Wicked Game

By: Darkest Ember

Chapter 8: Trouble

Nothing in this godforsaken place made sense. Peter Pan was the enemy, the individual who kidnapped Henry and caused this dreadful rescue mission to transpire. Even so, I couldn't ignore how much fun I had with him on the beach just hours before the Dark One once again interrupted my life.

I would be a fool to trust the Dark One – that was out of the question. But what about Baelfire? Resentment was all I felt toward the boy he once was…and I'm unsure how I feel about the man that now stood before me. He didn't seem to be malicious or suspicious, but how could I be sure?

"You truly are parent of the year, Dark One," Pan thankfully interjected. "Taking a mother away from not one but two children…hardly being a father to your own son…"

Rumple scowled in disagreement. "Learned from the best, I suppose you could say," he shot back. How odd…surely he wasn't referring to Pan? "Say whatever you want, it matters not. Your words are your only weapon right now. I think it's about time we wrap this up and take Henry to where he belongs."

"Wait a minute," Baelfire said, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You've done some terrible things, there's no denying that, but did you really kill my mother? You said…you said she left us."

The sigh that Rumple let out seemed to be all the answer that Baelfire needed. He turned away from the group and stood rigidly. When Rumple placed a hand on his shoulder, he immediately shrugged it off. "There are some things you just don't understand, son. I know you loved your mother – I did too – but she didn't care about us anymore. She left us without a second thought, and I couldn't just let her get away with that."

"Is killing people your answer to everything?" I asked, vocalizing my thoughts without restraint.

"Best to stay out of this conversation, dearie," he sneered. "Unless you want to find out the answer to your question firsthand."

I knew precisely what I wanted to say. I wanted to tell him that I have every right to participate in this conversation. If he hadn't destroyed my family, I probably wouldn't even be here right now to pose a challenge to him. Yet despite my thoughts being so defined, the words refused to manifest.

"Perhaps you should stop your waltz down memory lane and focus on the present," Pan suggested. "Your father has done terrible things, Baelfire. It would be foolish to believe that he doesn't plan on continuing to do so. Why else would he come here?"

This conversation was evidently weighing on Baelfire. He turned away from Pan and looked at the Dark One with tired eyes. "What is he talking about?" he asked, voice just above a murmur.

"Nothing," Rumple quickly spat out. "He's simply trying to drive a wedge between us. He can't be trusted–."

"And apparently, neither can you," Baelfire shot back.

"Even though you escaped all those years ago, I still see you as a lost boy, Baelfire – perhaps now more than ever. It pains me to see your father plainly lie to your face…" Pan said.

In a haunting moment, I saw a glimpse of myself and my father. Of course, he hasn't betrayed me in such a horrible manner, but the tension was very similar. Although I do not know much of their history, it is not difficult to imagine growing up with the Dark One as your father. Maybe Baelfire wants to rebuild their relationship…but how can he when he continues to be hurt and deceived?

Baelfire stormed over to Pan's paralyzed body. "Either you tell me what you know or you keep your arrogant mouth shut."

Pan watched with amusement as Baelfire approached. He eyed him up and down and smirked. "I'd prefer the poetry of hearing your father be honest with you for once; however, he's had far too many chances to stop failing you." His smugness shifted into something more sympathetic. "The Dark One didn't come here as a part of your pathetic rescue mission, I'm afraid. You see, there's a prophecy that foretells of a boy who will be his undoing. That boy is your son…Henry. He came here to kill him."

Immediate disbelief registered on his face as he scoffed and spun around to face his father. "What…?" he asked, voice trailing off as the possibility of truth dawned upon him. What little I knew about this horrible man, this monster indicated that Pan was speaking the truth. His son would know better than anyone else what he was capable of – but knowing that didn't make it any easier to handle.

"What is he talking about?" Baelfire asked.

"You can't listen to him! He's just getting desperate…words are his only weapons right now," the Dark One pleaded. "I wouldn't–."

"Just save it," Baelfire interrupted, holding up his hand. "It's not like I haven't heard your excuses before. Situations may change, but it's always the same scripted conversation, and I'm not listening anymore."

"Son, please," he begged, "I've changed."

"I don't need your help. I'll be the one to save my son. You can just leave…I'm sure you already know of some secret one-man escape route off this island," Baelfire shot back, bending down to pick up Henry.

Rumple stumbled forward with outstretched arms. "I know how it all sounds…it's true, I have been known to look out for myself, but once I realized who the boy from the prophecy was, I saw this rescue as an opportunity to redeem myself. You have to believe me!"

Baelfire slung Henry's lifeless body across his shoulders and cast an unwavering glare toward his father. "Leave my family alone."

It felt as though I was paralyzed alongside Pan. Shouldn't I be running over there to stop Baelfire from leaving with Henry? Or maybe I should follow him back to their camp and deal with my own demons… That would mean ending this adventure with Pan, and I wasn't quite sure that I was ready for that.

Whilst lost in reverie, Baelfire had gotten away, and I can only imagine how the Dark One reluctantly slithered into the shadows. It wasn't until Pan shouted my name that I fully snapped back to reality.

"Katie, why are you just standing there?" he asked. The purple haze was still swirling brightly around him, indicating that he was still trapped. "You have to go after Henry!"

"I'm not sure that I want to…" I murmured, finding it much easier to stare at the ground than at him.

"But I'm asking you to," he replied, voice sounding more stern than pleading.

"As the favor I owe you?" I asked, eyes darting up to meet his. Why did I sound so defensive?

"No," he said, smiling sadly. "As my friend. Please. You must retrieve Henry. I'm the only one who can help him here."

How could I deny the sincerity in his voice? That pleading look in his eyes? Despite how much I was starting to distance myself from this Henry situation, I couldn't just ignore it. I had to help Pan… "Okay," I nodded, smirking at him before running after Baelfire.

Chasing after Baelfire and Henry through the branches and shrubbery was eerily reminiscent of when I had to fight off the Lost Boys upon first arriving in Neverland. Although there was no apparent threat this time, the sense of urgency was still very much present. I refused to let them get back to the others. Pan believed in me – trusted me with this task, unlike some people.

Once I caught sight of him through some vines just ahead of me, I called out to him. "Baelfire!" I shouted. "Come back!"

His shoulders sagged as he came to a stop. He positioned Henry up against a tree trunk and turned to face me. "We don't have much time…make this quick," he said.

In any other situation, his attitude would not have gone unnoticed; but he did make a point. I certainly did not feel like seeing the Dark One again so soon or those impish Lost Boys. "Do you really think that bringing Henry back to your camp is a good idea? What if the Dark One is already there? He can't be trusted…everyone knows that."

Laughter was probably the last reaction I would've expected from him. "That may be true, but no one is more of a snake than Peter Pan. Do you really believe he would kidnap Henry and bring him to this hellish island if he wanted to help or protect him?"

"I mean…if it kept him away from the real threat…then yes," I replied with a hint of doubt.

He rolled his eyes and groaned. "You don't see it yet…at this rate you probably won't see it until it's too late."

He sounded sincere enough, but I found it difficult to believe him. As a child, I was jealous that my father seemed to enjoy spending time with that boy more than with his own daughter. Those negative feelings were still somewhat present. Conversely, Pan seemed to be my friend…but it would be unwise to wholeheartedly trust someone I just met.

"You came here to help save Henry, didn't you?" he asked, snapping me out of my deliberation. I nodded in response; technically, I came here to impress my father and prove myself, but he didn't need to know that. "Why weren't you with the group?"

"I got separated from them when the Lost Boys attacked us," I lied. "Why weren't you on the ship?"

"I didn't come here from Storybrooke. I was stuck in the Enchanted Forest and had to find other ways to get here. I-I didn't want to approach the group right away because things are a little awkward with Emma right now…" he trailed off.

Letting out a dramatic sigh, I fished around in my pocket and grabbed my compass. If memory served, I believe Pan's camp was due north, which likely meant their camp was in any other direction. Before I stopped him, Baelfire was heading west. "I suppose you're right…Pan can't be trusted. Let's take a turn over here…their camp was in that direction, closer to the shore."

He chuckled as he picked up Henry and headed in the proper direction. "I guess it's a good thing I've got a pirate's daughter with me. Bet you're a pretty good navigator."

Laughing nervously, I tucked the compass safely into my pocket and followed him down the path.

"She is also a good deceiver," an all-too-familiar mocking voice said. We both spun around and saw Felix with a handful of Lost Boys standing behind us.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, narrowing my eyes. Surely he must've come on his own accord. Pan wouldn't send his right-hand henchman if he asked me just moments ago to take care of things.

"Isn't it obvious?" he asked, jumping down from the log he had been standing on. "I'm here for the boy."

Baelfire tensed beside me. Did he have a plan? Was he going to try to talk his way out? Make a run for it? I eyed their arrows with suspicion…what if they were coated with that poison again? Biting down on my lower lip, I pondered what I should do. If Felix were here on his own, I wouldn't want him to receive all the credit for retrieving Henry. I could certainly handle a one-on-one fight, but we were clearly outnumbered.

I glanced over my shoulder at Baelfire and mouthed, "Run." He didn't take long to heed my words. Perhaps the boys weren't expecting it either, because he made quite a bit of distance before they could send a barrage of arrows in his direction.

Until just recently I had felt little more than bitterness toward Baelfire; and yet, the pained look in his eyes hurt me more than I would've expected. "You were purposely misleading me," he accused once I caught up to him.

Glancing from the swarm of lost boys and back to him, I felt my throat constrict as I tried to explain myself. "I…I thought I was doing the right thing."

He scoffed and placed Henry back on the ground. "I don't need your help."

"This should be entertaining," Felix sneered, closing the brief distance we had managed to make.

In that moment, as the little heathens braced themselves for a fight, helping Pan didn't matter. If Felix was going to be the one to receive credit for retrieving Henry, I'd rather help Baelfire get away.

"Lucky for you, I just had a change of heart," I said, smirking as I subtly reached for the dagger in my boot.

Most of the boys were smart and kept their distance, since bows and arrows were less effective at a closer range. There were a few, however, who seemed to be thirsty for a good fight. To be honest, I was beginning to know how that felt. A malicious grin crept across my face as two of them approached. I subdued the first boy with a swift stab to the abdomen. My aim seemed to be holding strong – the blade went directly between two of his ribs. As he gasped in pain, I pushed him to the ground without remorse and dodged the other boy's fist just in time.

My balance was not as strong as my aim, evidently. I cursed under my breath as the sudden movement caused me to stumble backward. The boy grinned at his inadvertent victory and pointed his arrow at me…as if he'd be able to get away with such a cheap shot. Rolling my eyes, I leaned back and kicked the weapon out of his hands. Hopping back to my feet, I reached down and grabbed him by his shirt collar.

My blood boiled with an inexplicable amount of rage. I had hardly any personal investment in this fight – the winner wouldn't affect me either way. All I wanted to do was fight them off, one by one if necessary. Distracted by this moral dilemma, I didn't hear Baelfire's warning. The whirring sound of an arrow registered in my head seconds after prickling pain spread across my back. I whimpered and clutched my shoulder as Baelfire was shot down.

I clasped my fingers over the bloody wound and tried to crawl toward him, thinking that somehow I would be able to help him. Since there were no poisonous effects just yet, it would seem safe to assume that these were just regular arrows meant to slow us down. Felix stalked over to Baelfire like a hunter approaching recently trapped prey.

"You should have let your father help you." He paused with a thoughtful look on his face. "He would've protected you, but…who would have protected Henry from him?"

Despite the grand amount of pain he must've been feeling, Baelfire still tried to get up and fight Felix, whose remark clearly antagonized him. Felix kicked Baelfire in the ribs for good measure and stepped on his chest, keeping him in place while summoning some of the uninjured Lost Boys to bring over a cage made from bamboo and twine.

"You know where to take him," Felix ordered.

I'd be damned if I let him take me as a prisoner, too. As silently as possible, I crawled to an area with thick shrubbery to keep me concealed long enough to tend to my wound. I ripped off a good chunk of my already fraying sleeve and did my best to wrap the fabric around my upper arm and shoulder. Much to my surprise, Felix didn't send any of his minions to capture me. Of course, I was perfectly fine with such a circumstance. Regardless of whether I return to Pan's camp or my father's camp, I needed to sort out this rage coursing through my veins. Surely there must be something toxic in this island air to provoke such violent reactions. I was always prepared to fight, but I have never craved bloodshed as I did moments ago.

+ Pan's POV +

It was truly satisfying to stroll into camp completely unscathed and successful. A glance to the cages swaying in the nearby trees confirmed that Baelfire had been captured. It would be idiotic to think he would outsmart me without the Dark One's assistance.

"I have brought the boy back…unharmed," Felix announced.

"Excellent work," I replied, noting that Henry appeared to be regaining consciousness. "And where is our newest friend?"

Felix rolled his eyes. "The girl? She ran away, doing absolutely nothing to help us retrieve him. Shall I go find her?"

"That won't be necessary," I said thoughtfully. It was no secret that Katie and Felix despised each other. Sending him after her would surely destroy any progress, regardless of how minor, earlier today. "Henry is waking up. I'm sure he'll have some questions. Why don't you toy with him a bit while I find her?"

He didn't seem pleased with my request, but of course I knew he would comply. I sensed some rustling in the nearby shrubbery, a bit closer to the beach, and wondered if finding her would be that simple. With a smirk, I headed in that direction.

+ Hook's POV +

As I gazed at the starry sky above me, I wondered how such a beautiful sight could exist in such a terrible place. I lost something each time I foolishly returned to Neverland. First, my brother died. On another excursion, a handful of crew members were taken hostage. Then there was the time the Jolly Roger was badly damaged upon my return here for a worthless treasure hunt. And now…now my precious Katie was in that demon's company.

Of course, for Emma's sake, I would do what I can to find Henry – but the moment I realized Katie was here as well, that became my personal priority. Or should be my priority, and would be my priority if it weren't for Emma being so distracting. With a heavy sigh and a tight grip on my flask, I retreated into the forest until I reached a nearby clearing.

Shortly after leaning up against a tree, I took a few healthy swigs of rum for good measure. It seemed to slightly loosen the tension in my head, but did little to reduce the guilt I felt in my heart.

"Guess I shouldn't be surprised to find you like this."

Tears welled in my eyes as I spun around, shocked to find Katie standing behind me. "K-Katie, is it really you?"

"Don't act like you're so happy to see me. I'm sure you've been perfectly content spending all this time with the savior." There was something dark in her voice – something I had never heard before.

"What?" I asked, feeling the smile drop from my face. "We've all been looking for you and Henry. That's why we're here."

She scoffed and starting circling me. "Let's pretend that is the truth for a moment. How long did it take you to even realize that I was here…that I snuck aboard your precious ship?"

I cringed, already knowing the unpleasant answer to her question and wishing now more than ever that I had just let her join us when we departed. "I found out when Pan and the Lost Boys attacked our camp yesterday." I chuckled, which felt misplaced in the present conversation. "Suppose you could say that you learned from the best…sneaking aboard the ship and what not."

"Are you proud of me yet, father? I'm so glad you taught me how to be sneaky and forced me to be disobedient."

I sighed, finding it suddenly difficult to meet her piercing gaze. "Katie, I will always be proud to call you my daughter, but you have to understand. I just want you to be safe…and happy." She stood rigidly as I approached her. "Now that I have you back, we can return to our camp and figure out a way off this island."

Her frown deepened with each word I spoke. "NO!" she shouted, backing away from me. "I would rather die on this island than go back with you."

"Careful what you wish for, darling," Pan taunted, stepping out of the shadows.

A/N: I apologize for the ridiculous delay in updating this and all my other stories. This last year has been crazy for me and now I finally have some free time to get back into writing! If you follow my other Vampire Diaries/Thor stories, bear with me lol I'm currently re-reading them and coming up with ideas for updates. Luckily for this particular story, I DO have the next two chapters planned out. So...expect another update soon!

Thanks for reading, hope you all enjoyed it!

XoXo Amber