Counting Stars

Chapter 10

Juliette's P.O.V.

A little while after Pan had left the tent, I heard some kind of commotion outside. I make my way over to the opening of the tent to see what is going on. I slightly open it trying not to be noticed by the other boys, or Peter. He seems to be talking to a small group of boys, but mainly talking to the really tall one, the one with blond hair and a giant, ugly scar going across his face. He had something to say to Peter and he didn't look like took it very well. Unfortunately, they were too far away for me to make out what they were saying. After some time of talking and Peter pacing a little, he took that group of boys and they just went into the forest.

They just left. And none of these boys seemed to be guarding this tent. Maybe I could escape. Maybe I could find a way to get out of here. This was my chance.

But there was one problem. If I did walk right out the tent, the boys would notice me. One girl walking past at least fifteen boys is pretty noticeable. How am I going to get pass them without them seeing me? 

I walk back into the tent and pace around a little myself. I needed to get out of here. I can't be here anymore. I haven't been here for more than a day but I could tell that I would not like it here. I needed to get back to my mom and Molly and Will. I needed to be with them. They had to have noticed by now that I wasn't there. They must be worried sick about me. How am I going to get back to them?

As I pace I see something in the corner being hidden by the bed... light. I make my way over to the bed to see what the source of light was. I use up all my strength to move the bed to the side and see an opening in the corner of the tent. 

All I could think of was one word... Freedom. 

I do my best to be quiet and make the opening big enough for me to fit through. Once I can get my body through, I crawl out of the tent and take in the air around me. It feels wonderful. I know I sound like I haven't seen the sunlight in years, but I can't help it. It's just one step closer to going home.

I start for the forest but am careful that the other boys don't hear me. I run and I run like there is no tomorrow. I had only one objective and that was to get away. 

I keep running even though I don't hear anyone chasing after me. I don't want to take any chances. I refused to be caught and taken back there.

I run until I hear voice. I start to panic a bit, until I heard something strange about the voices, these were the groggy voices of older men. It was like a light went off inside of me. There were other people on this island that weren't Peter and his Lost Boys. Maybe they could help me get off the island. 

I quietly walk toward the voices. I am behind a bush and I see some older men talking and setting up what looks like their camp. They look like pirates. Yes, pirates have boats and that is probably the only way off of the island. 

I was about to come out from behind the bush when I was suddenly stopped. There was a large hand over my mouth and another around my waist pulling me back. I tried to get out of the iron grip, but like I said... it was an iron grip. But that doesn't mean I stop struggling. I fight and try to get a sound out, but I can't even get a muffled scream to come out.

It had to be Peter. Who else would it be taking me away?

Once we are away from my only source of freedom, I am turned around and I come face to face with surprisingly, not Peter. But I recognized this boy. Where have I seen him before? Wait! I remember. He was the one smirking at me when I first arrived at the camp. I never did get his name though, not that I was interested in knowing his name.

Once he lets go of his arm around my waist, I try to get away, but he just pulls me back to him. I whimper at his strong hold on me. It wasn't as strong as Peter's, but it was pretty strong. 

"If I were you, I would stop struggling." He tells me.

"Let me go. Please, let me go. I don't want to go back." I tell him, but he chuckles.

"Sorry, I have strict orders to return you safe and sound. In fact, because I found you, I win."

"What?" What did he mean by "win"?

"Pan told us that whoever found you first would win the game, and because I found you, I win." I keep struggling, but he won't budge. Peter made my capture a game? How sick can he get? "By the way, my name is Leo."

"I don't care."

"A little sassy, are we?" Leo tightly grabs my jaw to make me look at him in his cold eyes. "I like that. You know, I haven't seen a girl in years." His tone of voice was very seductive. It was uncomfortable. "And you are very beautiful."

"Congrats, Leo." A voice says from behind Leo and he stops whatever he was going to do. We all know that he was going to do something.

We both look behind him to see who it was, even though I'm pretty sure we both knew who this thick British accent came from. Peter was leaning against a tree just behind Leo. He pushes himself off of the tree and stalks over to us. I don't struggle anymore, I shake with fear. He found me. 

He looks down at me with dark, evil eyes and a horrifying smirk on his face. "You win."