Hooked (A Peter Pan Retelling)

Chapter 1

I take a large breath in as I hear the Birthday song coming to an end. With all that I have, I blow. The fire of all twenty candles on the beautiful cake my mother has made me go out.

"I call dibs on the biggest slice!" my brother Michael laughs beside me.

My mother picks up the knife on the table and cuts right through the "H" on happy,

"I believe that belongs to the birthday girl, dear."

She hands me a plate with a slice so big I already know I won't be able to finish. As I dive in for the first bite, the wind howls. Large snowflakes are being blown past the window.

My father notices, too, "Are you sure you want to drive back home tonight? The weather seems to be taking a turn for the worse."

"I have an early morning exam, so I need to get back to campus. Besides, my apartment is only twenty minutes away. I'll be okay."

"I don't like the looks of it. Maybe you should hurry on home."

Looking concerned, Mother says, "Yes dear, you get on home. Go grab your things. I'll gather up some leftovers to take with you."

I head to the coatroom to put on my coat and shoes. I get the feeling that someone is watching me, but I shrug it off. When I return, my family is waiting at the door with hugs.

"Drive safe, love you." My mother says as she hands me the container of food.

Closing the door behind me I brace myself for the blast of cold windy air. Icy snow flakes hit my face, stinging on impact. I continue down the barely visible, snow covered sidewalk.

As I approach my car, I notice footprints in the snow around it.

That's odd.

Who would've been near my car in a snowstorm? As I make my way to the driver's side, I notice a singular long scratch down the side of my door.

Great. Next time I'll have to be more careful about who I park next to.

I slide into the driver's seat and turn the key. It takes a moment for the engine to start due to the cold. I shift the gear into reverse and back down the driveway. I speed off down the highway back to the city, leaving the comforts of my childhood home.

I get lost in my thoughts as the radio plays in the background. I go through the motions of driving back to my apartment, hardly paying attention to my surroundings.

"So I guess a Happy Birthday is in order?" comes a voice from the back of my car.

"What the Hell!" I scream while an oncoming car honks at me for crossing the centerline.

"Sorry, darling, should've announced my presence a little differently."

I whip my head to face the man sitting behind me. In the dark, I can't make out much, but I notice he doesn't look that much older than me.

"Who are you, and what are you doing in my car?"

Another car honks as I try to regain control of the vehicle.

"Maybe you should pull this contraption over before you kill the both of us." Mumbles the strange man in the back seat.

I immediately pull the vehicle to the shoulder and reach for my pepper spray. My only defense. I turn to face him again, holding it in front of his face.

"Now you're gonna tell me exactly what you're doing in my car. Unless you want me to spray you with this."

The man holds up his hands in surrender. Except instead of two hands, there is a silver hook in place of the other.

He smirks, "Allow me to introduce myself, darling. The names Hook. Captain Hook, to be exact, and I need your help."

"Like in the movie? Are you delusional? Or are you just an actor trying to get me to come to your play? Whoever you are, you need to get out of my car. Now."

I push the pepper spray closer to his face.

"I don't think I can do that for you. In fact, you are going to have to come with me, Wendy."

"How do you know my name?" I whisper, stunned

"We'll get to that later."

Before I can spray him, he reaches forward. Touching his hook to my temple, the world around me fades to black.