Chapter 94: But How Do We Get to Neverland?

When Jim awoke, he left both eyes shut. It hurt too much to open them. Bruises boiled under his skin. Blood was still wet in his mouth. Painfully Jim swallowed the sticky bolus. The blood wasn't dry. So it hadn't been long since Captain Hook struck him unconsciousness.

"Get up…Chosen One."

Jim turned his head. He pushed up on an elbow. A boot connected with his temple. Light exploded, poking white holes in his mind. Jim hacked. He felt sick.

"Didn't you hear me? I said get UP!"

Captain Hook kicked. Jim flipped, slamming onto his stomach.

"Ursula."

Jim cringed as Captain Hook nudged a toe under his stomach. With a sharp upward movement, the captain turned him onto his back. Jim felt the hook on his forehead.

"Ursula. Hold up this pitiful, little boy."

Jim slid across the floor, painting a line of blood as the sea witch dragged him to window. As she hauled him limply upright, Captain Hook clenched his face into the starlight.

Jim spluttered. Blood ran over Captain Hook's hand. Silver's red eye flickered through the wall of knives.

"So…" Captain Hook whispered, squeezing Jim's jaw. He tilted up, forcing Jim's face into the silvery light. "So…we have another. Another Chosen One….we have…." Captain Hook hissed, tongue slithering like a viper. "The Chosen Two."

"But Captain! Captain!" fretted Mr. Smee, "It can't be possible—!"

BANG!

"Anything…" said Captain Hook as Mr. Smee's cap blew across the room. "…is possible. However…improbable."

Jim choked. He kicked, toes scraping the floor as Captain Hook lifted. Jim gagged. Hook's fingers gouged behind windpipe.

"So…" Captain Hook squeezed harder. Sinewy parts of Jim's throat bent, ready to snap. "So…you were born on December twenty first."

Jim growled, unable to speak.

"The winter solstice."

Jim thrashed, skin sheering against Hook's grip.

"Tell me…Jim Hawkins…"

He couldn't breathe.

"How do I know…"

He couldn't breathe!

"You are not LYING!"

The window cracked beneath Jim's head. Ruthlessly Captain Hook pushed Jim further and further in to the glass. The pirates fidgeted, smiling as splinters crunched beneath Jim's skull, needling slowly into the fragile skin with every thrust.

Suddenly, Silver appeared, optical laser cutting through the pirates. "Capn! Capn—!"

"How do I know—" Captain Hook snarled over the cyborg "—you're not playing hero?"

"Capn!" Silver shoved, reaching into his pocket. "Capn! The boy –"

"—Thinking yourself brave!"

"Capn!"

"—Pretending to be the Chosen One!"

"Capn!"

"— Trying to save your little friend from the elegant Captain HOOK!"

"CAPN!"

Silver lunged as the glass shattered beneath Jim's head. Crystal splinters chinked over the cyborg as Jim slumped into his mechanical arm.

Cradled in Silver's opposite arm, was Billy Bone's map.

"The boy's not lyin'. He's tellin' the truth."

Silver extended the map. Jim moved, trying to stop him as Captain Hook took the metal orb.

"Tis the map." Silver said, watching the orb roll over Hook's fingers like a precious gem. "Billy Bone's map. The map of the Outer World. Map held by the guardian of outer space."

Gruffly, Silver shifted, nudging Jim into the starlight. "Jimbo was hidin' it from us."

No one spoke. All eyes were transfixed on the dull metal orb.

Deftly, Captain Hook traced the intricate grooves. "First the enchanted rose, dying with the Wishing Star. And then….this!"

Almost enviously, Captain Hook regarded the map. He held it to the starlight, inspecting the light's effect like a wine coinsure. "Where…" he breathed, addressing Jim without acknowledgement. "…did he get this?"

"Magic Bag of Tricks." Silver grunted, jerking Jim to keep him quiet. He maintained an averted gaze, but felt the boy's glare hot on his face. Clenching harder, Silver joined Captain Hook. "Though…he came much too cunning to not have known about it before."

Captain Hook paused. He stared through the map, searching for a distant memory.

"The fire…"Hook whispered, a small smile curling around his moustache, "…the fire at the bar. The Benbow…the bar where I bargained with Triton. The bar where I killed Billy Bones. The bar where I was served rum…by a black hearted boy."

Hook turned to Jim, eyes crackling with realization, "…Billy Bones…hid the map…with you."

Jim glared at Captain Hook.

Then, he spit.

And Captain Hook…smiled.

"Foolish. Uncommonly foolish…" Hook said, waiting patiently as Ursula wormed her tentacles around Jim. Musing as he stroked the map, Captain Hook addressed the cyborg. "Mister Silver. You've raised this fool into ignorance. Tell me…"

Regally, Captain Hook held out the map. "…could there – sensibly or not – be…more than a single Chosen One? Could there – in all realms of possibility – be…a Chosen Second? Chosen Two?"

Silver paused. He looked down. Jim's blood had seeped into his metal joints and dried between gears.

"Aye. Twas my suspicion Capn, as I told you last in Petrified Forest." Grimly, Silver nodded at the map. "Has all to do with the map."

"Explain."

Silver closed his eyes. Forehead knotted, he tried to organize the neurological matrix chip implanted into his scarce brain tissue. But distracted by Jim's cries, Silver spoke only when demanded by Captain Hook.

"Te break the Wishing Star…" Silver finally spoke. He turned to the window, letting the cold, salty air kiss Jim's anger from his face. "…The mouse –Headmaster Mickey – had a theory. The Chosen One goes to the Wishing Star. And completes the break between left and right."

Silver looked up. The Wishing Star glittered, expectantly. "Second Star to the Right. Second Star to the Wrong."

Turning, Silver nodded at Captain Hook. "That'll be the lass. The Darling girl. She'll break the star with her shadow working. Unstitch the celestial thread holding back the shadows."

Crimson swirled through Captain Hook's eyes. He looked at Jim. "That's a Chosen One. Born on the autumnal equinox. What of the boy?"

Silver paused. Then, helpless to look away, the cyborg was pulled into Jim's gaze.

"Wishing Star is a long way off." Silver said, voice lost under the ocean's waves. "She'll need directions. A map to find her way. And Jimbo…" growled Silver, "…is the only one can open the map. So…"

Silver stepped forward, covering Jim with his shadow. "Young Jim Hawkins…born on the winter solstice…is the Chosen Second."

Silence.

The Jolly Roger dipped uncertainly, heaving over ocean and under stars.

Then, Mr. Smee ventured in a very small voice.

"B-b-but Capn…wouldn't...wouldn't there have to be another...?...Chosen One?"

Lethally, Captain Hook turned. "What? Mr. Smee?"

Fretfully, Mr. Smee wrung his knit cap. "Oh dear me. Capn...I'm befuddled and wondering... how…how does the girl get to the Wishing Star?"

sultal's note: Chapter is a quote from Wendy in the Disney movie when she is asking "How do we get to Neverland?"

I think I'll have a surprise story for Christmas! More to come on that (but it will be from Taking Fantasia!) Sort of like a 10 chapter Christmas special ALL posted on Christmas Day. Stay tuned.

keep writing.