22.
Wendy seemed to float around on deck that night, Hook reluctantly leaving her to be by herself. He had argued over it, refusing to let her stay on the deck alone.
"Most of the crew isn't even here," he tried.
"Isn't it safer then?" she shrugged.
"I can't leave you alone at night."
"I was alone at night on the island."
His eye brows knit together, "Only on the chosen paths."
"Oh yes," she said with an overdose of sarcasm, "Of course I did."
His eyes narrowed, "Wendy-"
"James," she pressed a hand to his chest, "I just need to be alone. Half an hour."
He nodded, and took her hand in his, "Twenty minutes, and then I want you in my bed."
She rolled her eyes, "I'll meet you there."
He kissed her palm and then left her alone on the deck. She circled the mast, not even thinking anymore. She had hurt Peter and that's all there was to it, but she needed to just be able to breath on her own for a few minutes. In fact, she seemed so lost in her mind, trying to ignore everything around her, she didn't hear the Indians swim like eels in the water, or climb swiftly up the boat. In fact, she did not notice them at all until a rough hand clamped itself around her mouth, and pulled her overboard.
Smee, however, noticed.
888
Soaking wet and gagging, Wendy was thrust against a tree where she gasped for air. The Indian men spoke to each other in their language, one of them furiously waving his hands in the air. She stood up, her knees weak, and managed one punch, that was quickly caught in one of their hands. He squeezed too hard and she hissed in pain.
"What do you want?"
One of the men tied her hands behind her back before she could say anything more, and then pushed her to the floor, where he bound her ankles together. There were only three of them she realized, she was so easily overtaken. Then again, these Indians weren't like anyone else on the island. She made to scream, but that only allowed them to shove cloth into her mouth, and then throw her into a type of sack, then laughing, one of them threw her over their shoulder, and began walking.
She didn't let the fear take her though, the Indian men might have managed to kidnap her, but she would not allow fear to kidnap her mind. James is safe, she told herself, he doesn't know about this. He might simply think I died drowning, which could actually be a better death than what I'm about to face.
Though the last part gave her little comfort.
She started to battle against the bag, trying her hardest to fight against her captors, but she was just dropped to the dirt floor, and then a striking pain hit her head, and it went black.
888
"Captain!"
Hook opened his cabin door, his face angry at being disturbed.
"This better be good," he snarled, Wendy should be on her way now.
"They took her!" he squeaked, "She's gone!"
Hook's boots charged against the floor, his reactions swift and determined.
Wendy wasn't on deck.
"Where is she?" he shouted, the blood red hate seeping to his eyes, "What happened?"
"Indians," Smee whispered, and Hook's face turned quickly to the water.
"Where did they go?" he ran to the rail, looking for a sign, then with a hated sigh he spotted the rippling movements in the water.
"Damn it," he hissed and started to take off his jacket to dive in.
"Captain!" Smee cried, "They boy! You'll never catch them in time."
"I'll be damned if I don't try," Hook snarled, "She's my wife Smee. My wife."
Smee nodded sadly as Hook dove into the water, too far behind to be able to catch them.
888
It wasn't until early morning when Wendy woke up. Her head throbbed, her sun dyed blonde hair was plastered to her face, and she was sure she could taste blood. She didn't notice her wrists were tied to a pole or that her clothes had changed into female Indian garb until her eyes adjusted to the light shining through the cloth of the Teepee. A tall Indian girl about as old as she sat crossed legged by the entrance, a bowl of water by her feet.
"Hello," Wendy croaked, then winced at her own fight.
The girl nodded, a sad smile on her lips.
"Would you mind telling me what's going on?"
"You Wendy," the girl said pointing, "I'm Tiger Lily."
Wendy's eyes widened, "You grew up! I thought Neverland didn't allow that. I mean, it's nice seeing you again, I would have just hoped I wasn't bound and gagged to get here," she gave a nervous laugh.
"We grow old," Tiger Lily nodded, "Lost boys, Pirates, no."
"Awfully sad," Wendy said, trying to seem light about being kidnapped, once again, "Do you know why I'm here?"
"Prisoner."
"Oh, well, what did I do to deserve being here?"
Tiger Lily gave her a curious look, "Unbalance."
"Unbalance? Is there a population law I wasn't told about?"
Tiger Lily frowned then put her hands out like scales, "Neverland balanced. Then you come," the scales tip dangerously.
"Oh dear, that's tragic," she nodded, "But see I was brought here, so I think the balancing situation should be fine."
Tiger Lily shook her head furiously, making her dark braids sway, "You must leave."
"Leave?" Wendy gives a small laugh, "No I think not, I rather like Neverland when it isn't trying to kill me."
"Kill you for a reason," Tiger Lily said darkly, and Wendy became quiet.
A loud Indian man burst into the hut, saying words Wendy didn't understand. He spoke to Tiger Lily quickly and then turning towards Wendy gave her a furious glance.
"You are trouble," he spoke with venom.
"Well I bloody well didn't mean to be!" she sighed, and then thought of Peter and her face became red.
"Killed mermaid."
"Well I didn't want to…"
"Fought Pirates."
"Well now they wanted to kill me!"
"Love Hook."
Wendy was silent, her eyes fierce.
"You must leave!" Tiger Lily pleaded.
"I don't have any inclination to leave," Wendy sniffed, and then the Indian man struck her across the face, and she fell back against the pole.
"Leave Neverland!" he shouted.
"Well I would like to leave this tent!" she cried, angry and in even more pain.
The man spoke in his natural tongue to Tiger Lily and left. Tiger Lily picked up rope she had been sitting in front of. She untied Wendy from the pole, but shoved her down before she could run, and tying her hands she dragged her out of the tent.
The tribe all looked at her, their faces holding contempt. She realized then how truly early in the morning it was, but she could still see the now full moon in the sky. It was strangely warm, and she felt heat waves radiate towards her. It was then she noticed the large pit of fire.
"You aren't going to burn me are you?" she asked horrified.
"You disturb Neverland," Tiger Lily said stiffly and pulled her to the flames.
"Oh no!" Wendy whispered and pulled on the ropes, "Why are you doing this?"
Tiger Lily looked genuinely sad and whispered, "You've over turned Neverland's power. We can't allow you to stay here."
"So you're going to burn me?" she cried indignantly.
"Or kill Hook," the Indian from earlier said, his eyes glowing.
"You wouldn't dare," Wendy gasped, and was quickly pushed to the ground and kicked as the man laughed.
"Don't touch her!" a voice boomed, and the entire tribe turned to look at Captain Hook, water still dripping from his hair, but pride and power pulsing through him.
"Hook," the man stepped forward, and Wendy suddenly realized he was the chief. Princess Tiger Lily held fast to Wendy's ropes as her father began to speak.
"You've taken something from me," Hook growled.
"White man want woman back? You have troubled this land with her presence, you bring disorder and ill health to the island, and you find no reason why she should burn?"
"She's done nothing," Hook said fiercely, and again Wendy thought of Peter.
"Then you die," the chief said smirking.
Wendy sat up, alarmed, "No!" she would have said more but someone she couldn't see pulled cloth around her mouth and gagged her.
"You're all possessed by the island," Hook said, taking a step closer to Wendy.
She tried to tell him to leave, tried to tell him she would be fine, but the cloth smothered her voice, and only chocking noises came out.
"We protect Neverland, all you do is make it worse. We find new captain, but girl cannot stay, it's unbalanced."
"There is no unbalance!" Hook yelled, he started to take more steps but was stopped by some Indian men, he raised a gun from his pocket and his hook, and the men backed up, still holding their spears.
"You not want to do that," the chief said picking up Wendy's ropes and pulling her up, "You not want something bad to happen."
Hook glared, and then in a swift movement, had Tiger Lily's neck under his hook.
"Neither do you."
The chief's face became red, his brown eyes turning into slits, "You are one man."
Hook continued to glare, and Tiger Lily's eyes, which had been alarmed now settled to determined. Wendy saw the small knife before anyone else and gave a scream to alarm Hook, who shoved the girl away from him before she raised it further, allowing the Indian men to raise their spears.
"White girl goes home," the chief said tugging her ropes harder, "Peter Pan is freed."
"Never."
"Then she dies," the chief said simply before throwing Wendy towards the fire.