Part II

Chapter III

Mara

I watched daddy's ship disappear behind the clouds; I kept screaming for him but I knew he probably couldn't hear me anymore. My throat hurt and I had tears and snot running down my face, and getting in my hair.

"Get up child, you're making a fool of yourself." The tall man started walking away as he spoke.

"TAKE ME BACK! PLEASE! MY DADDY WILL GIVE YOU WAHTEVER YOU WANT! PLEASE!" My voice cracked was a screamed. I chased the man and grabbed at his coat, pleading for him to take me back. He turned and hit me on the face. I fell back and my hand rushed up to my face. My cheek burned where his hand had made contact.

"You, child, are the best business transaction I've ever made. Pan will be very pleased."

"What do you mean I'm the best business transaction!? I'm a person, not a treasure!"

"Oh but you are. See, Pan was sick of your father not following through with his deals, you were the reason he wasn't following through, if the deal was too dangerous for you, he just wouldn't bother. Now, Pan will have you and your father will have the opportunity to be a pirate worthy of the title."

"My daddy's a great pirate! He's the best in all the realms! And he never had to steal a kid to get that great!" He laughed and kept walking. I stayed right where I was. I looked around me, we were high up in the clouds now. The air was thin but still breathable. I slowly got up and walked to edge of the boat. The clouds were passing quickly. I looked down; I couldn't even see the ground we were up so high. I thought for a second that maybe I should jump; I couldn't bear the thought of letting this Pirate hand me over to Pan like some trophy, but I also knew it would destroy daddy if he found out I was dead. At least if I was alive he could find me.

"You shouldn't stand so close to the edge when we're so high up. You could fall off"

I turned to see a little boy, about my age standing a few feet behind me. He looked just like the big man who had kidnapped me only his hair was a sandy brown instead of raven black.

"Who are you? You can't tell me what to do. I'm going to jump so you can't take me to Pan. I'd rather be dead."

"I'm Louis, Black Beard's son." I chuckled. Of course it was okay for Black Beard to have his kid on his ship, but it wasn't okay for my daddy to have his. "My father sent me to come get you and take you down to the cabins. You'll be staying in mine until we get to Neverland."

"I'm not going anywhere with you. I'm going to stay right here until we get there."

"But you'll freeze to death up here. We won't be in Neverland until tomorrow morning. You can't stay out here at night."

"I'm not leaving. I'll be glad to freeze. Your daddy is not taking me to Neverland."

"Well okay, suit yourself. You won't get anything to eat up here either. And our ship has the best food in all the realms."

"I don't care." I crossed my arms over my chest and sat down, leaning my back against the railing. The only way they were going to get me to move was if they dragged me kicking and screaming. As Louis walked away a cold wind swept by, sending a chill down my back. Louis turned and gave me an 'I told ya so' look. I stuck my tongue out at him and he chuckled and kept walking away. I made sure to watch where he went in case I did need to get under cover.

I sat for what felt like forever, until night finally fell. The darker it got the colder it became on the deck. I wanted to desperately to get up and find shelter but I wasn't going to give in. Slowly my eyes became heavy and sleep found me.

I woke up in a bed. I was snuggled up under a heavy blanket. I could hear someone snoring on the floor by my bed. I sat up, pushing the hair out of my face and rubbed the sleep out of my eyes. I couldn't remember how I'd gotten in this room. I looked down and saw Louis was the person snoring. His hair was all in his face like mine always was. I climbed out of bed and kicked him in the stomach. He lurched and groaned before opening his eyes.

"What was that for?"

"Did you bring me down here? I said I was staying up on deck."

"Do you really think I could pick you up and carry you all the way down here?" I kicked in the stomach him again for being mean, harder this time.

"Stop that! I'm just a kid! I can't pick up another person and carry them all this way! That's all I meant!" I put my hands on my hips and glared down at him.

"Well talk clearly next time. Now why am I down here?"

"You were going to freeze up there! Pan wants you alive and well not an icicle!"

I kicked him a third time but instead of grunting and groaning he lunged at me. We landed on the bed and he started trying to punch me. I grabbed him by the wrists and rolled over so I was on top of him. I took both of his wrists in one and lifted my arm to punch him back. Before I could swing at him I was being pulled away by the collar of my shirt. I was tossed into the corner of the small cabin, hitting my head against the wall as I landed.

"For shame Louis! Being overtaken by girl like that! You need to work on your fighting."

"Sorry father, I'm getting better." The man turned to me and I was sure he was going to slap me again.

"I guess your father isn't as awful a pirate as I thought." He chuckled once before leaving the room. I stayed in the corner waiting for Louis to leave so I could cry. I looked down trying to keep from letting the tears spill out before he left but he never did.

"Are you going to cry again? You're such a baby. Father says your fathers a baby too."

I stood back up and went to lunge at him again but the boat lurched and I fell over. Louis rushed out of the room to see what was happening. I got up and slowly made my way out of the room. Finding my way up onto deck I realized that I could smell the salt water of the sea; we must of landed in Neverland. I made my way to the edge of the ship to look out at the familiar island. We were passing Skull Rock, we'd make landfall soon. I was dreading it.