Once A Lost Girl | Once Upon A Time Story | Peter Pan

03x03 - Fate - Past

The next night I couldn’t sleep. I got up from the makeshift bed and left my tent. The sky was dark and through the trees, I could just barely make out the moon and stars. I wandered my way to a clearing and sat, looking up at the stars. My mind was three places at once.

    On the one hand, it was nice being away from everything. On the other, why would I doubt what Baelfire has said? I’ve seen it with my own eyes. I wonder what it would have been like if I’d never met Pan or came to this island. Why me and why now? What was the purpose of bringing me here to the island? I can’t find a solid reason.

    A hand was wrapped around my mouth and another was used to pull me up and wrap around my waist, “well, well, Elyssa,” someone stepped out from the other side of the clearing. It was a pirate, dressed appropriately for the job, “you’re a long way from ‘ome, love.”

    “Boss, what do you want to do with her?” the guy holding me down said. I started struggling against him. He held me tighter.
 
          “Perhaps… before we return her to where she belongs, we finally get what we want.” as he finished his sentence I’d managed to pull the lackey's hand from my mouth.

          “And what is that?” I asked.

          “A way off this bloody island. Take her to the ship, lads. We’ll soon be free of this monstrous land.” as they started to drag me away I struggled, but I didn’t dare call for anyone. Not even Bae. It was better than immediately condemning them to death or some worse fate Pan could come up with.

~~

          We ended up on the beach of a part of Neverland I’d never seen before. I looked up at the ship that lay before me. The masts were nice, and the ship itself was a nice size. The flag, however, sat a skull and crossbones on a black field. It truly was a pirates’ ship.

         They shoved me onto the deck. I stayed quiet but by no means let them just walk me anywhere. I needed a plan to get out of here. No way was I going to let a bunch of pirates pick me up and kill me--I worked too hard to survive to give up now. There has to be a way.

         “Right, then,” their captain motioned with his hand, “set ‘er down there lads,” the crew did as told and sat me down on one of the smaller barrels they had. One guy held a knife to my neck while the other tied my wrists together. If I were better at magic maybe this wouldn’t be an issue. I am not good at magic.

         “If you just let me go I can convince him I just got lost. No one has to get hurt,” I pleaded, struggling against the ropes. I could feel it cutting into my skin.

         “No can do, Elyssa,” the pirate crouched in front of me, “you’ve got a bit of a price on your head.”

         “The Queen sent you,” I muttered. He smirked, “who are you anyway? Why does she care if I come back?”

         “That second question I don’t know the answer to, however even if I did, lass, I wouldn’t care,” he took a flask out of his jacket and stood, taking a few steps back, “as for that first question, well,” the pirate took a swig, “the name’s Hook. Captain Hook,” with that, Hook walked off.

        I huffed, slouching on the barrel. I looked around the ship and even checked behind me for something to maybe cut the ropes off with. Nothing. Right when you want a pirate to be sloppy they’re clean.

      For a while they left me by myself. They rushed around, getting things in order. They really believe this is going to work? And that they’ll just… what, leave with me and return me to the Enchanted Forest? Still, on the off-chance that it works maybe I should just let them. Leave the island. Except Baelfire would be stuck here.

      I’ll deal with that later. First order of business is to get these ropes off. I slipped off of the barrel and slinked into the shadow of the stairs. I bent down and brought my arms to the front. Good. Now what? I looked around, trying to find something to get these off with. Peter never gave me my own weapon, which suddenly seems strange now that I think about it, so now I have to find another way. There was a door a few feet away from me. I figured that was the captain's quarters… and the captain was currently across the way talking to someone on his crew. I went in.

       There were a lot of trinkets on the shelves and about the room. If I were a pirate or if they meant anything to me I might care. There was a desk in the center of the room. I started opening drawers. The first one held nothing, the second didn’t even open. The last thing was a cabinet. I opened it up and was met with rum. Great. So helpful, thanks.

     I moved on, glancing at the door every once in a while. I found a spare dagger under his pillow on his bed and cut the damn rope off. My wrists were already rubbed a bit raw from them.

     “You’re resourceful,” the voice came from the direction of the door, “I wonder what you would’ve done if I’d let you go a little longer.” He knew.

    “Damn it,” I muttered, “stay back.” I turned to face him, “no guarantees for your safety if you come closer.”

    “Cute, Lass, cute. Now just give me the dagger and no one gets hurt,” he held out his hand. It was then that I really noticed the damn hook. He took a step toward me and I lowered the dagger, “that’s it. Give it ‘ere.” Finally, he got close enough. I kneed him where the sun doesn’t shine and took off through the door onto the deck.

    Lucky for me, some of his crew noticed. Note the sarcasm. I made a break for the dock side of the boat. Before I could reach the ramp I got grabbed. I screamed and thrashed. The guy’s grip on my biceps tightened.

    “Let me go! You don’t know what you’re doing--he’ll kill you!”

   “Better than rotting as his slave bringing him whatever and whoever whenever. But worry not Lass, I don’t plan to die until that crocodile gets what’s coming to him,” Hook responded, joining us on the deck.

     I looked him in the eyes, “it’s not too late,” I pleaded, “I don’t want anyone to get hurt.” His gaze softened, “no one has to die.”

     He sighed, “let ‘er go,” his men hesitated, “I said let her go.” They did. I took a few steps away from them. They looked like a mismatched group, which made them exactly pirates, “now what’s this about death?”

       “Well, Baelfire--”

       “Wait. You know Baelfire?” Hook questioned, “well--is he okay? Did Pan do anything to ‘im?” I looked the Captain over. He seemed to express genuine concern.

       “Yeah, he’s fine. We were working on a possible way out until you grabbed me and now who knows if we’ll get anything done,” I said.

       “What makes you think you can convince Pan, a bloody demon, not to kill anyone? He does that in his sleep.”

       “The worst I can do is try.”