Counting Stars

Chapter 9

Pan's P.O.V.

God damn it! That damn pirate always has such bad timing. "Do you know why he's back? Last time I checked, letting him leave was a one-way ticket."

"I don't know. We didn't hear any of them talking. We just saw them rowing in."

"How did he even get back? There are no magic beans from what I remember."

"All excellent questions. Maybe we should go ask him ourselves." I have to know what Hook is up to. He wouldn't have just come back to Neverland without a reason. But at the same time, I don't want to leave Juliette alone with some of the boys here. But it will be more beneficial for everyone for me to

"Fine, let's go." I don't bother telling Juliette. She is probably asleep or resting in some way. I just have to trust the boys that none of them will try anything. With this in mind, Felix, our small group of boys and I take leave to search for Hook and his band of pirates.

~*~ 

After walking for some time, we finally come across some kind of chatter. It was muffled sounding and the voices were older and deep. I smirked knowing that it had to be Hook and his men. We get closer but are careful not to be noticed by the pirates. It wouldn't matter, they are probably too drunk to react anyways. I have my boys stay close by and do our best to listen in on their conversation. It's faint, but I can just make out what they are saying. 

"Captain, what exactly is it that we are looking for?" Asked the short, chubby one, Smee.

"We aren't looking for a what, Mr. Smee. we are looking for a who." Who on earth could they be looking for?

"Alright then, who are we looking for?"

"The undoing of the bloody demon himself and to finally get a way to kill the crocodile."

"Who exactly is it that you are looking for?" I ask emerging from the bushes with my Lost Boys besides me. It was obvious that they were caught off guard when we came at them. They had their swords at the ready. I held back a chuckle knowing that they would stand no chance against me and my Lost Boys.  

"Pan." Says Hook in a disgusted tone.

"It's nice to see you once again too, Captain." I respond sarcastically. "I remember that when I told you you could leave Neverland, I also told you to never come back."

"What can I say? Couldn't stay away." He joked. His men laughed slightly, but my boys remain still. 

"Who are you looking for that is said to be my "undoing"?" Of course I knew he was talking about me. Who else would he call a "bloody demon"?

"What, Pan? I thought you liked games. Let's play a game. The game is to see how well you can protect your loved ones."

"Was that a threat?" If I didn't know any better, I would say that he was making a threat more towards Juliette, but he has only just gotten back. There is no way he could have know about her.

"Just how the game works. And no cheating, because cheaters never win, right?" He was trying to outsmart me. It was adorable, actually. 

"Right. Well, enjoy your stay on my island while it last." With that, I take my boys and we leaving those morons to set up their camp.

As we walk back to camp, Felix finds his way next to me trying to understand what just happened. "Pan, you're just going to let them live? We have no idea who they are here for and they could attack at any moment."

"Yes, Felix, but we have the upper hand of knowing the island better than anyone, coating our weapons in dreamshade, and just that one lost boy is smarter than all those pirates combined. If and when they want to attack, we will be ready and we will take them all down in one go." Felix started to relax a bit, but he was still taking in much caution.

~*~

We arrive back to camp and see that the boys are still up to what they were doing before we left. Yet, something felt wrong. I try to brush off the feeling, but I don't know. It's not Hook because he had no power over me. I could kill him the the snap of my fingers. I just don't know.

I announce to everyone the arrival of Hook and about our little "game". He was right about one thing. I do love games.

Once I'm done, I make my way back to my tent to check on Juliette. I open the tent and look in at the most horrifying sight...

...Nothing.