When Stars Fall

Chapter 27 - A Promise to keep

"SITARA!"

Peter's stomach felt as if several fists had maltreated it simultaneously and then turned upside down around himself. He didn't know what to think or feel. No clear thought remained, and his emotions tripped over themselves. Peter's throat was constricted. His heart was beating so fast it hurt as he tried to free himself from Mullin's grip and to reat the bonds, entirely out of his mind. But the damned rope was tied too tightly and only tore his skin until it was smeared with his blood. Hot tears burned in Peter's eyes.

Had he really lost EVERYTHING now?! After all, he had promised to protect her and bring her back to heaven... Peter sank and couldn't believe it...

"Hook..." His jaw ached as he clenched his teeth so hard they gritted.

Smee also stumbled forward and fell to his knees before the precipice. Wide-eyed, he stared into the depths, and his mouth opened and closed several times as if he could not believe what his captain had done.

The mountain rumbled as if to condemn this act, and the cavern of walls trembled under a new, furious quake. Larger stones came loose from the cave ceiling, cracks disfigured the effigies, and huge gaps opened their gullets. A reddish light fell into the interior through the further cracked opening above them, and small, black flakes tumbled down on them like snow. The air became noticeably thicker and heavier. There was an unhealthy smell in it, increasingly bitter and of sulfur.

"Captain! That's how we're all going to die!" Mullins now rumbled, his eyes glinting dangerously defiantly. "It wasn't planned that way!" the broad-shouldered giant roared, approaching them in long strides. From the wild shaking of the ground, even he swayed, and Smee coughed, for he was not an undead creature immune to the poisonous gases.

"You dare to question my decision?!" thundered Hook, straightening to his full height.

The enraged Mullins, however, did not seem intimidated this time, for he dared to grab his captain by the lapels of his coat.

"WE WANT TO GO HOME AND NOT DIE!" the pirate roared, baring his teeth like an angry mutt. Glowing pits of coal stared toward each other, and the Captain raised his hand with the gleaming hook, the point of which he aimed at Mullin's throat.

"We are already dead ... and our souls damned in this hell," growled the pirate captain.

"AND WHOSE FAULT IS THAT?!" cried Mullins, who lunged to slam his fist into Hook's face-a fatal mistake.

Within the blink of an eye, the captain dodged the blow. His hook drilled into Mullins'chest with deadly precision as he purposefully kicked the other's knee. A cracking sound like rotten wood accompanied the breaking of the kneecap. The pirate might not feel pain but buckle, and Hook used his lack of footing and momentum to drag him forward. Mullins stumbled dangerously toward the abyss - where Hook kicked him mercilessly. A scream of anger turned to shrieking fear - then a loud crack sounded as the body presumably hit a rock, and the scream died away.

Hook, meanwhile, slowly turned toward Smee, who backed away with a hoarse whimper.