Neverland's Darkest Shadow

Chapter 7- Hook

Peter's POV:

I cursed to myself as I brushed through the greenery on my way back to my camp. I've never been conned before, and certainly not by a girl. How could she?! And how could Felix help her and become friends with her?

I reached the camp and took a look around. All of the lost boys were sitting around in a circle around the fire and were having a what seemed like a serious discussion. Everyone stopped chatting when they saw me standing there.

"Something wrong?" I ask, impatience in my voice. The boys all swayed their heads from side to side. I raised my left eyebrow and frowned.

"You're terrible liars...plus you should know better than to keep secrets from me. Speak NOW!" One of the younger boys sighed and stood up to face me; horror was on the rest of the gangs faces.

"Peter, we've been thinking," he spoke hesitantly, worried I'd attack like a lion on the prowl, "We think you've been unfair to Crystal. She's not an-"

"SHE'S NOT AN ANIMAL! I KNOW, ALRIGHT?! WHAT DOES IT MATTER ANYWAYS? SHE'S LEAVING!" My chest huffed up and down as I breathed hard. Too much was happening for me to be calm.

"Leaving?" One of the others asked, "You gave her permission to leave?" I let my head flop against my shoulders and sighed.

How can I confess that a girl basically twisted my words into a permission grant?

"An accident at most, boys. It wasn't meant to happen."

"How did it happen?" They pressed, but I wasn't going to break my strong front I had worked on and perfected for years.

"It DOESN'T matter..." I folded my arms and stood tall. My eyes narrowed as I looked upon all of the members in my gang. I trusted each and every one of them, and they trusted me. We had created a bond in which couldn't be broken... but it was starting to happen and it worried me.

"Peter," I heard Felix behind me speak in a low-tone voice, "What will happen to us now that she's gone? What about magic?" I turned a specific way so I was facing all of the boys.

"We're going to grow old and die..."

The boys shuffled in their seats with their eyes wide open.

"Magic will soon be lost..." I looked to the ground and balled up my fists.

"I'm sorry." I turned and walked to my private sleeping spot.

***

Crystal's POV:

An immense grin had spread across my face as I made my way to the ocean where I hoped to find someone who could help me leave the island. Needless to say, I was pretty darn proud when I tricked Peter.

Now...how does one leave Neverland? I thought to myself.

I reached the oceans edge and looked out to waters that seemed to continue forever. My shoulders slouched as I sat on the ground and pouted. I really wanted to just get home, but I had no idea how.

*Crunch* I heard a twig snap behind me, and before I could turn around a pair of arms wrapped around me. A large hand clamped over my mouth to muffle my scream and a long arm wrapped around my waist with something sharp sticking into my side at the end.

A hook!

"So, you're the one who is to save magic, are you?" A deep voice growled in my ear making me uncomfortable. I tried to fidget my way out of the strangers grasp but I couldn't move.

He stood me up and turned me around so I could face him. My Mary-Janes didn't make me much taller, sadly. It would've been useful since this man was taller than I. He released his grasp, backed up, and bowed.

"I am Killian Jones, formally known as Captain Hook. Why are you out here all alone? Shouldn't you be with Peter Pan?" I laughed and shook my head.

"I belong to nobody on this island, Captain. I never wanted to be here in the first place, but Peter's horrifying shadow brought me here." I shivered as I remembered the sight of the creature staring into my soul.

"So you're not going to save us then?" Hook asked, seeming to be a little broken. He nodded and grinned.

"What?" I asked, a little nervous.

"It's nothing love," he said still grinning, "It's just that all magic comes with a price." I was confused, and he could clearly tell from the apparent look on my face.

A devious smile creeped onto is face, "You'll find out soon enough." My body shook as a cold chill ran down my spine. A breeze began to blow making my dress flow in the wind. I wrapped my arms around myself as I began to freeze.

Hook frowned and removed his long, black, leather trench coat and wrapped it around my shoulders. Usually if a stranger were to do that to me, I would probably be paranoid of them; but the Captain had a gentle front to him. Plus, I didn't care.

I was ice cold!

"You do realize what happens if you leave, yes?" He asked. I shrugged.

"Peter gave me a quick run-by of it, but I forget."

"If you leave and don't save magic, Neverland will perish. All the creatures on the island, the fairies, the mermaids, the tribes and even myself and the lost boys will die. Even Peter. Trees will not grow, neither will food. We will continue on until we die...which, since there would be no food or oxygen, would be fast."

My eyes widened. I hadn't realized how serious this actually was... A thought popped into my head.

"What if I made a deal with Peter? If I stayed and helped him, then he would arrange to take me home?" Hook shook his head. I narrowed my eyebrows.

"Don't make deals with Peter, Crystal," he spoke sincerely, "He never keeps deals. Make a deal with me instead. Do this for me, not them."

My mind flashed back to the boys and Felix. I had become close with them and they were like my brothers now. Then my mind went to Peter. I smiled to myself a little.

Peter Pan... is it possible to be scared of him, but love him at the same time? I shook my head. No. I couldn't fall in love with Peter. My leaving would get complicated and hard to do, plus, Felix said he can't love back.

"What's the deal?" I asked, looking Hook straight in the eyes.

"You save Neverland, and I will personally take you back to London on my ship." He pointed to a huge vessel that rested a ways away from us. I smile came across my face. A way home! Hook seemed trustworthy enough!

"So, you'll go back to Pan and say you'll work for him, but in reality you'll work for me. In the end, I'll get you home." I nodded. Hook smiled and extended his hand. I reached out and took it, giving it a firm shake.

He took his coat back and sent me on my way. It felt good knowing that I had another friend on the isle... after all, he seemed nice enough. And he wouldn't trick me...

Would he?