Chapter Eight
James
When I see Vera again, I’m going to give her an earful for abandoning me. I mean, who does she think she is to just up and leave me to the mercy of these pirates? To make matters worse, she actually seems to know what is going on and I, for one, would greatly appreciate some answers as to what exactly is going on.
Instead, I have to pretend to be a pirate because these crazy Peter Pan characters seem to think I’m one of them, and they appear to be a violent lot. I don’t want to make them mad by informing them that I am not in fact this “Hook” fellow that they have me confused for.
It’s a tad insulting of a nickname, to name me after the thing I have lost. It just rubs it in.
“For the last time, call me James,” I grumble. Which coincidentallyisin fact Hook’s first name. I clearly remember that detail from the story of Peter Pan since it was also my name. No little boy forgets learning that he has a pirate’s name. So, I don’t think that it’s too much to ask that they call me that. However, the pirates seem to have a problem with addressing me by my first name.
“Come on, Captain, why are you being like that?” Smee grumbles. “I didn’t even call you James when you were a lad.”
This is literally the first day we have met, so I’m not entirely sure how he could have called me anything. But I don’t bother pointing that out. I’m tired of pointing out the obvious and just being ignored.
I sit back on my heels with a sigh. “Remind me what are we doing again.”
Wendy wipes at her sweaty brow and throws me a look like she thinks I may have lost my mind. “We’re hunting a siren.”
“A land siren,” Michael or John adds. I’ve started sort of seeing them as the same person, and by this point I don’t care enough to differentiate between the two of them.
I just want out of this crazy world, and I want to go back home and feed my goldfish.
“Right,” I murmur. They’re convinced Vera is a siren, which is kind of weird. I’m not quite sure what proof they have. Was it just because she was wet and that girl in the shirt had shells in her hair? A weird thing to assume.
Are sirens a problem here? That’s another of those things that’s probably important to know that I’m too scared to ask by this point. Like who is Michael and who is John.
However, I can’t very well have them going around hunting and trying to kill Vera. And when I tried to bring up my problems with that Wendy claimed I was under her spell. So, I think it’s time I go with a different approach.
“Do you think I’m a good captain?” I ask, after a moment of hesitation.
The pirates all turn to me.
“Where did this come from?” Wendy demands.
“The best,” Michael-or-John says unequivocally.
“Why y-yes, Captain,” Smee continues.
“And am I good at killing sirens?” I ask, reaching up to scratch my cheek through my beard.
“You’re the best there is,” Wendy says. This time she is the only one who replies, but she and the others exchange confused glances. They obviously havethoughtsabout the way I’ve been acting but they aren’t saying anything.
Maybe I can get used to being a captain. No one talks back to you.
“Then leave the siren to me.” I try for my best debonaire smile. “You guys head back to the boat. I mean the, uh…” I snap my fingers, trying to remember the name. “The Roger. I’ll handle this wicked siren. You guys, can take the evening off.”
My words immediately seem to please Smee and Michael-and-John. They push to their feet, singing my praises about how I’m the best captain and siren hunter on all the seven seas. Neither are necessarily true, but I don’t point it out.
Wendy however hesitates. Her eyes move over me with concern and she slides a bit closer. She looks like she is about to take my hand, but she drops her fingers a second later. “Captain…Hookare you sure that’s wise?”
“Why?” I ask, once again trying for my debonaire smile.I’m a pirate, I repeat to myself. I hope I’m playing the part. I’m so close to ditching my sort of captors. I’m not sure who they are at this point, apart from deeply confused in thinking they are characters from Peter Pan.
Or maybe I’m the confused one.
“Don’t you think I’m capable of it?” I ask, trying to sound casual. I hope they don’t notice the cold sweat that breaks out on my brow.
She draws her lip between her teeth as she studies me. “Normally, I wouldn’t worry myself, but you have been acting strange today, Hook. Are you sure that siren didn’t put a spell on you?”
