Page 64 of Beneath the Starlight and Storms

Why did all the other people before me make it look so easy?

I hear a strangled laugh at the side of me and turn to narrow my eyes on him.

“You try it then.” He may be able to shoot a straight shot, but this wasn’t as simple.

Hook gives the man more paper notes in exchange for another set of metal circles. He takes them in his left hand and starts to throw the first circle with his right hand.

Without even blinking, he lands it around a bottle.

It was probably just a lucky shot.

But then he does it again, landing it over another bottle with ease.

My mouth drops as he throws another one and lands that one too. And another one. Each one of his metal circles lands around a bottle until they form some shape that I quickly realize is a ‘H’.

“Show off,” I mumble, looking anywhere but his smug smile.

He chuckles and the sound of it starts to grate on my ears. “Pick one.”

I glance up at Hook wondering what he means but all he does is tilt his head at the fluffy toys while his eyes never leave mine.

But why would he give me his winnings? Trying not to think too much into it or the way he’s looking at me, my eyes scan the soft toys, landing on the green crocodile once more.

I catch Hook watching me from the corner of my eye, his eyes sparkling at my visible discomfort.

“Do you need me to slay another crocodile?” A secret smirk appears, slowly sliding across his face.

A cold shiver slides down my spine as I stare back at the crocodile. More frightened of the memories than the toy itself. But I most definitely did not need a reminder of that… monster of a creature.

Wait… Hook’s words finally filter through my mind.

“Another?” I turn to look at him with a frown.

“Never mind.” His smirk only grows as he tilts his head towards the stall. “Pick one.”

Realizing I’m not going to get an answer, I turn back to the fluffy toys, spotting a small black one in the shape of a dog.

I point it out and Hook chuckles as the man hands it over to me. There’s a hidden patch of white fur underneath it, that for some reason makes me smile.

Ifeelmore than see Hook move closer. “I can get you a real one.”

I freeze at his words, not fully understanding why he’s offering to buy me one.

“I wouldn’t know how to look after one.” I tell him honestly. And even though I love the idea of having one of those beautiful animals. I hadn’t the slightest idea of how to take care of it.

I run my hands through the soft fur, happy enough with my toy for now.

“I’d help you.” At the sound of his soft tone, I look up at him but he’s not looking at me. Instead, he’s looking ahead, his eyes unfocused as if he’s not looking at any one thing. His body grows tense as if waiting for my reply.

“Maybe one day.” I tell him.One day when I was finally free.

Hook nods, not hearing my silent promise. We move up past the rest of the game and food stalls to a huge white tent with a sign that says,Hall of Mirrors.

I follow Hook inside to be welcomed by a darkened hall. Long rectangular mirrors taller than Hook are placed in angles everywhere I look. Some reflect off another beside it, giving the illusion of dozens of more mirrors. White smoke seeps around us only adding to the strange mysterious atmosphere.

“It’s a maze of mirrors? But what’s the purpose?” I glance at them trying to sense any energy from them. Maybe each of them transports you to another mirror somewhere else in this hall?

“To find your way out,” Hook says, a glimmer of laughter lighting up his face.

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