Thank you all for the kind reviews and I want to apologize for not posting sooner. Life is busy at the moment. However, I wrote this one during class when I probably should have been studying but oh well. I will warn you that this chapter was a couple dark and sinister moments but just bear with me, there will be a happy ending for this chapter. (spoiler alert) Keep them reviews coming and please enjoy another long chapter of You Can Fly in Wendy's POV. And as usual I will end my author note with a quote ; )
Wendy, run away with me. I know I sound crazy. Don't you see what you do to me. I wanna be a lost boy. The last chance of a better reality.
Chapter 10:
I awake to a knock at the door. I crawl up into a ball and tuck my knees under my dress. Oh, my poor dress. It is covered in dirt and torn in many different places. The once bright blue fabric has faded into a cloudy robin's egg color that is speckled with brown stains. The sleeves that did reach my wrists are now torn to my elbows allowing the bruises on my wrists to be easily seen. The collar of my dress is ratty and spotted with blood stains. Each of the stains are from different times when Hook tortured me by either bashing me with the side of his hook or his fist.
I have endured about two days of hourly abuse. Each time Hook made sure I remembered that Peter hadn't come to save me yet and had probably died because of the stab wound he gave him. I stayed strong when speaking to the pirate but inside I was starting to worry. The last time I saw Peter, he was in terrible shape. What if he had- No. I stop myself from thinking about that. He will come. I hope.
Slowly, the door opens and I hold my breath. Has it been an hour already? It seems like minutes ago Hook entered my damp chamber to give me my morning beating. A short, plump man sticks his head in the door frame.
"Good Morning, Miss Wendy."
"Oh it's you Mister Smee. I thought…" I say as I breathe out a sigh of relief.
"Its quite alright, miss, the captain is on the island with the crew restoring our inventory."
I gasp in delight and run to hug Smee.
"Does that mean I can leave the chamber?" I ask eagerly.
He chuckles, "Yes, my dear."
I quickly tear out of the dark room under the deck and take the stairs two at a time. Once on the deck of the ship, I breathe in the amazing fresh air. The deck is actually tidy and the wood is a warm red tinted color. And the best part; there is no one here. I spin around in my filthy dress basking in the bright Neverland sunlight. Mister Smee joins me on the deck and smiles at my joy.
Running up to him I grab his arms and playfully force him to partake in my happy dance. He laughs a hardy deep laugh and I laugh along with him. We prance along enjoying the sun's radiant beams on the ship's deck until the elderly man drops my hands and bends over in exhaust.
"That's all for me, my dear," He says in between chuckling breathes, "You go and look at the Island."
I run to the edge of the ship and look on at the once beautiful island of Neverland. The sight is devastating. The once bright green plant-life and shimmering waters are pale and dull. The trees droop and the water is churning like it is uneasy about something. Looking up, I notice that even though the sun is shining down on me, there are dark clouds surrounding the mountains of Neverland. This was not the island I remembered from my adventures with Peter. In fact, this is the complete opposite.
"Mister Smee.." I ask and the man slowly walks over to me and rests his hand gently on my shoulder.
"I'm sorry, Miss Wendy, I forgot about how it has changed since you last saw it." He shakes his head in disapproval.
"But why is it so umm so err-" I search my mind to find the right words to describe my beloved island.
"It's depressed, Miss." Smee answers with a emotionless voice as he stares out blankly at the sad land.
"Don't be silly, Smee, an island has no feelings." I am really puzzled by this.
"Wendy, my dear, you of all people should know Neverland is no normal place. There is much magic here."
"But who controls its magic?" I ask still slightly confused.
Smee smiles at me, "None other than Your Peter Pan."
I gasp silently. Peter controls Neverland? I knew he was the prince of this land but a sorcerer? It actually does make sense. Peter is gone and His island is depressed because he abandoned it. Only, it wasn't his fault. It was Hook's…
"Mister Smee?"
"Yes?"
"If the island is 'depressed', then why is there such a bright sun?"
"That, my dear, is a mystery but if I had to guess and I would say because of you."
"Me? Smee, I am not like Peter. I cannot control this land."
"Yes but the Indians have rumored about a certain person who can also control parts of Neverland. The person who has Pan's heart ."
I can't help but smile and blush like a silly school girl. "Oh Smee? You can't possible think that is me?"
He simply smiles and shrugs. "Miss Wend-" Smee's words are cut short from a shout coming from the island.
"SMEEEEE!" the captain yells out from the shore. "Quick into the chamber!" Smee hurries me of the deck and back down the stairs. I rush into the chamber and Smee pulls out the key to lock the door behind himself. "Stay strong, Miss Darling." Is all he says as he abruptly shuts the door. I wait till I hear the click of the lock then trudge over to my cot. Oh, Peter, where are you?
(An hour passes)
Suddenly, I hear footsteps coming down the stairs. Oh no. Not Hook. I shudder at the thought and, like a child, hide under my thin sheets. After waiting a few minutes, I grow curious and go press my ear against the door. Smee and the captain sound like they are talking.
"What are you so worried about Captain? The girl is locked away in the chamber there is no way Pan can get her if he is even on the island." Smee says.
"Don't talk to me like I'm crazy, Smee, I know I saw the boy. He was flying right above his old hideout, probably looking for those pesky Lost Boys." Snarls Hook.
Peter? I knew he would come! Overwhelm with happiness, I twirl around with hopes of Peter's rescue. Distracted by my happiness, I trip over a bucket and come crashing to the floor. The door flies open and Hook stomps in.
"What was that?!" He shouts obviously enraged.
Taking notice that the bucket was under the small window in the room, I say defiantly, "I was trying to escape this hell hole. What else?"
Hook glares and then swiftly slaps me across the face. Used to abuse, no tears form and I just Stay on the floor and say, "Is that the best you got, pirate?"His jaw sets to the side in anger and he bends down close to me and hisses, "I was just warming up."
Hook bashes me in the ear with his permanent weapon. There is an intense ringing in my head and I cover my ears to try to stop it with no prevail. The captain turns to Smee and speaks but the ringing limits my hearing. I only see Smee's shocked expression and then he turns and walks away, leaving me with Hook.
He walks over to me and speaks but I still can't hear him.
"What?" I ask.
He looks like he is laughing. The ringing is starting to fade away as he leans towards me and says, "How do you feel about heat?"
His statement makes absolutely no sense to me and I cock my head to the side in confusion. There is a knock then in walks Smee. In his hands are a pair of handcuffs and he says, "Everything is as you asked, cap'n." I notice a tear start to form in his eye. Hook smiles devilishly and grabs my greasy blonde curls. Letting out a scream of pain, I am pulled to my feet by my hair. Hook jerks his head towards me and Smee comes over to bind me with the handcuffs. I feel his tear hit my bare shoulder as he quietly whispers, "My apologizes, miss." Mister Smee walks away and leaves the room. Hook, still holding his tight grip on my hair, pulls me along.
Once on the deck of ship, I see my fate. There is a fire pit with burning coals and a pirate holding an iron rod in it. The pirate looks over at us and smiles.
"It's nice and hot, cap'n. Should leave the girl with a good reminder of her time aboard the Jolly Roger." he says.
Hook chuckles deeply and then walks over the fire pit still pulling me behind me like a puppy on a leash.
"See this, Whore. See how it burns for you. See how your precious Pan is no where to be seen." Hook shoves my face towards the flames and I stretch my neck upward to avoid the fire. Hook pulls me back away from it and pushes me into a shabby wooden chair that is placed in front of the chimnea. (A/N: metal firepit that is off the ground) Four pirates jump at me, each tying down either an arm or leg down to the chair. I try to fight it but I know it is no use. Then Captain Hook reaches for the branding iron and places the emblem at the end of it in front of my face so I can read it. It says "Property of J. Hook". My eyes grown wide and tears start to roll down my face. Hook smiles at my dismay and reaches out his hook. Using it, he slices away at the collar of my dress revealing my whole shoulder and almost my upper chest. Grimacing at the spot he chose, I close my eyes tightly and brace for the pain of the brand. After waiting a few minutes with no pain or burn I open my eyes. This is when Hook makes his move and plunges the hot iron onto my shoulder. The excruciating pain lasts for a second then I hear a crash. Peter flew down and tackled Hook into the chimnea. Fire spills across the deck and all the pirates jump to avoid the quickly spreading flames. Hook gets to his feet and realizes a section of his hair is flaming. The captain lets out a howl of fright then slices off his black locks.
Peter noticed Hook was distracted so he took his chance and cut me loose. Jumping up from the chair, I try to hug him but my wrists are still bound by the handcuffs. Instead of embracing, Peter's swoops me up bridal style and takes off towards his now beaming with beauty island.