Chapter 3 - Forging of the Trap
Hook awoke slowly. He felt as if he were swimming upwards from some impossibly deep pool, but he struggled against his lethargy until finally he was fully awake. He looked at his right arm, and was mildly surprised to see his hook there again.
A dream? He wondered. He looked around at the empty, rundown room he was in. No reassurances there. He felt a chill and realized he was naked. He sat up, found his clothes and got dressed. Across the room, Billy Jukes lay on an old wooden bench. Hook frowned as he approached the boy. Resting atop the boy’s chest was the opal ring.
“Not a dream,” he muttered. He reached down and picked up the ring. With a bit of difficulty, he placed it on his ring-finger. He waited for a moment for something to happen – a sudden rush of insight, a newfound knowledge – but there was nothing.
“Wake up, boy,” he ordered, but Billy didn’t move. He prodded the gunner, but still there was nothing. She put a spell on him to make him sleep. How do I wake him up? Like a flower blooming in his mind, he suddenly knew the word to say.
“Dessirin,” he repeated. Billy’s eyes snapped open and he gasped. He fell off the bench and hit the floor with a thud. Shakily he got to his feet and looked around. There was a wildness in his eyes, and he looked as if he would bolt at any moment.
“What’s the matter, Jukes?” Hook demanded, but Billy didn’t reply. He just stared at the Captain as if he didn’t know him. What the blazes is wrong with him? In his mind, he heard the hag laugh * I do so love children.* Billy screamed and was out the door like a shot.
Hook followed him outside. He caught up to the boy in the middle of the clearing. Billy was crying and trying to throw up. He looked at his Captain, “I’m sorry, sir. She showed me such horrible things. I knew I was asleep, but I couldn’t wake up. She laughed at me. They were horrible things.” Hook stared at Billy, who looked so awfully small and lost. “Please, sir, can we go home?”
Hook nodded, “We’re done here. We won’t be coming back.” He handed Billy a handkerchief and waited for him to calm down. “Better?” he asked when Jukes’ sobs subsided.
Billy wasn’t better, but he was getting control of himself. He nodded, though, “I’ll be even better when we quit this accursed place.”
Together, they walked to the edge of the clearing. Ahead, they saw the were-forest and the things within that moved but shouldn’t. Billy moaned softly, but didn’t back away. Hook questioned his ring and determined that only the one that wore it would pass through unmolested. He also discovered that the hag still wanted Jukes, and suspected she would take him if she could. He looked at his young gunner. This boy was too damn smart to lose. He was not pleased at what she had done to him. *The memory will fade when he leaves my realm*
Hook kneeled down beside Billy. “Climb on my back, son. They won’t bother you if I’m carrying you. But not a word to anyone that I let you do this or you will have a chat with the point of my hook.”
Billy hesitated for a second, but obeyed his captain. He held on tightly as they made their way through the perilous wood. Getting out didn’t take nearly as long as getting in, and the trees did not hinder them at all. Within an hour, they were safely out of the shadow of the were-forest. They stopped for a few minutes for food and drink. Hook had to serve lunch, since the boy was still shaking so badly that he couldn’t untie the food-sack or pour anything from the flask. When they were done, they made their way back to the safety of their ship.
By time they got there, Billy was doing better. He was still haunted by the things he had seen, but the memory was fading fast. He was still too shaky and quiet, though. Hook excused him from duty for the rest of the day, and ordered the other crewmen to not bother him.
“What happened to ‘im, Cap’n?” Mullins demanded, quaking in anger and fear for the boy. He felt a certain affection for Billy, and was not happy that the captain had apparently ill used the boy while they were gone.
“He had bad dreams in the were-forest. If he thinks it will help, give him some grog or even some whiskey. He needs rest,” Hook answered, uncharacteristically tolerant of Mullins’ questions. He then proceeded to lock himself inside his cabin.
“I don’t like this,” Mullins announced to the other men milling about on deck. “I smell black magic here. I’m gonna tend to Jukes. God help the Cap’n if he did somethin’ to ‘im.” When he went below, Billy was sitting in the kitchen. He had already gotten into the whiskey and was helping himself to a few swigs.
“You don’t drink, lad. Yer too young. What happened? What’s wrong?”
Billy sighed and looked at his friend. He didn’t want to remember, but maybe talking would help. “We saw some kind’a witch. I fell asleep.” He took another swig. “God this stuff tastes horrible. I had nightmares, worst things I ever imagined. I think the witch sent ‘em to me. I don’t remember what I saw anymore, but when the Cap’n woke me this mornin’, it was bad. I feel like I got slime in my head, and it’s foulin’ up my thoughts. I’m goin’ to go to sleep, and I don’t want any dreams. I hope when I wake up, this feelin’ I have will be gone.” He took another gulp of the stuff and coughed.
“Slow down, son, or ye’ll wake with another bad feelin’. C’mon, let’s lay you down.” He helped Billy to his hammock. After Billy was settled in, Mullins turned to go.
“Robert?” Billy hesitated. Mullins turned and waited. “Could you… would you… stay with me, just until I fall asleep?” Billy flushed, embarrassed to ask, but he was ill at ease and didn’t want to be alone.
“Ay, boy,” Mullins replied. “They won’t miss me fer a bit, and I don’t mind the break.” He’s really shook up. I swear I’ll kill Hook if he did anythin’ to Billy. He settled into one of the other hammocks.
“Thanks,” Billy murmured. Within a few minutes, he was fast asleep. Mullins got up and draped a blanket over him, smoothed the hair out of the boy’s face, and went back to work.
Alone in his cabin, Hook pondered on how to go about making the charm. First things first, what do I make it from? Something he will wear and never remove. Clothing is out. A tattoo, perhaps…
*No … not for the purposes of this particular spell.*
Jewelry then. What kind of jewelry? Hook dug around in his footlocker and brought out a small jewel-chest. This was his personal stash. As captain, he got first pick of the treasures they took, and he always took the best of the lot. This chest housed the finest of his plunder. He opened it and considered the contents: rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings of all kinds, and many loose stones of all shapes and types. Rings, necklaces and bracelets he considered at first, but discarded after some thought. Those were too easy to remove, and a child almost certainly would lose them. Besides, he planned for Pan to grow up, and one of these that fit well on a small boy would not fit a teen or a grown man. An earring though… many pirates wore earrings, so it would not seem strange, and he would not out-grow it. If made properly, it would never have to be removed and would be difficult to lose.
*Yes, that would be best. The lovely child that visited me could make it so it will never be unfastened. *
Hook removed a few of the earrings he had in his chest. He had many types, hoops, studs, and dangling ones. He quickly ruled out the hoops and danglers… they would be too easy to catch on something and rip out.
*Perfect. You need a stone for the charm, a gem of the highest quality.*
Hook spent several hours examining and considering his gems. He learned that a diamond was his best choice, the durability of the stone would make the spell stronger. He needed one as flawless as possible, since impurities would cause weakness in the spell. He finally settled on one. It wasn’t terribly large, a bit more than a carat at a guess. It was of a beautiful cut, and almost perfect.
Shall the setting be of silver or gold?
*Gold is too soft. Silver is best, more durable and pure.*
When he had the basics for the charm decided, he retired for the night. He made sure to remove the ring when he wasn’t working on the charm. He didn’t like the hag’s invasion into his thoughts. When he awoke the next day, he gave his men their instructions. Mr. Smee was to be the only one to come knocking on his door, and then only if called or if there was a serious problem. Mason was given a special carpentry project, which none of the other men were to know about. Mason spent several days laboring in the bowels of the ship, hammering and sawing and none of the other men were allowed down there where he worked. Jukes was told of the special earring he was to design and make.
“But, Cap’n!,” the boy protested, “I don’t know nothin’ about making jewelry. I’ve never done delicate work like that.” The traumatic dreams the hag sent him were a faded memory, and he was back to his old self today. And thanks to Cookson’s cure his hangover hadn’t lasted very long either.
“The most important thing is to make the backing lock,” Hook continued, ignoring the boy’s outburst. He was more than willing to let Jukes get away with small infractions until the charm was finished. “Once the boy wears it, I don’t want him to ever take it off short of ripping it out of his flesh. As long as it locks permanently and holds the gem so that it never falls out, I don’t care how it looks. Just remember, I plan for him to wear it to his dying day, so it will be a testament to your ability and ingenuity.”
“I - It’ll take me awhile Cap’n,” Billy stuttered nervously. “I have to design it, and make some tests to see if the design works. I have a lot to practice before I can make the final product.”
Hook smiled and nodded. “I am going to invest a lot of time and effort in this endeavor. I want no mistakes, and there will be no second chances. Take your time, and do it right. We’ve been here a long time, a bit longer will do no harm. Failure, however, will be fatal for us all.”
“Cap’n? Why are we making jewelry for Peter Pan?”
“It’s going to be his birthday present,” Hook said with an evil grin.
“Pan has a birthday? When?”
“It’s when I decide it’s going to be his last day in Neverland. I’ll tell you no more, and you know more than most of the men. I want none of you to know my plan entire plan, lest you spill the beans to some eavesdropping Lost Boy or pixie.”
“Aye, sir. I’ll start on this right away.”
“See that you do. Besides eating and sleeping, this is the only thing you are to do. You are excused from all other duties till it’s done.”
The rest of the men were told to keep the ship ready to sail at any time. So they spent time making repairs and gathering supplies. Hook himself spent most of his time in his cabin. The hag told him all of the ingredients he needed to make the spell. He needed things like pixie dust, various plants and roots, and a few insects… all of which were easily purchased at Small Monday Island Fair. They had to be mixed and cooked in a specific order, in precise amounts, over a long period of time. The diamond had to be simmered in the concoction for another length of time. It had to be watched at all times, and occasionally there were incantations and rituals to perform. Hook followed Shimi’s instructions faithfully and carefully, especially after a careless mistake early on cost him three days of work and nearly blew up the ship. So he closeted himself away in his cabin to see it done. Smee brought him his food and drink faithfully, but wasn’t allowed inside. The other men griped a lot, but the captain had warned them and promised that if his plan worked (whatever it was) they would be leaving Neverland soon. In the meantime, they were not to harm any of the Lost Boys.
“I’m slightly bored,” complained Slightly.
“Let’s go fight the pirates!” Curly replied excitedly.
“Bah!” Peter replied disgustedly. “That’s no fun anymore. They don’t fight back. Hook doesn’t even show up and try to fight me! I don’t remember when was the last time he tried to kill me.” He was extremely annoyed with the pirates lately. They had obviously forgotten the rules of the game: when Lost Boy and Pirate met, there was to be a fight. They had raided the ship a few times, trying to goad the pirates by stealing something or playing pranks. But the pirates only growled and went about cleaning up the mess. Peter was also more than a little insulted and hurt that Hook apparently didn’t want to fight him anymore. They only had the Indians to fight with now, and that was getting boring.
“Maybe Captain Hook is sick,” ventured Tootles.
“That could explain…why he never comes out,” added the Twins.
“Well, why don’t we go find out?” Nibs declared.
“That’s a GREAT idea! We’ll go see if Hook is okay, and if he’s sick, we’ll do something to make him feel better! Then he’ll come out and fight us again!” Peter danced with excitement.
“That’s the silliest thing I’ve ever heard! Who cares if he’s sick?” Tinkerbell yelled. “He’s a PIRATE and he wants to KILL you!”
“Oh Tink, don’t be so mean. It would be rude not to check in on him. What kind of friend would I be if I weren’t concerned about Codfish’s health?” Peter teased. “Come on!” he ordered and leaped into the air. With the Lost Boys following, he flew straight for the Jolly Roger.
“Oh, fiddlesticks! I don’t believe that boy!” Tink sighed, but followed along.
“You know, it really isn’t hard to get them to go where you want them to go,” Peter laughed as he latched the hatch. He and his boys had come aboard and caused their usual havoc. They had finally goaded the pirates into giving chase and led them below deck. Once below, they had sped out of the hatch and locked it, trapping the crew below. All except Hook, who had once again not shown up.
“All right, men! Up in the rigging! I’m going to prod the lion from his den!” Peter ordered with a stern look upon his face. He walked up to Hook’s door with drawn dagger and rapped on the wood with the hilt. He waited a minute, but there was no response.
“Captain Codfish!” he shouted as he knocked again, “Come out and play!”
“Go away, Pan,” came Hook’s voice from within. “I don’t have time for your nonsense.”
“Codfish! I’m hurt! What’s wrong? Don’t you love me anymore?” Peter called back. He did indeed look hurt, and he was doing his best to hide the concern he felt.
But the boys in the rigging burst out laughing, thinking their leader was making a good joke. After all, Hook was an evil man and hated children, especially Peter. “Captain?” Peter called again, “I’m not leaving until I see you!”
“Damn it, child!” the door swung open and Hook stepped out. The lost boys gasped and fell silent.
Peter gaped at the man in front of him. Hook looked terrible. He had circles under his eyes, and he blinked and squinted in the sunlight. His hair was dirty and unkempt. He wore only his pants and shirt, which were stained and sweaty.
“Happy now? Go away,” Hook growled.
Peter floated close to Hook, heedless of how dangerously close he was. He peered into the captain’s eyes. “Are you okay? Are you sick?” he asked softly.
Hook was taken aback by the concern he heard in his enemy’s voice. Does he actually care? No, he’s just upset because he thinks I’m ignoring him. “I feel fine, boy. I’m busy completing a project. Now go away!”
“Are you sure? You look like a corpse. Whatcha working on? You need some help?”
“Yes, I’m sure. What I am doing is none of your business. Now leave, I have more important things to do than play with children.” With that Hook re-entered his cabin and slammed the door. Peter stood there for a moment, shocked and confused, until he heard the door lock.
“But….but what could be more important than me?” But no answer came from within. Peter quickly grew angry, “Fine! See if I care! Keep your secrets!” He turned away and leaped into the air. “Come on, men! We’re leaving! Let’s go kidnap Tiger Lily and make the Indians fight us for her.” Peter flew away quickly and the boys trailed after.
Tinker Bell hesitated for a moment longer, staring at the closed door. What are you up to, Hook? She wondered before flying to catch up with her boy.
Within his cabin, Hook looked around. He took in the acrid smell that permeated the air, so unpleasant now that he had gotten some fresh air outside. The room was filthy. He had not allowed Mr. Smee inside since his project had begun, receiving his meals at the door instead. Occasionally he remembered to set the dirty dishes outside, but not recently. He caught a glimpse of his reflection in the mirror, and he almost didn’t recognize himself. Yes, I do look terrible. He hadn’t slept much lately, taking only naps when it was absolutely necessary. I usually take better care of myself and my quarters. But it’s almost done. I can’t stop now, or I’ll have to start all over. I will rest and clean up when it’s done. Everything has to be perfect. If I fail, I will lose my vengeance and my life. I have to succeed. Hook smiled hideously as he put Peter out of his mind. Don’t worry, Peter Pan. Soon you will be seeing enough of me to last you a lifetime…because it will last you a lifetime. He chuckled and went back to work.
After an hour, the crew finally broke through the hatch and escaped from below deck. They sighed and began cleaning up the mess the Lost Boys had made.
Two days later, everything was complete. Hook emerged from his cabin, clean and fresh looking. His crew snapped to attention abruptly, startled by the unexpected appearance of their Captain.
“Mr. Jukes!” he called. A few moments later, the boy was on deck. Hook smiled. “Have you completed your task, boy?”
“Ay, Cap’n, finished yesterday. It took some doin’ and a lot of mistakes, but I finally figured it out. Once the backing is snapped on, it’ll never come off again. Only way to remove the bauble will be to rip it out or cut the stud.”
“Good,” Hook handed Billy a small bag. “Here is the stone. Make sure the setting is sound. Do NOT damage it. Your continued good health and your life ride upon your craftsmanship. I want this to last him a lifetime.”
“I’m not a jeweler, but I can do it,” Jukes reassured his captain. “It will take a few hours, just to make sure it’s good. I’ll have it done by tonight.”
“Good, Mr. Jukes. You are dismissed.”
“Ay, sir!” and Billy went back below.
“Mr. Mason? Is the box ready?”
Mason looked up from the repairs he was making. “Ay, sir. Put the finishing touches on it this morning.”
Hook smiled. “Show me.”
The two men went below, deep into the lowest recesses of the ship. It was dark, and only Mason’s lamp provided the light to show the way. They were below the water-line, and the air was damp and moldy.
“I had to make a false floor, so all this beneath us is new,” Mason explained. He pointed to the ceiling. “When you come in, count to the fourth rafter.” They walked to stand beneath the indicated beam. “See anything, sir?”
Hook looked around at the ceiling, walls, and floor. There were crates in here, and there would be more when they had fully supplied and were ready to depart. But Hook saw nothing conspicuous. “No.”
Mason nodded. “Good. The floor is about a foot and a half above the hull, so the whole room has a hollow sound when you walk on it. But here,” he tapped his foot, “is the box.” He knelt and pressed on a floorboard. Another board next to it popped up. He grabbed it and used it as a handle to swing open the concealed trapdoor.
Hook looked within the recess and smiled. “Very nice, Mr. Mason.”
“Thank you, sir. I did make a few additions. See that handle? Grab it and I’ll get this end.” Together they lifted out a board, just the right width and length for a child to lie on. “This way it’s easier to get in and out. The manacles are mounted almost flush to the board, so there’re no chains to rattle and no slack to work with.”
Hook nodded and stared at the prison. The board’s manacles were positioned to accommodate ankles, wrists, and even one for a neck.
“Billy’s about Pan’s size, so I used him for the measurements. Once he’s in there, he won’t be moving much.”
“You’ve made sure that he won’t suffocate in there?”
“Ay, the planks throughout have small gaps. Not wide enough for a fairy to get through, but enough for air. Its cold down there, though, but he won’t freeze. He’ll not be comfortable. There’s walls to the box, so the plank won’t slide around under the floor. Snug as a bug. Hope he’s not nervous about tight spaces.”
“Superb work,” Hook complimented as they put the backboard within the box and closed the door. “Even now that I know its there, I cannot see the seam. I do hope Peter likes his new home.”
“How long you gonna keep him in there, sir?” Mason asked. He held no love for the boy, and certainly knew the precautions were necessary if they hoped to keep the wily child. But it seemed awfully cruel to put Peter Pan in there for too long.
Hook frowned. “I don’t know. It will have to be long enough to get away from this cursed place, and to get away from any fairies or Lost Boys who might discover that we have him. They cannot know we have him, or where he is. I want no rescues and no escapes.”
Hook returned to his cabin and ate his lunch while Mr. Smee cleaned up. When he was almost finished, Mr. Jukes knocked and entered.
“It’s done, sir,” he announced and handed the bag to Hook. “Didn’t take as long as I thought it would. It’s as if the gem wants to stay in. Try as I might, I couldn’t get it back out. Good thing, too. Touchin’ it made me feel odd.”
Hook reached inside and pulled out the earring. He stared at the diamond stud in his palm. It was beautiful, the best diamond in his stash. It would have fetched an excellent price, but with this I purchase my revenge. And for that, I would pay much, much more.
“Good work, Billy. Go get everyone and bring them here for a conference.” Hook put the earring back in its pouch and put in inside his pocket. He finished his lunch while his crew assembled in his cabin. When Jukes, the last one, was inside, they fastened all the exits and waited.
“I’m tired of this place. Like you, I’m ready to go back to being a real pirate. But I still desire my vengeance. Last time we clashed, I had Peter Pan in my grasp. I was about to kill him, and he taunted me about how he would rather die than grow up and get old like me. I realized something. I don’t want to kill him. I want him to suffer. He took my hand, and now I have to live the rest of my life without it. I’m going to take something he values and make him live without it. I am going to take away his eternal youth. We’re leaving Neverland, and Pan is coming with us. He will be joining our crew, whether he wants to or not, as my cabin-boy. He will serve me and he will grow up to be a pirate.
“How?” asked Mullins. He looked ecstatic at the prospect of leaving, but he seemed doubtful about whether it would actually happen.
“I have made a charm that will interrupt the magic that binds him to Neverland. We shall fake his death, and none of the fairies will be able to use their powers to discover the truth.” He removed the earring from the pouch and showed it to the men. “Mr. Jukes and I have fashioned it, and Pan will wear it, forever.”
“What about the Lost Boys? And Tinker Bell? They won’t accept he’s dead unless they see his body. They’ll search the ship for him and try to rescue him.”
“Mr. Mason has made the boy some quarters. We will hide him away there until his friends have abandoned all hope of finding him. When we are away, he will be trapped, alone and completely at my mercy. But until then, we go back to our old habits. I am content to wait until the perfect opportunity to execute the plan. Until then, no one is to kill Pan or any of his Lost Boys. He isn’t to be harmed any more than necessary. No one speaks openly or privately of my plan, or I’ll cut their wagging tongue from their mouth. Those children like to eavesdrop, and I want them to have no warning. The ship is to be kept ready to sail, but no one will mention that we are leaving. The trap is set; our prey has merely to step within.” Hook glared at each of the men as one by one they nodded their understanding. “Dismissed!” he called and the crew went back to their duties.
Alone again, Hook laughed lowly. “Soon.”