Chapter six - The commencement of freedom.
AN - Saw Peter Pan again and I must say it gets better every time! How hot is Mr Isaacs!? Sorry if there are any spelling mistakes, I get so excited when I write I just want to post it quickly so I never thoroughly check my grammar properly. When I write, I always listen to music and I do feel the lyrics help me in times of writers block. I also like to find songs that could fit the scenes, any ideas? I'd love to hear! Anyway hope you enjoy this chapter. Violence and stuff. *smiles*
Disclaimer: I own nothing, just Sarah and other minor characters.
Chapter six
The night held no noise for Sarah as she sat on the root but the daunting fear of being found by Peter made her carry on north, to where? She didn't know and that was when he found her.
"Sarah?"
The chill was tangible that ran down Sarah's side.
Sarah thought about running for the third time tonight but the thought of gaining an upper hand on her leader seemed one in a million.
Sarah felt Peter come closer to her back, his lips close to her neck moving up to her ear, where he uttered his cold words with warm breath.
"A little fairie told me you were with the notorious Captain James Hook. Of course I didn't believe this, I mean a lost boy or girl talking to Hook? Its ridiculous, isn't it?"
Sarah stayed quiet, her head wanted to nod to him and beg for forgiveness. She didn't know why, she had in her eyes done nothing wrong.
"Well, isn't it!?" Peter asked harsher.
Sarah turned to face him.
Peter looked over her and sneered at the state of her, noticing Hook's coat.
"His." Peter spat, his voice sounded sickened at the word.
Sarah nodded lightly fearing for her life at her honesty.
The most frightening thing was that Peter stood silent, his eyes burning, his jaw clenched, his fists tight.
"Sarah?" Peter asked, his rage visible but under control. "What were you doing with him?"
"Nothing." Sarah quickly muttered earning a hard slap across her cheek which made her eyes water. She looked to the ground holding her cheek but looked up to meet his gaze.
"Fucking hell, you were naked, with him!"
"What business of yours is it if I talk with him or not?" Sarah asked loudly.
Peter's anger exploded.
"Are you trying to kill us all for Fuck's sake!?? You are the most pathetic, person, thing I've ever meet. You're like a retard, a freak, a stupid whore!! You'd be dead if it wasn't for me!!!"
"No she'd be dead if she stayed with you."
Peter and Sarah turned to the shadow that emerged from the trees. He stood tall, his curls dark in the shadows. For a second it gave both Sarah and Peter a shock.
"Curly?" Sarah asked with hope before Peter pushed her back with his hand and turned to Curly.
"I thought I told you leave? Or was I speaking to myself?" Peter asked in an unpleasant tone.
"The tribe yes. Neverland? Nope." Curly said, his bravery reaching his highest yet.
Sarah gasped at the sight of him and his sheer commanding force against Peter.
Peter frowned at him and turned to Sarah and then back to Curly.
"She's been fucking Hook you know."
Curly frowned at Peters words and looked at Sarah.
"That's a lie, Curly don't listen to him, he lies."
"Shut up!" Peter growled grabbing Sarah hair and pulling it out of its clips and towards him.
Sarah winced at the pain.
"Leave her alone Peter." Curly said.
Peter recognized the threat in his tone. "Oh, has Curly grown a backbone?"
"Peter your hurting me!" Sarah spoke, her eyes watering.
"When will you toughen up?" Peter sneered at her.
"Peter, let her go." Curly spoke again with a controlled anger.
Peter looked in his direction, his fist full of Sarah's hair, smiling.
Curly ran towards him swinging a punch in Peters face. Peter instantly let go of Sarah's hair and fought back against Curly, tumbling to the floor in the process.
Blood started to shed as the young men wrestled to gain the upper hand.
Sarah screamed as Peter pounded Curly's face, smashing it forcefully. His own blood from his nose dripping onto Curly's face.
Sarah gasped at the horrific event and even more so when Peter pulled out a dagger and forced it inch by inch towards Curlys neck.
"Peter stop it!!!" Sarah cried running to him, trying to pull him off.
Peter turned to his distraction leaving Curly to take hold of Peters fore arm and pin it, enabling him to retrieve the dagger. Peter, losing his weapon stopped his violence and sought after Sarah in a quick motion.
Sarah fell and shielded her face, her cries to Peter totally deaf to him. Her bruised cheek felt the wrath of his fist again but only once.
Curly pulled Peter off her and pushed him to the ground again, wrapping his arm around his neck in a lock.
Sarah watched, standing to her feet as the pair wrestled on the jungle floor again, their limbs twisting in painful ways. She moved out from the close area around them, not taking her eyes off the scene. Her thoughts were to try and get some other help, a lost boy? Slightly or Nibs perhaps, but she knew it would take to long. She didn't even really know where she was in the first place. Besides, by the time she could have reached the pair, someone would be dead and there were no prizes for guessing who.
Sarah noticed Peter's swelling eye, the crusted dark blood running from his nose and over his lips. Curly looked worse than Peter, both eyes red and swollen, more blood on his face and his strength weakening against Peter's.
"Run Sarah, get away." Curly cried at the top of his lungs. As he spoke he heaved Peter off him, forcefully lunging at him again.
Peter quickly crawled along the floor to Sarah's ankles and grabbed her.
"No, she's staying with me!!" Peter cried in gasps.
Curly, who dived at Peter again, held him away from her.
"Sarah, run, be free, find freedom from this monster, while you can." Curly screamed.
Sarah's tears were silent and her lip trembled. Her body wanted to run but her fear of losing Curly made her freeze.
"No." She cried "Not without you, please, don't make me."
"Please go Sarah, I may find you." Curly pleaded to her.
"I'll find you Sarah, you know I will, I can always smell dirty, fucking, bitches." Peter forced his words out between his teeth earning him a forceful blow from Curly.
Sarah took a deep breath, her heart beating wildly, her body shaking.
"Fuck you Peter." Sarah said deadly, accentuating her reply, spitting at the ground near to him.
Peter and Curly had both stopped their brawl for one second to watch her, Peter's anger flaring, Curly's smirk growing.
Sarah ran into her messed up night. Dashing again to no where.
The trees whipped at her face, Hooks jacket sheltering her body from their cuts.
Sarah's tears had stopped for the moment and she paused to gain breath, looking many directions to make her next choice. She turned at a rustle in the shadows, expecting Peter to emerge after her, doing God knows what to her. Sarah didn't want to think about it.
Curly had told her to run, but to where? Freedom? Where was that? Men obviously proved that there was no such word as 'freedom' in their dictionary. Did Peter even know what a dictionary was!? The thought made her lighten her mood for a second but she propped herself against a tree and sighed, hanging her head, feeling completely lost in direction and inside herself.
'Dictionary.' Sarah thought, looking at the coat she wore. A faint idea crept into her head. It seemed odd, well yesterday it would have but after tonight, the idea seemed the only one she had and the only one that would perhaps work.
The Neverland Sun had started to creep into the purple and orange firmament, blissfully blushing the sky. The light was enough to wake Sarah, her body feeling stiff and tired. She yawned widely and looked at her surroundings. Faint noises of crowds and people, sea and ships, bells and animals, music and laughter vibrated towards her. Sarah got up and peered at her surroundings. She had lain, not too far from one side of the port, which she assumed was Ravens town. Many little fishing boat, stacked towards her and she appeared to be in the first set of trees that led into one of the many parts of the Neverland tropical forest. Sand mingled with plant and leaves and Sarah took her first steps into the world of Ravens town climbing over some very small mounts, each getting more rocking until she stepped onto a dusty road. It led two ways. If she kept going, it would lead to a wide coble road leading to the port. The other led somewhere up a hill. Sarah looked carefully noticing it winded out of sight, probably to upper Ravens town and more.
People many meters away from her walked to the ships and boats. A couple of horse drawn carts moved along the road in the same direction as Sarah. From where she stood many grand ships docked, with clean sail and good wood. Some ships were small and looked like they had seen better days. The most eye catching of all, docked in what looked like the best location, was the legendary Jolly Roger. Anyone could have known this because of its sheer elegance and grander, either if it sat in port or travelled on the waves. Rumour had it the ship was worth a fortune and truth was known that Captain James Hook would never let it go easily.
The main port was busy with people dashing here and there and Sarah walked timidly into the area noticing the gazes of the folk inhabiting the quarter and their shops. It might have been the odd way she looked but it mainly was because of the over sized luxurious coat she wore belonging to Captain Hook.
"You lost love?" A scruffy man asked holding a bottle of some beverage.
Sarah looked at the man but quickly moved away and past him, leaving his abusive tongue with him.
The sun had risen up a bit further and more people could be seen walking to boats, standing near them or just darting into little shops and places that lined the port. The port smelt hot and slightly nauseating. Fishermen were getting there goods ready to take into town and animals, cats, dogs and birds all followed the trails of blood.
Sarah hung her head slightly at the passes she got and quickly tried to make her way from the pirates who had seemed interested in her. The Jolly Roger came closer to view and Sarah gasped at the sheer dominance it held in the port. A few men sat on barrels and boxes, sitting near the Jolly Roger, talking quietly until they saw Sarah. They looked at her with a quizzed expression but noticed the coat she wore and her bare legs and feet. A smile on one of the pirate's lips grew.
"Hello love, can I help you?" He spoke with sickly charm.
"Erm, I'm just." Sarah lost here words looking up at the large ship. She had no idea what to say.
"That's all right, we can help you?" Another pirate said, licking his dry lips.
"Well, I'm looking for someone." Sarah said bluntly, her gaze wandering again to the ship.
"Lot's of people on that ship love, you sure?"
"Well, I think he's on the ship."
"Nice jacket love, yours?"
Sarah shook her head. "I'm returning it."
"He's got a lot of jackets you know, he won't need that fabulous coat back will he, Smith?"
"Nah. Got plenty, won't need it. Smith replied looking around the cobble road, people a fair distance away busy with their activities.
"Thanks, but I'm ok now. Goodbye" Sarah added backing away from the men, whose eyes stuck on her like a predator on its prey.
"Now, now precious it's ok, we know where he is we'll show you."
"It's all right honesty, I'm fine." Sarah spoke, a panic rising in her chest.
One of the pirates grabbed her arm and pulled her towards one of the sides of a shop across the cobble street.
"No." Sarah struggled.
"Shh, pet, someone'll hear you." Smith said laughing after his words.
"No! Get off me!!" Sarah called again, struggling harder again, trying to make a commotion.
The only thing Sarah thought to do was scream but the scream that came out was a word that unexpectedly floated off her lips.
"James!!!"
A couple of men aboard the Jolly Roger at the time looked down to the scream and saw the young woman struggling against the man who tried to push her into another street.
"Hoy there, what business goes?" One of them called.
"None of yours." The second pirate on the ground sneered up to the voice.
The man aboard the ship who shouted, joined by another went to the scene. One of the men going for the man closed to the ship. The other to Sarah and Smith.
"Smee, a woman, she called for James down port." One of the pirates on board of the ship called to him.
"Our James?" Smee asked
The man shrugged and moved off to the scene.
Smee went to Hook's cabin.
"Cap'n, sorry to wake you." Smee timidly spoke.
"Smee, this better be good." James uttered through clenched teeth rubbing his hand over his face as he lay in bed and turned over to face away from him.
"Down on port, your men said a girl called for you. It seemed urgent!" James turned back to Smee, a frown on his brow that suddenly melted with comprehension.
"A young woman?" James asked.
"Dunno Cap'n." Smee shrugged.
"Bring her to me." James asked smoothly getting up after Smee had gone.
He walked over to his desk and picked up his hook contraption, setting it on and tightening it. He walked to his wardrobe, a mass of clothes waiting for him. He found a beautiful shirt and reached for it pulling it off his hanger. He put the shirt on his body, careful mot to rip it with his claw. James tried to fasten it with his hand but huffed. He tried again but the task became too frustrating and in a rage he threw the shirt to another side of the room and growled swearing in the act. He tuned to a chair which had lain upon it, his clothes from the previous night. He sneered at them but felt it was better to see whoever this person was in worn clothes rather than naked. He rummaged through the pile and found an old pull over shirt made of linen and a pair of trousers, easy to put on.
After a minute a knock came on his door.
"Cap'n, sir? Your visitor." Smee called from the door, his voice very light.
"Enter."
James had been secretly hoping to see Sarah and was actually surprised when she walked through his door.
"Sarah?" James said delicately, his eyes secretly smiling rather than his lips.
Sarah smiled at him lightly an awkwardness overcoming her.
"You look, worried." James stated.
Sarah looked up and prepared to answer him.
"Just some trouble with some pirates, said you wouldn't need your coat back, that's all."
"Did they." James replied, his smile gone from his eyes as he walked to his door and outside.
Sarah looked around the room while he was briefly gone. Setting eyes on rich, items, furniture, material and ornaments. The room was relatively tidy but items of clothes, glasses and dishes cropped up around the room. Sarah didn't want to move but her curiosity got the better of her and she walked around the room. Taking in everything her eyes could see. She heard the door open and she turned, bolting up straight to the door.
James looked at her, but said nothing harsh as she expected.
"Well I don't like giving guided tours anyway."
Sarah blushed and moved nearer to him.
"I'm sorry, it's just, your room, its exquisite."
James actually smiled at her comment.
"Thank you." He replied. "So, why did you come here Sarah?"
Sarah found his comment light but filled with bafflement.
"I?" Sarah started before smiling to herself. "I don't know?" She said raising her eye brows smirking.
James didn't see what was funny and asked again. "Well?"
Sarah swallowed her laughter and looked up to him.
"I guess to return your coat."
"No Sarah, what's the real reason?" James asked coming closer to her.
"There are many reasons Captain why I've come to you." Sarah stated. "I'm lost."
"Another black cheek? Did you get it last night?" James asked.
Sarah's fingers ran to her cheek attempting to shield it from him unsuccessfully.
"Him?" James asked.
Sarah nodded. "One of the lost boys told me to run." Sarah said changing the subject.
"A lost boy said that? What did Pan say?" James asked perplexed.
"He said he'd find me. After I erm, left last night, Peter found me, as did a lost boy. They fought. Anyway, the lost boy told me to run and Peter said he'd find me. He was upset that he's seen me with you, jumped to conclusions and everything. Oh God, they fought terribly." Sarah said recalling it in her mind.
"The lost boy and pan?"
"Yes. I bet one of them is dead." Sarah said sombrely.
"Well, here's hoping its Pan."
Sarah found a small chuckle inside her at his words and the way he said it. She never believed Peter was the one thing to cause the most fuss and annoyance in his life, but it seemed every other sentence was about him and filled with annoyance and revenge..
Sarah sighed. "He won't be happy when he finds me here."
"Who said you were staying here?"
Sarah frowned. "Well, I thought that?" She stopped talking and swallowed her words.
"I'm sorry I thought that maybe you'd let me stay on the ship. I thought that..." Sarah finished her sentence before it ended.
"I see." James said running his hand over his chin. "No, you will not stay on my ship, you're not a pirate."
"I could learn to be one?"
"I don't want you to be a pirate."
"Well what do you want me to be? A servant, a maid?"
"Nothing."
"Please, I own you everything, my life."
"Sarah. I have no need for a 'lost girl'."
"And here's me thinking you'd be like all the others."
"In what way?"
"I don't know, a man way, a pirate way?"
"You think all pirates take woman when they walk in front of them?"
"Yes."
"Then you are right." James replied walking to his desk and chair.
Sarah frowned at his words waiting for him to say something but he did not. "Do you have any women on the ship?" Sarah asked.
James looked up to her from looking at some papers on his desk.
"I've heard the stories." She added.
"No female crew on my ship, never has been."
"I guess, men and woman together, not a clever option unless you want little crew."
"Exactly, but I have to say. Have you ever seen my crew? By God there good men but the site of them would scare any woman to walk the plank."
Sarah laughed heartily at his joke which made James laugh as well.
"The crew can see all the woman they want in there own time, when we're docked that is. Isn't that what all men do in Ravens town?"
"I wouldn't no."
"Of course you wouldn't, you ran away from it, how could I forget?"
His sarcastic comment darkened the lightened mood and Sarah's smile was wiped from her lips.
"I'm sorry I ran. I got frightened of you."
"A lot of people are. James paused. "Are you still?"
"Maybe?"
James smiled at her without showing his teeth and got up towards her. He looked at her. Feet, ankles and lower claves were grubby and she still wore his coat which now looked fairly crumpled. Her hair was out of her pins from last night and fell beside her cheeks and over her shoulders in messy blonde waves. He face had all its traces of make up gone and left her tanned skin, emerald eyes and ruby lips her most dominating features, dazzled. Up close, James could see a few scars on her face from cuts and also two fresh ones. Her cheek had a medium sized bruise on but wasn't that dark. In his eyes she looked fascinating, different. Her beauty was natural and her personality, ever so slightly was starting to shine to him. In honesty, he pitied the young woman who stood before him, drowning in his coat. From the small bits of information he had acquired in the past days, he felt sorry for her, knowing she'd been on the end over Peter's attacks, hers more devastating than his own.
Sarah studied Hook as he walked towards her, his own eyes deep in thought. He looked more casual and less threatening in bare feet and without his fancy clothing, trinkets and weapons. Up close he looked old, but not older. His face was very masculine and she recalled his cheeks and around his mouth when they kissed and how it scrapped across her soft skin, a complete contrast and far more manly than Peter and his naked face. His blue eyes were burning into her soul and although she didn't look at his gaze she could just feel it. His hair looked a tiny bit messy, but still curly and glossy. Her fingers felt the urge to stroke the hair again and she felt herself walking towards him slowly, mesmerized by him.
James spellbound by Sarah, never took his eyes off her.
Sarah reached out and touched a lock of his hair, running it between her finger and thumb and gradually twisting it around her finger to re-shape the curl. Her fingers ran along his hairline up to him forehead; a smile appeared on her lips at the beauty of his real hair.
James' face had no expression as he closed his eyes at her touch. He opened his eyes which held orbs filled with lust, admiration and wonder. His own hand had reached for her face and cupped her cheek with his palm, stroking her cheekbone with his thumb.
Sarah's heart skipped in a mixture of worry and pleasant nerves. The thought of Peter came to mind but when she saw Hook's clean, groomed, hand, her worries of Peter disappeared.
James ran his hand into her hair and back to her cheek over her ear and down her neck.
Sarah wrapped her arms around his neck and buried the side of her face into his chest, her own pressing against his, feeling his deep breathing.
James licked his lips and closed his eyes and her embrace, feeling, as if this was the afterlife, he'd plunge his own hook into his heart.
His own experience with woman was substantial. He always lusted after women ever since he'd become adolescent, back in school days. The extremely distant thought made him smirk at his early existence. James' women in Neverland had been different. A famed duty that ladies seemed to want a piece of. It hadn't been inexperienced love, it had been a lust, a need to fill and be over with it. A primal instinct that gnawed in his body. James sighed, this seemed different. Yes she was a woman, but a young one. For once his decision over her was confused.
"Why are you doing this to me?" James asked softly and puzzled.
Sarah frowned and looked up to him but he did not look at her.
"I don't understand, doing what?"
"Why are you caring for me? You don't even know me."
"I thought you wanted me?"
"I want you but I don't believe you want me."
"You're confusing me."
James removed her arms from him and walked away from her back to his desk.
"You were already confused Sarah."
"And heres me thinking you were my knight in shining armour."
"I don't like fairy tales."
"Because they end in a kiss?"
James narrowed his eyes at her as if trying to remember those words in another conversation.
"No, because there not real."
"I guess." Sarah shrugged.
Silence.
"You don't expect me to go back do you? Peter will kill me, I have nothing back there." Sarah panicked.
"No, I don't expect you to go back but you'll go Ravens town."
"By myself?"
"Yes."
"But what?"
James pounded his hook into the desk he stood beside.
"God damn Sarah, no more questions!"
Sarah winced as the hook struck the desk making her feel like her old self with the fear she once held for him.
"I'm sorry." Sarah whimpered, her heart beating in alarm.
James looked at her and cursed his anger, seeing it scared her.
"Sarah." He said lightly trying to regain his calm. "I think it best if you stay in Ravens town, that way Peter or anyone wishing to find you will not. They will obviously come here, thus why I want you to be gone, you will be safer."
Sarah understood what he meant finally and actually thought it more considerate of him to think of her safety carefully and send her away than try to protect her on a ship that had other concerns than Peter Pan. In her eyes it proved that he must have felt something for her if he wanted her alive. The idea made her smile.
"I will make arrangements for you as soon as I can."
"Thank you."
James looked at her and noticed she made a slight move to come towards him but stopped it looking anywhere but him. It saddened him slightly but he paid no heed to what it may have been.
"Er, do you sow?" He asked, changing the topic.
Sarah looked up to him.
"Yes, a little."
"That wardrobe to the left." James gestured. "It holds some dresses and material, beads and such from female acquaintances I've known in the past. Your welcome to customise something to wear, I'm sure you don't want to wear my coat forever."
"No." Sarah replied gripping onto the collar.
AN - Saw Peter Pan again and I must say it gets better every time! How hot is Mr Isaacs!? Sorry if there are any spelling mistakes, I get so excited when I write I just want to post it quickly so I never thoroughly check my grammar properly. When I write, I always listen to music and I do feel the lyrics help me in times of writers block. I also like to find songs that could fit the scenes, any ideas? I'd love to hear! Anyway hope you enjoy this chapter. Violence and stuff. *smiles*
Disclaimer: I own nothing, just Sarah and other minor characters.
Chapter six
The night held no noise for Sarah as she sat on the root but the daunting fear of being found by Peter made her carry on north, to where? She didn't know and that was when he found her.
"Sarah?"
The chill was tangible that ran down Sarah's side.
Sarah thought about running for the third time tonight but the thought of gaining an upper hand on her leader seemed one in a million.
Sarah felt Peter come closer to her back, his lips close to her neck moving up to her ear, where he uttered his cold words with warm breath.
"A little fairie told me you were with the notorious Captain James Hook. Of course I didn't believe this, I mean a lost boy or girl talking to Hook? Its ridiculous, isn't it?"
Sarah stayed quiet, her head wanted to nod to him and beg for forgiveness. She didn't know why, she had in her eyes done nothing wrong.
"Well, isn't it!?" Peter asked harsher.
Sarah turned to face him.
Peter looked over her and sneered at the state of her, noticing Hook's coat.
"His." Peter spat, his voice sounded sickened at the word.
Sarah nodded lightly fearing for her life at her honesty.
The most frightening thing was that Peter stood silent, his eyes burning, his jaw clenched, his fists tight.
"Sarah?" Peter asked, his rage visible but under control. "What were you doing with him?"
"Nothing." Sarah quickly muttered earning a hard slap across her cheek which made her eyes water. She looked to the ground holding her cheek but looked up to meet his gaze.
"Fucking hell, you were naked, with him!"
"What business of yours is it if I talk with him or not?" Sarah asked loudly.
Peter's anger exploded.
"Are you trying to kill us all for Fuck's sake!?? You are the most pathetic, person, thing I've ever meet. You're like a retard, a freak, a stupid whore!! You'd be dead if it wasn't for me!!!"
"No she'd be dead if she stayed with you."
Peter and Sarah turned to the shadow that emerged from the trees. He stood tall, his curls dark in the shadows. For a second it gave both Sarah and Peter a shock.
"Curly?" Sarah asked with hope before Peter pushed her back with his hand and turned to Curly.
"I thought I told you leave? Or was I speaking to myself?" Peter asked in an unpleasant tone.
"The tribe yes. Neverland? Nope." Curly said, his bravery reaching his highest yet.
Sarah gasped at the sight of him and his sheer commanding force against Peter.
Peter frowned at him and turned to Sarah and then back to Curly.
"She's been fucking Hook you know."
Curly frowned at Peters words and looked at Sarah.
"That's a lie, Curly don't listen to him, he lies."
"Shut up!" Peter growled grabbing Sarah hair and pulling it out of its clips and towards him.
Sarah winced at the pain.
"Leave her alone Peter." Curly said.
Peter recognized the threat in his tone. "Oh, has Curly grown a backbone?"
"Peter your hurting me!" Sarah spoke, her eyes watering.
"When will you toughen up?" Peter sneered at her.
"Peter, let her go." Curly spoke again with a controlled anger.
Peter looked in his direction, his fist full of Sarah's hair, smiling.
Curly ran towards him swinging a punch in Peters face. Peter instantly let go of Sarah's hair and fought back against Curly, tumbling to the floor in the process.
Blood started to shed as the young men wrestled to gain the upper hand.
Sarah screamed as Peter pounded Curly's face, smashing it forcefully. His own blood from his nose dripping onto Curly's face.
Sarah gasped at the horrific event and even more so when Peter pulled out a dagger and forced it inch by inch towards Curlys neck.
"Peter stop it!!!" Sarah cried running to him, trying to pull him off.
Peter turned to his distraction leaving Curly to take hold of Peters fore arm and pin it, enabling him to retrieve the dagger. Peter, losing his weapon stopped his violence and sought after Sarah in a quick motion.
Sarah fell and shielded her face, her cries to Peter totally deaf to him. Her bruised cheek felt the wrath of his fist again but only once.
Curly pulled Peter off her and pushed him to the ground again, wrapping his arm around his neck in a lock.
Sarah watched, standing to her feet as the pair wrestled on the jungle floor again, their limbs twisting in painful ways. She moved out from the close area around them, not taking her eyes off the scene. Her thoughts were to try and get some other help, a lost boy? Slightly or Nibs perhaps, but she knew it would take to long. She didn't even really know where she was in the first place. Besides, by the time she could have reached the pair, someone would be dead and there were no prizes for guessing who.
Sarah noticed Peter's swelling eye, the crusted dark blood running from his nose and over his lips. Curly looked worse than Peter, both eyes red and swollen, more blood on his face and his strength weakening against Peter's.
"Run Sarah, get away." Curly cried at the top of his lungs. As he spoke he heaved Peter off him, forcefully lunging at him again.
Peter quickly crawled along the floor to Sarah's ankles and grabbed her.
"No, she's staying with me!!" Peter cried in gasps.
Curly, who dived at Peter again, held him away from her.
"Sarah, run, be free, find freedom from this monster, while you can." Curly screamed.
Sarah's tears were silent and her lip trembled. Her body wanted to run but her fear of losing Curly made her freeze.
"No." She cried "Not without you, please, don't make me."
"Please go Sarah, I may find you." Curly pleaded to her.
"I'll find you Sarah, you know I will, I can always smell dirty, fucking, bitches." Peter forced his words out between his teeth earning him a forceful blow from Curly.
Sarah took a deep breath, her heart beating wildly, her body shaking.
"Fuck you Peter." Sarah said deadly, accentuating her reply, spitting at the ground near to him.
Peter and Curly had both stopped their brawl for one second to watch her, Peter's anger flaring, Curly's smirk growing.
Sarah ran into her messed up night. Dashing again to no where.
The trees whipped at her face, Hooks jacket sheltering her body from their cuts.
Sarah's tears had stopped for the moment and she paused to gain breath, looking many directions to make her next choice. She turned at a rustle in the shadows, expecting Peter to emerge after her, doing God knows what to her. Sarah didn't want to think about it.
Curly had told her to run, but to where? Freedom? Where was that? Men obviously proved that there was no such word as 'freedom' in their dictionary. Did Peter even know what a dictionary was!? The thought made her lighten her mood for a second but she propped herself against a tree and sighed, hanging her head, feeling completely lost in direction and inside herself.
'Dictionary.' Sarah thought, looking at the coat she wore. A faint idea crept into her head. It seemed odd, well yesterday it would have but after tonight, the idea seemed the only one she had and the only one that would perhaps work.
The Neverland Sun had started to creep into the purple and orange firmament, blissfully blushing the sky. The light was enough to wake Sarah, her body feeling stiff and tired. She yawned widely and looked at her surroundings. Faint noises of crowds and people, sea and ships, bells and animals, music and laughter vibrated towards her. Sarah got up and peered at her surroundings. She had lain, not too far from one side of the port, which she assumed was Ravens town. Many little fishing boat, stacked towards her and she appeared to be in the first set of trees that led into one of the many parts of the Neverland tropical forest. Sand mingled with plant and leaves and Sarah took her first steps into the world of Ravens town climbing over some very small mounts, each getting more rocking until she stepped onto a dusty road. It led two ways. If she kept going, it would lead to a wide coble road leading to the port. The other led somewhere up a hill. Sarah looked carefully noticing it winded out of sight, probably to upper Ravens town and more.
People many meters away from her walked to the ships and boats. A couple of horse drawn carts moved along the road in the same direction as Sarah. From where she stood many grand ships docked, with clean sail and good wood. Some ships were small and looked like they had seen better days. The most eye catching of all, docked in what looked like the best location, was the legendary Jolly Roger. Anyone could have known this because of its sheer elegance and grander, either if it sat in port or travelled on the waves. Rumour had it the ship was worth a fortune and truth was known that Captain James Hook would never let it go easily.
The main port was busy with people dashing here and there and Sarah walked timidly into the area noticing the gazes of the folk inhabiting the quarter and their shops. It might have been the odd way she looked but it mainly was because of the over sized luxurious coat she wore belonging to Captain Hook.
"You lost love?" A scruffy man asked holding a bottle of some beverage.
Sarah looked at the man but quickly moved away and past him, leaving his abusive tongue with him.
The sun had risen up a bit further and more people could be seen walking to boats, standing near them or just darting into little shops and places that lined the port. The port smelt hot and slightly nauseating. Fishermen were getting there goods ready to take into town and animals, cats, dogs and birds all followed the trails of blood.
Sarah hung her head slightly at the passes she got and quickly tried to make her way from the pirates who had seemed interested in her. The Jolly Roger came closer to view and Sarah gasped at the sheer dominance it held in the port. A few men sat on barrels and boxes, sitting near the Jolly Roger, talking quietly until they saw Sarah. They looked at her with a quizzed expression but noticed the coat she wore and her bare legs and feet. A smile on one of the pirate's lips grew.
"Hello love, can I help you?" He spoke with sickly charm.
"Erm, I'm just." Sarah lost here words looking up at the large ship. She had no idea what to say.
"That's all right, we can help you?" Another pirate said, licking his dry lips.
"Well, I'm looking for someone." Sarah said bluntly, her gaze wandering again to the ship.
"Lot's of people on that ship love, you sure?"
"Well, I think he's on the ship."
"Nice jacket love, yours?"
Sarah shook her head. "I'm returning it."
"He's got a lot of jackets you know, he won't need that fabulous coat back will he, Smith?"
"Nah. Got plenty, won't need it. Smith replied looking around the cobble road, people a fair distance away busy with their activities.
"Thanks, but I'm ok now. Goodbye" Sarah added backing away from the men, whose eyes stuck on her like a predator on its prey.
"Now, now precious it's ok, we know where he is we'll show you."
"It's all right honesty, I'm fine." Sarah spoke, a panic rising in her chest.
One of the pirates grabbed her arm and pulled her towards one of the sides of a shop across the cobble street.
"No." Sarah struggled.
"Shh, pet, someone'll hear you." Smith said laughing after his words.
"No! Get off me!!" Sarah called again, struggling harder again, trying to make a commotion.
The only thing Sarah thought to do was scream but the scream that came out was a word that unexpectedly floated off her lips.
"James!!!"
A couple of men aboard the Jolly Roger at the time looked down to the scream and saw the young woman struggling against the man who tried to push her into another street.
"Hoy there, what business goes?" One of them called.
"None of yours." The second pirate on the ground sneered up to the voice.
The man aboard the ship who shouted, joined by another went to the scene. One of the men going for the man closed to the ship. The other to Sarah and Smith.
"Smee, a woman, she called for James down port." One of the pirates on board of the ship called to him.
"Our James?" Smee asked
The man shrugged and moved off to the scene.
Smee went to Hook's cabin.
"Cap'n, sorry to wake you." Smee timidly spoke.
"Smee, this better be good." James uttered through clenched teeth rubbing his hand over his face as he lay in bed and turned over to face away from him.
"Down on port, your men said a girl called for you. It seemed urgent!" James turned back to Smee, a frown on his brow that suddenly melted with comprehension.
"A young woman?" James asked.
"Dunno Cap'n." Smee shrugged.
"Bring her to me." James asked smoothly getting up after Smee had gone.
He walked over to his desk and picked up his hook contraption, setting it on and tightening it. He walked to his wardrobe, a mass of clothes waiting for him. He found a beautiful shirt and reached for it pulling it off his hanger. He put the shirt on his body, careful mot to rip it with his claw. James tried to fasten it with his hand but huffed. He tried again but the task became too frustrating and in a rage he threw the shirt to another side of the room and growled swearing in the act. He tuned to a chair which had lain upon it, his clothes from the previous night. He sneered at them but felt it was better to see whoever this person was in worn clothes rather than naked. He rummaged through the pile and found an old pull over shirt made of linen and a pair of trousers, easy to put on.
After a minute a knock came on his door.
"Cap'n, sir? Your visitor." Smee called from the door, his voice very light.
"Enter."
James had been secretly hoping to see Sarah and was actually surprised when she walked through his door.
"Sarah?" James said delicately, his eyes secretly smiling rather than his lips.
Sarah smiled at him lightly an awkwardness overcoming her.
"You look, worried." James stated.
Sarah looked up and prepared to answer him.
"Just some trouble with some pirates, said you wouldn't need your coat back, that's all."
"Did they." James replied, his smile gone from his eyes as he walked to his door and outside.
Sarah looked around the room while he was briefly gone. Setting eyes on rich, items, furniture, material and ornaments. The room was relatively tidy but items of clothes, glasses and dishes cropped up around the room. Sarah didn't want to move but her curiosity got the better of her and she walked around the room. Taking in everything her eyes could see. She heard the door open and she turned, bolting up straight to the door.
James looked at her, but said nothing harsh as she expected.
"Well I don't like giving guided tours anyway."
Sarah blushed and moved nearer to him.
"I'm sorry, it's just, your room, its exquisite."
James actually smiled at her comment.
"Thank you." He replied. "So, why did you come here Sarah?"
Sarah found his comment light but filled with bafflement.
"I?" Sarah started before smiling to herself. "I don't know?" She said raising her eye brows smirking.
James didn't see what was funny and asked again. "Well?"
Sarah swallowed her laughter and looked up to him.
"I guess to return your coat."
"No Sarah, what's the real reason?" James asked coming closer to her.
"There are many reasons Captain why I've come to you." Sarah stated. "I'm lost."
"Another black cheek? Did you get it last night?" James asked.
Sarah's fingers ran to her cheek attempting to shield it from him unsuccessfully.
"Him?" James asked.
Sarah nodded. "One of the lost boys told me to run." Sarah said changing the subject.
"A lost boy said that? What did Pan say?" James asked perplexed.
"He said he'd find me. After I erm, left last night, Peter found me, as did a lost boy. They fought. Anyway, the lost boy told me to run and Peter said he'd find me. He was upset that he's seen me with you, jumped to conclusions and everything. Oh God, they fought terribly." Sarah said recalling it in her mind.
"The lost boy and pan?"
"Yes. I bet one of them is dead." Sarah said sombrely.
"Well, here's hoping its Pan."
Sarah found a small chuckle inside her at his words and the way he said it. She never believed Peter was the one thing to cause the most fuss and annoyance in his life, but it seemed every other sentence was about him and filled with annoyance and revenge..
Sarah sighed. "He won't be happy when he finds me here."
"Who said you were staying here?"
Sarah frowned. "Well, I thought that?" She stopped talking and swallowed her words.
"I'm sorry I thought that maybe you'd let me stay on the ship. I thought that..." Sarah finished her sentence before it ended.
"I see." James said running his hand over his chin. "No, you will not stay on my ship, you're not a pirate."
"I could learn to be one?"
"I don't want you to be a pirate."
"Well what do you want me to be? A servant, a maid?"
"Nothing."
"Please, I own you everything, my life."
"Sarah. I have no need for a 'lost girl'."
"And here's me thinking you'd be like all the others."
"In what way?"
"I don't know, a man way, a pirate way?"
"You think all pirates take woman when they walk in front of them?"
"Yes."
"Then you are right." James replied walking to his desk and chair.
Sarah frowned at his words waiting for him to say something but he did not. "Do you have any women on the ship?" Sarah asked.
James looked up to her from looking at some papers on his desk.
"I've heard the stories." She added.
"No female crew on my ship, never has been."
"I guess, men and woman together, not a clever option unless you want little crew."
"Exactly, but I have to say. Have you ever seen my crew? By God there good men but the site of them would scare any woman to walk the plank."
Sarah laughed heartily at his joke which made James laugh as well.
"The crew can see all the woman they want in there own time, when we're docked that is. Isn't that what all men do in Ravens town?"
"I wouldn't no."
"Of course you wouldn't, you ran away from it, how could I forget?"
His sarcastic comment darkened the lightened mood and Sarah's smile was wiped from her lips.
"I'm sorry I ran. I got frightened of you."
"A lot of people are. James paused. "Are you still?"
"Maybe?"
James smiled at her without showing his teeth and got up towards her. He looked at her. Feet, ankles and lower claves were grubby and she still wore his coat which now looked fairly crumpled. Her hair was out of her pins from last night and fell beside her cheeks and over her shoulders in messy blonde waves. He face had all its traces of make up gone and left her tanned skin, emerald eyes and ruby lips her most dominating features, dazzled. Up close, James could see a few scars on her face from cuts and also two fresh ones. Her cheek had a medium sized bruise on but wasn't that dark. In his eyes she looked fascinating, different. Her beauty was natural and her personality, ever so slightly was starting to shine to him. In honesty, he pitied the young woman who stood before him, drowning in his coat. From the small bits of information he had acquired in the past days, he felt sorry for her, knowing she'd been on the end over Peter's attacks, hers more devastating than his own.
Sarah studied Hook as he walked towards her, his own eyes deep in thought. He looked more casual and less threatening in bare feet and without his fancy clothing, trinkets and weapons. Up close he looked old, but not older. His face was very masculine and she recalled his cheeks and around his mouth when they kissed and how it scrapped across her soft skin, a complete contrast and far more manly than Peter and his naked face. His blue eyes were burning into her soul and although she didn't look at his gaze she could just feel it. His hair looked a tiny bit messy, but still curly and glossy. Her fingers felt the urge to stroke the hair again and she felt herself walking towards him slowly, mesmerized by him.
James spellbound by Sarah, never took his eyes off her.
Sarah reached out and touched a lock of his hair, running it between her finger and thumb and gradually twisting it around her finger to re-shape the curl. Her fingers ran along his hairline up to him forehead; a smile appeared on her lips at the beauty of his real hair.
James' face had no expression as he closed his eyes at her touch. He opened his eyes which held orbs filled with lust, admiration and wonder. His own hand had reached for her face and cupped her cheek with his palm, stroking her cheekbone with his thumb.
Sarah's heart skipped in a mixture of worry and pleasant nerves. The thought of Peter came to mind but when she saw Hook's clean, groomed, hand, her worries of Peter disappeared.
James ran his hand into her hair and back to her cheek over her ear and down her neck.
Sarah wrapped her arms around his neck and buried the side of her face into his chest, her own pressing against his, feeling his deep breathing.
James licked his lips and closed his eyes and her embrace, feeling, as if this was the afterlife, he'd plunge his own hook into his heart.
His own experience with woman was substantial. He always lusted after women ever since he'd become adolescent, back in school days. The extremely distant thought made him smirk at his early existence. James' women in Neverland had been different. A famed duty that ladies seemed to want a piece of. It hadn't been inexperienced love, it had been a lust, a need to fill and be over with it. A primal instinct that gnawed in his body. James sighed, this seemed different. Yes she was a woman, but a young one. For once his decision over her was confused.
"Why are you doing this to me?" James asked softly and puzzled.
Sarah frowned and looked up to him but he did not look at her.
"I don't understand, doing what?"
"Why are you caring for me? You don't even know me."
"I thought you wanted me?"
"I want you but I don't believe you want me."
"You're confusing me."
James removed her arms from him and walked away from her back to his desk.
"You were already confused Sarah."
"And heres me thinking you were my knight in shining armour."
"I don't like fairy tales."
"Because they end in a kiss?"
James narrowed his eyes at her as if trying to remember those words in another conversation.
"No, because there not real."
"I guess." Sarah shrugged.
Silence.
"You don't expect me to go back do you? Peter will kill me, I have nothing back there." Sarah panicked.
"No, I don't expect you to go back but you'll go Ravens town."
"By myself?"
"Yes."
"But what?"
James pounded his hook into the desk he stood beside.
"God damn Sarah, no more questions!"
Sarah winced as the hook struck the desk making her feel like her old self with the fear she once held for him.
"I'm sorry." Sarah whimpered, her heart beating in alarm.
James looked at her and cursed his anger, seeing it scared her.
"Sarah." He said lightly trying to regain his calm. "I think it best if you stay in Ravens town, that way Peter or anyone wishing to find you will not. They will obviously come here, thus why I want you to be gone, you will be safer."
Sarah understood what he meant finally and actually thought it more considerate of him to think of her safety carefully and send her away than try to protect her on a ship that had other concerns than Peter Pan. In her eyes it proved that he must have felt something for her if he wanted her alive. The idea made her smile.
"I will make arrangements for you as soon as I can."
"Thank you."
James looked at her and noticed she made a slight move to come towards him but stopped it looking anywhere but him. It saddened him slightly but he paid no heed to what it may have been.
"Er, do you sow?" He asked, changing the topic.
Sarah looked up to him.
"Yes, a little."
"That wardrobe to the left." James gestured. "It holds some dresses and material, beads and such from female acquaintances I've known in the past. Your welcome to customise something to wear, I'm sure you don't want to wear my coat forever."
"No." Sarah replied gripping onto the collar.