1: Aboard the Jolly Roger

I wake up to see myself in a small cabin on a ship. I jolted awake at the sight and was unsure of how to react. How did I get here? What happened to me? Panic started to take over my body as my anxiety settled in. I had to find out what happened. I got out of bed and opened the door to get outside. I didn't know what I would see though. The bright light had blinded me.

When I could finally open my eyes, I saw water in the distance. My eyes widened at the sight of it. I approached the edge and realized I wasn't just seeing water, I was floating on it. The ship rocked back and forth on the tides. My head turns away from the water towards the ship itself. Below me, I saw the captain's wheel with a person standing there. I gulped lightly and watched as the other people were in front of him. Each person seemed to be drinking something and it looked like beer. Others were sparring with swords. Their cheers were loud as they shouted one word. Fight!

"Well, what do we have here?" A voice questioned me and I whipped around violently to face the person or should I say duo. The man who said that was dressed in black leather. His hair was jet black and so was his beard. His eyes were a cold blue and he smirked wickedly. The other person looked like his assistant.

"You managed to find your way out. Who knew a lass like you could manage to do that," the black-haired man told me and I got defensive. "Who are you and what do you want?" I gave him a nasty glare and he laughed "No need to shoot daggers at me. But I guess you should know who I am."

He did a mock bow, "Ahoy, Lass and welcome aboard the Jolly Roger. Name's Captain Hook and my cohort William Smee."

I continued to glare at them trying to hide the shock. Captain Hook was nothing but a character from Peter Pan. He couldn't be real. This just had to be a very elaborate dream.

My eyes gaze at the ship and finally notice the flag. It was black and showed a skull and crossbones. I gulped and everything I saw clicked in my mind. I wasn't just on any ship, I was on a pirate ship. 

"Enjoy the ship Lass because you're going to be here for a long time," Hook told me, walking away with Smee trailing behind him.

I was left on the ship and had nowhere to go. I stepped down the steps and approached the crowd of pirates. They noticed me and made a path as I walked through. I tried not to notice their stares and smirks. I finally saw two pirates fighting each other with swords. One fighter had knocked the sword from the other's hand and held the sword in front of the pirate. 

The dominant one said "I've bested you, lad," The crowd cheered and I felt myself get pushed into the circle.

"Ah, a new challenger. Would you like me to go easy on you, Lassie?" The pirate commented and another pirate commented, "Who knows Finn. Hook's told me that this one's feisty." 

All the men laughed and one handed me a sword.

"Your turn lass. Time to see what you're all about" I grabbed the sword unprepared to fight. 

Luckily for me, I was an amazing fencer. I readied myself and a wicked grin appeared on my face. 

"Bring it," I told Finn and the pirates cheered.

If this was a dream, then I wouldn't be hurt.

"You sure you don't want me to go easy on you lassie?" Finn taunted me and attacked, but I managed to defend myself. "Not likely."

I pounced and he stumbled back. Our swords clashed with each other. I staggered back and he swung his sword. Before it made contact with me, I swung my sword in the way and he tried to press down and bring me to the ground. I gritted my teeth and pushed back with all my might. Finn stumbled back and looked up at me. I played around with the sword and made some swift moves. Within the next minute, I unhanded and had him at sword point. All the pirates roared and cheered. I stepped back and heard that same voice. "That was quite a show you put on lass."

The pirates step back and make a pathway and I notice Hook walk through. He stood before me and I glared at him.

"You managed to defeat one of my best men in a duel. I'm impressed. I didn't know you had it in you, lass," he told me astounded by what I did. 

I badly wanted to be all sassy, but something about this man told me that if I did, he would jab me with his hook. Instead, I shrugged my shoulders as if it was nothing and stated "There's a lot of things that you don't know about me." He frowned and left. The others continued to chant as more pirates fought. I walked off to the edge.

Night rapidly approached and the pirates fought on. No one was paying attention to me though. I was staring out at the island in the distance. What if I could escape there? Would I live? What troubles would be waiting for me there?

"Thinking about leaving, lass?" I jumped a little to see Hook looking at me with his arms crossed. 

"What does it matter to you?" I asked dryly.

He walked over and shook his head at me "You managed to beat one of my best men in a duel. There's no way you're leaving now and killing you would be a waste of untapped talent. With you part of my crew, we'll be one of the most feared pirate gangs that has ever lived." 

I shook my head at him "There is no way that I'm going to be a pirate." I shot him an icy glare. 

Hook commented, "You don't have a choice lass." 

He laughed at my misery and walked off.

"So you're Hook's recruit? I'm not surprised though, I heard you beat Finn easily. It was entertaining to watch," a different voice said.

It sounded delicate and soft. I glance up to see the girl who used to be so small the same size as me. Her blonde hair was made into a messy bun on top of her head. Her outfit was all a shade of jade green. She wore brown boots that were laced up. She sat on the edge of the ship with one leg over the other. Her smirk looked so mischievous and her green eyes were enchanting.

"And you are?" I mumbled to the fairy.

"Tinker Bell," The fairy said, "And you are?" 

I muttered "Jessica." 

"Well, it's quite nice to meet you, Jessica. So tell me, what brought you to the Jolly Roger? You aspiring to become a pirate?" 

I shook my head at Tinker Bell 

"No way am I becoming a pirate." 

"Then why don't you just escape?" She suggested to me and I finally looked her in the eye.

"If only it were that easy. I doubt I can pull it off," I told Tinker Bell. 

She brushed it off and explained to me "Have you ever attempted it?" 

"No." 

I just woke up a few hours ago into this crazy pirate-filled nightmare. Sadly, it was all real and I had no choice but to go along with it.

As soon as I said it she smiled "Then you don't know what could happen." 

"So what's your idea, Tink?" I asked her and she cheered quietly. 

"Awe how sweet a nickname for moi. Nonetheless, I suggest we hightail it out of here tomorrow night. The sooner the better. Those pirates won't even notice your absence." 

I grinned at Tinker Bell. Comparing the fairy to the books, she was always cunning. 

"It's a done plan. Shall we meet tomorrow night?" The fairy nodded her head wildly. "Until then," she said as she flew away.

The next day, I still stayed silent. I glared at them as they smirked at me. Finn walked up to me saying "Your first day went better than planned." "What do you want Finn? Want a rematch. It won't matter though." I tell him with attitude. His response however unnerved me.

"Why nothing Jessica," he responded with a wink of his eye. I flinched at hearing my name. "Hook informed everyone about your name if you're wondering. It's a nice name though."

All the other pirates were fast asleep until Hook shouted something. Instantly everyone gathered. Hook scanned everyone as if he were taking attendance. "I've heard that he's looking for someone. It could be our recruit. they're on their way here. Let's move." Everyone scattered and Hook grabbed my arm pulling me along.

"What is happening?" I questioned him and he didn't answer. He shoved me into a secret compartment and ordered me to stay silent. He shut the door and I was alone. I was only able to hear what was happening.

"Well, it's been a long time, Captain," A voice I didn't know says.

"What brings you here this time?" I could hear Hook tell the stranger coldly. And I hear a laugh.

"We're on orders to look for someone who was brought to Neverland."

My eyes widened with shock. Neverland?

"Let me guess, he put you up to this?" Hook questions annoyed.

"If you don't mind Captain, if we search your ship," said the mysterious voice not answering Hook.

"Search, but you won't find anything," Hook concluded.

I overheard footsteps all over the ship as they searched. My heart was pounding. Were they looking for me? The idea terrified me. The footsteps come closer and I hear the door open and then it closes again. Afterwards, I hear the voices.

"Very well Captain, you do not have who we're looking for, but if you do, you know what can happen. He doesn't like liars."

"Of course," Hook scoffed as the footsteps vanished.

Hook returned and let me out. "Who were they?" I asked him curiously and cautiously. Hook looks at me replying "Just some people you should stay away from. They're worse than me." 

I snorted muttering under my breath "I doubt that." 

Hook sent me a glare.

"Want to walk the plank?"

I stayed silent and he wandered off to deal with other stuff. My mind was still buzzing over the conversation. Who were they? Who was he? Some questions seriously needed to be answered.

Night time approached and I watched as the pirates chanted songs and drank beer. I ran over to the edge where I first met Tink and I waited for her to arrive. From time to time I glanced to the side afraid that Hook or some other pirate was going to arrive to thwart my plan. Finally, Tink arrived and appeared before me.

Her smile had never changed and she looked at me. "Are you ready to leave?" 

I nodded my head and asked her "Yes, how are we going to escape? We're in the middle of the ocean."

"We're going to fly."

I gave her a doubtful look and she scoffed. 

"I'm going to sprinkle some fairy dust on top of us. It'll work, just trust me." 

I placed my trust in a fairy that came from a fictional book. 

Before she could sprinkle the dust on me, I overheard a voice shout "Where do you think you're going?" Tink and I both froze in place petrified. 

We both look up to see Hook looking at us. He walked over quickly. His every step made me scared. He had already threatened to make me walk the plank for stepping out of line.

Tinker Bell looked at Hook. Either she wasn't scared or she was good at hiding it.

He glanced at Tinker Bell and said "It's been a long time since I've seen you Tink. How are you? Are you still working for him?" 

I looked at the fairy curiously, 

"Who's him?" I asked recalling the stranger mentioning a 'him' before. I assumed they were the same person.

No one answered me. 

Tinker Bell glared at Hook muttering "You know I don't work for or with him anymore." 

I stared at Tink who avoided my gaze and then Hook looked at me shaking his head. "Why do you want to leave? You'd be an amazing pirate." 

"That's a life I never want, Hook," I told him spitting out his name like it was poison on my tongue. 

"Very well then lass I can't ever let you leave then." With a snap of his fingers, his whole gang appeared. They started to close in.

Tink told me "We got to fend them off so they're far away that we can escape without trouble." 

I nodded my head as I kicked a pirate away and he stumbled back which took down a bunch of them. Finn charged me and I punched him. He got back up and I kicked him hard where it hurts. 

He froze and crouched down "You're going to pay for that!" He shouted at me and I laughed at him. 

I ran towards Tink who sprinkled some dust on me. The next thing I knew, I was flying alongside her. I kept the sword with me as we flew.

"This isn't over!" Hook shouted at us as we sped away from the ship. I knew it wasn't the end, but at least I was finally free from the Jolly Roger.

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