same, everyday, boring, really, Sarah." Curly smiled lightly trying to persuade her that Neverland wasn't so great.
"I know, but. I just miss my freedom." She replied sadly.
"Things will change eventually, hopefully." Curly nervously smiled at his words.
"Thank you for being you Curly. Thank you." Sarah smiled sincerely, placing her hand on his cheek.
A brief silence occurred between the two and Curly stood up to fetch more water from a small bamboo type table, hiding his blushing cheeks in the process.
"Does Peter know that there's a ship near by?"
"I was gonna tell him, but, he was busy."
"Were there any rowing boats near?" Sarah asked as if she'd remembered something.
"No, that was the odd thing. I guess Peter should really know soon, but, well, because there were no boats, it looked like, there was no harm, for the moment. Surely they'd explore the area by now?"
Silence.
"Maybe you should tell Peter to go down there, maybe these new pirates will have a good aim and Peter will be dead by the morning." Sarah jokingly spoke with bitterness, turning to see Curly looking at her taken aback. Sarah coughed to herself.
"I didn't mean." Sarah started but was cut off by Curly who put a finger to his lips, urging her to be quiet.
A faint rumbling sound echoed in the distance quickly followed by a single gun shot, ever so faint.
Sarah and Curly exchanged glances swiftly, turning their heads to the whistle that came shortly after.
Curly went to the open window and pulled back the netting. Little lanterns crept on in the individual tree huts. Curly saw Slightly, bare chested by his window whistling with one hand. A pair of moonlit breasts joined him belonging to Summer, her face dazed and worried at the same time. Curly quickly moved his gaze and waited for the light in Pan's hut to burn.
"Pan's awake." He said after a few moments, helping Sarah to her feet. Sarah winced in the movement holding her ribs as she did so.
"Are you all right?"
"Surprisingly, yes. I feel better than I did anyway."
"It doesn't seem as bad, like before." Curly mumbled.
"Maybe Peter's getting soft." Sarah laughed to herself, knowing the comment was false.
"Or maybe he had better things to do." Curly corrected dejectedly.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
By now most of the tribe all congregated in the middle of the camp, near the eating table.
Spring and the younger lost boys and girls looked tired and scared, Spring more so, but that was something else.
Peter came into the clearing, his hair messy and his eyes heavy. His shirt was open and his toned bronze body stretched tall as he came to view.
"What's the whistle for Slightly?" Peter asked a little pissed off but willing to listen.
"Didn't you hear it? Man Peter, it made the tree shake!"
Peter narrowed his eyes at Slightly, un sure if his comment was cynical.
"I didn't hear anything." He stated.
Sarah nudged Curly in his back lightly before standing behind him, shielding her battered face from the others. She urged him to gain confidence and speak up.
"P-Peter, there's a pirate ship, not docked too far from Pearl sands."
At his sentence many of the girls gasped in horror grabbing a lost boy to hold and the lost boys turned to Curly.
"How do you know?" Peter asked with slight suspicion.
"I was walking before, I saw the shadow on the water and then I saw." Curly obediently replied taking a quick glance at Sarah after he spoke who gave him a reassuring smile.
"Tink?" Peter called loudly waiting a couple of seconds before a bright light whizzed by.
"Tink." Go to Pearl sands and check it out, be careful." Peter spoke finishing his sentence off earnestly.
"Is it Hook?" The twins asked in unison to Curly.
"I don't know? It wasn't the Jolly Roger."
"So what are we going to do?" Winter asked trying to sound calm, looking over at Autumn who still looked anxious.
Summer buried her face into Slightly who held her close.
The whole tribe suddenly began an up roar as they all talked in frightened confusion.
Sarah watched Peter amongst the noise, noticing him in thought. She could see his mind ticking over what was happening and thinking what to do next. His eyes moved from the ground straight to hers in a quick motion. Sarah's eyes widen in disclosure.
"Everyone shut the fuck up." Peter yelled, shutting everyone up instantly. "Twins, Nibs, Curly. Take everyone up through the trail, past season plains to the fork river, stay there until I come. Don't take torches but be on guard and take your weapons. Tink will join you."
Everyone ran off quickly back to their huts to gather items. As much as this could be all for nothing, everyone wanted to take precaution.
"Slightly, Sarah, come with me."
Sarah froze at the sound of her name.
Slightly moved his gaze from Pan to Sarah and back to Pan.
"Slightly get my sword and your own."
Slightly nodded and ran off quickly.
Curly looked at Sarah anxiously before he dutifully ran off, his watchful gaze on the younger members.
Sarah looked to Peter.
"It's funny, the place you always seem to go suddenly has unknown pirates about, isn't it?" Peter spoke.
"You don't think this has anything to do with me do you?" Sarah asked shocked.
"Maybe."
"How can you say that Peter!?"
"You loyalties have seemed to be indecisive recently Sarah."
"Are you saying I put the pirates there!!?" Sarah blurted out angrily.
"It wouldn't be surprising!" Peter spat between gritted teeth.
"Peter, I don't believe you're saying this! I would never put the tribe in danger."
"No you wouldn't, but me, maybe."
Peter took Sarah's wrist hard and pulled her in the direction of Pearl sands.
"Tink's seen you at the beach, you're always there. Don't you think its odd how Pirates are suddenly on our doorstep?"
Louder gun shots suddenly exploded and a rain of flashing light fell into the dark trees.
Sarah didn't know what to say. There was no way Peter would let her get out of this one and even if he was wrong he'd make all the others believe what ever thing it was, was her fault.
Slightly ran as light footed as he could to catch up with Peter.
"Pan." He whispered as he caught up with him.
Peter turned and let go of Sarah only to take his sword. He gave a nod of thanks to Slightly and turned to both him and Sarah before walking swiftly into the trees.
Slightly looked at Sarah's face.
Peter turned and noticed him looking and pulled Sarah in front of him.
"Where's Tink?" Slightly asked.
Peter opened his mouth but frowned to himself at the whereabouts of his Tink.
"That's odd?" He mumbled to himself.
The gun shots had grown quieter in the minutes Slightly had returned and Peter stood silent, thinking.
Sarah's heart beat rapidly and she found herself taking deeper breathes as the noise grew louder as they approached close to Pearl sands.
Slightly glanced at her and gave her a weak smile, his features a warm welcome to see against Peter's harsh air.
Voices of men now sounded up and more noise erupted.
Slightly looked into the trees and the darkness, a metre from the gun powder illuminating the beach.
"It doesn't sound good; I thought Curly was just joking." Slightly said feeling his adrenaline pumping through his veins, the prospect of danger so close.
Peter tried to focus on the shadows of men running by, unaware of his presence.
"They're not Hook's, what the fuck are they after?" Slightly whispered mainly talking to himself, trying to distinguish the men.
Sick of Peter's silence, Sarah spoke up.
"Where's Tink, well what do you see? What are you waiting for?" She said, her voice loud and quivering. Her fear igniting inside her.
Peter turned his head to her.
"Fine. I've got an idea; YOU tell me what you see." Peter maliciously spoke as he ran and pushed her onto the beach, using his quick reflexes to stop and stay covered himself.
"What the fuck Peter?" Slightly whispered loudly, his eyes wide.
It felt like slow motion.
Pan and Slightly's eyes were on her until she disappeared. They turned their heads to the gunshot to the right, and then to the left for the second one.
Sarah heard the gun shot from the right and instinctively turned and tried to run to the left only to knock into something. She fell.
Slightly heard her cry and made a move to run out but Peter pulled him back as the sound of bushes moving came from the right.
"Move." Peter whispered urgently.
"But?" Slightly argued.
"Fucking move!" Peter whispered harshly pushing Slightly past the moving bushes. Two men appeared and noticed the two young men dashing past them and followed hot on their trails.
Smee noticed his Captain crouching on the sand.
James Hook lay on the sand and felt the warm liquid on his left hand. A person shielded his vision from his fingers and so he panicked, thinking it was his own blood.
He untangled his mass from the tangled position he was in, pushing the young person off him. His eyes widened as he saw a girl lying on the sand. A confused look took form on his features and his bright blues eyes looked baffled. Sound soon came to his mind as gun shots still fired and a voice called his name. Another two bodies lay beside him, both pirates.
Smee coughed as he scrambled up the sand and saw the first body, a grotesque slash on his stomach spilling red and organs. His eyes averted to the second who was on his last life line, his death close. A gleaming hook still lay imbedded in the pirate's neck, and awful look frozen on the man's paling face.
James pulled the hook from the man and shook it, a cascade of blood dripping onto the sand from his neck.
Smee gagged and turned holding his breath and holding his mouth.
James stood and kicked the body out of his way and brushed his hair from his cheeks, sneering and breathing deeply, sweat running into his hairline. Sand covered his fine clothes and the only blood that marked him was the thin, bright blood on his left hand that he'd wiped onto his right sleeve. His hook dripped in a thicker blood. James looked at this and rolled his eyes, un-amusingly.
His gaze scanned the fight. His men were still fighting surprisingly, but many bodies lay strewn on the floor.
The fight was ending imminently.
Smee turned to his Captain.
"Cap'n, should we go?"
James scanned the area for a second time. All looked good in his eyes. The opposing ship's crew were wounded and defeated. His business with them was over for the moment.
"Yes." James uttered, the word clipped precisely in his velvet tone.
Smee anxious of the bodies walked to the few rowing boats that docked near the left hand side of the beach behind many rocks.
James saw his men start to walk towards the boats; their skin covered with blood of many shades and took a step.
A small gasp caught his hearing and he turned to the three bodies that bled into the sand.
He frowned as he saw the rise and fall of the girl's chest fighting for air. James pulled out his sword cautiously and eyed the girl with apprehension, unknown to why he was feeling like this.
The shot replayed in his mind.
Two men came up to him and he fought both, using his sword and his hook. Their death coming in an instant. He heard running and turned to the man who stood now in front of him a fair distance. James saw the pistol in the man's hand and moved only to feel the weight of the man who hung heavily on his hook. Another body fell into the side of him facing the man with the pistol, turning, her eyes widening.
James blinked and huffed crouching on one knee to look at the girl. He put his arms under her arm pits and pulled her upper body up. The girls head bobbed, weightless and her eyes fluttered. She moaned as he pulled her up.
James looked at her face for what seemed a while, even though it was seconds. Her cheek was bruised badly and her eyes were red and swollen. A cut lip was starting to heal as well as little bruises around her chin and jaw line.
"Hmm." He said inquisitively to himself.
He harshly dropped her on the floor and stood up brushing his hand over his calves, trying to get the sand off to smarten up. He made another move to go to one of the boats but stopped half way. An annoying thought pained in his mind and soul. James retraced his steps and crouched by the girl. He picked her upper body up again and this time bent her over her chest so he could look at the wound on her back. His eyes settled on it then onto the sand. He heard the calls from the boat and looked back at the girl, her chest still rising. James put his left arm round her back and his hooked hand under her knees. He picked her up in a swift movement, her head falling onto his chest. James sighed and walked towards his boat.