Chapter 8: Betrayed
"Capn!"
BANG!
The pirate dropped, a hole in his forehead. Blood dribbled down his nameless, lifeless face as Captain Hook threw down the smoking pistol.
"Remove that blasted corpse, Mr. Smee!" barked the captain, the blue of his eyes stained red. Seething, he swiped at the boatswain as Mr. Smee bustled frantically to remove the dead pirate. "And see to it that I am not disturbed!"
"Aye, aye Capn!" gasped Mr. Smee, tugging at the dead pirate's boots. With a sickening shuffling sound, he dragged the body from Captain Hook's quarters. "Not to be disturbed! I'll tell the crew –"
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Mr. Smee squealed as the dead body twitched with each embedded bullet. Throwing back his head, Smee gave an almighty lurch, just in time for Hook to slam shut the door.
"Blithering idiots!" Growled the captain, kneading the streak of blood with the toe of his boot. "Scallywags! Can't even snag a blasted pixie! Or catch a blasted fish! Or capture a blasted girl! Blasted!"
Hot waves of anger surged through the captain, swirling through his brain and breaking his patience. Indiscriminately, he struck exotic valuables and priceless plunder with his hook, furiously trying to clear his thoughts.
He needed a plan! It was infuriating. Hook's mind was sharp and deadly ambitious. He was a marshal conspiracies and maneuverability. Twice in less than a day he had constructed solutions when his plans unraveled. But twice his blundering crew had failed to dispatch his orders, killing his schemes.
But now, thanks to that blasted Shark, the captain's options were exhausted. When Pan's pixie had summoned her magic to escape the pirates whilst trapped inside the fish, Hook had lost valuable bargaining chips.
Then, the girl had been spotted. Mollified, Hook reached into his breast pocket, extracting a small golden comb, studded with sapphires. Stroking the starry pattern, the Captain smiled fondly, remembering his first introduction to Pan's pretty little friend. Although she proved infernally difficult to detain, the girl intrigued Captain Hook. In a brief encounter, one might suspect the little lady easily enticed. But Hook had detected a resiliency, a spark of cunning beneath those big, blue eyes. It reminded Hook of…himself.
But most intriguing of all was Peter Pan's interaction with the girl. Since the merman escapade, Hook had studied the two children on purposeful ventures to the island. Per Hook's observation and delight, the great Pan buckled when the girl was unsafe. Curious…at times, the dratted, selfish boy seemed to care more for the girl than himself. Curious. There was indeed a soft spot in every tiger's eye.
Hook squeezed the golden comb. The sapphires bit his skin.
The girl would have been a perfect bargaining chip, to lure Peter Pan, appease the seawitch, and locate the pixie. But Shark's kidnapping had failed, thanks to that dratted Peter Pan!
Tossing the comb aside, Hook ran his fingers through his snarled hair. The black locks clutched at his fingers like insect claws.
Time had run out. The seawitch was coming and would expect a deal fulfilled. The consequences…Hook closed his eyes as the Jolly Roger creaked nervously over the waves. In the solitude of his cabin, the captain laid a heavy hand on the Jolly Roger's hull. The powerful wooden planks vibrated under the wind and sea.
If he could not resolve his broken schemes…if he could not placate the seawitch…his ship…his freedom…would surely be doomed.
"Capn."
Hook turned. Shark stood in the doorway. Gunshots blazed in Hook's reddening eyes as he reached for his sword.
Shark held up a hand. His grizzled face was stern. But his oily black eyes burned with bloodlust.
"Capn." said the pirate. His fingers were shaking. "Ye'll want te see this."
Outside Hook's cabin, the ocean crashed, but the deck was still as the grave. Then, the pirates started to heckle. Gathering all their profanities, the pirates spit, and jeered, and slithered their tongues, and poked their cutlasses, clearing space for...
Captain Hook froze.
Standing there, two feet on the deck, defiant and bold was Peter Pan. In his arms was…
"…Wendy." Hook whispered. It was the first time he had spoken her name.
She lay in Peter Pan's arms, bound and gagged with thick ropes of sea-kelp. Unconsciously, Hook stepped forward. The girl opened her eyes. The shock of blue could have blinded Hook's dark-minded pirates.
For a moment, captain and captive stared at each other, neither comprehending Peter's plan nor expecting what happened next.
Peter Pan spoke loudly. The boy's voice dropped as he turned to Shark.
"I am here for your bargain, pirate. You said 'give me the girl if you ever want to see your fairy again.'"
Peter turned to Captain Hook, but the captain did not notice; he was watching horror dawn in Wendy's eyes.
"I want to see me fairy again." Peter's voice was dark as he held Wendy before Captain Hook. "Give me my fairy. Here is the girl."
Author's Note: just for reference - it was chapter 3 where shark said "give me the fairy if you ever...etc."