Captain Hook Untold (English Version)

3. The Neverland

James fell asleep. He dreamed of his old house, his beloved aunt Emily and all the others. It seemed like a good dream, but then his father appeared with his mother's body in his arms, accusing him of causing her death. James tried to escape, but his father continually appeared in front of him. He sought protection from Emily, but she, in an attempt to hug him, vanished into thin air. He didn't know how to stop this torment. Before anything else happened, he woke up. He opened his eyes and noticed a very soft bed beneath him. He thought she was still in Eton, but then he discovered that the bed was different. He looked around and saw the room he was in. It looked like it had been furnished by children. He stood up, and suddenly he heard a female voice: "Good morning. I see you are finally awake. I brought you breakfast". James turned and saw a beautiful girl not much older than him coming towards him with a tray in her hands. Above it was a glass and beside it a plate with fruit. As soon as she approached the bed, she handed him the tray and introduced herself: "My name is Elizabeth, nice to meet you, James", "How do you know my name?", "Peter Pan told me he would bring you here. You too are good at telling fairy tales, just like me". James was still confused. He gave himself a huge pinch on his arm, got very badly hurt and then knew it was all true, even though he wasn't very happy. "Where am I?", he then asked her. "You are on Neverland", she replied, "I have been here for much longer than you. I have now lost track of time. Peter brought me here a long time ago and...", she didn't have time to finish the sentence because something flew between them. "But well, dad woke up! And he met the mum!". It was Peter Pan. James got out of bed, headed for the door, but Peter yanked him by the nightgown, causing him to fall backwards. "Hey, where are you going? You just arrived!", he told him. James stood up again and nervously replied: "Why did you bring me here? I was fine where I was and I was starting to rebuild a new life for me! Bring me home immediately!". Peter pushed him and said: "Take it easy, I didn't bring you here to give me orders, but to tell fairy tales with mother! Now sit there, I'm going to call the Lost Boys, so you can get started! Oh, in the meantime, Mom, there would be these socks to mend!". That said, he handed Elizabeth a sock's sack with holes and then walked out. Sighing, she took the needle and thread and start to work. James, as soon as Peter was gone, said to her: "What are you doing? Why do you do everything that rude kid asks of you?". Without looking up, she replied: "It is much better to obey than to rebel, believe me", "What are you saying? He is a child, what do you want me to do?", "He isn't just a child, he is the boss here. Trust me, better obey". James didn't understand. He didn't like this at all, but for the moment he pretended nothing happened and nodded. After a while, Peter arrived with his friends and they all gathered in front of the two of them. "Come on, start!", they said in chorus. James started first and told them a wonderful story, one of many that aunt Emily read to him. He put a lot of passion into telling it, so much so that Elizabeth also interrupted her work to listen to him enraptured. As soon as he finished, all the Lost Boys applauded him happily. "Again, again!", they said in chorus. James, however, refused. Then Peter Pan pushed him again, making him lie down on the bed. "You're only here to tell us fairy tales, like a good dad! If you don't do as I say, you will never go back to your home!". James began to get scared. Peter had told him he would take him home, but was that true? How long was he supposed to stay there? What if he couldn't come home anymore? However, in order not to take any risks, he preferred to obey. He told many other tales, applauded by Peter and his friends. Then, the children went out to play and James and Elizabeth were left alone. She had just finished mending all the socks. James looked at her better. She had beautiful blond hair, fair skin and sky-colored eyes, with pink lips and fairy hands. She was also wearing a nightgown like him, so she was about to go to sleep when she was brought here. "Where are you from?", James asked her. She, smiling, replied: "I don't remember, exactly. There were days when I thought I was born here. The Neverland makes you forget. If it weren't for this, I would still believe it". She took off a gold necklace from her neck and pointed out the pendant to him. Inside there was a small portrait in which she was a child with her parents behind her. "I remember mum and dad", she explained to him, "At least in part. But I don't remember exactly where I come from. I wish I could remember. I knew about this place, my mom used to tell me some wonderful stories about Peter Pan, but now that I'm here I notice it's not what I imagined". James approached her and replied: "I didn't know anything about it, aunt Emily told me wonderful stories, but never about Neverland", "Aunt Emily?", "Yes, she was my father's maid. She raised me after my mother died. In fact, I only grew up with her. My father never loved me". Elizabeth took his hand and said: "I'm really sorry". Her voice was very sweet. James began to feel something. Very few people in his life had given him affection and this girl, after a simple gesture, he immediately found her special. He smiled at her, though talking about his past made him feel bad again. Soon after, she said to him: "Come on, I'll show you the island". She took him by the hand and led him outside.