Just Make Believe

Chapter 4

Peter holds his sword up higher and gives a slight smirk, and Ash returns with a scowl of hate.

The first to bring their sword up was Ash, who knocked Peter's shoulder as he brought it down, Peter only letting a wince out. I then saw a strange look that I have never seen in Peter's eyes before, seriousness. He quickly slashed his sword across, nicking Ash's thigh with his blade. As Ash fell to the ground and let out a wince, I saw Peter give me a look and I knew what he wanted me to do. His look was full of worry and a strange kind of fear. He obviously wanted me to run. But I couldn't, all I wanted to do was shake my head at him, showing him that I wasn't leaving until Hell froze over. He sighed and turned back to his hurt opponent, who was just standing up now.

I stood there, as they started at it again, Ash was actually really good at sword fighting, but Peter was better. I stare around the room, looking for something that could help me and Peter get out. I only see a bunch of weapons, but we already tried that. I turned around and saw that the two burly men weren't guarding the door, they were watching Peter beat up the captain's kid; probably a dream come true for them. 

I turn back to Peter and see him dodge a swing of Ash's sword, it had gotten way too close and I gasped a little. Peter retorted with his own swing, going just above Ash's head, slicing some of his hair off. 

"How's a little off the top? Maybe I should get your sides too." Peter smirks before swinging again towards Ash's ear, but Ash had expertly blocked the blow with his own sword, glaring into Peter's eyes. 

"I think it's about time you grew up Pan." Ash grunted before shoving the other sword aside and taking his stance once more. 

I silently stepped back towards the door and slipped through and walked around the boat, looking for something I could use, just winging it right now. I hear groans and shouts coming from the Captain's quarters. I had to hurry. I climb up on the rail, and look over. I almost jump into the sea, to leave Peter and get some help, but I knew that try would probably torture him while I was gone. Instead, I drop slowly into the water, making as little noise as I could.

The water was cold as it touched my toes, but I quickly got used to it before I heard the quarter's door open. I hung low under the rail, listening to the Captain's conversation.

"WHERE IS SHE?!" The captain yelled, "FIND HER, NOW!"

Footsteps trail all over the ship, across to the bow and back, following the perimeter. I hear them walk over to me, I hold my breath. All I can hear is the birds chirping and water sloshing on the shore, and not to mention my racing heartbeat.

"WELL?!" The captain hollered again,"IS SHE THERE?!"

"No sir, shes not here. I don't know where she is..." I hear Brute number two answer sheepishly.

The captain only sighs, and then a door slammed shut. I hear more mumbling and whining, then the door opened and closed. I seek my chance and pull myself up from the water. Whoever thought doing this was easy, it's not. It took a lot of my energy, but I did it. 

Once I stood, I ditched my boots and shoved them into some barrel that was filled with black gun powder, pushing them to the middle of it to keep them from unwanted eyes. I walk around, barefoot and soaked head-to-toe in salt water, looking for a good hiding place.

I hear the door open slightly, and instinctively jump behind a random barrel, ducking and wincing at the noise.

"Well, now that that's over with, we have to find the girl." I hear the captain say.
As they move closer to me, I move around the barrel towards a couple stacks of crates, intently listening to their conversation, and peeking through a crack in the stack.
It was the captain and his son walking towards the bow, speaking in a low mumble, but they stopped at the center pole that lead up to the crows nest.

"Don't worry father, we will find her sooner or later. It's not like she knows this island, she's on our territory and we got her wrapped around our finger now. Especially since Pan isn't a problem anymore." Ash reassured his father.

Wait... What did they do to Peter?

"I hope son, but I do agree; now that Pan is dead-" The captain started, but he never got to finish his sentence. All it took was him to say those last three words for me to lose all control. I went haywire then.

I sprinted up to his side and tackled him better than any defender on my high school football team had ever done. He fell to the ground with a low grunt. My hands flew to his throat, choking him, anger only building up more and more as I saw his face turn scarlet. I gripped harder and he brought his hook up and slashed the whole right side of my face.

It hurt, but I was full of adrenaline and it took two more slashes, one to my arm and my thigh, in order for hook to get my grip to loosen a bit. I was then thrown up by one of the Brutes and thrown to the side rail of the boat. I hit my head and spine against the wood, causing my vision to blur and my head to spin. But my job wasn't done yet.

I ignored the pain, the hot liquid running down my face and arm, and sprinted once more to the hooked captain, again tackling him. But this time, instead of choking him, I threw punches. I used all of my pent up anger to gather my strength and rip him new ones all over.

I hit his nose and felt the bones shatter under my fist. I hit his jaw and felt it slide, then his eye and saw it starting to swell with blood. I did all this so fast, but it felt like slow motion to me like someone was going frame by frame. It was only three hits in when I was picked up and thrown again.

This time it hit my head straight on. Immediately causing me to scream in agony, I swore I felt my skull crack. The adrenaline was starting to wear off, causing the pain from all my wounds to kick in. I stood one more time, only for someone to punch my head, making it a million times worse. I cried out again the pain spreading, I could feel the blood trickling down my neck. It was hot and watery, making me think I had coffee spilled on my neck for a second, but I was wrong.

I had fallen, and was now trying to stand. I got only to my knees when the captain came and had a brute pick me up and throw me one more time. This time I hit the pole that me and Peter had sat on before this all started, when we were both scared about what was going to happen.

I stayed down this time whimpering from the pain. I lost the feeling to my legs now, and I stole a glance and my arms, showing wide gashes reaping them. The muscle hanging over the side of the wound. My legs were the same, a small pool of blood forming around me.

I looked up to see the captain crouching in front of me.
"You thought you could kill me?" he asked rhetorically, but who give a shit anymore.

"No, I knew I could kill you." I reply, and spit at his face, right between his eyes.
I felt myself going out, losing consciousness slowly. But if I were to die, then might as well get all of it out on this guy.

The captain's face went crimson with anger as he raised his hook, ready to strike.

"Go ahead. If it makes you feel better. But just remember, I'm pissed and i'll find you again so you best be cautious. You will never be safe from me." and with that last sentence going from my mouth, the captain lowered his hook, and stared at me. I felt blood trickle from my mouth, it tasted like metal in July; hot and bitter. 

I then close my eyes and feel my head tilting up, I let out one last breath, imagining Peter's face when he smiled and helped me up the pole. His sweet and joking smile, even in a time of crisis. My last thought was of him, and I didn't mind.