To keep her mind set in the game, Wendy took a notepad and pen from the junk drawer in her kitchen and began to make a list. She always thought better on paper, than she ever could in her head. She wrote down questions to which she would demand the answers, theories of her own, what possible ways his answers could be proven to her standards. She was so intent on getting all her thoughts out that she actually jumped when there was a curt knock on her front door. Her blood ran cold, seeing that it was quarter to seven. There was no reason for her to believe Hook was standing on her front step and yet, Wendy swallowed thickly before putting down her pen and straightening her blouse. In a last minute decision she pulled a small knife from the block on her way out of the kitchen and into the hall facing her front door.
Taking a deep breath at the silhouette of the tall and dark frame she could see through the frosted glass of her front entry, Wendy wiped her sweaty palms on her jeans. She stowed the knife in her right hand, hidden behind her back as she walked up to the door, unlocking it with her left and cracking the door open.
"I was curious if you were going to keep me out here, all night." His smooth voice drawled, looking over his left side at her. He was facing her flowerpots, watching the star-gazer lilies dance in the wind. Wendy wasn't sure what to say and kept her mouth closed. "Come now, Darling. It's impolite to leave your guest on the front step. What will the neighbors think?" He placed a single long finger just below his left cheekbone, raising an eyebrow at her in mock shock. It was only another moment before Wendy found herself stepping aside and opening the door, allowing James Hook into her home.
"That's a good girl." He purred, winking as he passed her. She heard his heels clicking on the hardwood floor as he let himself into the front sitting room. She closed the door, catching herself before she locked it, out of habit. A quick escape might be needed and locking herself in was a stupid mistake. Turning, she followed him to the sitting room. A room that was sparsely filled and rarely used. Hook was standing there, surveying the simple furniture and handful of things on the wall. He paused, she saw, for just a moment on the one family photo of her and John's family. Wendy took the moment to collect herself. He was here, standing alone in her sitting room. Wendy had to remind herself that he was just a man. At least, as far as she could tell at the moment. He was tall and lithe, his black button down shirt tight against his muscles, Wendy noticed, as he removed his jacket and laid it across the arm of the loveseat before he took a seat. Wendy sat across the room in a high back armchair, tense.
"You can put that knife down, I think. I'm certainly not here to hurt you, and I would hope the same from you." He finally let his eyes rest on her, as he sat back, draping his arm across the loveseat, crossing his ankle above his knee, his entire body sitting at a comfortable ease. His strong face showed a smile, delighted amusement playing across his features. Wendy put the steak knife on the side table, feeling her face flush.
"Lovely little home you've made for yourself. Then, I'd expect nothing less from you." He spoke easily, as if making conversation.
"What do you want, Hook?' She finally found her voice. He raised his eyebrows.
"I was under the impression I was invited for a drink? Did you forget?" He looked around the room once more.
"You showed up at my house." He watched her with a darkened expression, she didn't recognize but felt nonetheless.
"It is so wonderful to see you, Wendy. I must admit I was unsure of what I would find when I finally made the cross."
"How is this real?" She didn't mean to voice those words, yet he smiled. A cold grin that made her shiver.
"I assure you, I am quite real."
"Your hand…?" He lifted his right hand, flexing his fingers delicately..
"Fascinating, isn't it? It's an illusion, of course. The laws of nature are different here in the Ever World."
"The what?" She asked, suddenly confused. Hook's gaze returned to her, as he placed his hand back on the sofa.
"Here, your world. It is called the Ever World." There was a pause, Hook narrowed his eyes.
"Haven't you ever wondered about the existence of other worlds?" Wendy looked down at her feet, feeling the pink come to her cheeks.
"I didn't think much about it, after… after I-"
"Flew away with a little boy who promised you a life full of adventure." Hook interrupted, finishing her thought. "It is a more common story than you would believe." Wendy glanced up, again.
"Common?" The corner of Hook's mouth edged in an upward pull, again.
"Surely you didn't think the Lost Boys had been born in Never Land? You do remember the Lost Boys, don't you?" He taunted.
"Of course I do. I remember everything." She bristled.
"And you remember that group of misfits telling you about their mothers, their families, their homes?" He prompted, motioning her along.
"Yes, yes… They would tell me of their mother's smiles, and their siblings' hug." She dazed in memory for a moment.
"There is very little truly native to the Never World. It is a place created for the lost and forgotten." Wendy could hear the sadness he tried to disguise.
"I wasn't lost, Hook. I had a family." She spoke quietly. He held her gaze, a shadow crossing his features.
"And yet, when a little boy flew through your window, you were only too happy to follow him to the stars." Hook taunted. Wendy was quiet for a moment, unsure of what was going on in her head.
"You're there. You live in Never Land." She looked up, meeting his eyes once again.
"Yes, yes I am." There was another pause in conversation. Wendy refused to fidget under the weight of his stare.
"How did you get here, Hook?" She finally came to the burning question. The predatory smile returned to his strong face.
"I sailed here, Wendy. I sailed through the stars and I found you." Wendy found that she could get lost in his gaze, it would only be too easy.
"That's not what I meant… How… You're a villain in a children's story…" His smile faltered for a moment.. Wendy jumped, startled at the sound of a commotion outside her house. In the moment Wendy looked away, Hook was on his feet, stalking towards her.
"Was I the villain, Wendy? Are you quite sure?" She jumped to her feet as well, running to her kitchen, placing the island between them.
"What do you want from me?" She yelled, as Hook advanced on her in an unnervingly calm walk.
"I'm here to take you away, Wendy." He spoke so quietly, she had to pause to really understand his words. There was a shattering of glass, Wendy lost her breath as she fell into the island counter. All around her men were crawling through her house, smashing and breaking everything around them. Turning from the havoc, Wendy backtracked through the sitting room to the front door, stopping short as she faced Hook. The only thing standing between her and escape.
"Why?" She whispered, her chest tight with panic.
"Why…?" His smile faltered for a moment, turning to a look of small surprise. "Why… you invited me." He began the advance, prowling towards her, forcing Wendy to step back. She shook her head trying to tell him she had done no such thing.
"Oh, but you did, Wendy. You asked for me. You wished for me. You dreamed of me." Her back hit the back wall of the hallway with a small shriek of surprise. Hook leaned over her, caging her in with his arms. "All of Neverland heard you beg for me."
"Peter…" She looked around, praying for someone, anyone to save her. Hook smiled down at her, the mouse caught in his trap.
"Oh yes, even the great Pan heard your pleas. But he's not coming." His voice was low, almost a soft whisper, as he pushed a long brown curl behind her ear. "Peter Pan has forgotten all about his little Wendy bird."
Hook took a step back just as a black hood was pulled over her head. Rough ropes were tied around her hands and feet before she could think to fight back. She tried to scream when someone quickly threw her over a shoulder and she was lost for breath, once again.
"Welcome men!" A round of rugged cheers came from everywhere. "Grab whatever treasures you desire and let's go home!" More cheers, more smashing of objects. Wendy did her best to struggle, to fight against the rope, to scream for help. But, her screams were swallowed by the sounds of chaos happening all around her. It was a wonder her neighbors hadn't called the police already. After a moment, storing fingers gripped her chin through the black hood, forcing her to face forward.
"Hush now, Miss Darling. Trust in me when I tell you it would be best for you to be quiet. You do not want me to have to gag you, I can assure you it will not be with my hands." She tried to pull from his grasp but he merely dug his fingers harder into her jaw. After a moment, he let go and whoever was holding her started moving. She tried her best to hold on, unable to really grip anything because of the thick ropes tied around her wrists.
The air was suddenly cold, they were outside. Wendy heard the slide opening of a van door and she was dropped onto her side. She struggled to push herself into a sitting position, taking a breath to scream for help. Before she could, hands were around her throat and a gun cocked near her head.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you, Miss Darling." Hook banded an arm around her middle and pulled her back against him, the cold gun pressed to her temple. Several doors closed, the van started, and she felt the sway of movement. Hook lowered the gun and wrapped an arm around her middle, holding her back against him. She tried to breathe, tried to calm herself down. Smell the flower, blow the bubbles. Smell the flowers, blow the bubbles. No good ever came from panic. She focused on her breathing and what she could feel. She felt the ropes, she felt the vibration of the floor. She felt the strong mass of warm body that was holding her close. She smelled jasmine, sea salt, and something smokey…
She couldn't tell how long they had been driving, where they were going. After a time, Hook clamped his hand over her mouth, whispering into her ear.
"Quiet time, again." The vehicle had stopped, someone in front of her was talking to someone outside. After a moment, the vehicle lurched forward, again. Slowly, the vehicle crawled, making a few more turns, then finally came to a stop, cutting the engine. The door swung open, Wendy was hit with a force of cold, damp air.
"Welcome home, Captain!" That was a new voice. She didn't have a moment to think before she was jostled, again. Pulled from the vehicle and tossed over another shoulder. This shoulder was not so bony, the body not so rough. The cold night air pushed through her clothes, the damp wind pulling shivers from her body. She heard strange noises, along with the sound of an army walking along a wood floor, before she was suddenly going up an incline. Then, she was passed to another and set on her feet. There was movement all around her, Wendy tried to keep her balance, but strong hands held her upper arms. Orders were being shouted and repeated back all around her. There was slight movement beneath her feet. She found herself leaning more heavily against the body holding her upright. Then, someone pulled at the ropes around her ankles and wrists, and the dark hood was quickly pulled from her head.
Wendy blinked, dazed at the sudden change of vision. She was in the harbor, on the deck of a ship. She could see the bright glow of the full moon reflected on the calm ocean water, and the shadows of other ships in the harbor close by. Hook materialized in front of her, grabbed her upper arm again and pulled her away, up a flight of stairs and to the low wall of the rear of the ship. They were moving, the yellow harbor lights becoming smaller faster than she thought they would be.
"Now is your chance, Wendy." He whispered into her ear from behind her. "Jump into the harbor and swim home. No one will stop you." His breath was hot on her skin, the ship's side cold to her hands, as she leaned against it. Wendy fought tears, watching the harbor slowly pull away from her.
"However, I have an alternate suggestion," His fingers gently gripped her chin and directed her away from the harbor, forcing her to look up into his dark gaze. "Come away with us. Come back to Never Land." His thumb gently wiped a tear from her cheek.