Author's note
My first encounter with Peter Pan was a picture book that featured just a fraction of Disneyīs movie, the rescue of Tiger Lily. I was five or so and adored it. What I liked most was the map over Neverland in the beginning. And I found Captain Hook an enchanting villain. I have no memory of actually seeing Disneyīs Peter Pan until I grew up and I must confess I dislike the movie intensly. Wendy is such an insipid figure, I have a feeling that most of her lines are "Oh Peter" or "But Peter". Now, the book is another matter. Wendy is as maternal as in the movie, but she has far more guts. And for being a book for children, it has a degree of violence and a sensuality that is rather unexpected. This fic is based on the book, not any of the movies.
However, the idea for this story came to me when I saw a photo of Jason Isaacs as Captain Hook. So the images of this formidable bad guy is certainly from this new movie, though right now, when I write this, it has not been released yet.
This fic takes place some years after the end of Peter Pan. Wendy has grown up and the story is about her. And about Captain Hook. And to a certain degree about Hookīs cabin boy. Peter himself is only a minor character. It handles adult themes, there is a rape scene and there is violence. If this disturbs you, please donīt read. If you do read it, I hope you will enjoy it. I have enjoyed writing it.
Chapter 1
What happened afterwards? Well, I grew up. You do in reality and I did. There came a time when leaving the nursery was no longer a threat, but something welcome. My brothers went to school. My father managed to turn his pennies so well that I could spend six months in Paris When I was eigtheen I was launched into society. My mother gave me a new wardrobe. I went op parties and danced and got engaged. Everyone told me that Edgar was the perfect husband to be. Rich and rather handsome and so in love with me. I thought he was nice. I wanted children. Lots of children. My futute seemed so normal, maybe a little boring, but prefectly suitable. I rarely thought about Peter. He had visited me a few times, but that had been years ago. I guess he had forgotten all about me by now. The evening everything happened was the first time in a long time I thought about him . I wonder if that brought it all on, or perhaps it was beacause it was all going to happen that Peter suddenly came to life in my mind.
It was after a ball, very late at night. Edgar had followed me home talking about our wedding. We were to be married in just a months time and there was much to plan. I had changed into my nightgown and stood in the open window, slowly brushing my hair and gazing out into the night. The moon was the same moon as the night Peter came looking for his shadow. I had missed him so much in the beginning and now the old longing came back. Peter was my first love, my only real love, I thought, my feelings for Edgar was nothing compared to it. I was silly, I knew. Peter was still thirteen and I was a young lady. He would never come into my room again and I would never hear his fun, dear voice. I had grown up and was to be married. What once was could never be again. Then a cloud went before the moon and at the same moment the gas lamp died. It was suddenly very dark and the night felt colder, I shivered.
It was in that moment I was grabbed from behind. A muscular arm held my body close to someone very tall. A hard hand covered my mouth. I knew who it was before he spoke. Why? Perhaps it was the pain under my left breast were something hard poked my ribs,. Something hard that ought to have been a hand. Or maybe it was the smell of him. Not really unpleasant, a smell of rum, tobacco, perfume and man. I had smelt it before and I knew before his soft voice, the voice from my nightmares, whispered in my ears.
"Donīt fight, my beauty, donīt scream. You donīt want me to hurt you, do you? Come with me nice and quietly or you will regret it".
I nodded against the hand, but as soon as the hand was lifted I started to scream. The hand clamped down again, this time covering my nose as well. I couldnīt breath. I tried to fight, but to no avail. My lungs hurt and my heart beated so hard it felt like like it was going to burst out of my breast. I was choking, choking and then everything became dark.
The first thing I saw when I woke up was the smiling face of Mr. Smee. He had lifted my head and held a glass of rum to my lips. The taste was so awful that it helped me clear my mind and I sat up straight. My throat felt sore and it hurt a little to breath, but evidently I was alive. I was sitting in a bed in a room, no, a large cabin. The sun was shining through the small windows and I could hear sounds and feel movements that told me that I was on a ship.
"Oh honey, how you have grown. Such beauty, such charm!" Mr. Smee seemed genuinly pleased to see me again. I couldnīt say I felt the same. How did I get here?
The answer was sitting on a chair, languidly smoking a cigar. As elegant as ever, as handsome as ever, Captain James Hook. He smiled at me, a slow menacing smile and I shuddered. He nodded at Mr. Smee, who quickly left the cabin and left us alone.
End Chapter 1