Chapter 4: Mystery and Escapades in Mermaids’ Lagoon- Pars Two

“And now I call out, begging them to teach
The wave song that the water-creatures know:
The song of mermaids singing, each to each.”

-T.S. Eliot


Night fell swiftly in the Lagoon, far more swiftly than it should have. Night was not hurried due to Peter’s absence (the Boy was on the opposite side of the Island, speaking with the chief of the Piccaninnies), but rather by the approach of someone...or something. There was something unsettling in the darkness that encompassed Angelica and the children.

Angelica sensed the change in the atmosphere and silently willed Peter not to tarry. Like a good mother, she called her young ones to her side, gathering them all on Marooner’s Rock as she felt they should be safer there than anywhere else in the Lagoon. Braeden huddled with Mackenzie and Squirt as the trio shivered together and could not stop. The youngest ones clung to Angelica and she held tightly to them as though she fear the Night should wrench them from her grip. The other children formed a tight circle around their mother, their arms linked together in a human chain.

“Want Peter,” wailed Half-Pint as he tucked his head between his knees.

A moan of agreement rippled through the Boys and Mackenzie, for they were not so brave without their plucky leader.

“Hurry, Peter. Please!” breathed Angelica. The words were hushed as not to worry the children, but they were perceptible enough for the Wind to hear and catch them before it rushed off to the far corners of Neverland.

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Aria, we find, was running as though pursued by this impenetrable Gloom. There was something amiss in the world around her but she did not know what it could be. It was this Unknown that terrified her so and thus fueled her flight.

The princess burst through the Never-Forest only to come to a grinding halt on the sands of Mermaids’ Lagoon. Her heart plummeted to her stomach at the sight that met her eyes. It was a world devoid of color; only shades of gray remained in the Lagoon. The sky churned feverishly as incensed clouds converged over a maelstrom of blackened waves. Deafening booms of thunder roared over the crash of the waves every so often while lightening illuminated the heavens in tremendous surges of power.

The entire scene quite mystified our young friend almost as much as it frightened. It cast an enchantment over her, rooting her to the spot on which she stood. Now if Aria had been able, at that moment, to face the direction from whence she came, she would have witnessed the source of her fear. For a few meters away stood Hook, in all his glory, with a wicked grin stretched across his handsome visage. With a strange, slow gait he stalked her for she was easy prey with her back to him. Though she knew not the grave danger that haunted her, Aria could feel that terrible air upon her back, breathing its fiery breath upon her neck. So great was it, that she felt that she should scream for Peter. But what is this? Aria opened her mouth only to learn that Fear had stolen her voice and mobility so that she could not save herself. It was in this instant, that the girl understood she was about to inhale her last breath on the shore of Mermaid’s Lagoon. Then suddenly, the light of hope broke through the Darkness in the tangible form of Tinkerbell, who had awaken from her midday slumber to find Peter gone and treachery in his place. With a cry and a hiss, the fairy girl shattered the spell the princess was under and urged Aria to follow her to Marooner’s Rock. If they had lingered for but one moment longer, Hook surely would have been upon them and Aria would have been taken from us, ne’er to be seen again. But dear Tink saved the day!

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‘Twas the wind that beckoned Peter back to Mermaids’ Lagoon. It had carried Angelica’s plea to the Boy’s ear and Peter followed on its tail as it led him to his crew who was in such desperate need of him.

As he approached the darkened Lagoon, Peter slowed his flight until he came to a standstill. The Eternal Youth gradually dropped into one of the black clouds that hung low over Marooner’s Rock. His eyes narrowed to cerulean slits as he surveyed the scene below him. Another one of those singular smiles illuminated Peter’s face as the terrible Fear that filled the Lagoon sent delicious anticipation coursing through him. For he knew Its cause- Hook! His mortal enemy was back! Long had Peter Pan dreamt of the moment in which he would lock swords with the villain once more!

Another tremor shook Mermaids Lagoon.

“We’re bloody buccaneers and each a murderous crook. We massacre Indians, kill little boys, and cater to Cap’n Hook!” was the dreadful song that filled the air as Hook’s dogs rowed into the area, effectively blocking the entrance to the Lagoon.

Oh, wretched day! Angelica and the children now all shook with such great fright for they did not know that their hero was nigh. All they could see were Hook, his crew and certain death.

It is with some relief, but only some, that we see Aria has made it to Marooner’s Rock with Tinkerbell’s aid. But she is not safe. Surely, none of them are!

Smee in a dinghy approached the shore where Hook stood. Four pirates threw themselves into the shallow waters, balancing a rough chariot on their broad shoulders for their Captain. Hook did not allow them the opportunity to fully pull themselves onto the shore before he stepped onto the vehicle and commanded them back to the boat.

As Smee and the rest of the scoundrels rowed out to Marooner’s Rock which was now surrounded by pirates leering obscenely at the captives, Hook could not help the feeling of disappointment that took hold of him for Pan was nowhere in sight.

Another time then, Hook told himself. He had what he wanted and several other prisoners as reward. His ego swelled. Yes, James Hook was back.

The boat came to rest close enough to Marooner’s Rock that Hook did not need his men to carry him to it. He stepped from the bow of dingy to the boulder and was instantly standing over the petrified children. One by one he locked gazes with them, daring them to defy him or call for Peter. His intimidation worked as each of them cowered before him, their eyes adverted from his ghastly stare.

It should be mentioned here that this was the first time that Aria had ever actually laid sight on Hook. Afraid though she was, Aria found it impossible to look away from those eyes so blue. As it has been noted before, Hook was not entirely evil and he possessed quite a powerful charm that could deceive even the cleverest of persons. Yet it was not this charisma that so intrigued our young princess. No, it was...Alas, I am at a loss to describe it for Aria saw within Hook something that no one else has even seen. An enigma that perhaps shall never be unearthed again for the sole person who knew this secret was about to become Hook’s prisoner. We must shudder at the thought of what this should mean for the innocent.

The pirates quickly overcame the children who were bound and gagged and tossed rudely into the rowboats.

Hook took it upon himself to constrain Aria. Wishing to make Peter proud, Aria choked down her fear and stood defiantly before the fearsome man.

A bemused smiled kissed the captain’s face at the girl’s bravado, which flickered like a dying fae’s light. He bowed deeply to her before taking her pale, trembling hand to his lips. The depth of the treacherous man’s sophistication surprised the young girl. He was so distingue that it shattered every illusion Aria had of pirates. Surely this was not how they behaved!

The din of men’s voices cut through the stillness of the night, rising through the miasma that surrounded the Lagoon. Hook’s elegant head jerked in the direction of his crew, who had become rowdy in their taunting of the captives.

“Quiet, you scugs!” he barked, raising his terrible claw to their sight. “Are the children properly chained?”

“Aye, sir!” was the chorused reply.

“Then to the ship with them!”

The sound of oars in the waves replaced the chatter as the dogs obeyed their master.

“Not you, Smee,” Hook told the boson who was about to leave with the rest. The captain returned his attention to his royal hostage.

She regarded him solemnly with the wide-eyed innocence that only children possess. But there was something else in her gaze as Aria waited for her fate to be made known. It took Hook a moment before placing it...it was fear within those doe-like eyes- fear of him! And for some peculiar reason it pricked his heart with despair.

Without another word, the captain grimly led the princess to the rowboat. A single gesture brought Smee stumbling to his feet to bind Aria’s hands and feet. The girl sat near the stern shivering in the darkness, either from cold or fear, perhaps both. Hook stood in the bow as the boat made its way silently through the Lagoon, drawing in long puffs on his duel cigars.

It would appear that Hook and his scoundrels were victorious with nary a peep from Peter Pan as one by one the children were hauled below the floor of the appalling pirate ship.

Why, you might be wondering, did not Peter intervene and save the children? It was simply because the impudent youth was looking for a fight- a grand and glorious fight with his most loathsome opponent! A fight he was most sure to receive upon the deck of the Jolly Roger!