Long Lost | Once Upon a Time (EDITING)

VII. Dark Hollow

Neverland
Roughly 8 Years Ago...

        Footsteps echoed throughout the lower half of the ship. The sound of a wooden door creaking open could be heard before it was closed shortly after. Captain Hook had nearly scoured the Jolly Roger in search of Grace in order to discuss their next journey to the island. However, after checking a few rooms the girl would often frequent, including her quarters, the man quickly realized that she had been elsewhere on the ship. Instead of continuing to go from door to door in his search, he decided to check one room in particular: the treasure room. He approached the door, confident that he would find her in there, and just one glimpse through the gap confirmed that she was. Hook wasn't all that surprised to find Grace lounging in a wooden chair, observing a gold object within her hands as it met with the light, causing it to glitter brightly. However, the minute he made his presence known, she moved hastily to hide the trinket behind her back, turning to face the captain at once.

        "How come whenever I'm looking for you, I always seem to find you in here?" He let out sternly, though there was no denying the humor in his voice.

        Grace knew she was far from being in trouble with the man, as it wasn't uncommon for her to sneak down here and admire the pirates' possessions. "What can I say? I like shiny things." She said, humor finding its way into her own voice as well. She gave him a grin before rising up from the chair and approaching. "What'd you need?"

        Her question brought Hook back to the original reason he went to find her in the first place. "I just wanted to let you know that we'll be heading to the island soon." His statement earned a short nod as she avoided his gaze.

        "Cool. I'll get my stuff." Hook watched the girl in suspicion before extending his arm out in front of her, firmly blocking her path. Grace stared at him in question. "What?"

        He merely nodded at the clenched fist she had, unsuccessfully, tried to keep hidden. "What's that you're holding behind your back?"

        "Nothing." She said all too quickly.

        This caused a single brow to raise from the man as he gazed at her expectantly. "Is that so? Because I know well enough that you, of all people, would never sneak into the treasure room for 'nothing'." Hearing this, the girl sighed before relenting.

        Her hand twisted from behind her back as she opened her palm to his view, revealing a solid gold doubloon threaded onto a black leather cord. Hook thought he had recognized the necklace from one of his earlier voyages. To him, it was just a mere trinket, but to Grace, it was something she felt was worth taking. "I found it under the desk. Thought it would look better on me than the floor collecting dust." While admitting this, the pirate linked the cord onto his hook, carrying it from her palm and into his own to observe the necklace more closely. He gathered it in his hand, turning the gold piece in his fingers thoughtfully.

        "You're probably right about that." He gave in and faced her once more. "But why go through all the trouble of stealing it when you could have just as easily asked me for it?"

        Grace rolled her eyes at the question. "'Asking' isn't really my thing. It'd mean more to me if I stole it. And besides, I like the thrill."

        Hook couldn't stop the forming grin from reaching his lips. "I've taught you well." While observing the ornament, the pirate saw the look the girl held as she admired the necklace in his hand. A thought suddenly came to him as he handled the jewelry. He asked, "What if it was given to you? Would it mean more then?"