Long Lost | Once Upon a Time (REWRITING)

Chapter Twenty-Four: Save Henry

Neverland
Roughly 9 Years Ago

A little girl sat on a large rock on the outskirts of the Dark Jungle, her anxiously waiting for someone's return. Every little noise seemed to set her further on edge and so she kept a fist clenched firmly around the hilt of her sword in case of an attack. Captain Hook had gone out to Pan's encampment, telling the girl to stay put whilst he would attempt to arrange a deal with Pan for passage off the island. Grace was just afraid that Lost Boys would come in his place and ambush her. Hopefully the pirate wouldn't be much longer.

The plan the two of them had developed was that they would both leave Neverland together. While he was on the island, he learned something about the Dark One--that his power is controlled by a dagger. Hook wanted to obtain that dagger in order to kill him and god only knows what will happen after that. The only thing Grace was concerned with at the moment was getting off this accursed place.

The sudden sound of leaves rustling nearby caused the girl to jump, her quickly pulling out her sword before standing. Grace's heart was thumping hard in her chest as she waited for whoever it was to reveal themselves. However, a familiar voice quickly caught her off guard as it promptly spoke, "Stand down, it's just me." The leather-clad pirate revealed himself by stepping out of the jungle and into the empty clearing Grace had occupied for the past hour.

At the sight of Hook, the brunette girl sheathed her sword before letting out a sigh. She looked him up and down, noticing the dazed look he carried as his eyes focused on the ground. "What took you so long? What did Pan say?" She bombarded him with questions before he could even get a word in. However, her questions remained unanswered when more rustling came from behind the pirate.

Grace's eyes widened as they connected with the two Lost Boys that followed the man, her quickly pulling out her sword defensively as she looked to the man in concern. Hook only waved his hand for her to put her sword down, causing Grace to look up at him in confusion. "They're with me." Hook merely blinked as he finally brought his eyes up to meet with her own, them seeming void of any emotion. "Pan offered me a deal for passage off the island." He spoke, and upon hearing those words, the girl's face lit up, though Hook's only seemed to grow stiff.

Grace took this as a sign that Pan wanted something for this deal, as she assumed he would. After all, all magic comes with a price. "Well, what does he want in return?" The wary girl questioned as Hook met eyes with her once more.

"He said if I wanted to leave, then I'd have to give up the one thing keeping me from my revenge, the one thing that's kept me here for all these years--" he paused as he gained a hardened look, "You."

Grace furrowed her brows at the sudden reveal, her clearly not understanding how she would benefit Pan in any way. "Why would he want me?" She let out, her voice sounding meek due to the looks she had been receiving from the two Lost Boys that continued to stand by Hook. She didn't earn a response, and so she figured the man didn't have one to give. Grace quickly shook her head, "There has to be another way." She declared, but Hook denied this by giving her a stern expression.

"No, there's not." He said stiffly, "Pan is the only one that can grant me passage. And if it gives me my revenge, I'll do whatever it takes." He said this as if he were justifying himself. It was then that the girl seemed to realize what he had done.

"You took the deal." She said in disbelief, her lips parting in shock while she looked up at him in bemusement. Grace was hurt by this newfound information, but most of all confused. "What did he say to you? What changed?" She demanded. It didn't take a genius to know that she felt betrayed. After all, she had looked up to Hook for so long. He was like a father to her, so for him to do this to her caused a lot of confusion to form within the girl.