Beauty

Chapter 1

"Are you kidding me? No... please....ugh..." Callie begged as her car stuttered to a miserable end in the middle of nowhere. "Perfect, " she whined. 

   She ran her hands through her golden brown waves and grabbed a fistful of hair in each hand and let her head fall down to the steering wheel. She was ready to fall to pieces. She had already gotten lost and now her car had died. She squeezed her eyes and clenched her teeth and let out a squeal of frustration. Then she removed her hands from her hair, took a deep breath and opened the car door. 

   "It's ok... It's going to be fine..." She told herself. She knew the only solution was to stay calm. She was on her own now. 

   She opened the trunk, took out a flash light, turned it on and  looked around miserably. She was fairly certain that the road stretching to the right of her would only lead further into the countryside. But the road to her left, from which she had just came, had been hours of empty country highway. 'Pick your poison,' she thought to herself. 

   She decided to keep walking in the direction she had been headed in. She was fairly certain she had seen lights in this direction when she had popped over the last hill. 

   She tightly gripped the small opened pocket knife key chain attached to her keys in one hand and the flash light in the other and prayed that she didn't meet anyone unfavorable on her way to... she didn't even know where.

   Callie walked about a mile when she spotted lights ahead. She let out a small sigh of relief and picked up her pace. 'I hope they can help me' she thought to herself uncertainly. As she got closer, she saw the lights were spotlights pointing to a sign that read 'Neverland.' 

   "Hmmm..." She was uncertain of what to think of the sign but spotted a security box to the side. She walked over and peered inside. Other than a television screen showing the image of the street directly in front of the gate, she saw nothing. She turned and looked helplessly around before she decided to try opening the gate on her own.       She reached her hand out to the gate and pushed forward. She let out a small gasp when it gave and she was able to enter. 'You shouldn't be doing this,' she thought to herself. 'Gates are designed to keep people out for a reason.' 

    But she had already done it. Whoever lived there had probably already seen her on camera. She hoped that they were friendly enough to let her use a phone, then she would be on her way. Although she was hungry and so tired. 'Don't overstay your welcome,' she scolded herself. 

   She continued up the walkway towards lights she saw in the distance. On the way she marveled at the flowers along the drive and the statues she passed. Whomever lived here, it seemed, had created a magical kingdom for themselves. 

   "What are you doing here?" a stern voice came from the darkness made her jump and drop her flashlight. The cheap thing busted open and spilled out it's batteries as it hit the ground.

   "Oh... I'm sorry. There was a... no one at the gate... But I... ugh... Well I'm Callie... Callie Moore... and I uh..." She stuttered in a panic frantically searching for her flashlight.  

   "Who sent you here? What do you want from me? Can't you people just leave me alone?" The voice responded, still stern but there was a sense of desperation about it.

   "H-huh?" Callie responded in confusion.

   "What trash tabloid paper are you here for? What story do you want to make up about me now?" The voice responded. 

   Callie had given up her search for the flashlight and squinted hoping to get a glimpse of the stranger. She still had a firm grip on the pocket knife at her side. "No... no no... I think you have me confused with someone else... I just got lost and my car broke down... a little ways down the road. I just need a phone to c-call for help."

   Silence.

   "P-please?" She added, remembering her manners. 

   A light flicked on and she was able to see the drive way and the black loafers of the man, she assumed the caretaker, she was talking to.

   "Come on... this way." His voice sounded tired and not unfriendly but not welcoming.

   Callie stalled for a moment, she looked in the direction of the gate once more.

   "Are you coming?" The man said with annoyance in his tone. 

   "Sorry," Callie replied as she turned to follow him cautiously.