Chapter 6

Captain Hook glared at the petulant boy sulking in the seat opposite him. Pan had been moping for two days now, ever since he had taken Mason's beating. The Captain knew the boy was still sore from his punishment, his back badly bruised and his backside tender with welts… but Pan's obstinacy and brooding was getting on the man's nerves, and he had had enough of it.

"Right… Get up."

Peter looked up at the man, but stayed in his seat.

"Why?"

"Infuriating boy! Just do as you're told!"

Peter crossed his arms over his chest defiantly and slouched in his chair. Hook ignored the impertinent gesture and began walking to the door.

"Follow me."

Peter watched Hook as the man marched out into the sunlight on deck. After a moment of resistance, Pan's curiosity won out and he hurried after the pirate captain.

In the glare of the day, Peter glowered at the crew who were going about their duties on deck, paying him no mind. Standing with his arms crossed again, Peter watched as Hook ordered John and Michael over to where Pan waited.

"Now then, boys," Hook signalled to Billy Jukes as well, and Peter shot daggers at the young crewman as he approached, vengeful towards the pirate for revealing his hiding place to Hook a few days before.

"If you are going to be members of my crew," the Captain continued,

"I'm not." Peter stated bluntly.

Hook gave him a warning look, and Peter looked down and shuffled his feet casually.

"You will all need to pull your weight and be useful in battle."

John and Michael stared, wide-eyed at the Captain with open mouths as Billy Jukes started handing out swords.

Billy paused before handing a blade to Pan, giving an unsure glance to his skipper instead. Peter was holding himself very still, and his eyes were on the weapon in Billy's hand. Hook saw Pan had tensed in anticipation of being armed, and he unsheathed his own sword before giving Billy the nod.

Peter heard the ominous ringing of Hook's blade as it was pulled from it's scabbard. The pirate was standing almost directly behind him, but he did not move. He knew Hook was warning him against trying anything, but Peter refused to acknowledge the man's threat.

Finally, Billy Jukes offered Peter the sword he was holding, and Peter wrapped his fingers around the hilt gently. Once Billy had relinquished the blade completely, Peter tested its weight in his hands, and briefly considered how fast he would have to move to slice open Hook's stomach before the man could parry.

Thinking better of the crude plan, Peter waited for Hook to continue.

"From what I've seen of your fencing skills, you are all three an utter disgrace," Hook circled the boys and locked eyes with Pan as he said this, delighting in the ferocious scowl Peter sent him in response.

He also noted that the boy didn't protest, and the thought that Peter Pan had been humbled was a notion Hook relished.

"You are all to take fencing lessons every day until I deem your skill with a sword to be decent. You will take instruction from whom ever I elect. Is that understood?"

"Aye aye, Captain," came the mumbled responses of the Darling boys.

"Pan? Is that understood?"

Peter released a contemptuous sigh and glanced from Hook to Billy.

"Aye."

"Good. Your lessons begin now. Mr Jukes will assist by making up numbers. He is, however, far more knowledgeable than you lazy brats, and he has authority above you. Clear?"

"Aye aye, Captain."

This time Peter refused to answer, instead scowling at Billy Jukes with venomous hatred.

"Again, Pan!"

Peter let his sword hang as he tried to catch his breath. He was sweating and exhausted and he just wanted to stop. For the past hour, Hook and Jukes had taken it in turns to spar with Peter, and he hadn't been allowed to pause once. Michael and John had been sent back to their chores long before.

"Again!"

"I'm tired! I can't do it any more!" Peter threw his sword down petulantly and slumped down onto the deck, wiping beads of sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand.

"Mr Jukes," Hook addressed the pirate boy brightly, but Billy knew Pan was the real target.

"What would happen, say, if you were fighting a lazy scug such as Pan and he just… sat down in front of you because he was too tired to continue?"

"I'd run my blade through his neck, Captain."

Both pirates stared down at Peter pointedly, and he scowled at them in return.

"Get to your chores, Pan. You lose."

Peter flinched and his mouth fell open in outrage,

"I didn't lose! We were just practising!"

"You gave up, Peter. You lost."

Peter clambered to his feet and squared his shoulders at the Captain,

"I did not!"

"See to your chores!"

Peter was about to object again, but he stopped when he felt his eyes well up. Chocking back a sob, he pushed past Billy Jukes as roughly as he could, the boy sniggering at him callously, and went to join the other boys as they scrubbed the deck.

"He could be such an asset." Hook mused, wistfully.

Billy glanced from his Captain to Pan and felt a stab of jealousy.

"We have to think of a way off this boat."

"Ship."

Peter's scrubbing brush halted it's rhythm as he glared at John for correcting him.

"It's a stinking old tub, John. And I've had enough!"

"Shhh!"

The three boys ducked their heads and began scrubbing again in case they had drawn any attention. When none of the crew seemed to react, Peter paused again to continue plotting.

"Where's Wendy?"

"Where she always is these days," John sighed, "Stuck in the galley peeling potatoes."

Peter bit his lip in consternation.

"When we last spoke," Peter paused, remembering how he had upset Wendy when she had only been trying to help him… but he quickly shrugged it off and continued, "When we do escape, it needs to be together. We can't split up or we'll never all succeed."

"But, Peter, that's the problem… We're never all together any more."

"We need to think of a way. Are you all still kept in the brig at night?

"Aye, Wendy too."

Peter wondered what transgression he'd have to perform to get himself banished from Hook's cabin and locked in the brig. It would have to be something serious, considering what he'd already put Hook through… but if he went too far, the captain might simply kill him. It was a delicate line to tread.

Of course, even if he was sent to the brig, he would then have a locked cell and perhaps even chains to contend with.

If only he could think of a way to get Wendy and her brothers back in Hook's cabin. It would be far easier to escape there than the brig.

"Pan!"

The boys looked up in surprise to see Billy Jukes standing not far off, sneering at Peter.

"What?"

Billy bristled at Pan's disrespectful tone, but he decided to let it be… his message from the Captain was far better ammunition than his own sore pride.

"Move your lazy arse… it's time for practice."

Peter blinked as he realised Jukes was summoning him to another fencing lesson. His face became a picture of outrage, and Billy barely tried to control his smile.

"Sword fighting?! But we did that this morning!"

"Captain's orders, Pan. Shift!"

"No! I'm not bloody doing it!" Peter threw down the scrub-brush and crossed his arms and legs defiantly.

"Oh, well… I'll just go tell the Captain you're flouting orders again, shall I?"

"I suppose you'll have to, Billy Jukes. And you can tell him I'm not scrubbing the deck any more either!"

John and Michael stared at Peter with horrified expressions as Jukes snickered and sauntered back to where Hook was waiting.

"Peter… Hook's going to kill you!"

Ignoring John's words, Peter's eyes searched the deck for inspiration, and spotted Mr Smee busy scrubbing britches in a large, squat barrel. Not only was a clanking set of keys clearly in view, dangling from the man's belt, but a small dagger was fastened just beside them. Peter knew from experience that Mr Smee had the most comprehensive collection of keys, after the Captain, and had access to almost every room on the ship.

Without a seconds thought, Peter was up and racing towards Mr Smee. The old man glanced around at the enraged shout of his Captain, but Peter was already unsheathing the dagger. In a flash, he used the small blade to slice through Smee's belt, grabbing hold of the keys before they fell.

By this time, several of the crew including the Captain himself were rushing towards Peter from all sides, and the boy had to skid across the deck on his hip to avoid the outstretched hands of Gentleman Starkey as he lunged at him.

By some small miracle, Peter made it to the main hatch and clambered down the stairs to below deck. But some of the passageways to his destination were narrow, and Peter's path was suddenly blocked by Ed Teynte. Without pausing, Peter slashed the pirate across the chest with the small blade, and the man was so startled that he fell back against the wall in panic, crying out in pain.

Angry shouts and the din of running crewmen gained on Peter as he heaved open the hatch to the brig and hurried through. Scrabbling with the set of keys, his fingers nimbly searched for one he recognised. It was fairly easy to spot; large and iron with scratches and wear.

Practically leaping into one of the empty cells, Peter tugged the cell door shut with a metallic clang and stuck his hand through the bars to get at the lock. Just as he was turning the key, Hook himself burst through the hatch and sped towards him. Peter barely had time to pull the key from the lock and withdraw it and his hand to the safety of the locked cell before Hook was tugging fiercely on the door and glaring at the boy, venomously.

Peter grinned in triumph, but had to leap back away from the door as Hook's hand reached in and grabbed at him. Hook growled in rage as the child evaded his grasp, and slammed his hook against the bars violently.

The pirate captain had now been joined by the other members of his crew who had given chase, and he endeavoured to keep face in front of them by taking a deep, calming breath before addressing the brat.

"What are you doing, Pan?"

"I won't be ordered about, Hook! Sword-fighting was this morning… and I won't scrub the deck any more!"

The Captain's eyes glinted malevolently, "Do you really think you are in a position to make the rules?"

"I am now, Codfish. I'll stay in the brig until you agree to my terms."

Hook suddenly roared with laughter, and Peter's grin slipped from his face.

"Idiot boy! I would just leave you in there to starve. You'd come crawling out, begging for forgiveness within the week! Happily, though… You also neglected the fact that there is more than one key to the brig."

At these words, Hook produced his own set of ship's keys and inserted into the lock one of identical appearance to the one in Peter's hand.

Pan's face fell and he rushed forward, grabbing the bars of the cell door with both hands and pulling on it with all his might in an attempt to keep it from opening.

But even one grown man is more than a match for a boy, and two of Hook's crew assisted their captain in wrenching the cell door open. Peter was yanked forward with the door, but let go quickly and retreated to the far wall of his cell, snatching up Smee's dagger and keys from where he had dropped them on the floor.

Hook entered alone, and glared at the boy with utter loathing.

Peter readied himself for a fight, but he knew the odds were stacked far too greatly against him. For the briefest moment, he actually considered giving up and begging for forgiveness in the hope of avoiding a beating… but he chastised himself for having the very notion. Peter Pan would rather die than bow down to Hook!

The Captain looked as though he were about to say something, but instead he lunged forward and grabbed Peter by the throat. The boy cried out in alarm, and instinctively drove the small blade he held between the Captain's ribs.

Hook grunted and looked down to see the hilt of the dagger sticking out of his side, Peter's hand still clutching it. Then man and boy locked eyes, and Hook could see Pan was the more terrified.

Peter suddenly let go of the dagger as if it had burned him, and Hook stepped away, releasing his grip on the boy's throat.

Starkey and Smee hurried to their Captain's side and supported him, his arms around their shoulders as they made for Hook's cabin. Mason hurried past them to grab hold of Peter, and the boy flinched at the man's rough grasp.

Ripping the keys from Peter's hand so roughly that it cut the skin of his palm, Mason slapped Pan across the face and dragged him out of the brig.

Not sure what to do with the boy in the absence of their captain, the crew decided amongst themselves that it would be best to fasten Pan to the mast and await further orders. Hook's wound hadn't seemed like a mortal injury… although, one could never be sure. But when the sounds of breaking glass and objects being thrown about the Captain's quarters began, accompanied by furious shouts from the man himself, the crew were confident that he would be back to exact his revenge quickly.

Peter was still trying to control the trembling of his body and slow his ragged breathing when Mr Smee ventured from Hook's cabin and ordered Mason and Turely to untie him and deliver him to the Captain.

Pan struggled against them, demanding them to unhand him and kicking out his legs in a futile attempt to loosen their grip. But he was quickly hauled into the cabin and brought to stand in front of Hook's grand desk, the Captain glaring at him from the other side of it.

Smee and Starkey were fussing about their leader, the latter filling up his wine goblet while the former carefully finished off the bandages that were now wrapped around the Captain's torso. Hook was shirtless from his treatment, and the bloody blade that had been extracted from his side was placed neatly on the desk in front of him. Peter couldn't help glancing at the dagger, imagining what sort of revenge Hook would exact.

The Captain slowly stood from his chair, not without discomfort, and circled his desk until he stood directly in front of his young attacker.

Peter could sense the blow before it happened, and tried to steal himself for it… but the back of Hook's hand connecting sharply with his face still sent pain shooting through his head and showed him stars.

There was a long silence before anyone spoke.

"Beggin' ya pardon, Captain," ventured Mr Mason, after a tense time, "But where do you want us to stow the whelp?"

Hook didn't take his venomous eyes from Peter while he spoke, and remained still, "Here. Leave him here."

The crewmen glanced at each other warily. By rights, they shouldn't care what became of Pan… but the thought of condemning any young child to a slow and painful death made them uncomfortable. Being beaten to death was a horrible way to go for anyone. But orders were orders, and no man would cross James Hook when he had that sort of quiet about him; the calm before the storm.

Peter felt the crewmen release him and heard them leave, but he remained still, and kept his gaze downcast, his cheek stinging.

"Tell me, Pan," Hook's deep voice suddenly cut through the silence and caused Peter to flinch, "Did you really think such a foolish plan worthwhile? Even for you, it was particularly weak. What exactly did you hope to achieve?"

Peter shrugged, and Hook slammed his namesake against a nearby chair, causing it to go crashing across the room.

Peter flinched again at the loud and violent action, and kept his eyes down.

"Answer me, damn you!"

The boy's plan was to lock himself in the brig and await nightfall, when he, Wendy, Michael and John would be reunited and able to plot an escape. But he couldn't very well tell Captain Hook that, could he?!

"I just didn't want to sword-fight any more. I just wanted you all to stop bossing me around."

"Grow up, Pan!"

Peter bit back a retaliation. He didn't want to drive Hook into a frenzy. Instead, he admitted, "I didn't mean to stab you, you know."

"Oh?" Hook's reaction oozed with sarcasm, but Peter pressed on.

"It just happened. I didn't plan it."

"Well, that makes the throbbing wound in my side feel so much better!"

Peter grimaced and decided better of saying anything more.

Surprisingly, Hook hadn't punished Peter any further for his major infraction. Instead, he had chained Peter by the ankle to the cabin wall in the same corner where the Darling children had been chained on their first night of imprisonment aboard.

There was a pang in his mind as Peter tried to remember what else had happened that day. It was fuzzy, and he had the awful feeling that he had forgotten something important… or someone.

Come to think of it, he was having trouble remembering why he and the Captain had such animosity for each other. He knew he was a prisoner, but he couldn't quite remember how it came to be. He resolved to ask Wendy about it… if he was ever allowed to see her again.

"Can Wendy come and be my nurse again?"

"No." Hook didn't even bother to look up from his charts as he answered.

"Why not?"

"Because you are a bad influence on her."

Peter wrinkled his nose at this. What was that supposed to mean?

"When can I see her?"

"When I say so."

"When will that be?"

"Damn you, infuriating boy!"

Peter shied away as Hook bellowed at him, "Must you constantly drive me to distraction?!"

"I didn't mean to."

The Captain let out an exasperated sigh and watched the boy fidget childishly.

A knock on the cabin's door came as a welcome distraction, and Hook barked admittance. Mr Smee scuttled into the room with his usual nervous awkwardness, fidgeting with his cap in his hands, his eyes darting about,

"Begging ya pardon, Captain Hook, Sir..."

"What is it, Smee?" Hook rubbed his temples with his good hand in concession as his bo'sun babbled an explanation,

"One of the kiddies is ailing and laid-up below, Cap'n."

Peter immediately got to his feet, eyes wide with concern.

"Stow it, whelp," Hook growled in response to Pan's sudden stance, "It's no concern of yours."

"No concern of mine?! That's one of my crew, Hook! Not yours."

The Captain stood with such speed and aggression that Peter felt himself cower away from the man, and it filled the boy with shame. Why was he allowing himself to become so pathetic?!

A moment passed between them, and Peter desperately hoped Hook hadn't noticed his uncharacteristic reaction. Peter Pan was not afraid of Captain Hook! How many times would he have to remind himself of that?

But instead of the display of violence that both Pan and Smee were expecting, Hook simply took a deep, calming breath and returned to addressing his Bo'sun,

"Which child is it, Mr Smee? Not Miss Wendy, I trust?"

"No, Captain… it be the wee little'n. Got a burning fever, he has."

"Michael?"

Peter cried out in surprise as Hook grabbed the boy's upper arm and swung him around to face him, holding Pan threateningly close so that their foreheads were almost touching.

The Captain spoke darkly, his voice barely more than a whisper, "If I allow you to visit the brig with me, boy, and you cause any trouble, I will throw that worthless, sickly sprog overboard myself. Is that clear?"

An unnerving silence fell as Peter processed the man's threat. Would Hook really throw a sick little boy like Michael to his death? It was possible. Despite being an opportunity to reunite with Wendy and the other boys, Peter realised any escape attempt would have to wait. Even if they did manage to get past the pirates, Michael might be too ill to swim. In fact, swimming all the way back to… wherever they had been... would be impossible for any of them now. It was just too far. Wasn't it? How long had it been since they set sail? If only he could remember! But, no. Peter and the others needed time to formulate a plan.

His mind made up, Peter looked Hook in the eye, defiantly, "Aye aye, Captain."