Free Neverland by Anna Katmore Page A

the end it might be the solution to all my problems. I’m stuck in some strange dreamland, and dying would get me out. Wake me up. Bring me back. I close my eyes…
    “Wait!”
    Hook’s sudden yell startles me. I look over my shoulder.
    “Take her back in, Smee. I have an idea.” That’s all he says before he strides toward the ship’s stern and disappears in a cabin beneath the bridge.
    I let go of a long sigh of relief as Smee takes me back on board. He leaves me in the care of the man who smells like rotten fish then follows his captain.

 
    James Hook
     
    OH, PETER PAN, this time I’m going to squish you beneath my boot.
    Slamming the door behind me in irritation, I stride to the wide wooden desk in front of the row of tall windows overlooking the sea. In this study I usually plan battle strategies with Smee, but now I pull the ruby heart from my pocket, drop it on the desk together with my hat and pace the room.
    You dare give away part of my treasure? I’ll teach you a lesson you won’t forget, you nasty little piece of work.
    Removing the cufflinks from my shirt, I yank it over my head and toss it on the swivel chair between the desk and the windows. In front of the tall mirror in the corner I stop and brush my fingers over my chest. There’s a bruise forming on the right side. Damn, that girl has some strength in her. And an unbreakable will, too. The whereabouts of my treasure is still unknown. Not even in the eye of death did she succumb but instead shot down my excellent plan. None of the scared rats outside would have shown such courage. Well, probably Smee, but he’s the only one.
    I close my fist around the golden key dangling from a chain around my neck and make a promise. I will find my treasure—together with the little chest. And then I’ll stop this whole remaining a child shit.
    A rap sounds on the door.
    “Come in, Jack!” I say, knowing it’s my first mate, because he’s the only one who I allow in here.
    Smee steps in and shuts the door behind him, but not fast enough. Over his shoulder, I catch a glimpse of Angel in the middle of my crew. The men are teasing her, but none of them lay a hand on the girl. And they won’t. Not if they know what’s good for them.
    “James?” Jack pulls me out of my staring at the now-closed door. “You look concerned. Is everything all right?”
    “I find it highly disturbing to have a woman on my ship,” I admit through a clenched jaw. “This is pirates’ domain, for God’s sake.” You don’t toss a kitten into a cage of ravenous wolves.
    “Then why did you bring her on board?”
    “She had my ruby. There was no other choice. And when she said she got it from the Pan, I was ready to bet my right leg on him coming to save her from the sharks.”
    Smee leans against the door and folds his arms over his chest. “Yeah, I thought so too. What do you think, why didn’t he come?”
    I shrug and pull on the black tee I left on the ottoman this morning in exchange for the finer shirt to go to town with. “She was alone when I met her. Maybe Peter thought she had already gone back home. The ruby could have been a gift of farewell.”
    “I knew you wouldn’t toss her to the sharks in the first place, but what’s the idea you spoke of? You have another plan?”
    “Maybe she can’t lead us to the treasure.” I let a smug smile enter my face. “But she sure knows where Peter Pan and his friends are hiding.”
    “You want her to lead us through the jungle? Excellent idea. If she stayed with them for some time, she certainly knows where all the traps are and can lead us around.”
    I nod. “Give them orders to return to the isle and have four men get ready to go ashore with us at nightfall. The rest will stay aboard to defend the ship.”
    Smee leaves immediately. I lock the ruby in a drawer of my desk and put my hat back on, pulling the brim lower down my forehead.
    Your last hour has come, Peter Pan.

Chapter 6
     
    WE HAVE BEEN walking