Hooked

Chapter 6

Hook's POV

I heard a shout come from the island. Clara. It has to be Clara. The mermaids took her to shore, but why. The crew heard the shout as well, because they were all looking up. 

“Capt’n!” Smee said and I looked at him with some annoyance. I was trying to think.

“What,” I growled.

“I think the mermaids were acting on Pan’s behalf. If they weren’t they would’ve drowned Ms. Clara right then and there, but obviously,” he said referring to the echo we just heard, “they didn’t.”

I blinked. Pan…of course! I should’ve expected that he wouldn’t keep his promise of two days. If he has her…if he’s hurt her, I swear to God I’ll carve his heart out with my hook. Something shined on the deck that caught my eye. Clara’s sword. She must’ve dropped it when she pushed me out of the way. I breathed out, she’s unarmed and probably with Pan. I whipped around and punched one of the masses. I winced at the pain, but only for a second.

“Men! Load the longboats, we’re going on land,” I ordered. Smee nodded and quickly, with most of the crew hurried to do as I asked. All except Kale, “You too.”

“I’d rather not,” he said.

“Oh I’m sorry, would it benefit you more to stay aboard the ship?” I asked in an almost sincere way. Kale raised his eyebrow.

“Yes, Capt’n. It would.”

“Too bad princess, I wasn’t asking. Help the others get ready.”

“Why would I risk my neck because some girl got captured? Pan’s probably already killed her or taken her shadow anyways,” Kale was walking a thin line, and he had better shut up now if he knows what’s best for him, “Quite frankly, if he has, then good riddance. She only got in the way-”

I didn’t wait to hear what else he was going to say. I slashed my hook across his face. He cried out in pain as he held his hand up to his now bloody face. I kicked him in the gut and he fell to the ground. The crew was silent as I reached down and held my hook against his neck.

“I don’t care if you’re first mate or not, I said we’re going to shore. And if I say we’re going to rescue Clara, then all I want to hear from you is ‘Yes, Capt’n’. Got it?” Kale now had a long, bloody slash down the left side of his face. He nodded and I let him up as he grabbed something to stop the bleeding, “That goes for all of ya!”

The crew loaded the longboats a little bit faster than what they already were doing, and finally we headed towards shore. Five of my best men and I were the only ones who went. That included Kale, Smee, and three others who were pretty skilled. The rest were still on the ship, guarding it. I wasn’t going back onto that ship without Clara in this boat, and that’s a promise. 

Once we hit the shore, I saw indents in the sand that indicated she was there. Then there were footprints, but none of them led away from the beach. Pan was smart; he must’ve flown away so we couldn’t track him on land. I signaled for my men to follow me. I was going to comb through every single bit of this island in order to find her. We searched the western side of the island until it was dark outside. I tried to look on, but Smee and Kale talked me into resting for the night. I didn’t sleep much that night; Clara’s safety was the only thing on my mind. While the others slept, all I could do was stare up at the sky hoping to God I would find some clue as to where she was. The sky however, was no help at all.

Morning came, and again we set off to find her. Half the day went by, and by this time we had climbed the mountain, and were starting down the other side when something caught my attention…smoke rising from the Indians’ camp. The Indians! Those redskins are bound to know where Clara is, and if they have her…