Catherine's POV
The pain in my stomach continues to worsen as I lie unmoving on the floor. It hurts to move and over the past few hours I have started to fade in and out of consciousness. I suspect that since I angered Hook, he has decided to punish me by starving me.
And he's doing a pretty good job of it.
Lance hasn't been to see me since our last conversation. In his place, a portly older man by the name of Smee has been coming to bring me water. He's a kind little man; a bit ding-y at times but otherwise very sweet. He talks to me every time he comes and always promises to try and sneak some extra water or some food scraps. He has succeeded only twice, and both times I have noticed that he didn't get away with it unscathed. Each day my condition has worsened, and each day Mr. Smee has been bending the rules a little by entering my cell and helping me drink the water ration he brings.
"Come on, sweet heart. Ya need ta drink this. Ya gotta keep your strength up best ya can," he encourages every time he comes to help me.
I sigh and wince at the pain I feel when I move. The boys surely must have realized by now that I'm missing. I just wish they would hurry up and get here already. At this point, I probably wouldn't even mind if Pan was the one to carry me out of here.
I feel a pang when I think this. I actually miss him. More than I would like to admit. I actually kind of wish he was here now.
As I'm lost in my thoughts, I don't notice when Mr. Smee enters my cell or when he lifts the small cup of water he brought to my lips.
When I have a hard time swallowing and the water just trickles down my chin and away from my mouth, Mr. Smee says what he usually does. "Come on, sweet heart. Ya need ta drink this. Ya gotta keep your strength up best ya can."
I nod weakly and do my best to get the water to go down my dry throat. When I still struggle getting the water down, he stands and says, "Oh dear. I better go tell Cap'an that you can' even drink any water."
He then hurries from the room. When he returns, he's huffing along behind a very angry Captain Hook. "What's this I'm hearing about you not being able to drink the water that I have so graciously decided to grant you?" he asks angrily.
I try to speak, but my throat is so dry that I can barely say a thing. "How do you expect me to drink anything if I don't even have the strength to lift my head due to lack of food?" I whisper.
"Well unfortunately for you dearie, you won't be gettin' anything to eat until you agree to my terms," he says.
"Never."
"Have it your way then," he says and then turns to Mr. Smee. "I don't want you to come to me about her condition any more, do I make myself clear Mr. Smee?"
"But Cap'an..."
"Mr. Smee," he snaps, glaring hard at the poor, blithering man.
"Yes, Cap'an," Mr. Smee concedes.
Hook nods approvingly and then leaves the little room without another word.
"Oh dear," Mr. Smee exclaims for the second time before I once again fall into unconsciousness.
I feel myself being shaken. I have no idea by who, just that I am being shaken. The hands on my shoulders are gentle but firm in a desperate attempt to wake me up. But the thing is, I don't want to wake up I just want to sleep. I'm just so tired and I try to tell whoever is shaking me this, but they refuse to relent.
After a while the shaking stops and I'm relieved.
"I'm sorry Cat, but its for your own good," I hear a distant voice says right before something ice cold drenches my entire body.
I gasp and my eyes pop open. Looming above me is a tall, thin figure who's face is indistinguishable in the dark.
"Oh thank goodness, your awake," the figure says and then kneels down before me. As his face gets closer, I am able to recognize who it is.
"Peter?" I whisper.
He smiles. "Yes love, its me," he says gently stroking my cheek.
"Peter," I say again, relieved. I smile weakly up at him while shakily lifting my hand to cover his. He then proceeds to examine me from head to foot. His smile fades as he sees how frail and weak I've become.
"Don't worry love. I'm going to get you out of here," he assures me.
"I know you will," I whisper hoarsely.
He then gracefully lifts me into his arms and carries me out of the room. I lay my head against his chest and close my eyes.
"You can't sleep yet, love," he whispers to me.
"But I'm so tired," I protest.
"I know, darling, I know. But you have to stay awake for me, alright?"
"Okay. I'll try."
Peter then proceeds to carry me onto the deck where the sounds of battle can be heard. The noise is so loud that I wince at the pain in my head.
"Catey!" I hear a familiar voice cry and I feel a hand grasp mine.
"Ethan," I say, once again relieved to see someone I know and care about.
"Take her, please," Peter says placing me in Ethan's arms. "I'm going to find Hook."
"Wait, Peter," I say, but he's already moving away from me in the direction of the helm where Hook can be seen taking on Davis and Richard, a newcomer that arrived shortly before I was captured.
I squirm in Ethan's arms, desperately trying to get back to Peter.
"Whoa there, Catey. Its alright," he attempts to comfort me, but I continue to wriggle out of his grasp.
The effort begins to tire me so I stop, but keep my eyes glued to Peter as he makes his way over to Hook.
"Hook! You're going to pay for what you did to Catherine!" Peter says.
"Oh am I, boy?" Hook asks skeptically.
Peter sneers at him, but says nothing. Instead, he lunges at Hook with his dagger. They quickly become engaged in a deadly sword fight, one that could potentially take a turn for the worse.
I can't stand the thought of Peter killing someone let alone the possibility of him getting seriously injured, so I muster all the remaining energy I have and scream, "Peter!"
Ethan quickly tries to clamp a hand over my mouth, but its too late. Peter hears my cry and quickly spins in our direction. Hook takes a jab at Pan while his back is turned.
"Pan, watch out!" Ethan yells, but I see his alert comes a little too late.
Pan turns back to face Hook again, but he's not quick enough. Hook succeeds in slicing Peter's arm and I see him wince at the pain. Anger anew, Pan then moves swiftly and surely, eventually catching Hook off guard and blasting him with a knock out spell. Peter then hurries back to where he left Ethan and me.
"Are you okay?" he asks me worriedly.
"Yes. I'm alright," I whisper. "But your hurt."
"Don't worry, love. Its just a scratch," he assures me. He then takes me from Ethan and tells him, "Round up the boys and tell them to head back to camp. We've got what we came for," he says looking down at me. I smile meekly up at him and he smirks down at me.
"Come on then, you trouble maker," he says and I giggle.
"Hey," I retort softly and Peter then transports us back to camp.
He enters his tent still carrying me in his arms and gently lays me down on the bed.
"Wait here. I'll be right back," he says softly squeezing my hand.
"I can't exactly go any where, you know that right?" I ask him and he smiles.
"Whatever," he says rolling his eyes.
Pan exits the tent and is gone for only about a minute before returning with something in his hand. He lowers himself onto the bed next to me and wraps his arm around me again. I curl into his embrace as he holds something out to me.
"Here's some bread. I heard that Hook hadn't been feeding you. Eat it slowly. Don't want you eating too fast and getting sick," he warns.
"Okay," I whisper and eagerly take the bread from him.
By the time I finish eating, the Lost Boys have returned and each has taken their turn coming in to see me. I do my best to look fine in front of them, but after they all leave, the events over the past couple of days begin to show through and I am feeling completely and utterly exhausted.
Peter stood by my side the entire time, almost as if he was scared someone would break in and try to take me away again, but strangely, I don't mind. I like having him close by. It makes me feel safer.
After everyone leaves, Peter climbs back into the bed next to me. I snuggle up against him and he sighs.
"Finally warming up to me, are you, love?" he asks chuckling.
I nudge him softly, which only serves to cause him to chuckle more.
"You did so good, you know," he whispers.
"I didn't do anything," I reply tiredly.
"Yes you did. You stayed strong for the boys. And you saved me from doing something really stupid," he murmurs quietly into my hair. His breath feels warm and comforting and I sigh with contentment.
"It was nothing," I reply quietly, too tired to ask what stupid thing it was that I prevented him from doing.
"No," he counters. "It was a very big something."
I look up into his face and give him a small smile. He returns my smile and continues to hold me tight.
It doesn't take long for his warmth to completely engulf me and I fall into a deep slumber, wrapped in Peter's embrace.
Hey guys! So sorry that it has taken me so long for me to get this chapter up! Life has been so hectic recently and I literally just found time to write. To make it up to y'all, I am posting AT LEAST 3 consecutive chapters all of which are dedicated to my wonderful readers who have been so graciously patient with me. Thanks so much and I love you all! :D