squeezes my chest. How long until I forget everything about my past? How many more days can I treasure the memory of Paulina and Brittney Renae? How long until I completely forget where I come from, what our house looks like, and who I really am?
This must not happen!
I’ll do anything to leave Neverland. If there’s a way home, I’m going to find it. I press the tiny card to my heart and promise myself that I won’t give up. I will fight for whatever memory I can save and I will find a way back to my sisters.
Filled with a new surge of hope and determination, I rise from the bed and tuck the travelcard into a side-pocket I discovered in the dress. It’s time to find out where we are—if the ship is still close to the shore and another attempt of escape makes sense, or if we’re far out again, surrounded by a school of sharks.
My tennis shoes don’t match the babydoll dress and they don’t fit into this epoch either. The floorboards are warm enough, so it should be all right to walk out barefoot. The doorknob already in my hand, however, I hesitate as another note attached to the third door to my left catches my eye. This one is fixed with a dagger.
Do not enter!
No sound comes from behind this door. I wonder what’s in there. Another treasure? Weapons? Someone else’s bedroom? Tapping my fingers gently on the wood, I wait for an answer. Nothing. Not even when I knock louder. If there are swords or even pistols behind that door, it would aid in my chances of getting off the ship. Nothing makes a point like a gun in your hand.
Carefully, I turn the knob and open the door just a crack. After the first glimpse, my heart sinks. This is not a weapon stash. It’s a boring study. I step farther into the room and look around. The odor of rum hangs heavily in the air. There’s a huge desk in front of the continuing row of windows, a map of Neverland on the wall, and another door opposite the windows, probably leading out on deck. I’m just about to turn on my heel when this door opens and sharp blue eyes meet mine.
I must have startled Hook as much as he startled me, because he freezes in the doorway for a moment. Then he runs his hand through his windblown hair and comes striding across the room.
My first impulse is to scream and flee, jump out a window, but panic keeps me rooted to the spot. Hook brushes past me and peeks around the door as though he’s checking for something. Right…if the dagger has fallen off and the note went missing.
I know it’s still there, so I chew on my bottom lip until he stands in front of me again, arms folded. The sleeves of his white shirt are rolled up to his elbows and I can see the angry twitch of his biceps underneath. Only the bottom half of the shirt is buttoned. For the first time I can see the tiny golden key on a chain around his neck.
“I assume you can read?” he snarls into my face and I look up. Swallowing hard, I nod. “Then which part exactly didn’t you understand?”
He’s trying to intimidate me. And he’s doing an excellent job. My heart drums a panicky rhythm. Last night, I saw what this man is capable of. What’s the punishment for disobedience on the Jolly Roger? Certainly something painful.
“Are you going to whip me in front of the crew now?” I whisper.
“What? No! ” He pauses and his eyebrows draw even deeper than the scowl he directed at me just a moment ago. “Why do you think I’d do that?”
Fear has clogged my throat. “Because you’re a mean person…with an ugly soul.” And telling him this just might have doubled the number of lashes I’ll receive.
James Hook
THE FEAR IN Angel’s eyes almost chokes me. I thought I had done some good for her by rescuing her from the trap, carrying her back when she was too exhausted to even open her eyes, and giving her the captain’s cabin for the night. Obviously it wasn’t enough.
“I’m not going to punish you,” I say with some force in my voice to make her
This must not happen!
I’ll do anything to leave Neverland. If there’s a way home, I’m going to find it. I press the tiny card to my heart and promise myself that I won’t give up. I will fight for whatever memory I can save and I will find a way back to my sisters.
Filled with a new surge of hope and determination, I rise from the bed and tuck the travelcard into a side-pocket I discovered in the dress. It’s time to find out where we are—if the ship is still close to the shore and another attempt of escape makes sense, or if we’re far out again, surrounded by a school of sharks.
My tennis shoes don’t match the babydoll dress and they don’t fit into this epoch either. The floorboards are warm enough, so it should be all right to walk out barefoot. The doorknob already in my hand, however, I hesitate as another note attached to the third door to my left catches my eye. This one is fixed with a dagger.
Do not enter!
No sound comes from behind this door. I wonder what’s in there. Another treasure? Weapons? Someone else’s bedroom? Tapping my fingers gently on the wood, I wait for an answer. Nothing. Not even when I knock louder. If there are swords or even pistols behind that door, it would aid in my chances of getting off the ship. Nothing makes a point like a gun in your hand.
Carefully, I turn the knob and open the door just a crack. After the first glimpse, my heart sinks. This is not a weapon stash. It’s a boring study. I step farther into the room and look around. The odor of rum hangs heavily in the air. There’s a huge desk in front of the continuing row of windows, a map of Neverland on the wall, and another door opposite the windows, probably leading out on deck. I’m just about to turn on my heel when this door opens and sharp blue eyes meet mine.
I must have startled Hook as much as he startled me, because he freezes in the doorway for a moment. Then he runs his hand through his windblown hair and comes striding across the room.
My first impulse is to scream and flee, jump out a window, but panic keeps me rooted to the spot. Hook brushes past me and peeks around the door as though he’s checking for something. Right…if the dagger has fallen off and the note went missing.
I know it’s still there, so I chew on my bottom lip until he stands in front of me again, arms folded. The sleeves of his white shirt are rolled up to his elbows and I can see the angry twitch of his biceps underneath. Only the bottom half of the shirt is buttoned. For the first time I can see the tiny golden key on a chain around his neck.
“I assume you can read?” he snarls into my face and I look up. Swallowing hard, I nod. “Then which part exactly didn’t you understand?”
He’s trying to intimidate me. And he’s doing an excellent job. My heart drums a panicky rhythm. Last night, I saw what this man is capable of. What’s the punishment for disobedience on the Jolly Roger? Certainly something painful.
“Are you going to whip me in front of the crew now?” I whisper.
“What? No! ” He pauses and his eyebrows draw even deeper than the scowl he directed at me just a moment ago. “Why do you think I’d do that?”
Fear has clogged my throat. “Because you’re a mean person…with an ugly soul.” And telling him this just might have doubled the number of lashes I’ll receive.
James Hook
THE FEAR IN Angel’s eyes almost chokes me. I thought I had done some good for her by rescuing her from the trap, carrying her back when she was too exhausted to even open her eyes, and giving her the captain’s cabin for the night. Obviously it wasn’t enough.
“I’m not going to punish you,” I say with some force in my voice to make her
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