Hey, guys. Next chapter is up! Sorry that it is really short but I wrote this at 11pm because I really wanted to get someone new up. Anyway, hope you like it :D But before I let you get on with reading, I would like to thank everyone who had read, reviewed or faved/followed my fanfic. You guys are amazing and the lovely reviews make my day! Mwah xo

Chapter Seven

Nibs' POV

The monstrous ship rhythmically swayed back and forth as the ocean waves moved underneath its hull. The sun had set hours ago and the air had since chilled considerably. The only light available came from the full moon that hung overhead and about a dozen oil lamps that were placed around the deck of the ship. To the side of the ship, a pirate as leaning against the railing, sharpening his sword. His striped shirt was fraying around the edges and a black bandanna was tied around his bald head. When he saw me watching, he sneered, exposing a mouth that contained only half of his teeth. I looked away quickly. He was the only one in site; the rest were below deck.

My back was pressed against the wooden mast and thick ropes coiled around my upper body, pinning my arms to my side. My butt had gone numb from being forced to sit in the same place for hours on end. The boys were beside me, each of them tied down also. To make matters worse, my nose was itching like crazy.

I was also scared.

No, let me rephrase that.

I was completely and utterly terrified.

Yeah, that's more like it.

Beside me, Curly's stomach growled loudly. "Nibs," he whispered quietly, trying not to draw the attention of the pirate on watch duty. "I'm hungry."

"I know," I said softly. "Try not to think about."

He nodded. "Okay-"

"Oi!" the pirate on guard duty yelled. Startled, Curly let out a shrill shriek. If the ropes weren't in place, he would have jump a foot into the air. "I said no talkin'." His English was choppy and a thick accent covered his words.

"Well, maybe if you gave us some food, we would be quiet," Blinky said rudely. I couldn't see him because he was strapped to the other side of the mast, but if I was next to him and my arms were free, I would have strangled the idiot.

The pirate raised an eyebrow as he stalked forward, sword in hand. He walked past me and around to where Blinky was sitting. "What'd you say?"

"I said," Blinky started loudly, "that I want some food."

"Shut up, Blinky," I snapped. I craned my neck around, trying to get a look at him, but the ropes prevented me from moving much. He was going to get us all killed if he didn't shut his trap.

"What?" Blinky barked. "My ass is numb, I've cold and my stomach is growling like I haven't eaten in weeks. I want something to eat."

That was it. I was going to killed him-that is, if the pirate didn't beat me too it. I fought harder against my bindings even though I knew that it was useless.

"Listen 'ere, punk. One more word an' I'll gut you. I don't care what Captain says," the pirate threatened.

"Whatever," Blinky said. I could practically see the sour look on his stupid face. Just thinking about it made me want to hit him upside the head. Maybe it would knock some sense into him. Probably not. The pirate's steps vibrated the floorboards as he walked away. My sigh of relief was short-lived. The man had just passed me when Blinky muttered, "Dumbass," under his breath loud enough for all of us to hear.

"What'd you say, boy?" the pirate said, stopping in his tracks. His face twisted into a mask of rage as he raised his sword, striding back towards Blinky.

"He said nothing," Marmaduke said urgently from somewhere on the other side of the mast. "I swear he didn't."

"You sayin' I'm hearing things, too?" the pirate snapped.

"No, no," Marmaduke rushed on to say. "I just-"

"I'll teach this one a lesson," the pirate said, cutting him off. I could only assume that he was talking about Blinky. "Cut out your tongue, I will. Like to see you try talk then." From the corner of my eye, the pirate's sword came into view as he raised it up.

"No!" I yelled. "Please don't. He didn't mean it."

"Yeah," Blinky said, his voice shaking. Now, with a sword held over his head, he didn't sound nearly as confident as he did only moments before. "I didn't mean it. I was just kidding." He gave a short, nervous laugh that died off quickly.

"No," the pirate said simply as he brought the sword down.

Blinky screamed, the sound high-pitched and incredibly girly. My stomach dropped to the floor and I jerked against the ropes, desperate to get out. Blinky's sound was cut off as a loud thump vibrated the wooden deck and the sword clattered to the ground, skidding a few meters away. The pirate's limp body came into view as it was kicked out of the road. The man was out cold, his head lolling to the side.

"Peter," Tootles gasped.

What? Peter was here?

"Shh," a voice said quietly, and sure enough, it was Peter's. I heard him begin to cut at the ropes with what I presumed was a dagger or sword of some sort. "Where's Tink?"

"I don't know," Slight admitted sadly. "Hook took her below deck when we arrived."

Peter let out a string of cuss words underneath his breath that would have put even the toughest sailors to shame. The ropes began to loosen around me. "Okay, once I get you boys off, I'll come back for Tink and-?"

The cabin doors were thrown open with enough force that they flung back and hit the walls with a loud crack. Light from the lamps inside flooded onto the deck as at least twenty pirates stormed out, all of them carrying weapons of some sort. They circled around the mask, trapping us. My eyes landed on Hook as he stepped forward. The metal that replaced his left hand caught the light from the lamps.

"You kept us waiting for quite a while," his gravelly voice said. He still wore his hat, completely masking his face in the shadows. If I wasn't terrified, I would have asked why someone was wearing a hat at night.

Slowly, I heard Peter stand and walk around the mask until he was standing in front of me, putting himself between the captain and us boys. A dagger was clutched tightly at his side, his arm rigid. "Sorry, I had some stuff to take care of first."

"If you weren't here by morning, I would have had to give you a little…motivation," Hook said cruelly.

"Is that so?" Peter said dryly. "Good thing that I turned up when I did, isn't it?"

"Indeed." Hook stepped forward. Reaching into his coat, he drew out his sword. It glinted dangerous in the low lighting.

Lifting his dagger, Peter looked around at the crew that had circled around us. By himself, he didn't stand a chance at getting past them. Judging by his rigid stance, he knew that too. "Let the boys go," he ordered. "It's me that you want."

Hook laughed. The sound caused bumps to raise on my arms. "Doesn't someone think highly of themself?"

"Cut the shit," Peter growled. "If you were a real man, you would fight me yourself, instead of kidnapping a six year old."

"But, you see, Peter, I'm not a real man. I'm a pirate. I lie; I thieve; I kill anyone who stands in my way." Hook shook his head. "I'm not a good man. I never have been." He tilted his hat back slightly and I caught sight of his cruel grin. "And, I don't play fair."

Without another word, Hook lunged.

Ooh, cliff-hanger! *insert evil laugh*

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