The Next Adventure (2003 Peter Pan fanfiction)

"To live would be an awfully big adventure."

THE NEXT ADVENTURE: CHAPTER NINE

I watched as Robin and the lost boys ran off. In slight caution, I watched as they drew upon the deck their swords and walked around a moment. The air was relaxed and cool. My nerves jumped a little at the sight of a light beginning to come alive in one of the windows of the ship. A set of shadows pasted the window, six it looked like. Fearful now, I remained hidden as the shadows approached the deck. Before I knew it, pirates of all kinds were at war with the six lost boys.

Expecting Robin to signal me, he did and I snuck up on the deck behind some crew members. Running from a dreamy perspective, I recognized the entry at which I had witnessed Peter run up and out of in my most recent dream and quietly went inside. Instant darkness filled the empty spaces around me though I could make out hallways and shapes. Soon, the sounds of war left my ears and I was submerged in a frightening silence.

Trailing down the endless hallways, I breathed quietly. Coming upon one hallway, at the end of it I witnessed a door cracked open with light spilling out. Quickly approaching it, I furtively peered inside.

At a table in the back of the room, the head of a curly dark haired man lifted. Instantly, my heart stopped. Remembering those icy blues so well, it was Hook. Taking a glance at the words on the outside of the door I hid behind, it read Captains Quarters. By the time I looked back at Hook, he was standing and sliding on his jacket over a very sharp and advanced hook. I couldn't help but well with even more fear. "What goes with all that bloody noise!?" Hook spoke.

Spotting a pair of shiny keys that rested on top of the table Hook came up from, I then found Hook to be walking towards the door. Nearly gasping, I threw myself against a wall behind the door. The sounds of boots came stomping closer. 

Without making a sound, I flew to the corner of the hallway. Looking over, my eyes found another passage way at which I assumed led to the very bottom of the ship. My ears then perked at the sudden creaking upon a hard wooden floor. Looking back at the hallway, I witnessed Hook begin to walk down it. Soon, he turned down another hallway and I relaxed. After a moment, I re-approached the Captains Quarters and entered. I then headed after the keys on table I saw them on.

Focused on just the keys, I finally looked over after I grabbed them following the rotten smell of something disgusting. Instantly, I gasped and covered my mouth. Smee lay dead on the floor with a bullet wound in his heart. That must've been the shot I heard in my dream.

Quickly exiting the Captains Quarters with the keys, I went through the dark passageway at which led to the bottom of the ship. Now face to face with the bottom layer of the deck, I knew this was the moment of truth. Peter was somewhere in one of these rooms. At the end of the hallway, a faint blue light from a small circular window extended to where I stood. In hesitation, I swallowed and began walking and searching for the door with nothing on it. My feet quietly patted against the floor, I suddenly felt the ship shift a little causing me to fall against a door. Looking up, there was nothing. My heart froze up once more. This was the door and behind the door was a very weak, dying Peter.

Now beginning to try each key on the set I held in my hands, my fingers began to shake at not only the freezing touch of metal but also at the touch of Peter's one true freedom. Sticking a final key, I felt it willingly turn in the key hole. My eyes widening and my hands shaking more then ever, I heard a click.

In hesitation, I thought of suddenly all possibilities. Then I thought of time, and not knowing how much time I had, I pushed myself through the fog and swallowed. Bringing myself to push open the door, I did and fearfully peered in. Light from a barred window lit a tiny portion of the room. Seeing not one body yet, I then pushed the door open entirely.